Joe Pettitt

Current

• Independent Professional at WFO Media (Self-employed)

Past

• Editor, Sport Truck Magazine at Primedia
• Managing Editor, Sport Truck Magazine at Primedia
• Director, Public Relations at TDC Communications (Sole Proprietorship)

• PR Director at Stewart Holt Advertising
• Isuzu SUV Account Executive at Freeman/McCue Public Relations

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Education

• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

Connections

4 connections

Industry

Automotive

Joe Pettitt’s Summary

Proven ability to meet deadlines: Most of my career has been as a staff editor for monthly magazines where I generated and edited concise articles to a specific space and word count using the AP style guide.

Experience in corporate communications: My experience in public relations refined my skill in working within a multi-layered approval process to meet deadlines. I also developed skills in planning, executing, and measuring strategic communications as well as analyzing communications opportunities, to reach various stakeholder audiences.

Extensive interviewing skills: To generate articles I regularly maintain a list of contacts, interview and correspond with several sources to gather facts, opinions and quotes.

Excellent technical writer and communicator: I regularly translate highly technical and engineering sources into clear, concise prose for magazine articles. Most of my experience is with physics and mechanical engineering regarding the performance and safety of automobiles.

Joe Pettitt’s Specialties:

Accomplished Photographer: I’m a skilled photographer with experience in both film and digital as well as in Adobe Photoshop. I also have some experience with video editing using Final Cut Pro and supporting software.

Computer Skills: I’m proficient in Word, Excel, Filemaker, PowerPoint, QuarkXpress, PageMaker, Canvas, Photoshop, Mail; Mac OS 9, OS X and Windows.

Joe Pettitt’s Experience

• Independent Professional

  WFO Media (Self-employed)

  (Self-Employed; Myself Only; Public Relations and Communications industry)

  September 1993 — Present (16 years 3 months)

  •Author of seven high performance automotive technical books: How To Install High Performance Car Stereo; High Performance Honda Builder's Handbook vols I & 2; How to Install and Use Nitrous Oxide, Sport Compact Turbos and Blowers, Sport Compact Nitrous Injection, Diesel Performance Handbook.
  •Wrote articles for Sport Compact Car Magazine, Super Street Magazine, Hot Rod Magazine, Chevy High Performance Magazine, Motor Trend's Truck Trend Magazine, 4-Wheel & Off-Road Magazine as well as photographing the Tokyo Motor Show for Motor Trend Magazine.
  • Wrote for Ron Cogan’s Green Car Journal.

• Editor, Sport Truck Magazine

  Primedia

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Automotive industry)

  October 2004 — February 2005 (5 months)

  • Create and manage editorial content of magazine.
  • Manage staff and freelance assignments for quality and adherence to deadlines.
  • Edit/rewrite freelance copy to meet standards of Style Guide.
  • Maintain professional presence in industry.
  • Budget management

• Managing Editor, Sport Truck Magazine

  Primedia

  (Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Automotive industry)

  August 2002 — October 2004 (2 years 3 months)

  • Created article ideas, wrote and shoot technical articles. Primary OE contact for road test reviews.
  • Managed workflow of three staff editors.
  • Managed Sport Truck of Year competition

• Director, Public Relations

  TDC Communications (Sole Proprietorship)

  (Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Automotive industry)

  March 2001 — February 2002 (1 year )

  •Served as primary media contact for Brembo North America and Old World Industries (OWI). Brembo is a tier one original equipment manufacturer of automotive brake components, replacement parts and high performance and racing brakes. Old World Industries major automotive brands include SplitFire spark plugs; Peak coolants and fluids; Fleet Charge Commercial Vehicle coolants, and Herculiner Truck bed liners.
  • Provided strategic and tactical Public Relations counsel to Agency clients.
  • Managed media relations staff.
  • Generated press materials
  • Pitched/placed articles in trade and consumer media
  • Ghost authored technical articles for placement in trade and consumer media

• PR Director

  Stewart Holt Advertising

  (Automotive industry)

  2000 — 2001 (1 year )

• Isuzu SUV Account Executive

  Freeman/McCue Public Relations

  (Marketing and Advertising industry)

  January 1999 — March 2001 (2 years 3 months)

  • Lead role in developing strategic use of the national press fleet ($800,000
  budget). Supervised fleet vendor activity to ensure timely and professional delivery of test vehicles to booked media.
  • Manage and maintain relationships with national automotive media.
  • Pitched and placed product stories and arranged senior executive interviews with all major media outlets.
  • Increased earned media exposure in ad equivalent dollars by 31 percent per model. Up from $1,005,222/model to $1,312,219/model.
  • Researched, wrote, and edited, articles, speeches, and reports for senior executives as well as writing news releases, and producing press kit materials.
  • Participated in planning and implementing 2000 and 2001 model years long lead media events. The 2001 event included launching 2002 model on-sale in 2001.
  • Experience in crisis communications surrounding Isuzu Motors America Vs. Consumer Reports.

Joe Pettitt’s Education

• California State Polytechnic University-Pomona

  BA , Philosophy

Joe Pettitt’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch