James P. Perez

​James P. Perez Mobile:- Email:- EDUCATION Master of Arts, Journalism / Columbia College Chicago Bachelor of Arts, Writing and English / Columbia College Chicago SKILLS PR Campaign Strategy Media relations Crisis Communications Public Speaking Speech Writing Presentation Skills Ghostwriting / Rewriting Social Media Management / Delivery SEO / Keyword research Content Creation Blogger / Influencer Relationship- Building HTML: Beginner Wordpress: Intermediate Joomla!: Beginner EXPERIENCE Media Relations/PR&Marketing Consultant – Phoenix DIGITAL PR, Chicago 2010 - Present Using traditional and digital PR techniques, design and implement media relations, social media and brand journalism strategies that create relationships and increase revenue. Combine superior storytelling skills with solid news judgment to create compelling content such as news releases, blog posts whitepapers, videos and other content for distribution across traditional and digital news sites. Adjunct Faculty Member, English– CITY COLLEGES of CHICAGO, Chicago 2017 - present Teach writing in the Communications Program of the City Colleges of Chicago, including Wilbur Wright and Olive-Harvey colleges. Integrate multimedia and in-class writing exercises to give students practical writing tools. Have taught Applied Reading and Comprehension; Research and Writing; English Composition; and Business Communication. NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS Member of the Olive-Harvey Cannabis Advisory Board ARC classes consistently achieve 33 percent above District average pass rate Interviewed for article in NEA Today about difficulties community college faculty and students faced switching to remote classes during shelter in place Director of Content – CHRONICTRIBUNE.COM, Chicago2016 - present The Chronic Tribune focuses on the impact of Cannabis Prohibition on South and West side Chicago communities, and the economic impacts of cannabis social equity programs on these communities. ASSOCIATED PRESS, Midwest Bureau Correspondent U.S. Presidential Elections2020 Correspondent U.S. Midterm Elections2018 Reported election day results from Suburban Cook County polling stations. COO/ Director of Communications – FREEGREENCONCEPTS.COM, Gary, Ind.2014 - 2016 Oversaw operations; business development; PR/media relations; content marketing; and social media of Free Green Concepts, AdsCann and SearchCann. The Free Green Concepts platform was designed to help fledgling entrepreneurs compete in the hemp and cannabis industries. It was sold in 2017. Director of Communications – DPOMOBILE.COM, Portland, Ore. 2009 - 2010 Developed public relations and marketing strategies for a mobile-marketing start-up. Researched keywords, wrote content for blog and website. Pitched and landed stories to news media. Director of Communications – INSURANCELEADZ.COM, Chicago 2007 - 2009 Coordinated an intern program to develop articles for SEO. Prepared lessons for team teaching and taught principles of SEO basics and copy writing. Researched keywords and created content on subjects including taxes, debt, credit issues and mortgages. Researched social media platforms and developed a digital PR strategy for the company. Developed and implemented traditional PR strategy resulting in stories in A.M. Best and Fox News. Media Relations Specialist – METROPOLITAN WATER RECLAMATION DISTRICT, Chicago 2006 - 2007 Developed relationships with Chicago-area media to pitch and land stories for Commissioner Frank Avila. Wrote speeches and talking points for speaking engagements. Researched topics, wrote and produced cable-access TV show on environmental topics. Program Director – FOUNDATION FOR AMERICAN COMMUNICATIONS, Pasadena, Calif. 2002 - 2005 Wrote and managed a grant for workshops covering subjects such as neuroscience; early childhood development; and education. Managed a team that ran workshop sales, marketing and logistics. Received annual bonuses averaging 30 percent for completing workshops under budget. Assistant Metro Editor/Sunday Projects Editor – TRI-CITY HERALD, Kennewick, Wash. 2000 - 2002 Bureau Chief, Huntington Beach LOS ANGELES TIMES, Los Angeles 1998 - 2000 Bureau Chief, Costa Mesa – ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER, Santa Ana, Calif. 1996 - 1998 WORKSHOPS AND PRESENTATIONS YLA / Heroes Journey-Stop Bullying & Writing Your College Admissions Essay /- GSU Continuing Education Seminar / Social Media, Bullying & The 2016 Presidential Election / May 2016 Industrial Council of NearWest Chicago / LinkedIn for Business Survival & Social Media for Business Survival /- Park Forest Public Library Speaker Series / Rise of Social Media; Social Media Marketing in The 21st Century; Persistence /- SPJ Regional Conferences / Building & Crunching Databases for Health Care Reporting / Spring 2002 NAAIJ / Building & Crunching Databases for Health Care Reporting / July 2001 NAHJ / Building & Crunching Databases for Health Care Reporting / July 2000 Unity, Journalists of Color / Building & Crunching Databases for Health Care Reporting / July 1999 AAJA / Building & Crunching Databases for Health Care Reporting / August 1998 AWARDS 2010 National Committee for Diversity / Public Relations Society of America Received award for work developing multicultural forum held at Columbia College Chicago 1999 Clarion Award / Best Series Chicago Matters: Our Region, Our Community 1998 Chicago Headline Club / Two Peter Lisagor Awards for: Wrightwood: A Neighborhood in Transition Wrestles With Change SELECTED PUBLICATIONS Los Angeles Times Orange County Register Chicago Tribune Agence-France Press Chicago Reporter Daily Southtown Fort Worth Star-Telegram Ventura County Star Tri-City Herald Southwest News-Herald Strategize magazine Civic Catalyst -- The Pew Center for Civic Journalism newsletter Public Relations Society of America newsletter Public Relations Student Society of America newsletter