W. Mark Whitlock Virtual Portfolio

Résumé

2007-09-08T16:33:00.000-07:00

Career Capsule
Working in media and marketing since 1988 with an emphasis on writing for audio, print, and internet. Strong reputation as creative, innovative, and strategic. National radio spokesperson. Team leader, guerrilla marketing champion, accomplished presenter, and veteran meeting facilitator. Author or co-author of seven resources including the amazon.com top-25 bestseller, Simply Romantic® Nights. Synthesizes text, images, audio, and video for creative product packaging.

Professional Experience
Creative Director
GSF Media
Smyrna, Tennessee
January 2009 - January 2011

Developed and implemented strategic marketing plans for implementation through radio
Directed and managed a team of freelance sound designers
National radio spokesperson for World Vision (13,000+ sponsored children in two years; Equivalent of $5.4-million per year)
Relationships with leading radio networks and stations
Wrote, directed, and produced short- and long-form audio programming (media buys for programming in excess of $1-million annually)
Work with clients such as World Vision, Women of Faith, and Turning Point.

Freelance Writer and Marketing Consultant
Franklin, Tennessee
Current

Marketing Writer (by Contract)
Birdsong Creative, Franklin, Tenn.
Recent clients include an internet company, a publisher, a building contractor, and an entertainment company.

Bible Study Discussion Guide Writer
20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Anchor Bay Entertainment, and Walden Media
Work with marketing and release teams to create family discussion guides for certain titles. (Click title to view/download)

Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Walden)
Nim’s Island (Fox)
Space Chimps (Fox)
Horton Hears a Who (Fox)
Love’s Unfolding Dream (Fox)
Young at Heart (Fox)
Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll (Fox)
Ace of Hearts (Fox)
Garfield’s Funfest (Fox)
Elephant Tales (Fox)
Her Best Move (Fox)
Moondance Alexander (Fox)
Tugger (Anchor Bay)
Dog Days of Summer (Anchor Bay)
Pahappahooey Island (Anchor Bay)
City of Ember (Fox)
Angel Wars (Fox)

Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Nashville, Tennessee
2004 - 2007

Senior Acquisitions Editor Biblical Reference
Nelson Bible Group
12/2005 - 3/2007

Strategic annual publishing plan for $10-million business unit
Deal memos, contract negotiations, sales forecasts, expense budgets, marketing budgets
Worked with marketing department to create and implement marketing plans
Spokesperson for Smart Guide to the Bible Series; more than 25 radio interviews
Content development
Recruited, hired, supervised, and paid editors, graphic designers, typesetters, and other workers
Followed publishing process
Presented the Bible in a creative and approachable way for deeper learning
Worked daily with several software packages and technological solutions for print
Worked daily with database applications

Regional Manager, Eastern U.S.
Nelson Ministry Services
3/2004 - 12/2005

Created strategic plan for account list
Worked closely with accounts payable
Built strong relationships with ministries and Christian businesses in territory
Exceeded my sales goal for fiscal year 2005, $1.8-million
Exceeded my sales goal for fiscal year 2006 in 9 months, $2.1-million
Served ministries, non-profit organizations, colleges, and churches along the Eastern seaboard through strategic planning, donor development, author relations, and custom publishing

Portfolio and references available at whitlockportfolio.blogspot.com or in book form by request.

FamilyLife
Little Rock, Arkansas
1992 - 2004

Manager, Resource Creation
FamilyLife Publishing
2001 - 2004

Created and supervised a publishing plan
Created and supervised a marketing plan for each major release
Member of ministry’s Strategic Marketing Team
Wrote and implemented marketing plans for Turn off the TV campaign, Simply Romantic Nights, and other products
Spokesperson for Resurrection Eggs (radio, TV, print), Simply Romantic Nights (radio and TV), Fifty Nights of Family Fun (radio), Passport to Purity (radio and print), and other resources
Content development
Led a team through the creative, editorial, marketing, and design processes for many new product ideas
Helped develop the publishing process
Built and maintained relationships with vendors, authors, radio guests, and ministry leaders
Extensive experience with technological solutions for print, interactive media, audio, and video
Worked daily with several databases
Commentator on “FamilyLife This Week”

Manager, Resource Marketing
1998 - 2004

Built relationships with ministries and publishing companies
Built relationships with authors and broadcast guests
Helped craft marketing plans

Producer/Engineer
“FamilyLife Today”
1992 - 1998

Directed more than 600 recording sessions
Cast production vision for more than 1500 editions of the NRB-award winning broadcast
Produced audio marketing collaterals for ministry
Helped develop the radio production and fulfillment process
Served as writer/producer for several audio drama vignettes
Part of the event planning team for the Congress on the Urban Family (1995)

Focus on the Family
Colorado Springs, Colorado
1991 - 1992

Broadcast Editor, "Focus on the Family" Daily Program
Edited and post-produced eight editions of the daily program each month
Wrote and produced PSAs

WMSL, 88.9 FM
Athens, Georgia
1990 - 1991

Morning Drive Announcer/Public Information Director
Built relationships with audience as DJ
Wrote news stories

WUGA, 91.7 FM (An NPR Affiliate)
1989 - 1990

Stringer reporter for local breaks during “All Things Considered”
Produced two 4-minute news features each week.
Assistant director for “Once in a Blue Moon,” a live variety show for Peach State Public Radio.

Education

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (ABJ)
University of Georgia, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, emphasis in radio

Volunteer Experience

President of the Parent/Teacher group at Little Rock Christian Academy. Increased communication between parents and faculty, raised more than $30,000 a year through fundraisers.
Eagle Scout (class of 1984). Raised more than $2,000 for local (Atlanta area) Leukemia research by creating, promoting, and running a Bike-a-Thon with local corporate sponsors.
Short-term Missionary to Mexico and Seoul, South Korea

Letter of Reference from Wayne Kinde

2007-09-08T16:15:00.000-07:00

A physical copy of this letter appears in my portfolio in book form.

March 20, 2006

To Whom it May Concern:

I've worked with Mark Whitlock at Thomas Nelson as co-workers for over a year and have seen the kind of commitment and loyalty I admire in an employee. When an opening arose within my publishing division, I jumped at the chance to inquire if Mark was available. It was December 2005 when I hired Mark to join my staff as a Senior Acquisitions Editor, and it was the beset decision I could have ever made. Not to sound too flowery in a letter such as this, but for me it was a life-changing hire.

In taking the various strengths tests, Mark ranked very high in strategy. This was a critical piece of my business that I needed. But more than that, I saw in Mark a relational person (not highly likely in someone so strategic) who could bring a strong sense of cohesiveness in relating to authors, agents, and fellow co-workers. This relational side of Mark is what was most dynamic in my life, both professional yand personally. Mark prayed with authors and agents while he was speaking with them. There wasn't a time when Mark didn't ask them, "How can I pray for you?" To my knowledge, Mark always asked me the same question after each of our weekly meetings. And we prayed. Sometimes it was gut-wrenching and we cried together.

