Lois Rodriguez

Strategic Partnership Manager at Texas Highways Magazine
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Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Austin, Texas, United States, US

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Experience

    • United States
    • Book and Periodical Publishing
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Strategic Partnership Manager
      • Mar 2019 - Present

      Taking my years of experience at Texas Highways magazine and TxDOT's Travel Information Division to build stronger relationships in Texas' tourism industry and connecting our missions to promote travel to and within Texas. Including: Tourism Assessments: Conduct tourism assessments for Texas communities on behalf of the Office of the Governor. Tasks aimed at finding weaknesses and strengths in how a community is set up and how it markets itself. Diversity and Inclusion: Taking lead in making measurable progress in the Travel Information Division's Diversity and Inclusion efforts, most notably with guided efforts to ensure the faces and stories in the magazine reflect the true diverse population of Texas. Have presented on the issue at annual agency conference. Also presenting to Texas communities about the needs/benefits of ensuring their tourism marketing efforts are inclusive. Other tasks are more about community building between the magazine and Texas cities. These include doing a baking demo at Fredericksburg Food and Wine Fest for many years, judge tourism marketing awards, judge food competitions and participate in non-profit fundraising events. Show less

    • Web Editor/Social media manager
      • Jun 2008 - Mar 2019

      Manage all aspects of all editorial content and images online, including online exclusive content and freelancer management. Manage magazine's social media on multiple platforms. Develop a voice and maintain open communication with readers to build/maintain loyalty. Represent the magazine in various community and tourism industry events, including annual guest chef spot at Fredericksburg Food and Wine Festival, judge for various organizations and events, serve as tourism expert to help assess community tourism/marketing assets under the guidance of the governor's office. Research travel industry news and trends, write, edit and produce materials covering issues related to Texas’ tourism industry. Maintain communication with state agencies, chambers of commerce, historical societies, civic groups, and more regarding travel editorial material. Plan, develop, edit and oversee productions of travel materials and publications including brochures, magazines, maps, guides, newsletters and calendars. Work with state contractors/vendors, track publication inventory, represent department at state and local levels, attend conferences, training and press checks. Promote and enhance travel to Texas. Show less

    • United States
    • Civic and Social Organizations
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Amnesty International Volunteer
      • 2003 - 2005

      Amnesty International – Austin chapter: Served as a community educator at events, including festivals and concerts as requested by performers (Dave Matthews, Ani Difranco...). Educate community on pressing human rights issues. Also helped organize local hosting of Amnesty International conference in Austin, including support for speaker Bianca Jagger. Amnesty International – Austin chapter: Served as a community educator at events, including festivals and concerts as requested by performers (Dave Matthews, Ani Difranco...). Educate community on pressing human rights issues. Also helped organize local hosting of Amnesty International conference in Austin, including support for speaker Bianca Jagger.

    • Director
      • 2002 - 2005

      Non-profit organization creates monthly festivities for women while raising awareness of other important non-profits in town. Patrons pay a cover charge, which is then donated to two local non-profits each month. Beneficiaries, that attended and set up information tables for their designated month, include SafePlace, Animal Trustees of Austin, Hospice Austin and Waterloo Counseling Services. Distributed upwards of $40,000 to the Austin community in my term. Non-profit organization creates monthly festivities for women while raising awareness of other important non-profits in town. Patrons pay a cover charge, which is then donated to two local non-profits each month. Beneficiaries, that attended and set up information tables for their designated month, include SafePlace, Animal Trustees of Austin, Hospice Austin and Waterloo Counseling Services. Distributed upwards of $40,000 to the Austin community in my term.

    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Speakers Bureau, Legal Advocate, Hospital Advocate
      • 2001 - 2002

      Organization assists victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Completed extensive training and served as legal advocate and hospital advocate working directly with victims. Also serve on Speaker’s Bureau and work as a community educator/liaison. Am trained as a children’s group art therapy counselor. Previously volunteered with Child Advocates, Inc., a Houston agency devoted to serving abused and neglected children in the courts and through development of positive self-image. Organization assists victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Completed extensive training and served as legal advocate and hospital advocate working directly with victims. Also serve on Speaker’s Bureau and work as a community educator/liaison. Am trained as a children’s group art therapy counselor. Previously volunteered with Child Advocates, Inc., a Houston agency devoted to serving abused and neglected children in the courts and through development of positive self-image.

    • Senior Editor - Austin
      • Jun 2000 - Feb 2001

      Manage staff and freelance writers, develop and hone their skills and talents, while creating a definitive online entertainment guide to Austin. Daily duties include guide production and planning, editing, writing and design. Many of my local ideas/projects were adopted company-wide (77+ major cities in U.S., Canada and Australia). Actively participate and/or take lead in company’s national projects and planning. Serve as consultant in development and regional trainer for company’s strategies, projects and proprietary web publishing tools. Show less

    • Managing Editor - Houston
      • Oct 1999 - Jun 2000

      Lead staff of writers, freelancers and interns in creating a comprehensive online entertainment guide for Houston. Noted improvement on product quality and page views. Duties include guide production and planning, editing, writing and design. Also, support staff with constructive criticism and analysis of their work, program development and skills training. Contribute music reviews and interviews for company-wide publication. Themed guide ideas, including venue and district guides, were praised and adopted company-wide. Show less

    • Restaurant Producer (editor)
      • Oct 1999 - Jun 2000

      Managed restaruant section for Houston's Citysearch.com. Also managed freelancers in Miami, Orlando and Dallas for their respective Citysearch sites.Plan content and produce daily restaurant section that keeps up with the city’s fast-growing and prominent restaurant scene (second only to New York City). Manage and edit team of freelance writers, write reviews, page/feature designs and publication, and maintain restaurant database. Restaurant Guide project, among others, adopted company-wide.

