CAREER SUMMARY
Writer, communications and promotions professional
with proven expertise in research, analysis and production. Former on-air radio personality of #1 rated morning show in Hartford
market with reputation for interviewing, news reporting and talk-host responsibilities. Wrote and produced sketches, commercials
and promotions. Skilled at working under tight deadliness. Known for creativity and wit.
Ability to work with varied communications targets and all levels of management.
Communications Skills:
·
Interviewed five U.S. Presidents as broadcast journalist.
·
Wrote and performed over 30,000 newscasts, incorporating
sound bytes and script under deadline.
·
Performed commercial voice-overs for advertising agencies.
Professional Background
Newscaster-- WDRC AM and FM 2004-present
2006 to present Aetna Inc., Hartford, CT
Communications Manager
Writer of provider communications, with technical content. Letters, post cards,
email, newsletter articles etc.
2001 to 2006 Connecticut Cable
Advertising, Berlin, CT(The
cable interconnect for all of CT's cable TV systems, selling advertising on ad- supported cable stations like ESPN and Nickelodeon)
Director of Research and Promotions
Develop tools to sell cable advertising
utilizing rating statistics. Staying on top of 30 cable TV networks. Utilize
Q-View and Strata software for Neilson and Scarborough media research, both qualitative and quantitative. Heavy use of PowerPoint
and Excel.
2000 to 2001: The SoftCraft Laboratory,
Southington, CT (a custom software boutique specializing in PVCS and technical
writing)
Software Engineer / Technical Writer.
Wrote technical manuals and procedures
including screen shots. Transformed WordPerfect and Word documents into PDFs. Wrote scripts and provided voice talent for
Flash presentations. Worked tier three help desk for PVCS version control product. Served as PVCS Version Manager/Tracker
consultant for New York insurance client. Software installation and testing. Creator of web content.
WTIC NewsTalk Radio, Hartford, CT (Part time/weekends)
Newscaster / Freelance Reporter.
Worked as a radio show co-host, newscaster
and News Director on both the local and network level. Managed and trained teams of radio journalists. Responsible for story
assignment and selection for coverage. Complied with FCC regulations for community ascertainment. Worked with management to
enhance on-air product.
1997
to 2000:
MassMutual, Hartford, CT
Marketing Consultant.
Wrote and edited -agent marketing articles
for company newspaper. Authored weekly column. Wrote and designed agent sales flyers and brochures and client guides for new
life insurance products. Developed marketing strategies for field agents and supplied customized product illustrations. These
illustrations showed customers how their savings and death benefit would grow over time. Authored press releases and interviewed
executives for quotes.
1986
to 1997:
WHCN FM, Hartford, CT
Morning Show Co-Host / Newscaster.
The Horn of Picozzi & The Horn (top rated morning show). --#1 show according to Arbitron, heard by 250,000
listeners weekly.. Hosted Live Lunch Luaus. Interviewed rock stars and politicians and all in between. Wrote comedy bits.
Raised thousands of dollars for area charities.
Previous positions included
hosting weekly interactive computer talk show, fill-in Talk Host, Newscaster and Weekend Anchor of top-rated radio networks
in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New York.
Computer
Skills:
·
Windows 95 & 98, NT, Word, Access, Excel.
·
PowerPoint, FrontPage, Acrobat, PhotoShop, PageMaker,
Quark, RoboHelp, Dreamweaver, Flash, Fireworks, Net Objects Fusion, Publisher.
·
FOCUS, C / C++, Configuration Builder, PVCS Version
Manager, PVCS Tracker, Visual Basic.
·
Internet / E-commerce expertise, Java, Outlook, Explorer,
HTML, Cool Edit, Saw Plus, Sound Forge.
·
Acted as liaison between Information Technology (IT)
and non-IT professionals
Education:
Queens College, NY
- Honors Graduate,
Bachelor
of Arts in Communications, Minor in Computer Science.
Bronx High School of Science, NY - Honors Graduate
Rensselear at Hartford,
CT, 1999 - Computer programming.
New Horizons Computer Learning Center, CT, 2001
- Programming, Web design
University of Hartford MBA in progress
Awards: Three-time winner of Best Radio Personality for top rated morning show.
Two Associated Press Awards for news reporting and newscasting.
American
Red Cross Award for promoting blood drives.
Public Service: Interagency Coordinating Council parent member, appointed by CT Governor John Rowland to oversee Birth-to-Three
Program for disabled children.
Volunteer reader for the blind on CRIS Radio.