This is the kind of person Mark became in my life; yes, more than just a great employee who had a great strategic mind, saw the big picture, executed well in everything he did, and made awesome presentations. He was a friend, a person who cared more about the relationship, looked for ways to help others on the team, and a great man of God who had Him in his mind. And it showed.

If I were to make any more hiring decisions, I would attempt to look for a man or woman just like Mark Whitlock. I give him the highest recommendation a Vice President of a $250 million business could make.

Respectfully submitted,

Wayne R. Kinde

Letter of Reference from Bob Lepine

2007-09-08T16:08:00.000-07:00

A physical copy of this letter appears in my portfolio in book form.

February 4, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

I had the distinct pleasure and joy of working with Mark Whitlock for more than a decade at FamilyLife. I hired Mark to come to work with us as we were launching a new daily radio program, "FamilyLife Today," in late 1992. Mark brought skill and commitment to his work as the recording engineer, and editor for the program. He viewed his work as a vocation more than a job, and gave himself fully to any assignment. I most appreciated his creativity and his discerning ear as he listened critically to each program we were creating. He was fully engaged in what he was doing.

Mark's transitioned from the broadcasting team to our publishing division and brought greaet skill and creativity to that area, as well. His portfolio speaks for itself. The projects that were under his direction were created with excellence, and a commitment to quality and substance. He dreams big and presses others around him to fresh ways of thinking about resources and products.

If I can answer any questions you might have about Mark and his time at FamilyLife, please don't hesitate to call.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Bob Lepine

Letter of Reference from Gregg Stutts

2007-09-08T15:59:00.000-07:00

A physical copy of this letter appears in my portfolio in book form.

February 2, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

For just over three years, I had the privilege of managing Mark Whitlock as he led our product development efforts at FamilyLife Publishing. Mark is without question the most energetic, optimistic, and creative person with whom I've ever worked. In fact, one consultant referred to Mark as a "genius." Along with these traits, comes a man with integrity, compassion, and the heart of a servant.

The products that Mark almost single-handedly created for us have generated millions of dollars in revenue and will continue to do so. He is leaving big shoes for someone to fill.

His vision, creative leadership, enthusiasm, and energy will be missed. He is a can-do, "charge the hill" guy who is not content with current results or the status quo. If you're looking for someone to make a difference and work toward aggressive goals - Mark is your man.

The ideal environment for Mark is where he is able to bring his creative energy to bear on a project. He is able to take plain vanilla and turn it into a multitude of flavors and textures. He sees what's possible, not what "can't be done."

Mark will add great value to an organization. If you believe that might be your business or organization, I would be more than pleased to talk with you about Mark. Feel free to call me or email me at your convenience.

Sincerely,

Gregg R. Stutts

Letter of Reference from Bob DeMoss

2007-09-08T15:50:00.000-07:00

A physical copy of this letter appears in my portfolio in book form.

February 10, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

A number of years ago, Mark Whitlock and I worked at Focus on the Family for Dr. James Dobson. Last year, our paths crossed again when I joined the staff of FamilyLife. What a real privilege it has been to have worked twice with such a talented and gifted man.

Without hesitation, Mark is one of the most creative persons I've ever known. He's much more than a strong writer and "big idea" thinker. He has this knack of seeing beyond "what is" to "what could be." His insights and optimism are infectious.

Indeed, Mark is a real gem for the right company.

Keep in mind, Mark's level of creativity and his "can do" attitude are not for everyone. If you need someone to function with a "business as usual" approach, Mark is not your man. That would be like harnessing a race horse to plow a field.

If, however, you want someone who draws outside of the lines, who uses more colors than a Crayola jumbo pack, and who sticks with the drawing until satisfied with the finished product, Mark is the guy you want on your team.

Like any visionary, Mark sails the highest when appropriately tethered by a support team who can help him with the nitty-gritty details. Properly equipped, he's unstoppable.

On a personal level, I've watched Mark in action with his family on many occasions. He is a deeply devoted husband and father who is actively involved in the lives of his wife and children. I believe his care and commitment to them carries over into his passion and integrity on the job.

If I can be of further assistance, don't hesitate to call.

Sincerely,

Bob DeMoss

Letter of Reference from Betty Rogers

2007-09-08T15:40:00.001-07:00

Here is the text from the letter of reference from Betty Rogers. A physical copy of this letter appears in my portfolio in book form:

February 11, 2004

To Whom it May Concern:

I am delighted to write a letter of reference for Mark Whitlock. He was my manager for over four years as Product Selection Manager and then Acquisitions Editor in the FamilyLife Resource Department.

I was saddened to lose Mark as a co-worker and manager. He and I had worked on many projects together. I researched for him and attended brainstorming meetings on new products. Mark is so creative that if you gave him a topic, he could name 15 products or versions of it and then 30 ways to market it! He always thought of marketing ideas that had never been done before by FamilyLife. All of the products he developed were very successful.

Mark motivated those around him to believe in themselves, new products, and new ways to do things. I learned so much from him and he gave me many opportunities to grow. I developed several new products and improved existing ones. He was passionate about everything he did - very dedicated and articulate. He generated energy and excitement. He is definitely outside-the-box. He made coming to work fun and challenging - each day unique. He often wrote notes of encouragement and praise that were specific, not general. I always felt like I had spent my time with purpose and actually accomplished something every day. I am a more useful employee to FamilyLife as a result of working under his leadership. He also made me feel like a co-laborer instead of a person reporting to an authority. As young people say - there was no fear - just freedom to develop and contribute my thoughts freely.

If you desire a person who is a man of God working with excellence, loyalty, and creativity, then you should hire Mark Whitlock. Everyone in your company will be a better employee and person just from being around him.

In His service,
Betty Rogers

Contact Betty Rogers directly.

Note from a Team Member

2007-09-08T15:37:00.000-07:00

I received this precious note from one of my team members. I hope that the leader discussed in this note shows up more days than not.

Links

2007-09-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Please follow these links to writing samples from my career. These writing samples are held by various copyright holders. Duplication is prohibited.

Feature article for FoxFaith.com at the release of "Horton Hears a Who." This article was released to BeliefNet's monthly entertainment newsletter list.

Feature article for FoxFaith.com at the release of "Moondance Alexander."

Cover Story for regional magazine, MD News.

Article written about my dad, baseball, and the lessons of life. This article was published in a local magazine in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Please look over the Family Fun Discussion Guides for Walden, Fox, and Anchor Bay.

Jonah: A Very Veggie Family Adventure (Foreword)

The Strangest Word in the English Language.

United Airlines has a regular feature called Row 22, Seats A and B. I wrote my own version of this serial. Unpublished.

Article about my experience as a bearer of the Olympic flame. This article appeared in Arkansas Health and Wellness Magazine.

A patriotic piece.

A Christmas remembrance.

Writing about The Apprentice.

Article written about Thomas Nelson's reference tools. Published in several places on the internet.

For more examples of writing, visit my blog.

Thomas Nelson Tenure

2007-09-08T14:27:00.000-07:00

I joined the team at Thomas Nelson in March of 2004.

