Director of Communications
Resume:
JOHN DALE MCGRAN
Mobile: 570-***-****
email: ******@***.***
PROFILE
Seasoned content professional and marketing executive with a proven track record of success.
Has worked as editorial leader for four national companies and several newspapers and
newsletter producers. Excellent writing and editing ability. Able to easily comprehend and
analyze content with a keen attention to detail. Acknowledged for generating business and
reducing cost. Adept at directing multiple areas of responsibility while remaining firmly
committed to maintaining productive relationships and earning and inspiring rapport and
confidence with all members of the team.
EXPERIENCE
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
LEHIGH VALLEY
Vice President of Marketing, February 2013-September 2014
I came to LVEDC to return it to its core mission of promoting the Lehigh Valley by telling its
stories locally, nationally and globally. I transformed a tired old once-a-month newsletter into a
crisp, content-rich weekly newsletter that included business success stories, features on the
region’s movers and shakers, and snapshots of the projects that have brought jobs and investment
to Lehigh Valley – the things that helped make the area No. 2 in the nation for metro regions its
size in 2013. Other marketing materials included a Lehigh Valley promotional video and the
first-ever Lehigh Valley Economic Development magazine. I also worked with freelancers to
update our collateral materials and helped design, create and publish a number of publications,
including Board of Director brochures, finance department brochures, annual reports and annual
awards programs. I also oversaw LVEDC’s two annual events: Annual Investors Meeting and
Annual Awards.
EDIETS.COM
Chief Editor, April 2013-April 2014
Working as a freelancer, I returned to eDiets.com in spring of 2013 and immediately helped the
company improve its content and newsletters. Leaning on my previous work as both a tabloid
editor and content creator for several weight loss websites, I turned eDiets into a hybrid website
that is part-tabloid, part-weight loss in nature. At the same time, I began ghostwriting a
Forbes.com blog for Kevin Harrington, chairman of the board for AsSeenonTV.com. eDiets is a
brand of ASTVInc. Harrington was an original Shark on the TV show Shark Tank and is known
as the father of the infomercial.
LEHIGH VALLEY BUSINESS
Editor, April 2012-January 2013
I helped transform the former Eastern Pa. Business Journal into a more focused, content-heavy
publication that covers all things business pertaining to corporate decision makers residing in the
Greater Lehigh Valley. At the same time, I helped launch the new www.lvb.com website and
LVB Daily email blast. While vastly improving all three products, I was able to cut costs, jettison
out-of-the-region writers and enlist content submissions from a knowledgeable array of regional
business experts.
PSYCH CENTRAL
Newsletter Editor, February 2012-September 2013
I work Monday through Thursday compiling the Psych Central newsletters and sending them to
the proper subscriber lists through the Mail Chimp admin. Titles include Depression, Anxiety,
Bipolar, Professional, ADHD, Mental Health Professional and Weekly General. Tasks include
choosing appropriate features from the Psych Central website, writing teasers and headlines,
providing links to the original feature and selecting, sizing and inserting images.
SMART BRIEF
Contributing Editor, November 2008-May 2013
Condense news features into compelling blurbs for daily “briefs” that are sent to professionals in
a wide range of fields, including insurance, construction, aviation, aerospace, gaming, railroad,
and sustainability. Search for features and create a specific brief (currently the twice-weekly
Smart Brief for the Business Traveler). I have filled in on other briefs as needed.
NARGCM COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
President & Chief Writer, January 2007–Present
Provide expert content to assist clients with their websites and/or newsletters. Offer writing,
editing, and consultation services to individuals and businesses. Clients have included
DiettoGo.com, eBrandAid.com, SmartBrief.com, LittleLambKidz.com, and DaddyScrubs.com.
DIET-TO-GO
Chief Editor, January 2010–April 2011
During my tenure as top content man with Diet-to-Go, I nurtured the company website,
www.diettogo.com, towards steady growth, record traffic and soaring page views. Working as a
one-man editorial team, I also created the company's monthly newsletter, wrote press releases,
and handled all social media via Facebook and Twitter. I grew the number of Facebook “fans”
from 300 in early 2010 to 3,100 in early 2011 – and I maintained a daily presence on the social
media sites where I was able to engage and motivate the people who posted comments. Working
with a zero budget, I was able to entice experts in the fields of health, wellness, nutrition, diet
and fitness to contribute content which I then used on the website and in the newsletters. I also
utilized my publishing world contacts to get content from well-known authors.
