CECIL HARRIS

adz1mq@r.postjobfree.com

muckrack.com/cecil-harris-1

SUMMARY

•Editor/Writer with 10+ years of experience in marketing and strategic storytelling for a variety of audiences.

•Proficient at translating technical information into clear, concise, and relevant content for various marketing pieces, specifically as a verbal and written communicator for Con Edison, Prudential and Adelphi University.

•Expertise in using Associated Press style to convert high-level procedural information into media and marketing materials for general readers.

•Experienced as a researcher, writer, editor, project manager, proofreader, fact-checker, collaborator and liaison who produces accurate and consistent messaging that adheres to a company’s branding standards.

•Skilled at collaborating with senior managers, SMEs and dept heads for effective internal communications.

EDUCATION

Fordham University, New York City

Bachelor of Arts in Media Studies (summa cum laude)

Muckrack.com

Media Relations Certificate

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Adelphi University, NBCNews.com, BoxscoreNews.com Feb 2019 – Present

Freelance Writer

•Write for Adelphi’s websites and newsletters.

•Collaborate with Adelphi’s marketing communications teams to create content related to specific university programs and faculty profiles for specific readers.

•Conduct research and interviews to create compelling content and manage deadlines.

•Write articles and opinion pieces for NBCNews.com and BoxscoreNews.com.

Con Edison Feb 2016 – Aug 2018 and Feb 2021 – Dec 2022

Senior Specialist, Corporate Communications

•Developed communication strategies and messaging to company’s 14,000 employees on return-to-work policies, COVID-19 policies, company initiatives, hirings and promotions.

•Wrote and edited sustainability report in collaboration with department heads and subject matter experts.

•Collaborated with art director, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers to produce effective content for the company’s intranet, websites, social media channels and newsletters.

•Wrote and edited executive communications including speeches, scripts, PowerPoint presentations and briefing sheets; opinion pieces; and recommendation letters.

•Assisted in crisis communication messaging during extreme weather events.

•Helped to manage content and establish editorial calendars for newsletters and social media posts.

•Gained proficiency in SharePoint and Workfront.

University of Nebraska Press Jan 2018 – Jan 2021

Author

•Wrote Different Strokes: Serena, Venus, and the Unfinished Black Tennis Revolution (published in Feb 2020), focusing on the business of tennis, Black tennis history and the impact Serena and Venus Williams have had on the sport.

Prudential Financial Mar 2015 – Feb 2016

Senior Communications Specialist

•Collaborated with senior management on PowerPoint presentations, speeches and marketing materials.

•Worked with designers, project managers, compliance dept to ensure that content met company standards.

•Managed multiple projects and worked with other depts to develop and target B2B marketing efforts.

•Served on marketing communications teams to retain clients and attract new clients.

Adelphi University Feb 2013 – Mar 2015 Multimedia Writer

•Wrote, copyedited, proofread, interviewed, and reported; collaborated with other departments on projects to promote the University.

•Worked on projects for School of Education including newsletters, magazine articles, and marketing pieces.

•Managed a team of student writers and photographers each semester.

Prudential Financial Apr 2012 – Dec 2012

Freelance Editorial Consultant

•Wrote, copyedited, revised, and repurposed promotional and marketing materials for the retirement division including memos, brochures, flyers, newsletters, direct mail, white papers, and PowerPoint presentations.

•Collaborated with public relations, investor relations, branding, customer communications and compliance depts to ensure alignment with company branding, style guides, and messaging.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

Stitcher/SiriusXM Aug 2021 – Sep 2022

Podcast Host

•Hosted “All-American: Venus and Serena,” a 10-part series on tennis legends Venus and Serena Williams. Narrated, wrote, edited, and interviewed newsmakers for the series.

Multiple News Outlets Jun 1993 – Sep 2018

Sports Journalist

•Covered various beats, developed sources, broke news, and produced articles on deadline.

•Refined storytelling skills.

•Conceived fresh angles for story ideas.

•Consistently met deadlines.

•Earned awards for reporting.

•Wrote game stories, enterprise articles, sidebars, columns at events such as the World Series, NBA Finals, Summer Olympics, Stanley Cup playoffs, U.S. Open tennis, NCAA basketball tournament, pro football, college football, boxing, soccer, track and field, and the New York City Marathon.

•Outlets included Gannett Newspapers, New York Times, New York Post, Newsday, New York Daily News, the Associated Press, Raleigh News & Observer, and The Indianapolis Star.

Praeger, Ivan Dee, Lyons Press, Insomniac Press Jan 2004 – Feb 2020

Author

•Contributed a chapter to the anthology, African Americans and Popular Culture, 2008

•Wrote Charging the Net: A History of Blacks in Tennis, 2007 (New York Times’ Editors’ Choice selection)

•Wrote Call the Yankees My Daddy, 2005 (memoir and historical treatment on baseball)

•Wrote Breaking the Ice: The Black Experience in Professional Hockey, 2004 (received Sun God award for outstanding research from Society of North American Historians and Researchers)

New York Road Runners Jun 2006 – Jun 2016

Writer/Editor (contractor)

•Covered New York City Marathon and other major races on deadline for NYRR publications and nyrr.org.

•Wrote, edited, proofread, fact-checked content for NYRR magazines, newsletters, and social media posts.

•Original reporting and research for media guides and press releases.

Major League Baseball Feb 2008–Jul 2008

Project Manager (contractor)

•Drafted articles, proofread, copy edited, developed story ideas and fact-checked text and statistics.

•Supervised production of History of the World Series and the Official All-Star Game Program.

•Managed other special projects, such as team media guides and magazines.

Work samples at muckrack.com/cecil-harris-1 and Linktr.ee/officialcecilharris.

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