Account Executive Customer Service

KENNETH D. SEVERSON JR.

*** ****** **

Greenwood, IN 46142

317-***-**** Cell

***************@*****.***

OBJECTIVE

To obtain a position as where I can utilize my skills as a public/media relations specialist or writer/editor.

EXPERIENCE

INDIANA STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH – Indianapolis Aug. 2006 – Present

Media Relations Coordinator: As Media relations coordinator I attend to all needs of the Indiana and national media concerning all matters of the Indiana State Department of Health, one of the main branches of the Indiana State Government. I also write press releases and inform the public and media in the event of happenings or outbreaks. I also worked in the Policies and Grants Division from August until December of 2006.

THE JOHNSON COUNTY DAILY JOURNAL – Franklin, Ind. Feb. 2003 – Present

Sports Reporter: Currently, I’m working as a sports writer for The Daily Journal, a daily newspaper serving the southern suburbs of Indianapolis. I write deadline stories covering prep and college sports, the Indy Racing League, Champ Car, NASCAR, NHRA and Formula 1. I also write feature stories on athletic individuals and athletic trends in all sports.

LEGISLATIVE SERVICES AGENCY – Indianapolis Jan. 1999 – May 2006

Editor: I edited bill proposals, drafts and committee reports in the Legislative Services Associates -- Office of Code Revision branch of the Indiana State Government (99-06). I worked with government officials including representatives as well as attorneys. I also kept records of each bill and rewrote text where necessary. I transferred to the Indiana State Department of Health in Aug., '06, first as a grants writer and editor before moving to media relations.

SIGMA AUTOSPORT – Bridgeview, Ill. April 2000 – July 2002

Account Executive & Director of Media & Public Relations: I was the Media/Public relations contact for the CART racing team, Team PRG (2000) which later became Sigma Autosport (2001-02). I handled public relations for the team, sponsor and drivers Luiz Garcia Jr., Oriol Servia, Max Papis, Rocky Moran Jr., and Michael Krumm, and had several stories and articles published in news periodicals, the Internet and radio/television coverage. I wrote and produced press kits and all information on four websites (team, Garcia’s, Papis' and media) and press releases. Worked with media relations staff at CART. I had several stories and articles in major publications and television, including RPM2-Nite on ESPN, CBS, plus stories on Associated Press, United Press International, Reuters and Copley News. I traveled internationally and oversaw a staff of five. In addition I was responsible for media relations for clients Jack Victor Clothing, Lycos, Carry Transportation and Wieringa Sports Inc.

DAVIS RACING – Midland, Texas Dec. 1997 – Jan. 2000

Vice President of Communications: Public/Media relations contact for CART racing team. I worked out of my home in and maintained public/media relations for Davis, the team sponsors and drivers Gualter Salles and Arnd Meier. Created team website and publicity for Davis Racing. Helped publicize team by getting them on national television (ESPN & ABC). Wrote and produced team media kit and newsletter and traveled with team nationally and internationally. Davis Racing ceased operations in 1999.

USDC & ASSOCIATES INC. – Indianapolis Jan. 1997 - Nov. 1997

Account Executive and Team Public Relations: Media relations staff writer for Brown & Williamson Tobacco Company of Louisville, Ky., which sponsored the Team KOOL Green CART & Indy Lights racing entries. Created stories for website and racing press and worked with drivers Parker Johnstone, Chris Simmons, Mark Hotchkis, and Naoki Hattori. Helped create media image and maintain copy on website for KOOL's racing endeavors. I also helped to publicize KOOL/Toyota Atlantic Championship racing series. I also worked on accounts for client Lucky Strike. Traveled nationally and internationally.