They hired me as a ministry consultant for the Eastern Region. I served ministries, churches, seminaries, and Christian businesses along the East coast, Southeast, Arkansas, and Illinois.

During my tenure, I exceeded my sales goals ($1.8M and $2.1M) and helped with the release of several big titles from Charles Stanley, John Maxwell, and Dennis Rainey.

I am most proud of two projects.

I had the privilege of helping the sports ministry, Upward Unlimited, create its new player's Bible. In the past, they had used a full text New Testament. Their research showed, however, that the kids weren't interacting with the Bible. Very few had opened it. The readership statistics of the magazine included in the package every player received were much higher. Nelson's success with BibleZines allowed us to help Upward combine the magazine content with a four-color presentation of the gospel of Matthew. More than 500,000 were printed during the first year. Upward received rave reviews from parents whose children were reading and interacting with the Scriptures. Upward has renewed their relationship with Nelson for two more years. More than 800,000 copies of the Gospel of Mark will be distributed this year.

This project was significant because I was used by God to help thousands of children interact with the Bible. I was blessed by God through this contract as well. It was the largest contract our division signed during 2004.

Don Wilton's book, Totally Secure, was a pleasure to acquire for Thomas Nelson. This book was more than a sales invoice. We developed a strategy for Dr. Wilton's broadcast interests and wrote a marketing launch plan for the book.

In January of 2006, I was recruited by the Reference and Electronic division of Thomas Nelson Publishers. Wayne Kinde named me his Senior Acquisitions Editor of the $10 Million publishing unit "General Reference". I set out to accomplish three goals:

Mine the rich backlist of titles to create a new generation of tools

Develop ways to use modern typesetting and graphic design techniques to make reference books more accessible and fun to use

Create a new line of "inspirational reference" books to crack Barnes and Noble, Borders, and Books-a-Million (i.e., travel, writing tools)

During my time as Senior Acquisitions Editor, I worked on a number of projects. My favorites:

How to Get Ready for Short-Term Missions

Smart Guide to the Bible Series

Everyday Reference Series (4 books)

Nelson's Student Bible Handbook

Simply Romantic Nights

2007-09-08T13:53:00.000-07:00

Simply Romantic Nights is the most successful resource I've worked on.

What is it?
Twenty-four date night adventures for married couples packaged with first-rate teaching on why God created romance and sex in the first place.

Best-seller Status
CBA overall list, #22, April, 2002
CBA marriage list #5, April, 2003
Christian Retailing list #23, February 1 - 15, 2003
Christian Retailing list #79, February 16 - 28, 2003
amazon.com #23, February 14, 2003

My Role
I served as the resource creator, project leader, and marketing champion.

Wrote the date nights

Wrote or adapted articles for the book

Recruited other writers

Gave artistic direction for graphics and manufacturing

Wrote marketing plan, purchased media, created ads, wrote and produced radio commercials

Samples
You can hear some of the marketing pieces at my iDisk site.

A full copy of this resource is available upon your request.

Customer Reviews
Some users have posted at ChristianBook.com
Others have posted at FamilyLife.com
Amazon.com comments can be found here.
Comments at BarnesandNoble.com
Focus on the Family continues to feature the resource.

A sequel, Simply Romantic Secrets, was published. The ministry sold out of the first print run of 25,000 in six months, but decided not to reprint due to the cost of production. You can read a user comment here.

Excerpt from Jonah: A Very Veggie Family Adventure

2007-09-08T13:28:00.000-07:00

Note: This article appeared as the foreword to the discussion guide within the product.

Everything You Need to Know About Family Adventures (But Didn't Know to Ask)

As you and your family experience Big Idea's first VeggieTales movie, Jonah, your children are being set up for dozens of teachable moments. A Very Veggie Family Adventure is designed to help you capture them and plant biblical truths deep into the hearts of your children. And because it's from Big Idea, FamilyLife, and Zonderkidz, you can expect to:

laugh so hard that slushy comes out your nose
apply biblical answers to the real-life questions that your kids ask
grow closer and communicate better as a family
make lifelong family memories

Journey Through the Adventure
Capturing teachable moments can be as difficult as finding a public restroom when you're potty training a two-year-old. To help keep you moving, we divided each adventure into easy-to-understand pieces. Every adventure follows the same five-step process. As Jerry Gourd might say, it helps you "eat the jelly donut one bite at a time."
May God generously honor your attempts at leading your family spiritually.

Packing for the Adventure
Most items you will need for each adventure are found in and around your house. Each session begins with a list of what you will need to complete all ativities. Feel free to make any substitutions you find appropriate.

Jonah's Journey
When you were in school, did you ever study the details of a subject and then forget the overall concept? That happens often in Bible study. Sometimes we can't see the ocean for the seashells. This section is designed to help keep the ocean in view when your family gets together.

Jonah's adventure is not myth, allegory, or fairy tale. It is as real as the book you're holding. Jonah's story is a miracle--a storm that begins and stops suddenly, a fish that swallows a man (but doesn't digest him), and a massive city dropping to its knees in repentance.

Our children need the framework of Jonah's story--along with the message behind the events--to fully understand the ten lessons taught by the movie and this resource. While this is an optional section, we encourage you to enjoy this activity and make it a part of each family adventure. Your family has an opportunity to learn this story in such a way that you will never forget its messages.

The video includes a song called "Jonah's Journey, " which reviews the entire story found in the Bible. (Words to this song are found on the tabletop map.) This song will help you teach your children the chronology of the story in a fun, easy, and memorable way. We've also included a tabletop map of Jonah's journey that will help you review the story and tie it in to real places.

For those of you who have a little more time and/or desire a more interactive approach, you can find ideas on-line at www.familylife.com/bigidea.

Behind the Scenes at Big Idea
Bob and Larry start off each video segment of the adventure. Then you'll go behind the scenes at Big Idea Productions and meet the people who work on the stories starring your favorite Veggie characters. These people give you a sneak peak at some movie-making fun while sharing how they use the lessons found in Jonah in their own lives.

Anchors Away!
This section outlines the easy five-step process that walks you through the adventure. Follow each step, if you like , or use this section as just a guide to help you keep the adventure moving. As you read through the adventure before your family night, make notes so that you personalize these guidelines in a way that best suit your family.

Captain's Log
Every good adventure has a record of events. As you move through the adventure and end each one with prayer, create your own personal memory log. Write down the date and your prayer requests as you conclude each session. As God answers your prayer with "Yes," "No," "Wait," or "I have a better plan," record His answer as well. This is a good tool to use for further communication with God. Use pages 135 to 140 as your Captain's Log.

Swab the Decks
Make cleaning up fun (Okay . . . how about tolerable?) for your children. At the end of every adventure, you'll discover a crazy method for disposing of trash and putting away supplies.

Dropping Anchor
Concepts are best learned and remembered through repetition. Between adventures, remind your family to reflect on what they learned by posting these cards on your refrigerator. Refer to them every day as you fetch milk, juice, dinner fixings, and late-night snacks.

