PO Box 2032, Dennis, MA 02638
617-470-8171 ~ bweber8@hotmail.com
PUBLISHING, ONLINE MEDIA & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Multifaceted communications leader with significant experience creating and developing magazines, websites, and marketing media. Award-winning, strategic thinker who identifies, initiates, and capitalizes on branding and outreach opportunities to build audience engagement. Seasoned team leader and problem-solver who effectively manages multiple priorities under pressure, on deadline, and on budget. Known for strong work ethic, creative approach, mentoring skills, and commitment to success.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Business & Strategic Planning ~ Product Launch ~ Editorial Content & Design
Online-Media Solutions ~ Audience Development ~ Media Relations ~ Marketing Insight
Internal Communications ~ Project Management ~ Team Leadership ~ Staff Development
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL, Boston, Massachusetts ~ October 2009 – August 2023
World leader in business education, ideas, and innovation.
Director of Alumni Communications: Led digital and print publishing, strategic marketing, social media, and audience development efforts that leveraged Harvard Business School content, conferences, and thought leadership in order to engage the alumni community and strengthen its commitment to the school. Led innovative work on lifelong learning awareness; HBS for Life initiative marketing; and engagement projects (the HBS Alumni Wilderness Survival Handbook; Take an Alum to Lunch Day; Alumni New Venture Competition; Making A Difference campaign). Work was recognized with a Webby Award, a W3 Award, a Hatch Award, and multiple honors from CASE (the Council for Support and Advancement of Education).
· Oct. 2009 - Nov. 2010: Associate Director of Alumni Relations/Content Engagement
CCI CROSBY PUBLISHING, Boston, Massachusetts ~ 2006 – 2009
Custom publisher focused on education, technology, health, and 50+/senior-lifestyle markets.
Editor in Chief: Directed editorial operations and new-business planning for magazines, websites, and marketing e-newsletters. Clients included: Discovery Channel, National Cable & Telecommunications Association.
· Primary client contact in ensuring content quality, brand consistency, and new-business growth.
· Streamlined staff structure by recruiting editorial and design teams per project. Reduced personnel costs by 20% in first year and increased profitability for new projects.
· Grew reprint business with new products, generating over $100,000 in sales in 2008 and 2009.
KING FISH MEDIA, Salem, Massachusetts ~ 2005 – 2006
Custom-media firm that creates magazines and websites for corporate marketing, sales, and branding.
Editor: Created the editorial concept for SmallBizResource.com, a 300+ page website about small-business technology for solo entrepreneurs and micro-business owners. Launched for client CMP Media in February 2006.
· Assigned, edited, and wrote 15-20 articles per week and developed a substantial library of other content resources. Managed a $200,000 annual editorial budget.
· Developed biweekly e-newsletters and blogs to attract and track repeat visitors.
· Site attracted 500,000 unique visitors in the first month.
MASSACHUSETTS BAR ASSOCIATION, Boston, Massachusetts ~ 2001 – 2005
Largest association of lawyers, judges, and legal-professional in Massachusetts.
Director of Communications and Marketing: Managed staff of 17 for publications and websites, media relations, membership marketing, internal communications, ad sales and sponsorships, and data systems.
· Redesigned the MassBar.org website and created e-newsletters and brochures to improve member communication and engagement. Won industry awards for website design and conference marketing.
· Raised the association’s visibility statewide by expanding key press contacts, aggressively promoting leadership and policy initiatives, and increasing radio marketing and media placement.
· Converted the association’s 3-day Annual Conference from a yearly financial loss to a profitable event through targeted marketing, increased paid exhibits, creative programming, and tight cost controls.
· Spearheaded a drive to unify 12 departments and 45 databases under a central data management plan. Overcame staff resistance and won board approval to purchase a $400,000 data system that streamlined financial controls, membership processes, and program planning and marketing.
· Managed all print work, resulting in smoother workflow, consistent design, and $60,000+ cost savings.
BOSTONHERALD.COM, Boston, Massachusetts ~ 1998 – 2001
News website of Herald Interactive Media.
Editor / Vice President: Developed content policies and overall navigation/structure; managed launch and design enhancements; directed web-exclusive news reporting.
· Built trust among the newspaper’s top editors to feed breaking news stories to the website.
· Created 13 daily e-mail alerts targeted by subject and day-parts to drive traffic, resulting in 6.5 million page views monthly within 2 years.
· Supervised 6-person staff covering a 24-hour news cycle.
· Negotiated first-in-nation content-sharing partnerships with CNN, MSNBC, and e-Bay.
BOSTON HERALD, Boston, Massachusetts ~ 1984 – 1998
Second-largest daily newspaper in Massachusetts; owned by NewsCorp before sale to Herald Media.
Assistant Managing Editor: Served as Arts, Entertainment &Television Editor (1984 –1998) and Sunday Magazine Editor (1984 – 1989).
· Tripled arts coverage to 75 pages weekly, generating significant new local advertising.
· Managed 13 staff editors and writers and 30 freelance correspondents.
· Created TV Plus, a weekly entertainment magazine with color-coded program grids and extensive feature articles; won National TV Book Awards in 1996 and 1997.
· Repositioned the Sunday magazine to focus on politics, business, trends, and profiles.
EARLY CAREER
TEENAGE MAGAZINE, Lowell, Massachusetts ~ 1983 – 1984
Editor in Chief: Repositioned a national scholastic quarterly into a popular monthly for teens with trend pieces, celebrity interviews, and survey-based lifestyle features.
BOSTON MAGAZINE, Boston, Massachusetts ~ 1980 – 1983
Managing Editor: Supervised editorial workflow, copy editing, fact checking, and pre-press production.
LOWELL SUN, Lowell, Massachusetts ~ 1976 – 1980
Feature Writer / Sunday Desk Editor: Wrote profiles and trend articles; edited news for the Sunday edition.
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
Bachelor of Arts in Humanities, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Honors in Humanities ~ Western Reserve Scholar, 1976
Consulting
Provides editorial and communications-strategy services to nonprofit and corporate clients, including the Sloan Center on Aging & Work at Boston College, King Fish Media, Cable in the Classroom, Schol@stic Administrator
Speaking Experience
Effective website content and design ~ E-newsletters and e-mail marketing ~ Real-life media relations ~ Recruiting and retaining association membership
Professional Associations
American Society of Association Executives ~ Online News Association ~ Massachusetts Innovation & Technology Exchange ~ National Association of Bar Executives ~ Public Relations Society of America
Teaching
Journalism Instructor, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts ~ 1982 –1983
Activities & Interests
Nobscussett Property Owners Association (president, board member) ~ High Street Hill Association (past president) ~ Lincoln School Advisory Council (parent representative)