Patrick Beeson

Patrick Beeson's resumé

Summary

I'm the director of digital communications within University Advancement for Wake Forest University, one of the nation's premier universities, located in Winston-Salem, NC.

I’m a communication technologist specializing in project management, web application development and content strategy. And I enjoy finding innovative ways to enable a more informed public.

Specialization

  • Community management and leveraging the social web
  • Writing and editing for print and web-based media
  • Effective blogging strategy for media and corporate entities
  • Website design and content-application development using HTML, CSS, JavaScript and Django with an emphasis on usability, accessibility and search engine optimization (SEO)
  • Web analytics and its use in developing effective advertising strategy
  • Project management throughout the development life cycle including requirements creation, scope definition, researching vendors and in- house solutions, and user-testing.

Work experience

  • Director of Digital Communications

  • Webmaster

    Developed content management system for VTCRI and its labs; conceptualized development environment for rapid testing and deployment; evolved design for VTCRI and created design for lab websites; advised executive management on best practices for the web; created marketing collateral and campaign for Distinguished Visiting Scholars Series.

  • Content Manager

    Directed content acquisition; led content-related projects; managed vendor relationships; researched and advised on best practices in web content strategy among Scripps' properties and competitors; and served as the in-house expert on Scripps' content management system.

  • Adjunct Professor

    [JEM 200 Newswriting] Taught sophomore communications students how to be dynamic, multi-platform journalists. Emphasized writing for the media, photo journalism, audio editing, HTML and search engine optimization.

    [JEM 422 Managing News Websites] Taught senior-level journalism students about the many responsibilities involved in managing a news website. Emphasized using a content management system, analytics, advertising, HTML and CSS, search engine optimization and social media.

    [Tennessee Journalist faculty advisor] Advised students managing and producing content for the award-winning Tennessee Journalist news website

  • Project Manager

    Managed the planning, development, documentation and launch of products for Scripps' 14 newspaper websites. Also served as the point-of-contact for newspaper site staff about project priorities and status updates.

  • Web Standards Developer

    Lead optimization efforts for roanoke.com and niche websites using Web Standards for performance, accessibility and search engine optimization. Also maintained website infrastructure and developed interactive tools to enhance the user experience and drive engagement.

    • The Roanoke Times/roanoke.com
    • October 2006 to February 2007
    • Roanoke, VA

  • Online Production Editor

    Managed content needs for roanoke.com and niche websites; produced breaking stories, photo galleries, blogs, podcasts, audio slideshows and webcasts; developed special content packages; and lead transition from table-based to CSS-based redesign of roanoke.com.

    • The Roanoke Times/roanoke.com
    • May 2005 to October 2006
    • Roanoke, VA

  • Editorial Intern

    Managed the website equipmentworld.com, and wrote monthly features, profiles and daily briefs covering the U.S. construction industry for both Equipment World Magazine and equipmentworld.com.

  • Graduate Assistant

    Taught core journalism writing labs and the first new media course for the Department of Journalism. Also performed media law research, edited academic articles and served as faculty advisor/editor for datelinealabama.com, the student-run news website for the College of Communication and Information Sciences.

  • Public Relations Intern

    Researched, designed and produced the 2002 media tracking report for multi-national manufacturing corporation UNIFI, Inc.

  • Public Relations Intern

    Assisted with the event planning for the annual Blood, Sweat and Gears cycling ride. Also wrote press releases for Red Cross classes and special events.

    • Watagua County Red Cross
    • January 2002 to May 2002
    • Boone, NC

Education

  • Master of Arts in Communication

    • University of Alabama
    • May 2005
    • Concentration: Journalism
    • Master's project: Weblogs and journalism

  • Bachelor of Science in Communication

    • Appalachian State University
    • May 2002
    • Major: Public relations
    • Minor: Business

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