Jonah: A Very Veggie Family Adventure

2007-09-08T13:27:00.000-07:00

What is it?
Then get-off-the-couch, laugh-out-loud family devotions from the biblical account of Jonah.

FamilyLife assigned me to work on overall constituent response to our Jonah promotion.

Co-authored the resource

Wrote and directed three video segments for resource

Worked on marketing plan

Wrote some of the direct mail piece

Wrote some of the email blast

Results
More than 35,000 copies of the resource sold in less than 12 months. Big Idea considered us one of the strategic partners in the success of opening night.

One family posted comments here

A full copy of this resource is available upon request.

Passport to Purity

2007-09-08T12:22:00.000-07:00

Passport to Purity is one of the most significant projects of my career.

What is it?
"Everything you need for a life changing weekend getaway with your preteen. Five teaching sessions on audio by Dennis and Barbara Rainey used to facilitate conversations between a father and son, mother and daughter, or single parent and child. Topics include the authority of the Bible, peer pressure, the facts of life, purity, and dating.

More than 80,000 copies have been distributed since its release in 1999. It has become one of the most successful resources for FamilyLife and is now considered a classic purity resource.

I served as the overall project leader. I wrote the teaching and dramatic scripts. You'll even hear my voice at points. I supervised the original graphic design, produced some of the audio and supervised the production of the rest. You can read about my team on the credits page. I also wrote the content for the original website.

Comments
I invite you to read a few of the stories that have been sent into FamilyLife.

You can also read additional comments at amazon.com

Worldwide Challenge, the official magazine of Campus Crusade for Christ, featured Passport to Purity in a recent article.

Original Cover:

New Cover:

A copy of Passport to Purity is available upon request.

Wizards, Hobbits, and Harry Potter

2007-09-08T11:26:00.000-07:00

In 2001, FamilyLife reviewed the top search terms on familylife.com.
#1 sex
#2 divorce
#3 Harry Potter

The ministry regularly addresses the top two, but had not uttered one word about #3. Number 11 on the list was "Pokemon". In 2001, I was assigned a research project: develop outlines for broadcasts and a web-delivered information sheet regarding fantasy literature, video games, and Pokemon cards.

The response to the broadcasts was so large, the ministry asked me to expand my findings into a book and radio special. The book, Wizards, Hobbits, and Harry Potter was born in 2002. Christian retail embraced the book and it found it's way into all of the major chains and online retailers. The book was featured in Parable's and LifeWay's direct mail catalogs.

The article on Tolkien was used in an edition of FamilyLife's online magazine, The Family Room. It is available at my iDisk site. You'll find the article on page 23 of the PDF>

The article on "The Power of Story" was used as a two-part commentary on "FamilyLife This Week." Listen to the records by downloading them from my iDisk site.

Day one audio begins at 21:08
Day two audio begins at 9:43

Adore Him

2007-09-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

After the success of Adorenaments, we decided that we would like to produce some ancillary products. Music made the most sense.

I served as Executive Producer for FamilyLife. I traveled to Nashville to meet with record companies and secure a music publishing partner. I also wrote, recorded, and post-produced the devotionals.

"Adore Him" contains twelve Scripture memory songs based on the core verses from Adorenaments. We also included ten devotionals voiced by significant names in Christian Ministry like Kay Arthur and John MacArthur.

Frank and Betsy Hernandez, the award-winning writers of "Hide 'Em in Your Heart", were secured as the writers.

The project was released for the Christmas season in 1998.

Adorenaments sales increased in all channels and the CD itself endured for several seasons and reached the top 20 kids CDs during December 1998.

Listen to samples in the "Adore Him" folder.

Catalog copy:
Help your child worship Jesus this Christmas with these 12 fun, easy-to-learn songs. Before you realize it, your child will know 12 Scripture verses and more deeply comprehend the character of God. Written by Frank and Betsy Hernandez, the co-creators of "Hide 'Em in Your Heart," these are songs your family will enjoy year round.

As an added bonus, you can hear today's top communicators - including John MacArthur, Steve Green, and Dennis Rainey - gently explain the great truth behind each name.

Spiritual Ops

2007-09-08T10:17:00.000-07:00

In response to Operation: Iraqi Freedom, FamilyLife asked me to serve as a team leader for a prayer campaign. We called it "At War and On Our Knees."

The campaign consisted of:

Five broadcasts on "FamilyLife Today"

Local media interaction including securing TV interviews for Dennis Rainey

Coordinating with other ministries within Campus Crusade fro Christ

Interviewed former and existing military personnel and their spouses to create a prayer card. We also created a lapel pin that served as a reminder to pray.

More than 20,000 cards and pins were distributed within 14 days.

The card still exists in PDF form for download. The ministry occasionally discusses military issues and offers the card.

Front and back:

Interior:

FamilyLife's Turn Off the TV Fast

2007-09-07T21:07:00.000-07:00

During the last several years, FamilyLife has exhorted families to fast from television during August. In 2002, we created static clings as creative reminders. These vinyl images affix to your television screen as a reminder to keep the TV off.

I created fifty TV-free ideas that were posted on our website and delivered in a daily email to subscribers.

Broadcasts during July recruited families to pledge their commitment to turn off the TV.

In 2003, we expanded the ideas and published them in Fifty Nights of Family Fun. This book has had a successful run at retail and was picked up by Wal-Mart.

FamilyLife presented the plan here.

Two-Tenths of a Mile

2007-09-07T20:56:00.000-07:00

This article was written for Arkansas Health & Living Magazine in 2002.

“Hold it high!”
As I turned to begin my leg of the 2002 Salt Lake Olympic Torch Relay, those words echoed in my mind. As I lifted the golden flame above my head, I thought about the advice of countless track coaches: the most important part of any relay race is the baton exchange. Carrying the Olympic Flame as one of more than 11,000 Torch Bearers proved this once again. Reflecting on my role in this 13,000 mile journey, I am reminded of three important life principles.

Life is Short
The Torch earers gathered together at a local grocery store before being shuttled to where we would receive the flame. All those dressed in white, silver, and blue shivered and shook hands. I met the man who would pass the flame to me and the man to whom I would pass the flame. Both of their stories reminded me that our lives are like mist that appears for a little while, then vanishes. In the same way that each Torch Bearer only carries the flame only two-tenths of a mile, our lives are but a short distance here on earth.

I received the flame from Dan, a grocery store executive. He was excited about running through the neighborhood where he grew up. He told me, with a twinkle in his eye, about the area and some of the changes that had occurred since he lived there. Then the twinkle disappeared momentarily. An armed robber had killed his son. His son was the manager of the grocery store we stood in front of—the same store that was destroyed by a tornado a few years ago. The twinkle returned as Dan talked about his wife and other children. He also wondered aloud about whether his life is making a difference.
The man I passed the flame to is named Dennis McCrackin.

