James Byous

**** **** **** ******

Savannah, GA *1404

912-***-****

www.jbyous.com

abng3n@r.postjobfree.com

Hiring Manager

Re: Position of Director of Marketing

Augusta Convention and Visitors Bureau

Sir, Ma’am,

Please consider me for the Director of Marketing position advertised. I have an

extensive background tourism public relations photography, and publication design over

the past years. Recently this experience was attained in sales and promotion of my

own company here in Savannah, Georgia where for many years I have worked in tourism

field. I have a degree in heritage tourism and in the past operated my own graphic and

photography business, so I understand the varied aspects of customer needs and how

to promote tourism.

After many years in the newspaper and graphics field I returned to college study the

field of tourism. I am one of the first to study and receive a masters degree from the

Heritage Tourism program at Armstrong Atlantic State University here in Savannah,

having graduated in 2003.

Through my business in weddings and tourism if have gained inside knowledge in

the Savannah tour industry over the past years I am also working with professionals

in the wedding, tourism and hospitality industries and have helped form and currently

serve as the president of the Savannah Wedding Tourism Council. The Council has a

membership thirty-six businesses. Its web site can be viewed at

www.WeddingTourismCouncil.org.

The Council, under my guidance, combines industry knowledge and revenue to

globally market Chatham County as a destination wedding venue for brides. The SWTC

has a main emphasis on promoting the area as a tourism destination site for those who

attend the weddings – every wedding guest is a tourist, they stay in our hotels, eat in

our restaurants and shop in the stores and shops.

I look forward to speaking with you. Please see the attached resume.

Regards,

James Byous

12/07/09

James Byous

1230 East 51st Street

Savannah, GA 31404

912-***-****

www.jbyous.com

abng3n@r.postjobfree.com

Resume

Education

MA History (Heritage Tourism), Armstrong Atlantic State University, Fall, 2003.

BA Journalism/Photojournalism, San Jose State University, San Jose, California 1977.

Professional Experience

1998 to Present -- Co-Owner with wife Rebecca, An Affair to Remember, J Byous Company,

www.JByous.com, the main business site and AATR Publishing, www.AATRPublishing.com

which serves as the marketing site which includes AATR Wedding Magazine and Savannah

Tourism Magazine. We coordinate and execute event and wedding planning via the Savannah

hospitality industry as well as wedding, portrait and commercial photography to couples from as

far away as Tokyo, Canada, Austria and from around the United States.Ê I am currently the

president of Savannah Wedding Tourism Council, a non-profit organization created to generate

increased wedding tourism in the Savannah, Georgia area.

In November, 2009 is served as media, web and graphics coordinator for the Weddings For

Warriors Project for the SWTC providing forty individual weddings for active military, thirty-six

which took place in a two-hour span on Veterans Day, 2009. www.WeddingsForWarriors.com.

The project was promoted globally with internet and TV news reports. Individual businesses and

volunteers from six Eastern Seaboard states participated in the success of the event. All military

couples received free wedding or vow renewal ceremonies for everything from photography to

musicians to transportation to riverboat dinner cruises. The total expense for the project and the

SWTC was less than $300. All participation was donated by businesses and individuals.

Received master's degree in history (heritage tourism) from Armstrong Atlantic State University.

The thesis detailed a self-tour of Savannah showing fortifications and archaeological sites in the

historic downtown section. This tour can be found at the above web address. Worked full time

for Carriage Tours of Savannah giving historic tours in Savannah, GA.Ê Purveyor of Scottish and

Irish attire via www.SavannahKilts.com.

1995-- Supervisor of maintenance, Southside Baptist Church, Savannah, GA in charge of

maintenance and custodial crew while full-time graduate student. There, supervised volunteer

workers for set construction and placement for multi-annual stage productions. Also was self-

employed in various services in Savannah, GA. Also worked as a freelance photographer for

Atlanta Journal and Constitution as well as copywriting and generating graphics for local companies.Ê

1994-- Morris Newspapers, Savannah, GA. Sales, marketing and sales for display advertising

department for Savannah Pennysaver and 360 Magazine for western Chatham County, Georgia.

1992-- Owner J.D. Byous Graphics, a public relations and periodical business, Sonora, CA.

Provided full package of printed materials for local businesses and institutions, computer illustration,

copywriting, photography, layout and design, brokered printing and display ad sales for self-

supporting information publications.

1991 -- Graphics editor for Lifestyle department, Merced Sun-Star, Merced, CA. Writing, design,

production, photography, computer graphics and illustration for the feature section of the newspaper.

