Management Project

Garbl's Writing

Center

Me

Gary B.

LarsonSeattle, Washington

ObjectiveHighlights of

QualificationsSkills, Knowledge and

AbilitiesEmployment

HistoryEducation and

TrainingVolunteer

ExperienceGarbl's Writing

CenterObjectiveCreative employment, contract or freelance opportunities with a progressive

firm, agency or nonprofit organization that supports the environment, the arts,

health, education or other human services.Highlights of

QualificationsExtensive award-winning experience in creating and managing public, news

media, employee, online, customer and student information programs.Strong skills in writing, editing, publications production, plain

language/plain English, project planning and management, news media relations,

website management, event planning, supervision, photography, graphic design,

marketing communications, training, and lobbying.Strategic thinker with proven skills in developing marketing communication

programs that meet an organization's mission, goals, timelines, and

constituent needs.Experienced in using social media and other online tools to inform people,

promote action and support integrated marketing communications programs.Recognized by peers for professional achievement, community involvement,

personal character, and contributions to organizational communication.Strong interest in citizen action, current events, progressive solutions,

civil rights, human services, environmental protection, education, the arts,

and music.

TopSkills, Knowledge and

AbilitiesWriting and editing--writing and editing newspaper articles about

schools, labor negotiations, local government, police and fire departments,

community activities and personalities; ad copy, brochures, newsletters, news

releases, speeches, talking points, and Web pages about government proposals,

decisions, projects, events and services; feature articles about human service

agency clients, programs and fundraising; environmental and technical documents

about construction, transportation and water-pollution-control projects.Project planning and management--developing communications plans and

messages; advising management, staff and volunteers on communications

strategies; leading community relations, information production, fundraising,

marketing and volunteer teams.Publications production--planning, implementing and coordinating

production of a weekly community newspaper and annual reports, brochures,

displays, editorial style manuals, fact sheets, fliers, newsletters, postcards,

posters and other materials for nonprofit and public agencies.Plain language/plain English--developing information and advising

staff on methods to make written materials clearer, more concise, more

interesting, and easier to read, understand and use.News media relations--developing news media strategies and messages;

writing news releases and speeches; serving as agency liaison with the news

media; coordinating responses to news media questions; training management and

staff on news media relations.Online communications--using social media to inform and influence

individuals and groups; planning, designing and updating websites for public

agencies and a professional organization.Photography and graphic design--taking pictures for newspapers and

organizations; producing audiovisual programs for a nonprofit agency; designing

newspaper pages and annual reports, brochures, newsletters, and other materials

for nonprofit and public agencies.Employee communications--managing employee communication program;

planning, writing and coordinating production and distribution of monthly,

weekly and daily publications.Training and advising--teaching business communications at a

technical college, journalism at a community college, and clear-writing and

news-media interviewing skills at public agencies.Supervision--Recrating, selecting, directing, advising and

evaluating editors, freelance writers, graphic designers, information

distributors, interns, marketing communication specialists, and warehouse

staff; planning and managing budgets; reviewing materials for editorial and

brand consistency.Marketing communications--creating and placing advertising; managing

development and implementation of graphic branding; managing advertising,

graphic design, hardware-fabrication and research consultants and

consultants.Event planning--supporting, organizing and publicizing public/media

events, including news conferences, opening ceremonies, audiovisual programs

and panel discussions.Lobbying and advocacy--tracking legislation for a public agency,

monitoring legislative hearings, helping plan strategy, and meeting with

legislators and staff during a legislative session; supporting progressive

candidates and campaigns through personal and group efforts.

TopEmployment

HistoryChief of Information Production and

DistributionMetro Transit Division, King County Department of Transportation, Seattle,

Washington, 2006-2011

Supervised graphic designers, marketing communications

specialists, information distributors, and warehouse staff. Developed and

coordinated communications plans. Managed budgets. Reviewed materials for

editorial and brand consistency. Managed graphic design and hardware

fabrication contractors/consultants. Served on project/program

teams.Public Information Officer/Lead Media

PlannerWastewater Treatment Division, King County Department of Natural Resources

and Parks, Seattle, Washington, 2002-2006

Coordinated news media relations, developed communications

plans and messages, planned media events, edited publications, wrote news

releases and speeches, managed division research and marketing consultant,

provided writing guidance to staff and consultants, and managed websites. Also

led development and maintenance of an online editorial style manual for all

county employees: www.kingcounty.gov/exec/styleguide.aspx.Senior Editor, Community Relations and

CommunicationsKing County Department of Transportation, Seattle, Washington,

1996-2002

Planned, wrote, edited and coordinated production of public

information and employee publications for the Metro Transit and Road Services

divisions. Also wrote, designed and managed department, program and project

websites; developed and designed publications.InstructorITT Technical Institute, Seattle, Washington, 2000-01 (part-time,

evenings)

