Tobin MacLaren O’Donnell

Creative Communications Specialist with Experience in Market Research, Creative Direction, Publicity and Public Relations, Brand Strategy and Management, Direct Marketing, Advertising, and Copywriting. Experience Developing and Managing Integrated Media Programs in Both For-Profit and Non-Profit Sectors.

PROFESSIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

Brand Communications

Founder
Two-Headed Boy Creative    2008 - Present
Freelance Marketing Communications Specialist

-Develop branding and marketing programs for individual clients
-Write ad, web, brochure, and other promotional copy
-Project management
-Naming and tagline development

Clients Include: Bain & Company, SAP, San Francisco 49ers, Minerva University, TuneIn, Fuse Project, International Council on Clean Transportation, PowerPointLive, Oakland Underground Film Festival, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Creative Team Member
Moxie Method    2005 - 2016
As a project team participant with the agency Moxie Method, develop brand strategy, marketing communications, and creative direction for radio, web, point-of-sale, and print campaigns for alcohol and tech clients.

-Perform market research and develop brand strategy and positioning decks
-Lead development of creative directions
-Develop corporate names, taglines, and brand name architecture
-Concept and write advertisements for print, web, mobile, sales and broadcast communications
-Develop pitch and investor presentation decks

Clients Include: Starbucks, Powermat, Trulia, Skinnygirl Margaritas, 21st Amendment Brewery, TOA, Glenfiddich, Numenta, Mike’s Hard Lemonade, Notre Dame de Namur University, HP, CT Corporation

Senior Copywriter
Traversant, Inc.    2003 - 2008
As senior copywriter at Traversant, inc., was a leading member of the brand strategy and creative team.

-Participated in all aspects of the strategy, creative development, and implementation of branding and marketing projects for clients
-Developed and wrote promotional and technical copy
-Client management on a project by project basis
-Led naming and tagline development creative sessions

Clients Include: Alibaba.com, Baykeeper, Delano Farms, Eagle Global Logistics, Fleetwood-Fibre, Four Star Fruit, Intelligencer Printing, Kaohsiung Rapid Transit Corporation (Taiwan, ROC), MailBlazer, Ryan Associates, Saverglass, Seattle Bindery.

Publishing

Founding Editor
Low Fidelity Press    2000 - 2008
As a founding editor helped conceive and launch a non-profit independent publishing company that brings overlooked and underrepresented voices to book stores across the country.

-Edited numerous books including Next Door Lives a Girl, winner of the Chicago Readers’ Critic Choice Award and an Honorable Mention in the Great Lakes College Association New Writer Awards and Trouble with the Machine, selected as a Believer Magazine Underappreciated Book of the Year
-Production management on all titles, including design, pricing, printing, and distribution
-Publicity Director for the press. Duties include writing and distributing press releases as well as interfacing with the media to set up author interviews and readings

Titles Include: Osin by Jessica Lott, B: a novel by Jonathan Baumbach, Rabbit Punches by Jason Ockert, Next Door Lived a Girl by Stefan Kiesbye, and Trouble with the Machine by Christopher Kennedy.

Independent Communication Contractor

Prepublication Manuscript Reviewer     
Berrett & Koehler Publishing    2005 - Present
Copy edit and critique prepublication manuscripts before authors make final revisions.

Book Reviewer
San Francisco Chronicle    2003 - 2007
Wrote book reviews on a freelance basis for the San Francisco Chronicle and pitched  books for review to Chronicle editor.

Writer, Special Projects
The Leakey Foundation    2002 - 2003
To celebrate the centennial of Louis Leakey’s birth worked with staff to develop a celebration symposium held at the Museum of Natural History in Chicago.
- Conceived, wrote, and edited a commemorative booklet for the celebration