Award-Winning Writer and Editor with 25+ Years Experience

STEPHEN C. DAMISH

** ******* ****, *******, **, *2767 / 508-***-**** / *****.******@*****.***

Expertise:

I am an accomplished and award-winning writer, editor, journalist, marketing expert, social media manager, teacher and tutor who brings enthusiasm, expertise, precision and pride to every project I oversee, every challenge I undertake and every team I join. What I Have Accomplished:

● Have won more than 35 national and regional writing and journalism awards, including a first place national award in 2017 from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

● Built and maintained WordPress website for Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. Provided photos, videos and 90 percent of content – updated site continuously: www.BNHC.org.

● Increased BNHC Facebook audience by 500 percent, and social media audience tenfold.

● As managing editor of a daily newspaper, The Enterprise, I oversaw the successful transformation of our largely print product to a vibrant online and interactive news site.

● Seasoned grant writer at BNHC with a 90 percent success rate.

● Named Daily Newspaper Journalist of the Year in 2007 by the New England Press Association for the award-winning “Wasted Youth” series on the area’s drug epidemic. I was featured on the national A&E TV documentary.

● Expert at community engagement, marketing and social media.

● Experienced college lecturer, certified high school English teacher (MA license #355687), youth coach and substitute teacher.

● Currently teaching at Foxboro High School and the Ahern Middle School (Foxboro).

● Visionary and planner – well-versed in organizing events from a small donor-focused discussion group to a local road race to a 500-person gala.

My Experience:

Public Information Officer & Assistant Director of Development, Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, Brockton, MA, August 2019-April 2025

● Grant writer, event organizer, social media expert, website builder, public spokesperson and media liaison. Organized the BNHC 2022 Gala honoring Ken Feinberg. Started office newsletter. Led community engagement effort. Organized company’s annual staff contests (Halloween, etc.).

● Built and maintained the new website, wrote all press releases, created fliers and posters.

● My media knowledge and connections helped get 48 stories, both local and national, published about BNHC on TV, radio and print reports, including the TODAY Show. Managing Editor, The Enterprise Publishing Co., Brockton, MA, 2005-February 2019

● Responsible for all aspects of news operation of then 72,000-circulation newspaper, website and social media, from writing news budget, to assigning and editing stories to managing personnel.

● Helped news staff do its best work in the paper’s 138-year history despite dwindling resources, and earn national recognition for our reporting on the region’s drug epidemic.

● Pioneered our web presentation and social media campaigns. Metro Editor, The Enterprise, 1995-2005

● Ran news desk, managed reporters and copy editors, oversaw budget and took over for managing editor in his absence.

● Wrote national and local award-winning column formerly named “Coffee and Damish.” Reporter, Copy Editor, The Enterprise, 1987-1995

● Covered area for the region’s largest daily newspaper; weekend copy editor. Features Magazine Editor, Reporter, Foster’s Daily Democrat, Dover, NH, 1984-1987

● Covered news, wrote stories, and also edited and prepared the weekly Showcase Magazine, which covered the arts in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region. Sports Editor, The Marblehead Reporter, Marblehead, MA, 1983

● Wrote stories and prepared weekly sports section. Education:

- University of New Hampshire - 1983, Bachelor of Arts, English

- Springfield College - 1979, studied teaching

Other attributes:

● Well connected and respected throughout the region by bank and college presidents, school superintendents and principals, attorneys, doctors, writers, CEOs and other successful professionals. Have deep regional respect and connections from my years as a local journalist.

● Expert at grant writing, social media, and working for a nonprofit.

● Helped write and produce the A&E documentary “Heroin Hits Home,” which examined the toll of the region’s addiction epidemic. The show was based on my newspaper stories.

● Skilled marketer and public relations expert. Have been on camera several times.

● Have coached youth sports for 20 years, and been a longtime substitute teacher, volunteer, and religious education instructor.

● Visiting Journalist, 2009, at the University of New Hampshire.

● Former advisor to the newspaper club at Bridgewater-Raynham High School.

● Member of Walpole High School Hall of Fame (academics). Top awards:

● First place in the country for column writing, 2017, National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

● Inaugural winner, 2015, of the New England Newspaper Association Bob Wallack Community Journalism Award.

● First place in the country, feature writing, in 2005 and 2008 from the American Association of Sunday and Features Editors.

● First place, feature writing, in 2005, 2007, 2008 and 2012, from the New England Newspaper Association.

● First place in the country, feature writing, 2008, Suburban Newspapers of America. ● Second place in the country, 2005, column writing from the American Association of Sunday and Features Editors.

● Journalist of the Year for daily New England newspapers, 2007, from the New England Newspaper Association. Have won more than two dozen other writing awards. References:

- Michelle Pontbriand, former Director of Development at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, ***********@*****.***, 508-***-****

- Samantha Halloran, Compliance Director at Greater Lawrence Community Health Center, and former co-worker at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center. ******@*****.***, 617-***-****.

- Sue Joss, former CEO at Brockton Neighborhood Health Center, *****@****.***, 508-***-****.

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