Clients and Industries Education Awards Contact Information

EXPERIENCE

3/99 – Present

Principal, Keenan Strategic Communications

Providing marketing counsel and communications services to a select group of clients.

• Provided a full range of PR services to Xilinx Corp. during an interim period until Xilinx filled an internal position

• Created a writing skills education program for Interwoven Corp.

• Developed a re–branding program for Nirvana Candles including channel and customer research, positioning and public relations.

• Developed  branding awareness, PR, positioning  and marketing programs for Oak Hill Corporation

• Developed web site and article program for eDFX Services, Inc.

• Created new positioning and branding program for Kiersted Systems, Inc.

• Developed and teach a writing skills education program for Integrated Device Technology, Inc.

• Developed a contributed article program for Compaq’s Enterprise Storage Systems Division (new tactic for this division)

• Newsletter development, writing and editing services on an ongoing basis for the Internal Communications Department of VeriSign, Inc.

• Developed white papers, data sheets and case studies for a variety of networking clients such as Airgo, AirMagnet, Intoto, and PacketMotion.

10/97 – Present

Instructor, University of California at Santa Cruz Extension

• Developed a new public relations curriculum for the continuing education school of University of California at Santa Cruz

• Teach the following courses:

  • “The Power of the Press”

  • “Think Like a Journalist”

  • “Positioning and Communications Workshop”

  • “Business and Professional Writing”

  • “Advanced Persuasive Writing”

• Selected to teach the “Effective Writing” segment of UCSC Extension’s new Management Institute of Leadership Excellence program for high tech executives

 

6/86 – 2/98

President and Principal, Oak Ridge Public Relations, Inc. Cupertino, CA.

• Founded and managed this Business Journal Top 25 PR agency serving high tech clients.

• Successfully launched AMD’s Am 29000 RISC microprocessor against similar technologies from Intel and Motorola

• Introduced and re–positioned Philips Semiconductors in the U.S. market

• Introduced the concept of data warehousing to the IT press as a means of launching Prism Solutions

• Helped Bay Networks to create a new loyalty program through communications to its vendors

• Helped IBM launch a new software venture in multimedia development

• (Additional information on these case studies and others are available on request. A list of the clients I have helped over the years is also available.)

 

4/80  – 12/85

TFB Public Relations, Palo Alto, CA (Division of Tycer–Fultz–Bellack, now BBDO)

Vice President/Account Supervisor (5/84 – 12/85)

Supervised an account team of 10 PR professionals servicing a group of high technology clients. Also responsible for the agency's own external communications program.

• Responsible for strategic direction on my clients’ programs

• Assured high standards of quality from my team

• Assisted the principals in restructuring the public relations department as the agency grew from 25 to 100 people

 

Associate Public Relations Director (5/84 – 12/85)

Administered TFB’s public relations department.

Responsible for recruiting and supervision of PR staff.

• Put the systems and procedures in place that enabled the department to grow from a staff of five to a staff of 25 in two years

• Increased annual billings from about $250,000 to $2 million in the same time period.

Account Executive (4/80 – 6/82)

Responsible for planning, budgeting and implementing client public relations programs

• Part of the team that launched Maxtor and Centigram,

• Working with the advertising side, devised an integrated communications plan that helped Zehntel, Inc. reposition itself from strictly test and measurement to factory automation

• Helped to increase the average client monthly retainer by a factor of five through innovative program development

 

3/79 – 2/80

Public Relations Manager, Acurex Corporation, Mountain View, CA

• Designed and implemented an external communications program for a diversified engineering, research and manufacturing firm.

• Responsible for business and technical press liaison and the development of all support materials.

• Planned and executed two large site dedications.

1/76 – 1/79

Managing Editor, Pharmacy West Magazine, Los Angeles, CA

• Responsible for entire editorial content of monthly professional magazine.

• Researched and reported on industry news and trends.

• Supervised editorial and production departments.