Dennis is the longest surviving heart transplant recipient in the state. After I ignited Dennis’ flame, we shook hands. He looked me squarely in the face and said, “What I’m about to do, I do in honor of all the families who gave the gift of life through organ donation.” Later that night, I wished him another 20, 40, even 60 years of good health. With the same determination as earlier, he said, “Mark, I’ve been given more time than I ever expected. I could die tonight without regret.”
I left the celebration determined to make my life, even if it is as short as my torch run, matter as much as these men’s lives.

Stormy Weather Friends Exist
Arkansas winter visited roadway Street that night. Despite the cold and the rain, Lee, Chuck, Jeff, Todd and their families cheered me northward of my journey. Seeing their faces, I realized this wasn’t the only bad weather we had experienced together. These men have been there when life has pounded the hardest.
And it was my best friend of all, my wife Kaye, who nominated me for this honor. I think her smile may have been brighter than the flame I carried.

Wisdom Matters
I’ve been asked often, “What does the Torch Run mean to you?” The run is an analogy of my life. It’s my job to receive the flame from my parents, carry it faithfully for a short time, then pass it to my children. The flame is wisdom—skill for everyday living.

As I made the final turn of my two-tenths of a mile, I saw my family waiting on the corner. There, standing next to my parents, were my three children. It was the perfect picture to finish my run. My parents have taught me so much about integrity, generosity, and the importance of family. My children are still wide-eyed learners soaking up as much as they can about life. May I be found a faithful bearer of the flame of wisdom.

Audio Samples

2007-09-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Please listen to samples of my writing and production work by visiting my iDisk site and looking in the "W. Mark Whitlock's Audio Sampler" folder.

StrengthsFinder

2007-09-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

The entire staff of Thomas Nelson went through Marcus Buckingham's book, Now Discover Your Strengths and the associated strengths inventory.

The inventory created this profile for me:

Top Five Strengths:
Belief
Ideation
Strategic
Input
Communication

The report defines these gifts as follows:

Belief
If you possess a strong Belief theme, you have certain core values that are enduring. These values vary from one person to another, but ordinarily your Belief theme causes you to be family-oriented, altruistic, even spiritual, and to value responsibility and high ethics-both in yourself and others. These core values affect your behavior in many ways. They give your life meaning and satisfaction; in your view, success is more than money and prestige. They provide you with direction, guiding you through the temptations and distractions of life toward a consistent set of priorities. This consistency is the foundation for all your relationships. Your friends call you dependable. "I know where you stand," they say. Your Belief makes you easy to trust. It also demands that you find work that meshes with your values. Your work must be meaningful; it must matter to you. And guided by your Belief theme it will matter only if it gives you a chance to live out your values.

Ideation
You are fascinated by ideas. What is an idea? An idea is a concept, the best explanation of the most events. You are delighted when you discover beneath the complex surface an elegantly simple concept to explain why things are the way they are. An idea is a connection. Yours is the kind of mind that is always looking for connections, and so you are intrigued when seemingly disparate phenomena can be linked by an obscure connection. An idea is a new perspective on familiar challenges. You revel in taking the world we all know and turning it around so we can view it from a strange but strangely enlightening angle. You love all these ideas because they are profound, because they are novel, because they are clarifying, because they are contrary, because they are bizarre. For all these reasons you derive a jolt of energy whenever a new idea occurs to you. Others may label you creative or original or conceptual or even smart. Perhaps you are all of these. Who can be sure? What you are sure of is that ideas are thrilling. And on most days this is enough.

Strategic
The Strategic theme enables you to sort through the clutter and find the best route. It is not a skill that can be taught. It is a distinct way of thinking, a special perspective on the world at large. This perspective allows you to see patterns where others simply see complexity. Mindful of these patterns, you play out alternative scenarios, always asking, "What if this happened? Okay, well what if this happened?" This recurring question helps you see around the next corner. There you can evaluate accurately the potential obstacles. Guided by where you see each path leading, you start to make selections. You discard the paths that lead nowhere. You discard the paths that lead straight into resistance. You discard the paths that lead into a fog of confusion. You cull and make selections until you arrive at the chosen path-your strategy. Armed with your strategy, you strike forward. This is your Strategic theme at work: "What if?" Select. Strike.

Input
You are inquisitive. You collect things. You might collect information-words, facts, books, and quotations-or you might collect tangible objects such as butterflies, baseball cards, porcelain dolls, or sepia photographs. Whatever you collect, you collect it because it interests you. And yours is the kind of mind that finds so many things interesting. The world is exciting precisely because of its infinite variety and complexity. If you read a great deal, it is not necessarily to refine your theories but, rather, to add more information to your archives. If you like to travel, it is because each new location offers novel artifacts and facts. These can be acquired and then stored away. Why are they worth storing? At the time of storing it is often hard to say exactly when or why you might need them, but who knows when they might become useful? With all those possible uses in mind, you really don't feel comfortable throwing anything away. So you keep acquiring and compiling and filing stuff away. It's interesting. It keeps your mind fresh. And perhaps one day some of it will prove valuable.

Communication
You like to explain, to describe, to host, to speak in public, and to write. This is your Communication theme at work. Ideas are a dry beginning. Events are static. You feel a need to bring them to life, to energize them, to make them exciting and vivid. And so you turn events into stories and practice telling them. You take the dry idea and enliven it with images and examples and metaphors. You believe that most people have a very short attention span. They are bombarded by information, but very little of it survives. You want your information-whether an idea, an event, a product's features and benefits, a discovery, or a lesson-to survive. You want to divert their attention toward you and then capture it, lock it in. This is what drives your hunt for the perfect phrase. This is what draws you toward dramatic words and powerful word combinations. This is why people like to listen to you. Your word pictures pique their interest, sharpen their world, and inspire them to act.

Media Resume

2007-03-19T11:09:00.000-07:00

W. Mark Whitlock
Broadcaster, Writer, Editor, Strategic and Creative Consultant
506 Promenade Court, Franklin, Tennessee 37064
phone 615.715.1105
email wmarkwhitlock@comcast.net
blog www.wmarkwhitlock.com

Career Capsule
Sixteen years in media with an emphasis on writing for audio and print. Strong reputation as a creative, innovative, and strategic thinker. Author or co-author of seven resources including the amazon.com top-25 bestseller, Simply Romantic® Nights. Seasoned multi-track, non-linear audio producer. Guerrilla marketing champion. Veteran meeting facilitator.

Professional Experience
Thomas Nelson, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee, 2004 - 2007
Senior Acquisitions Editor, Biblical Reference, Nelson Bible Group, 12/2005 - 3/2007
Strategic planning of $10-million publishing business including strong backlist. Coordinating with marketing and production. Supervised teams of editors and graphic designers. Cast vision for packaging. Managed author relations.

Regional Manager, Eastern U.S., Nelson Ministry Services, 3/2004 - 12/2005
Served ministries, non-profit organizations, colleges, and churches along the Eastern seaboard through strategic planning, donor development, author relations, and custom publishing. Exceeded my sales goal for fiscal year 2005, $1.8-million. Exceeded my sales goal for fiscal year 2006 in 9 months. Acquired authors for company. Signed largest deal during the year--500,000 BibleZines for Upward Unlimited.