    • Shopping Editor
      • Oct 1999 - May 2000

      Produce local shopping section, manage and edit freelancers, write monthly company-wide shopping feature.

    • Restaurant Producer (editor)
      • May 1999 - Oct 1999

      Produce restaurant section for online entertainment guide. Manage freelance writers, maintain extensive restaurant database and create features designed to expose database. Also tackle special projects and serve as support music critic. Manage freelancers and production of Orlando and Miami Sidewalk online restaurant sections from the Houston office.

    • Assistant Restaurant Producer (editor)
      • Sep 1997 - May 1999

      Assist restaurant producer in creating and maintaining restaurant database for online entertainment guide. Produce (or assist in production of) feature stories and event listings and create web pages daily. Also serve as support staff for site features and music reviews.

    • United States
    • Newspaper Publishing
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Lifestyle Editor
      • Jan 1996 - Sep 1997

      Design and build weekly food section, entertainment section, Sunday Lifestyle section, special editions and official special events guides (Mardi Gras, etc.). Write features, make assignments to reporters, freelancers, photographers and graphics department. Coordinate local event coverage, edit copy and publish content on web version, as well. Represent newspaper as guest speaker at events and serve in community organizations.

    • Editorial Board Member
      • Mar 1995 - Sep 1997

      (Outside regular job duties and staff meetings.) Attend weekly meeting, headed by publisher, to exchange ideas on local, national and international issues and apply them to our newspaper. Help develop editorial stances on issues and write two editorials per week.Represent newspaper at speaking engagements.

    • Copy Editor
      • Oct 1994 - Jan 1996

      Edit copy and design daily pages, including front page. Assist in newspaper’s overall redesign. Serve as mentor for new employees.

    • United States
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • Board Member
      • 1995 - 1997

      Served on Galveston’s United Way board and headed Galveston Daily News’ annual United Way campaigns. Served on Galveston’s United Way board and headed Galveston Daily News’ annual United Way campaigns.

    • Managing Editor
      • May 1994 - Oct 1994

      Manage reporters out of two offices to produce three separate community newspapers. Oversee production, assist in page design, issue assignments, edit copy and write editorials, organize morale-building events, build newspaper's community profile by joining committees and participating in community events. Manage reporters out of two offices to produce three separate community newspapers. Oversee production, assist in page design, issue assignments, edit copy and write editorials, organize morale-building events, build newspaper's community profile by joining committees and participating in community events.

    • Newspaper Publishing
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • News Editor
      • Apr 1991 - May 1994

      Select and edit local and Associated Press wire copy, design daily pages (including front page), produce special editions, issue assignments, write general assignment articles, editorials and regular column.

    • Entertainment Editor
      • Jun 1989 - May 1994

      Create newspaper’s first entertainment magazine. Write music, movie and video reviews, features, make assignments, edit and design pages. Position held simultaneously with general assignment duties.

    • Religion Editor
      • May 1989 - Sep 1991

      Write, edit and design weekend religion section.

    • General Assignment Reporter
      • Jan 1989 - Apr 1991

      Cover city government, school districts and police news for Baytown and surrounding communities and counties.

    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Interim Newspaper Adviser
      • Jan 1992 - May 1992

      Recruited to instruct class of 21 students on reporting procedures, writing styles, photography techniques, newspaper design, layout and team work. Supervise class’ weekly production of campus newspaper and at regional conferences. Hired to fill a temporary staff gap (branch campuses merged publications the following semester). Position held while also working full-time at The Baytown Sun. Recruited to instruct class of 21 students on reporting procedures, writing styles, photography techniques, newspaper design, layout and team work. Supervise class’ weekly production of campus newspaper and at regional conferences. Hired to fill a temporary staff gap (branch campuses merged publications the following semester). Position held while also working full-time at The Baytown Sun.

    • United States
    • Newspaper Publishing
    • Weekend Reporter
      • Apr 1989 - Nov 1990

      Cover police news and other late-breaking stories in Pasadena and surrounding communities. Select and edit Associated Press wire news, design and build pages. Position held while also working full-time at The Baytown Sun. Cover police news and other late-breaking stories in Pasadena and surrounding communities. Select and edit Associated Press wire news, design and build pages. Position held while also working full-time at The Baytown Sun.

    • United States
    • Newspaper Publishing
    • General Assignment Reporter
      • May 1987 - Jan 1989

      Cover city government, as well as general news, police beat and features. Cover city government, as well as general news, police beat and features.

    • United States
    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Newspaper Editor
      • Jun 1985 - May 1987

      Assign stories, edit copy, design pages and guide staff through layout procedures. Assign stories, edit copy, design pages and guide staff through layout procedures.

    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Newspaper Editor
      • Sep 1983 - May 1985

      Assign stories, edit copy, write for and design editorial pages for weekly newspaper. Assign stories, edit copy, write for and design editorial pages for weekly newspaper.

Education

  • University of Houston
    1984 - 1987
  • San Jacinto College
    Associate of Arts - AA, Journalism
    1983 - 1985

Community

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