[ KRIS GOVE ]

COPYWRITER | GRAPHIC DESIGNER | CREATIVE SERVICES

Recognized as a highly motivated and results-driven creative marketing communications professional and award-winning writer, showcasing 20 years of proven ability in marketing communications via copywriting, graphic design, rebranding, web content and social media.

CAREER SYNOPSIS
 

CREATIVE SERVICES | FREELANCE COMMUNICATIONS - 2010 - Present
Independent Consultant

Voluntown, CT

Current and Past Clients: Laura Adams Consulting, Integrative Health Services, InnovatorsLINK, New England Forest Rally, Bird’s Eye View Helicopters, Advanced Driving & Security, Inc., Cage This Roll Cage Fabrication, Lasell College, The Press Box.

• Copywriting: Sell sheets, web content, social media, brochures, direct mail, mass email.

• Graphic Design: All forms of collateral, ads, online art, infographics.

• MarComms strategies/consulting.

• Adept at Adobe CC, particularly InDesign and Photoshop, some Illustrator, Premiere, Audition, and Acrobat.

 

MARKETING CONTENT SPECIALIST | 2020-2024
Thundermist Health Center

Warwick, RI

Thundermist Health Center is a federally funded, statewide health center caring for 50,000 patients annually with 700 employees. Creative director for marketing content including videos, digital and print collateral, copywriting and photography.

• Craft patient and company videos; Write and design ads for print, TV, web, mass email and social media.

• Create internal and external communications, staff announcements, executive comms and media releases.

• Maintain corporate website with WordPress platform.

 

CREATIVE SERVICES SPECIALIST - 2015 - 2020
Rhode Island Quality Institute

Providence, RI

Creative director for rebrand, complete collateral rebuild from letterhead and enrollment forms to high-end sell sheets and product books. Produced RIQI’s first-ever billboards, magazine ads, how-to videos, and :30 and 1:00 PSAs for local TV spots and socials. Converted wordy messaging culture into simple, clear language. Manage outside print, video and web vendors.

• Creative director for company-wide collateral rebrand, copy and color, messaging, photography and typography.

• Write and design ads for print, TV, web, mass email and social media.

• Craft internal and external communications, staff announcements, executive comms and media releases.

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SR. COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR - 2012 - 2013
Delta Dental of Rhode Island

Providence, RI
 
Provided a range of communication services, including: Writing, editing and project management for marketing communications projects, public relations efforts, web copy and emergency social media response. Responsible for print production and trafficking for communication projects and provided graphic design pieces.

• Authored/placed several stories/photos in the national Delta Dental magazine, The Communicator, including a well-received, first-person piece on my experience volunteering for the Rhode Island Mission of Mercy, a free dental health clinic that Delta Dental of Rhode Island sponsored.

• Wrote several press releases that received recognition in several New England-based newspapers and websites, which garnered positive attention for the parent company, as well as its affiliate.

• Wrote and edited a variety of pieces ranging from website copywriting to complex legal documents.

• Saved the company $6,000 annually by eliminating unnecessary ad spend.

 
SR. COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST - 2007-2010
Citizens Financial Group
Corporate Affairs/Internal Communications

Providence, RI
 
Managing editor of Citizens Today, a monthly print publication with a circulation of 24,000, reaching colleagues in 12 states. Headed year-long newsletter revamp project.

• Saved CFG $12,000 annually by bringing newsletter copyediting in-house and saved $39,000 annually by reducing print copy distribution.

• Enhanced media clips posting/distribution system of international, national and local media, which resulted in faster, cleaner delivery to senior management.

• Designed and coordinated monthly newsletter cover stories and content.

• Assigned, edited and coordinated submissions from 20 correspondents across multiple business lines.

EDITORIAL CONSULTANT - 2007-2009
AdeoTours

Austin, TX

                            
Provided extensive creative writing services, copywriting, stylebook creation, MP3 tour scriptwriting, web content, branding and editorial services. Clients included the cities of Austin, Dallas, Fort Worth, and Corpus Christi, Texas.

JOURNAL REGISTER COMPANY (JRC) - 2000 - 2006
JRC's daily publications had a circulation of more than 630,000, non-daily of 6 million, and was the parent company of The Standard-Times and The Coventry Courier.

MANAGING EDITOR, DEPARTMENT HEAD (JRC) - 2004 - 2006
The Standard-Times

North Kingstown, RI

                
Provided editorial services including: Art, layout, copyediting and pagination; ensuring adherence to tight deadlines and budget requirements; developed story ideas, wrote editorials and columns; assigned stories and photos to reporting and photography staff.

• Consistently created easy-to-read, eye-catching editorial and photographic packages for print publications using Word, Quark and Photoshop on multiple platforms.

• Lead a staff of award-winning writers as well as coached and developed new writers.

• Conducted weekly staff meetings to ensure production objectives were met.

• Negotiated stringer contracts and hired and effectively managed staff members.

• Worked closely with publisher/advertising/circulation on marketing pieces.

• Produced series on an Army National Guard soldier in Afghanistan in a non-political, objective format.

 

MANAGING EDITOR, DEPARTMENT HEAD (JRC) - 2000 - 2004
The Coventry Courier

Coventry, RI 

                   
Responsible for publication production including: Art, layout, copyediting, ensuring adherence to deadlines and budget; developed story ideas, wrote editorials and columns; assigned story and photo shoots to reporting and photography staff.

• Wrote award-winning columns, both of serious and humorous nature.

• Increased circulation in a stagnant, declining market by 20 percent in less than two years.

• Successfully implemented group-wide newspaper circulation program.

• Flew in stunt planes and from helicopters while photographing US Navy/British Special Forces jumpers.

EDUCATION

AMERICAN GRAPHICS INSTITUTE - 2018
Digital Marketing Certificate Program

Boston, MA

Classes included: HTML Email Training, Responsive HTML Email, HTML, WordPress, Google Analytics, InDesign (Introduction & Intermediate), Photoshop Training (Introduction & Intermediate) and a Digital Marketing Project.

URI EXTENSION - 2011-2012

Providence, RI

Multimedia Certificate Program (Adobe CS4/5.5, HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, SEO and Social Media)

• Track 1 (Fall 2011): Designed postcards, stationary/letterhead, posters, brochures and magazine spreads using Photoshop, lnDesign and Illustrator.

• Track 2 (Spring 2012): Work began with HTML, CSS, Dreamweaver, Flash, SEO and social media strategies to build web sites from the ground up.

UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND - 1998

Kingston, RI

Bachelor of Arts degree in English - Writing Concentration

ACHIEVEMENTS
 

Professional

• RIQI On-the-Spot Award for driving website refresh.

• Rhode Island Press Association 2002 & 2006 Columnist and Humor Columnist Awards.

• First Place Short Fiction Award (Franklin Pierce College).

• Nominated for Northeast Writer's Conference scholarship.

• Former Treasurer, Rhode Island Press Association.

• Former North Kingstown Chamber of Commerce board member.

• Honorable Mention - Photography - Wickford Art Association.

 

Personal

• Podium finish, second in class, at the 2017 New England Forest Rally.

• Finished several rallies including several NEFRs, Black River Stages and multiple RallySprints.

• Finished 3-hour off-road triathlon in 2019.

• Successfully completed automotive racing courses at Skip Barber, Racing Reality and Advanced Driving.

• Completed four- and five-day rally courses at Team O'Neil Rally School.

• Finished back-to-back sprint-distance triathlons (one on-road, one off-road) in the White Mountains.