Experience

Barbershop Harmony Society

• United States
• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Public Relations Manager

  • Aug 2011 - Present

  I have expanded public awareness of the barbershop art form and the 20,000-member organization, changing brand perception from a quaint niche to a dynamic, engaging form of entertainment, a satisfying lifestyle for singers, and a force for community improvement.. • Earned high profile placements for millions of impressions on NBC Today, CBS Sunday Morning, Fox & Friends, NBC Today Show, Good Morning America, ABC World News Tonight, NPR Morning Edition, NPR All Things Considered, Red Eye With Tom Shillue, The Way I See It with Mike Rowe (podcast), Hallmark Home & Family, countless local TV and newspapers . • As national spokesman, reinforced key brand messages as primary resource for interviews, background, history and contact for performers and subject matter experts. • Placed performers and appeared as spokesman on hour-long concert on "WoodSongs" (PBS Stations and RFD cable)• Positioned barbershop as an effective classroom resource via print advertising in Choral Journal and other publications; served as creative director, copywriter, and produced layouts • Drove global awareness by writing and placing long-form academic article on barbershop history and evolution in prestigious International Choral Bulletin, published in four languages and 80 countries. • Coordinated and staged A Better World Singing Day as part of 2016 barbershop convention in Nashville, boosting event attendance an additional 30% by inviting local audiences to attend free events.

• Internal and corporate communications

  • Jan 2013 - Mar 2018

  As the brand voice of the organization, I produced thousands of pieces of content for internal audiences, publications, staff and board reports, proposals, strategic plans --truly, all the bread and butter of administering and leading the business. • Wrote, designed, and delivered weekly LiveWire email newsletter circ. 32,000• Published more than 300 bylined items on corporate blog, plus hundreds of unattributed pages • Managed and wrote key strategic communications over signature of CEO: presentations, magazine columns, member communications, speeches and proclamations, attributed quotes. • Produced hundreds of unattributed communications for grants programs, outreach, membership development

• Brand Manager

  • Jan 2013 - Sep 2017

  • Worked with consultants to design and conduct brand audit • Sharpened theme lines and key message to member audiences • Deployed new design elements, palette and graphic elements across advertising, video production, internal communications • Scripted major convention shows to introduce new paradigms and messages to mass audience; scripted resulting video highlights for YouTube



Gateway Technical College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Instructor - Writing

  • Jan 2011 - Dec 2012

  • Instructed students in fundamental writing skills required for success in college and careers • Instructed students in fundamental writing skills required for success in college and careers



Brian Lynch Consulting LLC

• IT Consultant/Principal

  • Sep 2008 - Aug 2012

  • Supported customers on the Aptify CRM platform, with emphasis on building custom solutions and application troubleshooting. • Created training materials and how-to tips for end users and developers.• Participated in status assessment and future-capabilities planning. • Supported customers on the Aptify CRM platform, with emphasis on building custom solutions and application troubleshooting. • Created training materials and how-to tips for end users and developers.• Participated in status assessment and future-capabilities planning.



Kenosha News

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Newspaper Columnist

  • Jun 2006 - Jul 2010

  • Monthly lighthearted essays in regional newspaper, circulation 30,000. • Monthly lighthearted essays in regional newspaper, circulation 30,000.



Barbershop Harmony Society

• United States
• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• IT Project Manager /SQL Developer

  • Mar 2006 - Sep 2008

  • Implemented Aptify CRM platform: membership management, merchandising, accounting integration with Great Plains Dynamics. • Developed documentation and training for back office staff, including web-based screen-cam demos.

• Magazine Editor / Publications Manager

  • Jun 2004 - Mar 2006

  • Editor (2004-2006) of The Harmonizer, flagship magazine of the Barbershop Harmony Society, circulation 32,000. Complete production responsibility, including copy editing, page layout, graphics, photography and digital imaging, covers, pre-press, mailing list management, advertising placement and billing, strategic direction.• As editorial board member and supervising manager of magazine (1994-2004), increased page count and editorial diversity. Innovated coverage of events, performers, controversial topics, features orientation. Managed comprehensive design makeover by professional firm, infusing new energy, color, and vitality.• Edited dozens of management and music instruction manuals. Expanded distribution by web site. Wrote proclamations, proposals, general management material.

• e-Business Strategist

  • Oct 2000 - Dec 2005

  • Developed portfolio of 5 sites totaling 1200 pages, generating 1.5 million annual page views.• Negotiated Requests for Proposals for web content management system (Stellent, 2000) and customer relationship management platform (Aptify, 2006). • Created user training materials, web-based instructional videos, and operational procedures. Trained 30 staff members of widely varied technical abilities.

• Marketing Liaison / Marketing Communications

  • Jan 2002 - Aug 2004

  • With Marketing Task Force, conducted comprehensive market research project on current and potential members of SPEBSQSA, to determine awareness and perception of the brand, the hobby and its relevance as a leisure activity. Presented a complete membership marketing plan adopted by the Society, including updating brand name and image, outreach programming and coalition-building.• As part of four-person team, designed and launched Operation Harold Hill, a member-get-member campaign that yielded a 1.5% membership growth, reversing a 20-year decline.• Authored manuals and training materials for Singing Valentines program, expanding reach from several dozen chapters to more than 500. Developed SingingValentines.com website, generating more than 75,000 referrals annually.• Co-author/co-producer of award-winning “Singing Is Life” video, a direct-marketing tool showcasing barbershop harmony to potential members. Distribution of more than 20,000 units, tens of thousands of online views. Authored “A Walk Through Harmony Hall” and “Harmony Explosion” promotional videos.

• Primary spokesman/media contact

  • Jun 1991 - Oct 2000

  • Major Broadcast Television Productions: Script consultant and production liaison for three PBS music specials, each receiving multiple airings in more than 200 markets.• Event Public Relations: Deployed media campaigns promoting international conventions that brought unique stories to broadcast audiences numbering in the millions. Media placements on all major networks, including: ABC World News Tonight, CBS Evening News, CBS News Overnight, Good Morning America, Today Show, CNN, CNN Headline News, NPR All Things Considered, NPR Morning Edition, NPR All Songs Considered.• Developed events to generate additional media coverage, including World’s Largest Chorus events staged for Good Morning America and Guinness World Records with Ron Reagan, Jr.

• Developed PR Planning and Tools

  • Jun 1991 - Oct 2000

  • Print media relations: Authored comprehensive press kits, backgrounders, media advisories focusing on compelling personal stories which generated generous local coverage and home run national stories in major newspapers including Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Washington Post, etc.• Pioneered use of broadcast fax, targeted media and online press room and downloadable media to improve and increase coverage.• PR Campaigns: Planned, trained and implemented local PR support campaigns that helped local men’s barbershop chapters collaborate with women’s chapters of Sweet Adelines to capitalize on PBS programming. Gathered hundreds of additional media impressions placed by local units.