FamilyLife, Little Rock, Arkansas, 1992 - 2004
Manager, Resource Creation, FamilyLife Publishing, 2001 - 2004
Authored several resources. Led a team through the creative, editorial, marketing, and design processes for many new product ideas. Worked as liaison to manufacturing to achieve excellence, on schedule, and on budget.

Manager, Resource Marketing, 1998 - 2004
Scouted new broadcast content and helped increase constituent response. Helped craft marketing plans. Wrote new resources. Increased sales each year.

Producer/Engineer, “FamilyLife Today”, 1992 - 1998
Directed more than 600 recording sessions. Cast production vision for more than 1500 editions of the NRB-award winning broadcast. Produced audio marketing collaterals for ministry. Served as writer/producer for several audio drama vignettes.

For more information on my responsibilities at FamilyLife, please see below.

Focus on the Family, Colorado Springs, Colorado, 1991 - 1992
Broadcast Editor, “Focus on the Family”
Edited and post-produced eight editions of the 28-minute daily broadcast each month. Also wrote and produced PSAs for the National Day of Prayer.

WMSL, 88.9 FM, Athens, Georgia, 1990 - 1991
Morning Drive Announcer/News Director
Announced weather and information. Researched, wrote, announced, and post-produced three 2-minute news packages every day.

WUGA, 91.7 FM, NPR affiliate, Athens, Georgia, 1989 - 1990
Stringer reporter for local breaks during “All Things Considered”
Produced two 4-minute news features each week for nine months. Lauded for my creative use of natural sound, production values, and tight, visually-evocative writing. Also served as assistant director for “Once in a Blue Moon,” a live variety show for Peach State Public Radio.

Freelance Experience
Wrote 11 of 12 audio drama scripts for national children’s radio broadcast. Wrote dozens of scripts for commercials and radio short features. Assorted editing projects for print, video, and audio. Have also written or edited many articles and books for other clients. (See portfolio for details.)

FamilyLife
My portfolio is available upon request. Three highlights are:

Simply Romantic Nights, Retail Product, Released 1/2001

Served as resource creator, co-author, and marketing champion
#23 on amazon.com (2/14/02); CBA best-seller lists in 2/02 and 2/03
More than 200,000 sold (More than $2-million in net revenue)

Jonah: A Very Veggie Family Adventure, Retail Product, Released 8/2002

Served as a team member for support of “Jonah: A VeggieTales® Movie”
Co-author of Jonah--A Very Veggie Family Adventure
Coordinated with other departments for an integrated marketing strategy
Over 35,000 copies sold in less than 12 months
The innovators at Big Idea taught me a great deal through this project

Member of Strategic Marketing Team, 9/2001 - 7/2004
Invited to join this cross-functional team after the success of Simply Romantic Nights. The team was responsible for crafting the ministry’s message calendar and protecting the brands of the ministry.

Education
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (ABJ)
University of Georgia, Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication, emphasis in radio

Volunteer Experience

President of the Parent/Teacher group at Little Rock Christian Academy. Increased communication between parents and faculty, raised more than $30,000 a year through fundraisers.
Eagle Scout (class of 1983). Raised more than $2,000 for Leukemia research by creating, promoting, and running a Bike-a-Thon with local corporate sponsors.

"Moondance Alexander" puts Respect in the Saddle

2005-12-04T07:57:00.000-08:00

(This was a feature article written for FoxFaith.com for the release of the DVD of "Moondance Alexander." The link is replaced each month.)

When Michael and Janeen Damian decided to make a movie, they didn’t know they were creating a cathartic experience for all involved. "Moondance Alexander" is the story of how hope changes a girl with no friends, a horse trainer with no clients, and a horse with no pedigree. This new movie, distributed by Fox Faith, is based on Janeen’s childhood adventures with her Pinto pony named Checkers.

Both writers shed tears during the process. “Michael was constantly asking me, ‘What did you do then?’ and ‘What did your trainer say?’” added Janeen, who co-wrote and co-produced the film. “He was helping me go down memory lane and tap into the emotions.”

Director and co-writer Michael Damian, best known for his 18-year-long appearance on The Young and the Restless, believes true stories inspire audiences because the emotions are genuine, not created in a laboratory. “This is the type of movie that an audience can connect to emotionally and walk away feeling good.”

The cast is full of family-friendly favorites. Kay Panabaker (Nancy Drew, Disney Channel) stars. “She was in every scene,” Michael said. “She’s a brilliant young actress.” She acts with abandon around the horse, awkwardness with peers, and transparency with her mother.

James Best (Dukes of Hazzard) is Janeen’s real-life father. He brought his six decades of experience to the role of Mr. McClancy, Moondance’s boss and mentor.

Lori Loughlin (Full House) plays Moondance’s mom. But this movie mother is not the source of conflict. “Michael and I are blessed with great relationships with our mothers,” Janeen said. “Michael pushed me to remember how my mother responded to my challenges in respect and love. We wanted to portray a respectful relationship. We wanted to show kids and families that they can work through problems in a positive way.”

Figure skater, Olympic Silver Medalist, Sasha Cohen plays the movie’s villain. “She only has one thing in common with her character—she is a fierce competitor,” said Janeen with a chuckle.

Even veteran tough guy Don Johnson got all in the family. “The role is a departure for him and a wonderful and unique surprise for us,” Michael said. Johnson plays Dante Longpré, a failure-ridden trainer looking for a comeback.

Michael and Janeen created an atmosphere on set that reflected the same values displayed in "Moondance Alexander". “We tried to lead by example and treat the cast and crew with respect,” Michael said.

“Filmmaking is a very adult universe,” Janeen said. “You want to take special care when you’re working with these young actors.”

Who Knew Horton Had a Sermon

2005-12-04T07:52:00.000-08:00

(This is a feature article written for FoxFaith.com and was released by BeliefNet in their monthly entertainment newsletter. It appears online at http://www.foxfaith.com/feature-story.php. Note: This link will expire in late December 2008)

Pastor and author Robert Short believes Horton Hears a Who makes two spiritual themes stand out as large as an elephant in your living room.

Short is the father of spiritual commentary on pop culture. His 1965 bestseller, The Parable of the Peanuts, examined the spiritual themes Charles Schultz brought to life through Charlie, Snoopy, and the rest of the gang. Short has presented messages on the gospel parallels in film, television, and other forms of media for more than 40 years. Short’s latest book, The Parables of Dr Seuss, walks through 11 beloved Seuss stories—including Horton Hears a Who. The film adaptation releases on DVD December 9, 2008.

When Short preaches on Horton, he gathers the children for a reading of the book while showing the images on a big screen. Short added, "Then I present the sermon which is designed to speak to the grown ups and to talk about what Seuss has said through his art form." He hopes both parents and children will walk away with two big lessons.

"A Person’s a Person No Matter How Small"

As Short has ministered to thousands as church pastor or traveling speaker, he's noticed that most miss the reality that God loves each of us and has a mission for our lives. "You are of infinite worth to God," Short said during a telephone interview. "Don't sell yourself short by thinking you're too small to make a big difference in life. God has given us infinite possibilities in our service to Him."