DIET.COM
Chief Editor/VP of Content, January 2008–August 2009
Oversee content acquisition, creation, and syndication for this top diet and fitness sector website. Work with
the business development, marketing, and technology departments.
• Set new site records and increased total page views and expert feature views by 300% in the first month
alone resulting in constant growth in those areas.
• Recruited more than 30 experts with healthy lifestyle expertise convincing them to contribute free
content in exchange for Internet exposure via the company’s website and weekly newsletter.
• Developed business initiatives with major publishers such as McGraw-Hill, HarperCollins, St. Martin’s,
and HCI.
• Assisted in creating business arrangements with numerous contributing experts.
• Helped Diet.com attain its millionth member and remain a sector leader.
EDIETS.COM
Editor-in-Chief, January 2002–December 2006
Wrote and modified all teasers, headlines, and subject lines for the group of newsletters with audiences ranging
from 13 million to 500,000. Conducted weekly executive sessions and worked with other department heads,
particularly ad sales and marketing chiefs, as an eDiets executive.
• Played an instrumental role in enhancing the brand name of eDiets and responsible for building strong
relationships with dozens of experts, authors, and companies.
• Oversaw and assisted in production of 17 popular online newsletters.
• Managed a small, cost-efficient, and multi-talented team of writers/editors.
• Assisted in hosting a health-oriented website that provided “GOOD” content; team received industry
honors in 2006.
• Served as the popular personality “Mr. Bad Food.”
• Wrote a weekly column that during its best year engendered more than 7,000,000 page views.
• Appeared in onsite videos as Mr. Bad Food and gained national attention, including numerous radio
and online radio interviews.
• Served as the editor of an eDiets “bookazine” project for TIME in 2006.
• Helped launch eDiets.com’s sister site, eFitness.com, in September 2002.
Managing Editor, January 2000–December 2001
Played a major role in taking eDiets from 770,000 subscribers to 12 million subscribers, and from 30,000
paying members to the 250,000 mark. Boosted sales records in the first year with the company.
• Developed the two weekly newsletters into a suite of eight with titles as varied as eDiets Extra (the
flagship Monday-Thursday offerings) and Worst of the Worst Foods.
• Began with one writer and a few experts and freelancers, and later added key staffers and a small
group of renowned experts from diverse areas.
• Promoted to Editor-in-Chief in late 2001 with eDiets acquiring DietSmart.com.
SUN
Senior Editor, February 1996–December 1999
Edited copy, rewrote and wrote stories, oversaw and directed the writing staff, suggested story ideas, wrote
weekly public relations round-up for national media outlets, and handled media and public inquiries.
• Achieved 300,000 weekly sales at Sun tabloid.
Editor, June 1995–February 1996
Managed routine business and editorial aspects of the publication, handling personnel matters, delegating
authority, designing and approving covers and inside pages, selecting story ideas, and writing headlines and
copy. Handled media relations via radio, television, and print interviews.
• Reduced costs and boosted circulation; commended upon by publisher.
Deputy Editor, May 1995–June 1995
Worked closely with Editor, performing similar tasks. Promoted to Editor.
Senior Writer, January 1990–May 1995
Wrote majority of the main stories featured on cover. Rapidly and creatively established a lively copy.
Contributing Editor, September 1988–January 1990
Regularly produced as many as 10 creative stories a day in a three-man writing staff office.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
• Researched and wrote 13 page-a-day calendars published by Andrews McMeel of Kansas City: Topics
include: Amazing But True Golf Facts, Jock Talk, Sports Hall of Shame and Golf Hall of Shame.
• Books written: World's Greatest Sports Brawls for Longstreet Press of Atlanta.
Amazing But True Elvis Facts and From Here to Maternity, published by Andrews McMeel
EDUCATION
PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY ~ Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
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