Brian Lynch - Professional Resume

Brian Lynch

Professional profile

• Experienced executive in non-profit organization with 17 years continuous advancement
• Versatile generalist with broad range of strategic, analytical, communications, design, education, web, technical and publishing skills
• Magazine editor and writer with keen sense of story-telling
• PR / media professional with proven track record of placements in national media
• Web developer of multi-layered sites which garner millions of page views annually
• Skilled public speaker and teacher at ease with both small groups and audiences of thousands

Highlights of professional experience and accomplishments

PUBLICATIONS AND GENERAL WRITING

• 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 managing editor of magazine (1994-2004), increased page count and editorial diversity over entire run. Innovated coverage of events, performers, controversial topics, features orientation. Conceived and managed comprehensive design makeover by professional firm, infusing a tired old brand with new energy, color and vitality.
• Writer and editor of dozens of management and music instruction manuals, increasing ease of publication and distribution by web site. Wrote proclamations, proposals, general management material.

PUBLIC RELATIONS & MEDIA

• Primary spokesman and media contact for national organization, with experience in hundreds of media interviews, press contacts and placements in major media.
• Major Broadcast Television Productions: Script consultant and production liaison for three PBS music specials (Keep America Singing, More Keep America Singing, and Can’t Stop Singing), each receiving multiple airings in more than 200 markets.
• 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.
• 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. Pioneered use of broadcast fax, targeted media and online press room and downloadable media to improve and increase coverage.
• Media planning: Developed events to generate additional media coverage, including a “World’s Largest Chorus” events staged for Good Morning America (1994) and Guinness World Records with Ron Reagan, Jr. (1996)
• Media planning: Handled all media relations for publicly awarding Honorary Life Membership to Dick Van Dyke, including media events, special appearances at Disneyland, interview and feature story in The Harmonizer.
• 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, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Miami Herald, Deseret Daily News, Salt Lake Tribune, Indianapolis Star, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, etc.
• Opinion / advocacy writing: As part of Minnesota State Senate staff, wrote weekly newspaper columns for six senators reporting on legislative activity. Quarterly “My Turn” columnist for Kenosha News; subsequently invited to become monthly “Sunday Morning With…” columnist.

WEB / TECHNICAL

• Web sites: Developed original website into a portfolio of five sites encompassing thousands of pages and 1.5 million annual page views.
• Strategic analysis and product research: Negotiated Requests for Proposals for software platforms for web content management system (CMS) (Stellent, 2000) and Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform (Aptify, 2006). Purchased, trained and implemented systems forming the data backbone of the organization. Created user training materials, web-based instructional videos, and operational procedures.
• Business process analysis: Coordinated audit and migration of business processes to new Aptify CRM platform. Lead developer and interface between company and consultant teams. Perform ongoing daily database administration (DBA) duties, including custom views, reports, troubleshooting and extending web capabilities.
• Webcasting: As content liaison for live webcast of international barbershop contest, helped grow event to more than 3,000 paying customers around the world.

MARKETING ANALYSIS AND MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS

• Market research and analysis: Serving on the Marketing Task Force, conducted comprehensive market research project on current and potential members of SPEBSQSA, to determine awareness and disposition of the brand, the hobby and its relevance as a leisure activity. Participated in focus group design, online moderated focus group chats, telephone interviews, data collation and analysis.
• Marketing planning: Using research basis, participated in a complete membership marketing plan adopted by the Society, including updating brand name and image, outreach programming and coalition-building.
• Membership development and promotion: As part of four-man team, designed and launched Operation Harold Hill, a member-get-member campaign that yielded a 1.5% membership growth, reversing a 20-year decline
• Product development and promotion: Authored manuals and numerous training materials for Singing Valentines program, expanding reach from several dozen to more than 500 participating chapters. Developed SingingValentines.com website, which delivered more than 75,000 referrals in 2008.
• Advertising: Creative director, art director, and production artist for numerous ads, radio spots, promotional materials and brochures. Creative / art director working with graphic artists for more complex projects, with emphasis on clearly communicated design briefs and use specifications.
• Logo design: Designed numerous visuals for various internal programs, events and products. Participate in brand analysis and recommendations for updating BHS brand emblem.
• Video marketing: Co-author / producer of award-winning promotional DVD, “Singing Is Life,” 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.

Education, recognition and affiliations

EDUCATION

• Bachelor of Arts, English
  University of Dallas, Irving, Texas

AWARDS

• Public Relations Teacher of the Year, Barbershop Harmony Society, 2002
• APEX Award, video script,
  “Singing Is Life”, 2003

AFFILIATIONS

• American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), 1997-present
• Society of Non-Profit Association Publishers (SNAP), 2002-present
• Barbershop Harmony Society (SPEBSQSA), 1989-present

Community and other activities

• Treasurer, Brompton Community Partnership (PTO)
  
• Madrigal Feaste coach and performer
• Homeless shelter volunteer, INNS
• Kenosha News columnist (monthly)

Technologies

LAYOUT

• PageMaker
• InDesign
• PhotoShop
• Illustrator

DATABASE

• SQL Server 2000
• Crystal Reports

WEB

• FrontPage
• CSS
• Some .NET

SPECIALIZED

• Aptify
• Stellent

OFFICE

• Word
• Excel
• PowerPoint
• Outlook
• Acrobat

2007 Denver Photo Albums

Lorin May shoots 'em... Dan Proctor posts them to Fotki.com ... and you can use them free of charge.

JS Online: A brand-new pattern

JS Online: A brand-new pattern: Machine shop now crafts needles

How to talk to the press | fortuitous

How to talk to the press | fortuitous: "How to talk to the press
A short guide to what works and what doesn't when talking to reporters"

Dark Side of the Moon A Cappella

My wife sometimes asks: "Did that song really need to be barbershopped?" Often the answer is "No--but they did it anyway."

On the other hand, I think The Dark Side Of The Moon A Cappella absolutely HAD to be done -- and it sounds great.

Related items: Dub Side of the Moon by the Easy Star AllStars and Pickin' on Pink Floyd: A Bluegrass Tribute

Ben Ayling on early quartets

International Journal of Research in Choral Singing published Ben Ayling's research into early champion quartets.

Abstract: " The barbershop quartet has been a part of American music history since the late nineteenth century. Since that time, music sung by the barbershop quartet has been embraced by many as being American music in much the same way as jazz. The Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America (SPEBSQSA) was formed in 1938. That organization has awarded championship status annually to its best quartets. This paper presents a brief history of the barbershop quartet along with discussion of some major influences upon the style. Results of a survey of surviving members of the first 25 SPEBSQSA championship quartets are then examined. Of the first 25 championship quartets, all members of the first nine quartets are deceased. Surviving members (N=43) of the remaining 16 championship quartets were surveyed with respect to their musical backgrounds, self-perceptions of music reading ability, and the sight-singing methods employed by these singers both before and long after winning top SPEBSQSA honors. Responses (N=32) indicated that singers viewed their personal music reading abilities as improved by their involvement with barbershop singing, yet approximately 50% of respondents indicated that rote learning of parts (whether in the immediate company of another or via audiotape) was their major learning style"

Deep link to full paper .

From the edge of the world to your town

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