Résumé

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.

Mark has spent his career seeking to understand the audience before any other activity. Every message crafted is designed to move the audience in what they think, feel, believe, and do.

Published Works

Simply Romantic® Nights (FamilyLife)

• Twenty-four date night adventures for married couples packaged with first-rate teaching on why God created romance and sex in the first place.
• Reached number 23 on the overall bestseller list on Amazon, February 14, 2003
• More than 100,000 copies sold

Passport to Purity (FamilyLife)

• Everything you need to plan and host a one-on-one weekend getaway for your son or daughter to talk about "the birds and bees"... and so much more.
• More than 250,000 copies sold

Jonah: A Very Veggie Family Adventure (Zondervan)

• A get-off-the-couch, laugh-out-loud family devotional based on the book of Jonah and video content from the movie.
• One of the products published to promote the first Veggie Tales movie

Wizards, Hobbits, and Harry Potter (FamilyLife)

• A parent’s guide to three popular fantasy literature series with book summaries, biographies of the authors, and biblical teaching on the supernatural.

50 Nights of Family Fun (FamilyLife)

• Fifty quick, easy, and cheap activities to help families turn off the TV and turn up the fun.

Skim samples at bit.ly/wmw2016portfolio

Professional Experience

Owner, Lionsheart Creative
Franklin, Tennessee
2007 - present

Work with a variety of clients including:

S&E Productions

• 12 Years as Senior Writer for THE DRIVER Audio Magazine
• 25 to 30 minutes of education and entertainment content each month written “for the ear”.

Icon Shears

• Educational Director
• Presented session on metals, construction, and proper use of cosmetology shears to over 300 classes in 39 states.

Tin Man Ministries

• Video production
• Copywriter for website

5by5: A Change Agency
Many projects including:

• Nashville Rescue Mission
• Series of 30-second radio commercials for branding and fundraising
• Nashville Public Library Foundation
• Series of “Giving Tuesday” 2015 fundraising emails to existing and new donors.
• Push The Rock
• Website copy for complete re-design of site for Pennsylvania-based sports ministry. (Live 6/2016)

WindowWear

• Copywriter for website (copy available on existing site; new design going live 6/2016)

Doulos Financial Consultants

• Copywriter for website (new website launches 5/2016)

Samson Society

• Podcast Executive Producer
• Survey creation and evaluation

Brentwood Baptist Church

• Interim director of Marketplace, a multi-sensory experience for elementary students.
• Wrote and directed weekly dramas
• Produced weekly 4:00 videos
• Created activities for students and adults

Birdsong Creative
writer for multiple projects including:

• an internet company
• a book publisher
• a building contractor
• an entertainment company

Propeller
writer for multiple projects including:

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 here to view/download)

1. Water Horse: Legend of the Deep (Walden)
2. Nim’s Island (Fox)
3. Space Chimps (Fox)
4. Horton Hears a Who (Fox)
5. Love’s Unfolding Dream (Fox)
6. Young at Heart (Fox) 
7. Strawberry Shortcake: Rockaberry Roll (Fox)
8. Ace of Hearts (Fox)
9. Garfield’s Funfest (Fox)
10. Elephant Tales (Fox)
11. Her Best Move (Fox)
12. Moondance Alexander (Fox)
13. Tugger (Anchor Bay)
14. Dog Days of Summer (Anchor Bay)
15. Pahappahooey Island (Anchor Bay)
16. City of Ember (Fox)
17. Angel Wars (Fox)

Creative Director, GSF Media
Smyrna, Tennessee
2009 -2012

• 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 (16,000 sponsored children in three years; Equivalent of $6.7-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.

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

FamilyLife
Little Rock, Arkansas
1992 - 2004

Manager, Resource CreationFamilyLife Publishing2001 - 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, Colorado1991 - 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, Georgia1990 - 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