1984 -- Editorial photo department manager, Merced Sun-Star. Management and coordination

of staff and freelance assignments. Supplied written articles and page layout for daily newspaper,

weekly feature magazine and "chain" newspapers. Market research for "additional income"

publications under the direction of the General Manager. Supplied all aspects of feature material,

story generation, writing, photography, illustration, computer illustration, layout, design and paste-

up. Operated Macintosh computer using Aldus PageMaker, Aldus Freehand, MacDraw, Photoshop

and various software. Associated Press Leaf system operator supplying color photos, color

separations and B&W photos for daily publication.

1982 -- Public Information Director, California Baptist College, Riverside CA. Management of

Information Department. Served as public relations liaison to local media. Writer, photographer,

page design and printing coordinator for all aspects of printing-publishing. Editor of quarterly

"Roundtable" magazine. Generation of news and information to state and national publications

and coordination of advertising for admissions department.

1980 -- Graphics/photography studio owner, Ceres, CA. Provided copy, photography, graphics

to local businesses for public relations and promotional purposes.

1977 -- Writer, Photographer, Chief Photographer Tri-Valley Herald and News, Livermore, CA.

Supplied written and illustrated articles for daily news output. Layout and design of pages.

Management of photography department.

1975 -- Student at SJSU.Ê Supported my family by working as a stringer for The Associated

Press and for the University as a writer/photographer for the public relations department.

Seminars, Lectures and Essays

Fortresses of Savannah, http://www.sip.armstrong.edu/Forts/Essay.html

Organized and participated in Southside Art Show fund-raiser, Savannah, GA, 2000.

Lecturer, Power Point presentation, The Guaymi Indians of Panama, Savannah, GA, 1998.

Guest classroom lecturer, Latin American Studies, Armstrong Atlantic State Univ., 1998.Coordinated

and participated in Through Our Eyes photojournalism show, Merced City Hall art gallery, Merced,

CA, 1991.

Member and participant, Tuolumne County Art League art show, 1990.

Community seminars, lecturing and print judging, Merced Camera Club, 1984-1989.

Guest lecturer on photojournalism, English Department, California Baptist College, 1982.

Publication and yearbook and advisor, California Baptist College, 1982.

Guest lecturer, Impact seminar, public relations for small organizations, Riverside, CA, 1982.

Classroom education speaker on photography, Ceres, CA, 1982.

Author, Photography for Officers training outline for Police Officer's Seminar Training (POST),

Turlock (CA) Police Department, 1981.

Coordination board, Visual Journalism show, San Jose State University, 1977

Organization board, Focus West seminar, San Jose State University, 1977.

Physical education instructor, student training project, 1968-69.

Computer Experience

Programs include: Homestead Site Builder, FreeHand, PageMaker, QuarkExpress, Illustrator,

MacDraw, Microsoft Word, Microsoft Works, Lotus Word Pro, PhotoShop, PhotoImpact,

Internet/Intranet Design Shop, PowerPoint, and others on both Mac and PC.

Newspaper, Magazine and Internet Publishing List

Time Magazine, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Herald, Louisville Courier-Journal, Atlanta

Journal-Constitution, Newsday, New York Times, London Times, Washington Post, Paris Match,

Der Speigel and various other European magazines and newspapers.Ê Internet article "Fortresses

of Savannah," address, www.sip.armstrong.edu on the "Data Site" menu.Ê Company web sites:Ê

www.JByousPhoto.com, www.AATRPublishing.com, www.WeddingSavannah.com.

Professional Organizations and Awards Past and Present

Founding President, Savannah Wedding Tourism Council

Member, Savannah Area Tourism Leadership Council

Member, Savannah, Chatham Area Chamber of Commerce

Member, Georgia Historical Society.

Former member Tuolumne County, California Tourism Board

Former member Merced County, California Tourism Board

Phi Alpha Theta historical society.

National Press Photographers Association; multiple awards including First Place award for

Region 10, Spot News, Second Place National Clip Contest for Spot News category.

San Francisco Bay Area Press Photographers Association; Third Place Best Sports Photography

category, 1979, Honorable Mention, Feature Photography category, 1978.

California Press Photographers Association; numerous awards including a position in the Top-

Ten category for newspaper photography, Summer, "Awards of Merit" for Portrait Photography

category 1980.

The Associated Press Annual Photo Contest; First Place Sports Division, 1986, Second Place,

News Division, 1980, Honorable Mention, News Division, 1987.

California Newspaper Publishers Association; First Place Sports Category, 1986, Honorable

Mention Feature Category, 1978, First Place Graphics and Design Category, 1992.

Amateur Organizations and Awards

National Press Photographers Association.

President, San Jose State University Student Chapter, 1977.

Vice President, SJSU Student Chapter, 1976.

California Intercollegiate Press Association.

Best Newspaper Feature Photography, 1976.

Gold Press Card Award, 1977.

First Place Sports Division, 1978.

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