"Their whole world was saved by the Smallest of All."

Short points out the parallels of this rhyme to many Bible passages including 1 John 4:14, "We have seen for ourselves... that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world."

Short believes, "My job is to call everyone's attention to the fact they have a Savior." In his book, Short says, "The salvation Christ brought is finished, completed—it's an already accomplished fact." Like the Whos had to discover Horton for themselves, we too have to discover that we have a Savior.

For more spiritual insights into the writing of Theodor Seuss Geisel, read The Parables of Dr. Seuss available wherever books are sold.

A Lifeline to Hold Onto

2005-12-04T07:41:00.000-08:00

Weight Loss Surgery Transforms the Patients, the Practice, and the Surgeon

General surgeon Wayne Westmoreland, MD enjoyed the distance he used to feel from his patients. “I didn’t want to see the patients after general surgery,” Westmoreland said. “I wanted to take out your gall bladder, do a wonderful operation, admire my work, put your disease in a bucket, and be through with you. And then go load up my bird dogs and head out the duck blind.”

After twenty years of surgery, however, he had an encounter on the Stones River Greenway that caused him to re-evaluate his life’s priorities. And his practice. “I was walking on the greenway trying to lose some weight I’d gained while I couldn’t exercise,” said Westmoreland, referring to his 90-day recovery from a broken collarbone in 2002. “I passed a morbidly obese lady on the path. I did something I’ve never done before—I looked at her face.” Westmoreland, trained at University of Tennessee at Memphis, paused and cleared his throat. “And what I saw surprised me. Here I am huffing and puffing with a 25 extra pounds. This lady has 200 extra pounds on her back. I don’t know how she was putting one foot in front of the other. If I were in her situation, I wouldn’t even stick my head out the door.”

In that moment, his perspective changed. “I had this feeling that, ‘There’s a person in there.’ And I thought, ‘Wow. She’s trapped. What can I do to help?’”

Clearing Misconceptions
For the first time, he thought seriously about adding weight loss surgery to his practice, Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists. His wife disagreed. The practice was thriving. When was he going to find the time to become an expert on a battery of new techniques? His curiosity about the procedures confused her as well because Westmoreland had been a vocal opponent. “I figured any surgeon worth his salt was doing ‘real’ surgery,” he smiled an I-should-of-known-better grin. “Once I realized that the surgeries could be accomplished laparoscopically, the rest of my objections went away.” Laparoscopic patients typically go home the same day as surgery and experience very little pain. “If we don’t cut their bellies open, it doesn’t matter what we do inside, they don’t hurt” Westmoreland said.

Westmoreland and his partner, George Eckles, MD shared—and have heard others voice—many major objections to weight loss surgeries. They’ve sought to understand and overcome these issues through their practice. “Fear is the most common,” Eckles said. Patients fear the changes to their bodies. Doctors fear the lack of results. Some of these fears are supported. Westmoreland and Eckles have run into peers who haven’t used a multidisciplinary approach—including the primary care physician—in follow-up and recovery. Murfreesboro Surgery Specialists has carefully assembled a team to make sure no patients fall through the cracks.

Many opponents to the surgeries point next to assumed higher mortality rates in bariatric surgery compared to other surgeries. Eckles counters, “That’s just not true. A recent multi-center study shows that overall mortality is lower than knee-replacement. These surgeries carry a rate of only 3/10 of one percent.[FOOTNOTE]”
“If a doctor sees a colon cancer patient,” Westmoreland added, “he doesn’t say to the patient, ‘You’ve got a 10-15% mortality rate with your operation.’ They simply urge and encourage surgery.” Westmoreland leaned forward for emphasis. “They can do the same for weight loss surgery.”

The other objections grow out of the sensitive nature of the surgery. “Morbid obesity is a sneaky condition. People believe that everybody is just big now,” Westmoreland said. He believes that many shared his former, skewed attitude. “I’ve met doctors who don’t want to offend their patients by diagnosing them as morbidly obese. I’ve met others who don’t want to fail by recommending weight loss surgery only to have the patient refuse.”

Westmoreland and Eckles have seen doctors eyes light up with understanding as they’ve shared facts, figures, and case studies with them. They have a standing offer to travel to a doctor’s practice to share their experience. And doctors are always welcome in Murfreesboro for one of their frequent clinics for patients. “We make ourselves available to doctors however we can,” said Eckles.

When they considered these procedures for the first time, Westmoreland met many patients in every stage of recovery. “I saw patients that used to be insulin-dependent diabetics, who aren’t any more. I met patients who used to take a list of medicines as long as my arm, but don’t anymore. And I saw patients that couldn’t walk, run.”

The Procedures
Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists offers three weight loss surgeries in addition to their full cadre of general surgery: Gastric Bypass, Gastric Banding, and, a Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy, a procedure with amazing results. Adding them was a natural process of evolution of their practice. “We are recognized experts in advanced laparoscopic surgery,” said Westmoreland. “We’ve been operating on the GI tract since residency. These surgeries, after we cleared our misconceptions, made sense.”

Gastric Bypass
The Gastric Bypass, or Roux-en-Y, is the most common weight loss surgery. More than 140,000 were performed nationwide during 2006 comprising more than 80% of all weight loss surgeries[FOOTNOTE]. This aggressive surgery involves two advanced laparoscopic procedures. First, the surgeon uses staples to form a small pouch at the top of the stomach. The rest of the stomach is detached and sealed with staples. Then, the surgeon divides the small intestine. The pouch is connected directly to the final 100 centimeters of the small bowel. The rest of the stomach remains connected to the small intestine allowing digestive juices to be produced. The surgeon connects the small bowel to the same channel, the final 100 centimeters, allowing digestive juices to provide with food for a modicum of breakdown and absorption.

This malabsorption is the primary catalyst of weight loss. The patient eats less. What the patient does eat is not broken down as much nor does the body have adequate time to absorb all of the calories before the body expels the waste. Patients who elect the Gastric Bypass require a special diet to prevent rupturing or painful blockage. Daily multivitamins, mineral supplements, increasing protein, increasing fiber, and decreasing sugar are essential to recovery and surgical success.

Westmoreland believes in the power of this surgery. “A diabetic needs gastric bypass because it will cure Type II in the recovery room.” Many patients in their care have stopped needing insulin to control their blood sugar levels.

Adjustable Gastric Banding
Doctors Westmoreland and Eckles also perform a less aggressive surgery using Adjustable Gastric Banding or LapBand® technology. This laparoscopic surgery places an adjustable cuff around a few centimeters of the stomach reducing the amount of food that can be contained. In essence, the cuff creates a pouch similar to the one created surgically through Gastric Bypass. The constriction can be controlled by injecting or removing saline through a port that is under the skin but outside the muscle layer of the abdomen.

Westmoreland emphasized that this procedure is only as effective as the will of the patient. “It’s a food catcher, not a calorie catcher,” he said. “A patient with a LapBand can cheat the system by drinking milkshakes, sucking on Hershey’s kisses, or drinking Mountain Dew.” Some go around the system to get all the calories they used to. They don’t lose weight.”