Taught business communications classes at Tukwila campus,

covering the writing process, elements of effective communication, and writing

effective business correspondence, reports and proposals.Acting Chief of Information

ProductionMetro Transit Division, King County Department of Transportation, Seattle,

Washington, 1999

Supervised staff that produces timetables, brochures,

signs, transit passes, maps and other service information to help customers

ride the bus.Senior Editor, Transit DepartmentMunicipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), Seattle, Wash., 1991-95

Planned, wrote, edited and coordinated production of public

information, community relations and management publications; designed

publications; and supervised freelance writers. Also chaired Employee

Suggestion Board and Employee's Combined Charities Campaign

Committee.LobbyistMunicipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), Seattle, Washington, 1991

legislative session

Tracked legislation, monitored legislative hearings, helped

plan strategy and met with legislators and legislative staff. Temporary

assignment.Senior Editor/EditorMunicipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), Seattle, Washington

1985-90

As senior editor, planned, wrote, edited and coordinated

production of public information and community relations publications for

transit and wastewater-treatment capital projects. Also supervised editors and

interns.

As editor, coordinated employee communication program and

planned, wrote and supervised production and distribution of bimonthly, weekly

and daily publications.Public Information Officer/News Media Relations

Specialist, Communications DivisionMunicipality of Metropolitan Seattle (Metro), Seattle, Washington,

1980-84

Supported transit and water pollution control functions by

coordinating responses to news media questions, serving as agency liaison with

the news media, writing news releases and speeches, developing news media

strategies, advising management and staff on news media relations, and

supervising assistant and interns.Associate Public Relations

DirectorUnited Way of the Columbia-Willamette, Portland, Oregon, 1978-80

Planned, wrote, edited and designed newsletters and annual

reports; coordinated news media relations; wrote news releases and public

service announcements; took photographs and produced audiovisual programs; and

supervised PR assistant. Organization serves four-county area around Portland,

Ore., and Vancouver, Wash.Staff Writer/PhotographerTri-City Herald, Kennewick, Washington, 1976-78

Wrote about county and city government, education, police

and fire departments, and politics for a daily newspaper; took photographs; and

designed newspaper pages.Journalism Instructor/Student Newspaper

AdviserSeattle Central Community College, Seattle, Washington 1975-76

(part-time)

Planned and taught courses on news writing, reporting and

newspaper editing, and supervised staff of a weekly college

newspaper.Teaching AssistantUniversity of Washington School of Communications, Seattle, Washington,

1974-75 (part-time)

Evaluated journalism student essays and exams, and advised

students about news media practices.EditorWhidbey Island Record, Langley, Washington, 1972-74

Managed a weekly newspaper, determined newspaper content,

wrote about local government, took photographs, designed newspaper pages,

supervised associate editor and sold advertising.

TopEducation and

TrainingMaster of CommunicationUniversity of Washington, Seattle, Washington, course work completedIntegrative program in

administrationUniversity of Washington, Graduate School of Business Administration,

Seattle, WashingtonBachelor of Arts, double major in journalism and

political scienceCentral Washington University, Ellensburg, Washington

Who's Who Among Students in American Colleges and

UniversitiesSeminars, study and workshopsAdvertising, audiovisual programs, cable television, campaign organizing,

computer literacy, conflict resolution, database applications, desktop

publishing, evaluating and planning communication programs, fund raising, HTML,

interpersonal communication, leadership skills, managing change, news media

relations, organization communication, presentation software, project

management, publication design, public speaking, supervision, Web page design

and word processing.

TopAssociations and

AffiliationsPlain Language Association InterNational

(PLAIN)Past member, Executive Committee/Board of DirectorsPast email discussion group moderator and International Association of Business

Communicators/Pacific Northwest ChapterPast vice president for professional developmentPast chair, Pacesetter Awards CommitteeCommunicator of the YearBoys and Girls Clubs of King County

Inc.Volunteer annual reports editor/designerUnited Way of King CountyVolunteer Communications Contest chairCommunications Committee memberCommunity and political action

organizationsVolunteer in communications planning, media relations, newsletter writing,

event planning, public speaking, social action, fundraising, leadership

positions

TopGarbl's

Writing CenterWebsite manager for a free online editorial style manual, plain-English

writing guide, concise writing guides, bookshelf of recommended writing

references, and annotated directory of websites focusing on creativity, the

writing process, English grammar, style and usage, reference sources, words,

plain language, action writing and word play: .

Online since November 1997.Other websites: About Me18 Nights and Dazed in Eastern Europe22 Nights and Dazed in EuropePhotographyContact

InformationEmail: ********@*****.***

Updated Jan. 30, 2012.

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