I'm the definitive marketing copywriter seeking assignments in which I master an existing voice or develop an appropriate new tone for a brand, projects in esoteric and intellectually demanding categories, and creative work in almost any medium. My experience lends me credibility in senior, responsible roles.

A versatile and agile writer, moving with ease across media and client categories. Seasoned professional with strong consumer marketing background, complementing business-to-business and not-for-profit experience. Equally adept at advertising, scripts, collateral, editorial, and web.

Freelance and pro bono 
Leslie M. Stern Interior Design, Lowe’s, State Place Chicago, Grande Park, Mark Boyland Realty, Old Cape Cod Realty, EMS Escrow Management Services, 1000 S. Michigan real estate, Valspar paints, Closet Works, Stanley home products, Foster contractor products, Juno Lighting, Team Mechanical, Tempus Construction, Lewis Carpet, Great Rooms, Town & Country Homes, theWIT hotel, Northstar Capital, CMEA Ventures, Bridge Street Capital, Federal Reserve Bank, MFC Capital, Channel Medical Partners, ASN Inc., Armstrong White, Rubicon Technology, Allstate, Citi, Diners Club Carte Blanche Card, CoVest Banc, Discover Card, GE Financial, Qwest, Sam’s Wine & Spirits, Aldi, Caribbean Trading Company gourmet, National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, Kendall College, Solex Autentico Spanish gourmet, 600 West Collection, Office Depot, Winston & Strawn, Baker McKenzie, Wildman Harrold, Tabet DiVito & Rothstein, AC Nielsen, Motorola, CMXchange, Cenveo, Life Fitness, Little Company of Mary Hospital, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, CNA/RSKco, PMA Journal of Professional Medical Assistants, American Medical Association, TRE, Dermalab, American Society for Clinical Pathology, Abbott Laboratories, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Children's Memorial Hospital, Abelson-Taylor, Armstrong White, Segerdahl Graphics, McGrath Press, Palantir, Gus Berthold Electric, Wells Lamont, Blue Prairie Group, Union Leasing, Office Grapevine, Erickson Market Research, Field Museum, Gilda’s Club, Victory Gardens, Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, Village of Palatine, Animal Ark, Holland-America Musical Society

The Fairest Fowl: Portraits of Championship Chickens, photography by Tamara Staples, essay by Ira Glass, all other text by myself, published by Chronicle Books, published 2001. Lead writer on Mohawk Paper Mills sample book entitled Black & White: Defining Moments of Weddings and Marriage, photography by Steven Gross, published 2002. Contributor (on wine) to Cook’s Guide to Chicago by Marilyn Pocius, Lake Claremont Press, published 2002. Chicago Reader, Local Palate, Red House Reserve, American Institute of Wine & Food.

Associate creative director, FCB Impact/Marketing Drive 
Sales promotion and merchandising, advertising, direct mail, packaging.
Chase Bank, Nestle ice cream including Häagen-Dazs, 3Com HomeConnect, Hoover

Senior copywriter, LOIS EJL
Copywriting, project management, independent TV/radio production, client contact responsibilities. 
Alberto-Culver--Mrs. Dash, Tresemmé, Consort Hair Spray for Men, FDS; Jewel/Osco
(more)

Creative director, ESDALE ASSOCIATES 
Authority over the entire creative output of a $6 million agency, working closely with the senior designer as well as freelance designers and writers, photographers, illustrators, talent agencies, stock houses, printers, other suppliers. Responsible for all creative presentations.
Ameritech--Information Industry Services, Telephone Industry Services, Custom Business Services; Follett Inc.--Follett Software Company, Follett Campus Resources, corporate; American Cancer Society Chicago Area; Encyclopaedia Britannica Online; Diners Club Corporate Card; 
Baxter hospital supplies; Knightsbridge Solutions IT consulting; Cambium furniture showroom

Associate creative director, TATHAM EURO RSCG 
Key creative department contact for Ameritech products account, a $15 million segment of the telephone company's $35 million business with the agency. Major role in television commercial productions, screening directors' reels, contributing to bidding process, working closely with directors and production companies on shoots, approving casting, managing music scoring and voiceover sessions, attending edits. Produced 20+ radio spots in 1993-1994 alone. 
Ameritech, Vidal Sassoon, Stouffer's Lean Cuisine, Miles One-A-Day, Ralston pet foods, Hoover, Hubbard Street Dance, Chicago Children's Museum
 
Senior copywriter, BAYER BESS VANDERWARKER 
Gatorade, Auditorium Theatre Council, Ameritech, Main Street stores, Helene Curtis 

Copywriter, J. WALTER THOMPSON/Chicago 
Kraft--Cheez Whiz, salad dressing, Miracle Whip, corporate; Oscar Mayer--Bologna, Lean Meats, new products; Beatrice--La Choy, Swiss Miss Hot Cocoa; S.C. Johnson--Halsa, Soft Sense, Glade; Wilton--Copco kitchenware; Ameritech; Literacy Council of Chicago; Museum of Contemporary Art

AWARDS
AIGA 365 Annual, Adweek's Best Spots of the Year, Chicago International Film Festival, J. Walter Thompson USA print ad of the year, Kraft Inc. commercial of the year, Chicago 50 top annual reports/Unisource, Creativity Annual, PRINT Regional Design Annual, American Corporate Identity, Effie, Business Marketing Association, Communicator Awards, Summit Awards, American Institute of Wine & Food national award, Chicago Women in Publishing Award of Excellence.

Northwestern University 
BS Communication Studies. English minor; coursework in journalism, film and music history and criticism, social sciences, wine tasting. Dean's list, National Merit Scholar, Illinois State Scholar.

Author’s Guild of America, Chicago Women in Publishing. American Cancer Society wine auction co-vice chair. Evening Associates of the Art Institute of Chicago--vice chair programming, vice chair marketing, hospitality chair. Jane Austen Society of North America--regional gala committee. Stephen Kelly print awards regional judge. Lifeline Theatre benefit chair. Northwestern University Alumni Seminar Day committee.  Various courses and seminars in writing, music history, literature, art, computer skills, and French at the Newberry Library, Northwestern Medill School of Journalism, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, American Management Association, University of Chicago Graham School. 

Chicago Wine School advanced certificates.  Lecturer on wines with European Uniworld Cruises, Vantage Tours, and through foodwinedesign, Midwest Wine Consultants, and Distinctive Wines & Spirits.  Member, Society of Wine Educators. Adjunct faculty: Robert Morris College Institute of Culinary Arts.