LapBand patients should also follow a careful diet to avoid blockage. French fries are a particularly destructive food. Neither should patients drink while they eat. “We want the food to stay in that stomach,” Westmoreland said, “so they feel full and don’t continue to eat.”

Laparoscopic Sleeve Gastrectomy
Westmoreland believes that the Sleeve Gastrectomy is revolutionizing lives. Doctors—including his mentor in weight loss surgery, Dr. Ronald Clements—encountered some patients who were suffering from so many health problems they were not candidates for Gastric Bypass. They decided to stage the operation by only creating the small pouch. If the patient responded to the treatment, was successful in the new diet and exercise regime, and lost enough weight, the doctors could return and finish the entire Bypass. “In 90 percent of the cases, the rest of the surgery wasn’t needed,” said Westmoreland still full of joy over the discovery.

The Sleeve Gastrectomy removes 2/3 of the stomach—the fundus—and creates a sleeve similar to the Gastric Bypass. The fundus serves two purposes. It is the elastic capacity of the stomach expanding and contracting based on food intake. “When you remove that much of the stomach,” according to Westmoreland, “it doesn’t take much food to make you feel full.” In addition to the anatomic benefit, removing the fundus has a metabolic effect doctors didn’t witness in Gastric Bypass. “The fundus makes a hormone named ghrelin,” Westmoreland said. “Ghrelin stimulates appetite. The combination of these two results means that a patient isn’t as hungry as often and feels satisfied sooner.”

The Sleeve also reduces the body’s problems with malabsorption. “The sleeve doesn’t disrupt absorption,” Westmoreland said, “It’s business as usual for the body through the intestines just as God designed it.”

The Sleeve is also a safer procedure. Since adding the Sleeve to their practice in 2003, they have performed more than 200 surgeries. “And we haven’t lost anybody yet,” Westmoreland said with the intensity of a wartime commander intent on getting all of his soldiers home.

A Drastic Solution for a Desperate Problem
Many wonder at how the culture and media are influencing the increase in weight loss surgery. Dr. Eckles warns, “Morbid obesity is not a cosmetic issue whose treatment is merely discretionary.”

Westmoreland said, “Only 30–40% of general practice physicians refer qualifying patients for weight loss surgery.” Many struggle with the same objections Westmoreland and Eckles overcame when adding these procedures to their practice.

“If we receive a referral for a sick gall bladder and serve that patient well,” said Westmoreland, “I still don’t have the footing to say, “You are struggling with morbid obesity. Have you considered bariatric surgery?’ They don’t listen. All I do is make them mad. However, if the primary care physician—who has a long-term relationship with the patient—recommends it, the patient responds with, ‘Dr. Smith cares for me.’”

Westmoreland and Eckles readily admit that surgery is a last option. “If medicine would cure appendicitis,” Westmoreland said, “I would never take out an appendix. But there are times when surgery is necessary. There are times when weight loss surgery is necessary.”

[SIDEBAR]
Is Your Patient a Candidate for Weight Loss Surgery?
1. What is your patient’s BMI? If greater than 40 or greater than 35 with co-morbidities, the patient is eligible. Co-morbidities include:
• Adult onset diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease
• Osteoarthritis of weight bearing joints
• Sleep apnea or other respiratory problems
• Gallstones
• Acid reflux (heartburn)
• Stroke
• Infertility
• Certain types of cancer
• Skin disease
• Urination problems
• Depression
• Other serious disorders
2. Has your patient tried and failed numerous non-surgical treatments for morbid obesity? If not, begin the patient on a program you supervise for at least six months. If the patient has tried and failed for longer than five years, surgery should be considered.
3. Is there a bariatric surgery clinic that takes a multidisciplinary approach—including the primary care physician—to the patients recovery and success?
4. Have you made and communicated a diagnosis of morbid obesity?
5. Does your patient have a desire to change?

Other factors play a role in choosing the right surgery. An ideal lap band candidate is younger, can exercise, and is not a diabetic. Older patients with worn out joints or medical conditions that won’t allow them to exercise need more aggressive treatment—especially if they’re diabetic. They should investigate Bypass and Sleeve.
[END SIDEBAR]

A Multi-disciplinary Approach to Recovery
“Weight loss surgery is a lifeline,” said Westmoreland. “If you’re drowning, I have to have a good rope to throw to you. I can’t throw you a noodle. If I don’t throw you a good, solid line, you’ll drown. But even after I’ve thrown you the line, you have a choice. You must reach out and hold on. Then those on the shore can pull you in.”

Westmoreland sees the multi-disciplinary team as those on the shore. In addition to the surgeon, a weight loss support group, psychologist, nutritionist, exercise physiologist, and the patient’s primary care physician all have weight to pull. These practitioners must work together. According to Dr. Eckles, “Some diets are incompatible with bariatric surgery. We must work with the primary care physician to help them treat the patient.”

The support groups offered at Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists produce lasting results and relationships. Eckles said, “The biggest advocate these patients will have is another patient.”

Westmoreland added, “Come to support groups if you’re doing well. There are others who are not doing well who will be there. You can help them. If you’re not doing well, come! There will be others there to encourage you. Don’t let shame keep you away.”

Westmoreland believes that prayer should also be a part of the recovery process. “I tell my patients that they should pray about their weight loss daily. Some say, ‘I don’t know how to pray.’ I tell them, ‘Then let’s learn how together.’”

Lifechanging Process. Lifelong Care
“We are never finished with our patient relationships,” said Westmoreland. “Even after you get to your ideal body weight, you can’t say you’re done. You have a lifelong commitment to healthy living. And we have a lifelong commitment to you.”

Recently, Dr. Westmoreland and Eckles sat down with a patient who had Sleeve surgery July. In the five months since surgery, she has lost 60 pounds. “She’s no longer a diabetic,” Westmoreland counted the changes on one hand and moved to the other. “Her arthritis is gone. Her esophageal reflux is gone. She’s off anti-depressants. She still has high blood pressure, but only takes half the dosage she did before the surgery. She looked brand new!”

Westmoreland took a deep breath then quieted his voice. “I told her about my wife asking, ‘Why do you want to do these surgeries?’ I told her the answer is: You! You’re the reason I want to do these surgeries.”

Through this process, he is more fired up about work than he’s ever been. And he’s developed the heart of a healer. “The goal of our program is more than being healthy, being skinny, or being well. We want people healed: body, mind . . . and soul.”

Murfreesboro Surgical Specialists
Wayne Westmoreland, MD and George Eckles, MD
1602 West Northfield Boulevard
Suite 504
Murfreesboro, TN 37129
(615) 867-1940

Footnotes:
1 Christina Frangou, Evidence Continues to Mount on Safety of Bariatric Surgery, www.generalsurgerynews.com, November 2007.
2. Matthew Hoffman, MD, What is Gastric Bypass Surgery, www.webmd.com, June 7, 2007.