Resume

Larry Swanson

PO Box 20704
Seattle, WA 98102

Expertise

Portfolio | Qualifications

Content Strategy & Digital Publishing Experience

Elless Media, Principal

August 1998-present
Operate content strategy and web publishing consultancy.

• host weekly Content Strategy Interviews podcast
• consult with business owners and independent professionals on web content strategy
• collaborate with startup founders on business strategy and planning
• develop SEO strategy (and sometimes assist with implementation)
• train clients on web publishing and SEO best practices
• pro bono content strategy for charitable and arts organizations

Well9to5, Founder & Publisher

August 2015-January 2017
Conceived, raised funding for, designed, and operated digital “active office” publication.

• researched and wrote Consumer Reports–style active-office product reviews
• designed, researched, and wrote “Standing Desk Buying Guide”
• designed, implemented, and populated database of active-office products
• created company visual identity and designed website
• produced personal-wellness podcast
• blogged on active-office industry

WorkWhileWalking, Editor-in-Chief (interim)

January-April 2015
Interim editorial lead for office-fitness furniture company publication.

• wrote, edited, and published reviews of standing desks, treadmill desks, and other office-fitness gear
• supervised and mentored editor and staff writer
• collaborated with parent organization marketing lead on media production and digital-asset management

BodyworkU, Founder & Publisher

June 2006-October 2012
Founded, built, and operated continuing education class promotion website.

• designed website information architecture
• designed MySQL database for class, course, instructor, venue, and other relevant information
• collaborated with Mason (Perl)/MySQL developer to build website back-end
• designed both user-facing and client-back-end website UI
• hired and supervised editor to populate and maintain database
• low-budget, SEO-only marketing strategy grew traffic to 10K monthly visitors in about a year

DigitalCandle, Director of Marketing

June 2001-January 2002
Managed marketing program for marketing-services startup serving shareware developers.

• collaborated with developer team to create automated marketing-services product for shareware developers
• redesigned company website
• collaborated with developer team on CMS overhaul
• recruited and supervised marketing staff
• spoke at shareware developer conferences

workz.com, Executive Producer

April 1998-December 2000
Jack-of-all trades senior manager for dot-com startup publication.

• assigned, wrote, and edited stories on e-commerce, website design and development, SEO, search engine marketing, and website promotion
• published weekly newsletter
• managed re-design of workz.com, the company’s flagship website
• collaborated with development team to implement custom-built content management system
• managed database migration from old CMS to new
• developed and launched a proprietary contextual advertising program (which worked much like the contextual text ads that Google and Overture rolled out a year or so later)
• founded and operated BannerWorkz, a creative agency that quickly became the go-to provider for affordable, effective banner ads; supervised as many as 15 on-site and remote designers; cash flow from this unit funded the parent organization’s publishing arm during a crucial growth period
• designed and collaborated on implementation of custom CMS and website front-end for TheWebWorkz, the company’s first online publication
• spoke at internet marketing conferences
• worked with CEO to evaluate targeted companies for acquisition potential

Big Tent Media Labs, Senior Producer

August 1996-August 1997
New-media producer for early dot-com publishing start-up.

• conceived, developed, and produced functioning prototype of large, database-driven, consumer-oriented self-help web site
• wrote and edited self-help articles and other content
• collaborated with founder to explore additional publishing and marketing opportunities

College Textbook Publishing, Editor, Marketing Manager, Sales Rep

September 1984-August 1996
Editorial, marketing, and sales roles with college textbook publishers.

• managed marketing program for $20 million textbook product line
• acquired and developed textbooks in social and biological sciences
• extensive travel to college campuses and academic conferences
• strong technology focus:
  • database task forces
  • peer computer & web training
  • website design & development
  • software customization specification

Other Experience

Community Event Organizer, Volunteer, and Promoter

January 2001-present
Plan, produce, manage, and promote arts, educational, and charity events, from 10 to 10,000+ attendees.

• WordPress, Community Deputy for events related to the WordPress open-source software project; vet and train event organizers, contribute to global community programs, and support event organizers in online forums, 2017-present
• Larry’s Events, publish weekly Seattle community events announcement list, 2017-present
• Ignite Seattle, Organizer & Slide Wrangler for community quick-talk event, 2015-18
• Dent Conference, statement of values steering committee, 2017
• WordCamp Seattle 2017, Co-Lead Organizer for annual gathering of WordPress enthusiasts; led large group of volunteer organizers producing two-day, four-track, 500-attendee conference
• WordCamp Seattle 2016, Sponsor Wrangler
• WordCamp Seattle 2011-15, Volunteer
• Fremont Noodle House Group, Founder, business networking lunch, 1998-2013
• TEDxRainier (now TEDxSeattle), Stage Manager, 2012
• TEDxRainier (now TEDxSeattle), Production Manager, 2011
• Seattle Empty Bowls, website hosting and on-site volunteer for annual fundraising event, 2009-present
• Moisture Festival, Lighting, Stage Management, and Security Volunteer for world’s largest comedy/variety/vaudeville festival, 2008-present
• Seeds of Compassion, “Compassion Ambassador” Concierge, customer support for high-level (>$10K) event sponsors, 2008
• Executives on Auction,Seattle Liaison for innovative Canadian charity, 2003
• World Rhythm Festival (Seattle World Percussion Society), Board Member and Organizer for annual music, dance, and culture event that drew as many as 10,000 attendees, 2001-03

Massage Therapist and Educator

January 1999-present
Professional, independent massage practice focusing on injury treatment and wellness (full-time to quarter-time, depending on level of publishing and consulting activity).

• teach popular couples massage class
• assistant teacher for orthopedic-massage continuing-education classes
• teaching assistant for massage-school business classes
• evangelist and author in the field of “office fitness”
  • wrote and published “Scared Sitless: The Office Fitness Book,” 2014
  • deliver “Office Fitness Talks,” from half-hour “lunch and learn” talks to full-day professional education seminars, 2007-present