Service Design
Resume:
THOMAS B. FORD
University Heights, Ohio 44118
216-***-**** (cell)
ACADEMIA –2011-2013
• Director of College Relations for Hiram College- Responsible for all internal and
external communications, documents, public relations and marketing.
Adjunct Professor of Communications, Hiram College, teaching courses in
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Political writing, journalism and crisis communications.
GOVERNMENT
Cuyahoga County Administrator’s Office – 2000-2011
• Senior Public Information Officer, Cuyahoga County Board of Commissioners.
Responsible for all publications, websites, press relations, public records, and
printed and electronic (website) communication materials for the County
Commissioners. Supervise the work of 13 division and departmental public
information officers, public forums and outreach, employee newsletters, public
appearances and communications policy.
• Served on the County Administrator’s Planning Group, a Special Projects Task
Force formed to expedite, plan and facilitate long-term special projects and cross
system reform, including funding strategy, development and implementation.
• Management Group-Social service planning, design, and administration for
County agency that works with government integration, sustainability, and social
service and justice reform, political and program research and policy coordination.
• Communications, public and media relations for, including all department
publications, and public policy
• Grant team leadership and administration, writing and non-profit program
finance development and administration
JOURNALISM
Crain’s Communications Inc. – 1994 – 2000
• 1996-2000 – Crain’s Cleveland Business - Covered government, utilities, politics,
welfare reform, education, and the environment for the premier business newspaper
in Northeast Ohio. Duties included writing, editing, planning, and photography.
1994-96 – Plastics News - Staff writer covering packaging and recycling for Crain’s
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international journal for the plastics industry. Duties included writing, editing,
coverage planning, and photography.
Small Business News – 1992-93
• Managing editor for a chain of five business newspapers. Redesigned the paper,
established professional standards, archive, designed each issue.
The Toledo Blade - 1983-92
• 1990-92-Education Editor for The Blade, a 200,000 circulation daily newspaper.
Covered primary, secondary and higher education. Duties included planning,
writing, editorial writing and a column.
• 1987-90 - Three years as Blade Regional Editor, responsible for coverage of 22
counties. Supervised staff of reporters and 22 correspondents. Duties included section
planning, writing, and editing.
• 1984-1987 – Three years covering environment, and utilities, including nuclear
power and government regulators, for The Blade. Duties included investigative
work, op-ed, and business. Also covered police, courts, and other general
assignments during this time.
• 1983-92 – Entertainment. Simultaneous with duties on the ``news-side’’ covered rock
and classical music, and film for The Blade. Duties included reviews, previews,
celebrity interviews, trend and feature pieces, planning and layout.
Elyria Chronicle-Telegram – 1979-83
• Covered organized labor, police, general assignments, and entertainment for 40,000-
circulation daily in northeast Ohio.
Rowley Publications Inc. – 1977-79
• 1978-79 – County government and general assignment reporter at the Painesville
Telegraph, a 30,000-circulation daily.
• 1977-78- General assignment reporter at the Ashtabula Star Beacon, a 20,000-
circulation daily.
FREELANCE
Adjunct faculty, Hiram College, in Communications
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President of The Words’ Worth Group, a full-service, writing and media consulting firm.
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Consultant work for Gateway Consulting Group, an economic development firm specializing
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in stadium construction and finance. Write and design promotional brochures and marketing
materials.
Consultant for Ohio Canal Corridor, an environmental and historic preservation group.
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Write and design the group’s quarterly newsletter, and promotional materials.
Author of the original drama “The Rubber Game,” performed yearly at Stan Hywet Hall in
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Akron.
EDUCATION
B.A. English, Tulane University, 1974
Western Reserve Academy, 1968
PROFESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Cleveland Press Club - first place, social justice reporting, 1997, ‘98, ’99 for welfare reform
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series at Crain’s Cleveland Business; first place, 1996 for casino gambling investigation at
Crain’s Cleveland Business. 1982 best investigative series for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
1981 best news feature for the Elyria Chronicle-Telegram.
Society of Professional Journalists - first in state, social justice reporting, 1998 & 1999 at
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Crain’s Cleveland Business; second in state, sports, 1999, for series on Cleveland stadium for
Crain’s Cleveland Business.
References furnished on request; Salary negotiable
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Contact this candidate