The Yellow Bluff Company

Vice President of Marketing, Yellow Bluff Development Company, LLC, Midway, GA

2003-2012

Vice President of Marketing

Created "Yellow Bluff: Live it for a weekend or a lifetime" campaign, sales and marketing strategy that resulted in securing Coastal Living Magazine's 2008 Holiday Coastal Cottage; multiple awards at 2007 CNBC International Property Awards in London; and 2006 Pulse On America's "Residential Development of Distinction" feature on The Travel Channel.

Wrote the Yellow Bluff script and coordinated extras and props for 2-day Travel Channel film and photo shoot.

Handled website design, blogging, e-newsletters and social media; printed collaterals; magazine, billboard, television and radio advertising; DVD production; copywriting and scripting writing; and public relations.

Prepared investor and architectural guideline booklets. Coordinated realtor training, open houses, and monthly events.

Designed marketing for Sea For Miles (Florida properties). Conducted marketing research for potential duplex project Flemington Oaks.

Worked with Managing Partner and attorney after closing of Yellow Bluff (2011-2012) while also handling freelance writing, marketing projects, and social media training for clients/companies via D Brown Creative Group.

The HERITAGE BANK

Assistant Vice President of Business Development, The Heritage Bank, Hinesville, GA

2001-2003

Assistant Vice President of Business Development

Developed "Best Bank" image, corporate and multi-unit retail marketing, and business development strategy used to take community bank from 11 locations to 32 locations in Coastal Georgia including traditional marketing, public relations, event planning, community relations, vendor relations, e-communications, and website design (the bank's first online presence).

Savannah Technical College

Director of Marketing and Foundation, Savannah Technical College, Savannah, GA

1998-2001

Director of Marketing and Fundraising

Created "Learn a Living" comprehensive marketing plan for change to college status including revamping logo/image, creating positive "buzz", increasing enrollment by 30%, and strengthening Foundation membership and fundraising efforts.

printgraphix

Senior Vice President, Printgraphix, Hinesville, GA

1996-1998

Senior Vice President

Increase sales by 40% of 40-employee, award-winning offset printing, screen printing, and cap manufacturing company.

Focused on product promotion; national client management; marketing & business plan preparation; corporate image; 10-member sales team management; employee strategic mission facilitation; tradeshow exhibit coordination; and design and production of brochures, fliers, magazine ads, and catalogs.

Liberty COunty School System

Public Relations Director, Liberty County Schools, Hinesville, GA

1989-1996

Public Relations Director

Developed award-winning public relations department for large school system with focus on new logo/image and collaterals; recognition for employee and student morale; recruitment; event planning; grant & speech writing; lobbying; professional photography; and more.

Served as information officer and official spokesperson during Desert Storm international attention on Liberty County.

Won multiple NSPRA "Awards of Excellence" for collaterals.

Gresham, Smith & Partners

PR Director/Marketing Coordinator, Gresham, Smith & Partners, Charleston, SC

1979-1982

Public Relations Director/Marketing Coordinator

Directed award-winning public relation efforts and marketed services of 50-employee leading national architectural/engineering firm for multi-million collar corporate and health-care projects.

Prepared project proposals, presentations, technical manuals, and workload projections.

Handled media coordination, press releases, copywriting, scriptwriting, article writing, and event planning.

Served on corporate marketing team for Nashville, Charleston, Dallas, Birmingham, and Jacksonville offices.

Published Writing Experience

BOOK ANTHOLOGIES

Multiple inclusions in Chicken Soup for the Soul (Simon & Schuster), The Chocolate Series (Simon & Schuster), Not Your Mothers Books (Publishing Syndicate) along with A Quilt of Holidays (Silver Boomer Books), From Eulogy to Joy (Beischel/Strom); The Embrace of a Father (Bethany House); The Word from St. Simons (New Voyages Publishing); and From the Heart 2: More Stories of Love and Friendship (Coastal Villages Press).

STORY HIGHLIGHT

"Love Notes," originally published in Chocolate for a Women's Heart, was picked up for reprint: for an audio book, for Chocolate for a Woman's Heart & Soul, for Chocolate for a Woman's Heart condensed book in a national JC Penney Mother's Day gift promotion, by Chicken Soup for the Soul, by King World News for international distribution, and for Woman's World Magazine.

MAGAZINES

Monthly humor column titled "Life's a Peach" in Liberty Life Magazine; and contributor in Guideposts Magazine, Woman's World, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles, Total Business Lifestyle (international), World's Best Magazine (international), and more.

BLOGS

Creator and editor of Slice of Coastal Life, Southern Deb, My Yellow Bluff, and The Uphill Climb.

AWARDS

Winner of CNBC International Property Awards by submission of project picture books; Josephine Melinchamp nonfiction writing award; the Daphne Chambles Juvenile Writing Award; Sue Ellen Hudson Inspirational Award; Southeastern Writers Association Humor Award; Southeastern Writers Angel Award; Charleston Advertising Federation "Addy" Awards; and National School Public Relations Association Awards of Excellence.

WRITER AFFILIATIONS

Humor Writers of America; Southern Humorists; Southeastern Writers Association (former President); Georgia Writers Association; Guidepost Workshopper; She Writes; and numerous online writing groups.