DEKE HOULGATE ENTERPRISES – Torrance, Calif. July 1995 - Jan. 1997

Account Executive: Public relations rep for Pennzoil and the Pennzoil racing teams. Handled media requests for IndyCar Rookie of the Year, Gil de Ferran. Worked closely with Indy 500 winning owner Jim Hall on media matters. Wrote press releases and created publicity for Pennzoil and Hall Racing. Also worked with CART driver Scott Pruett and Patrick Racing. Generated media kits, stories and public interest in SCORE International off-road racing and I was worked with clients Briggs & Stratton, the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving and STP Products. I created the youth running program for the Redondo Beach Super Bowl 10K Run for Houlgate. Other clients I worked with include NHRA racer Eddie Hill, and NASCAR Craftsman Truck racer Felix Giles. With Houlgate, I traveled internationally. Owner retired in Jan., 1997.

PALOS VERDES PENINSULA NEWS – Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. July 1990 - July 1995

Sports Editor: Wrote, created and designed sports pages for newspaper serving South Bay of Los Angeles. Wrote headlines, captions, plus weekly column. Other jobs included agate and layout. Beats included prep, college and some pro sports. Did Los Angeles Clippers home games during 1994-95 season. Also worked as Education Editor and reported on city, political and entertainment beats.

PHONEMATE, INC. – Torrance, Calif. Feb. 1988 – July 1990

Account Executive: I first started out as the customer service writer where I wrote pamphlets and instructions for PhoneMate, a company specializing in telephone answering devices. I was then promoted to public relations executive where I helped create national public awareness of PhoneMate. I was also executive editor and head writer for the company’s newsletter.

INTERTEK SERVICES INC. – Rolling Hills Estates, Calif. Aug. 1985 - Feb. 1988

Account Executive: I worked as the public relations contact for Intertek, a company specializing in job placement for high technical companies such as TRW, Hughes, Boeing and Lockheed. My position involved creating new clients and working with the prospective employees and their positions. Intertek later relocated to the Washington, D.C. area before eventually ceasing operations in 1994.

DS CORPORATION – Des Moines, Iowa Dec. 1983 - July 1985

Intern/Account Executive: I started out as an intern at a small public relations company and was hired on during my senior year in college. I wrote and produced press kits and press releases for a variety of clients including the Hungry Hobo restaurant, the Des Moines Country Club, Brandeis department stores, The Fun Factory, Show Biz Pizza & B.J.’s Picture Show. I relocated to California after my graduation in the summer of 1985.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

Various writing assignments include The Columbus (Ind.) Republic, Shelbyville (Ind) News, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Herald Examiner, Las Vegas Sun, Laughlin (Nev.) Daily News, Lake Havasu (Ariz.) Daily Tribune, Lake Country (Iowa) Tribune, Redondo Beach (Calif.) South Bay Easy Reader, Manhattan Beach (Calif.) Reporter, Cal High Sports, Storyboard, Motorsports Business, Bikini, and Team Licensing Business. Public relations assignment include M*Side Inc., Pos-A-Traction Industries, the Marlboro Grand Prix of Miami, Texaco Grand Prix of Houston, Della Penna Motorsports, Project Indy Racing, Miller’s Outpost, May Company, Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, Hybrid Racing, Blueprint Racing, ISM Racing, EuroInternational Inc., Chadwick School, Wherehouse Entertainment, and Inglewood Tire.

SPECIAL SKILLS

Experienced in all types of writing, including reporting, feature writing, technical writing, publicity writing and communications. I have established several media contacts in the sports, business, radio, television and newspaper industries and have had experience in crisis management.

AWARDS

Placed third in the Hoosier State Press Association Foundation 2006 Better Newspaper Contest. My entry was the month-long coverage of the 2006 Indianapolis 500 in the Best Sports Event Coverage in the Daily Newspaper – Division II.

EDUCATION

B.A. in Journalism at Grand View University with honors in journalism. Also attended Drake University and the University of Iowa.

ORGANIZATIONS

Member of the Football Writers Association of America (since 1992) and the American Auto Racing Writers & Broadcasters Association (since 2005).

REFERENCES

Rick Morwick, Sports Editor – Johnson County Daily Journal 317-***-****

Kathleen Wachs, Warranty Executive – Lexus 310-***-****

Amy Reel, Phillipsburg Ranch – 317-***-****

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