
Director of Web Strategy at Johns Hopkins University
Washington D.C. Metro Area

Director of Web Strategy at Johns Hopkins University
Washington D.C. Metro Area
With journalism and marketing backgrounds, I approached my most recent leadership position as the VP, interactive for The Baltimore Sun Media Group as an opportunity to extend one of the most powerful brands in Maryland into the digital space. The BSMG products -- baltimoresun.com, baltimore.metromix, ExploreHoward.com, bthesite.com and MarylandWeather.com -- reach online Marylanders wherever they want to be, online and on their smartphones.
Strategic planning, team-building, leadership, vision, revenue generation, industry knowledge, futurism, user interface, site architecture, usability, advertising creative, video, audience development
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
November 2008 — Present (9 months)
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; TRB; Online Media industry)
February 2007 — August 2008 (1 year 7 months)
Served as the strategic and operational leader of the division of the company which has been growing readership and revenue since 1996. Named VP in 2007.
• Led a network of Maryland’s most popular and financially successful internet sites, including the flagship BaltimoreSun.com.
• Managed an annual budget of $20 million.
• Launched breakthrough advertising programs, including Tribune’s first in-house long-form video production department.
• Developed innovative editorial efforts including bthesite.com, a news-aggregation play for a younger audience, and the relaunching of 15 community news publications under the regional “Explore” umbrella brand.
• Managed a 50 member staff, comprising the following departments: editorial, advertising, design, marketing, finance.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; TRB; Newspapers industry)
February 2005 — February 2007 (2 years 1 month)
Directed all operational aspects of the interactive division. Worked closely with the general manager, editor and director of sales to craft strategic vision. During this period, my chief duty was the development of all strategic and operations plans for the division. Introduced the concepts of blogging and podcasting to our traditional newsroom.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; TRB; Newspapers industry)
2002 — 2005 (3 years)
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; TRB; Newspapers industry)
2000 — 2002 (2 years)
Led the transformation of the interactive team from an independent, self-contained organization to one tightly integrated with Tribune systems and philosophies. At the same time, led a major redesign of the news site, including a rebranding of the flagship brand from SunSpot.net to BaltimoreSun.com. Also launched major brand extensions including Bay & Beach and On Campus. Launched the largest consumer marketing program to date in the interactive division for the rebranding of BaltimoreSun.com. Brought such innovations as RSS, user-customizable experience and behavioral targeting to the site.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; TRB; Newspapers industry)
1998 — 2000 (2 years)
As the chief editorial manager of the site, my role was to shape both the daily mix of stories as well as to set the longer-view of the types of content we would be producing. It was during this period that our main news site - SunSpot.net - first went “live” with coverage of the Clinton impeachment. Though we were not actually staffed for this, the necessity was clear, and the reader reaction was strong and positive. Based on this experience, I led a campaign to justify additional content positions to allow us to present live and updated coverage every day.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; TRB; Newspapers industry)
June 1996 — November 1998 (2 years 6 months)
I was a core member of the small team that developed and launched The Baltimore Sun’s first web presence in 1996. I developed all marketing materials, drove the focus-group process, designed the site systems and, in conjunction with a vendor, the design elements. We experimented early with ideas and concepts that would become common in news sites over time: live chats, bulletin boards, streaming audio, user-generated content, photo archives and large magazine-style graphics.
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
1995 — May 1996 (1 year)
Launched the interactive division at Chesapeake Advertising. Wrote and designed advertising campaigns for clients in the banking, home-building and gaming industries.
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
1992 — 1995 (3 years)
Responsible for concept and execution of agency advertising, design and collateral. Clients included Black & Decker, Maryland Department of Economic and Employment Development and Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Maryland.
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
1991 — 1992 (1 year)
Worked for a variety of agencies and clients in Baltimore in the development of advertising campaigns and copy. Won an ADDY award for best newspaper campaign.
(Marketing and Advertising industry)
1990 — 1991 (1 year)
Created and grew VanSant’s agency promotions and public relations department, serving both clients and the agency itself. Clients included Jiffy Lube, Columbia Hospital for Women and Baltimore Reads, a local adult literacy advocacy group.
(Privately Held; 51-200 employees; Marketing and Advertising industry)
1986 — 1989 (3 years)
At the time of my employment, the company was called RM&D. Planned, supervised and implemented a wide range of public relations programs for such clients as Waterford Crystal, DuPont, The Rouse Company and BWI Airport.
(Broadcast Media industry)
1981 — 1986 (5 years)
As assignment editor, was directly responsible for the daily coverage of news on the top-rated television news program in Baltimore.
1977 — 1981
1977 — 1981
MDDC Best news web site
Addy Awards - Best newspaper campaign