PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS

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1 Blake J Gruber 6640 Akers Mill Rd Apt 4315 Atlanta, GA blake.gruber@me.com PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS Adapting traditional marketing principles as communication channels become increasingly intersected with digital media. Understanding digital problems from a fundamentally human level, using principles of sociology and anthropology in assessing situations to provide intuitive solutions that blend art with science. Using digital media to its fullest by applying intelligent analytics to assess the success of unique approaches to communication efforts, and considering digital ecosystems holistically while strategizing. RESEARCH INTERESTS Attempting to quantify the qualitative in regards to rhetorical and communications theory through the use of big data, particularly big social data. Extrapolating findings from social-web data regarding prescriptive recommendations for marketing and/or speech writing, as well as identifying behavioral patterns for digitally based communications versus face-to-face communications. TERTIARY INTERESTS Home automation and integrated digital-home systems, on the product and interface side. Webdesign and typography, as well as human-computer interactions and human centered design generally. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE THINK Inc. Digital Strategy Intern Atlanta, GA June 12 December 12 Interned for 9 months with THINK interactive agency working as a digital strategist with some exposure to UX designing, as well as building and helping present pitch decks. -Developed information architecture of large-scale intra-net for fortune 100 company -Assisted in conception and pitch of multiple apps and web based microsite campaigns -Vertical/industry and competitive/comparative research for on-ramping strategy team for projects -Digital ecosystem and marketing strategy work for pitch decks and clients -Assisted in user research in preparation for app development for one of the largest US retailers -General content marketing strategy

2 PGi Strategic Communications Intern Atlanta, GA October 11 March 12 Analyst Relations Intern Atlanta, GA July 11 September 11 Interned for nine months with a small team spearheading re-branding and product launch communication efforts for PGi, a telecommunications and virtual meetings company, as the enterprise transitioned to a software mentality. -Provided corporate blogging content for PGi s progressive workplace and cloud conferencing blogs -Implemented metrics and analytics process measuring success of content outreach -Regularly updated, maintained, and optimized corporate social pages and provided best practices recommendations -Interacted with various departments generating social outreach programs for events and trained new employees on social media and blogging practices -Reported on research and analysis in the telecommunications and videoconferencing markets -Summarized white-papers, keying in on facts and statistics relevant to PGi for external PR and sale points -Created SWOT and competitor analyses for PGi s conferencing products MTZ HF Account Services Intern San Francisco, CA June 10 August 10 Interned with boutique creative agency MUH-TAY-ZIK HOF-FER for the summer of 2010 under the guidance of Emmy winning creative director John Matejczyk. -Provided research and analysis for various clients on their industries and competitors -Participated in ad campaigns from conception to execution -Interacted in both in-house and client meetings during planning stages of campaigns -Assisted in commercial shoots Bates College Researcher & TA for Rhetoric Department Lewiston, ME May 09 December 10 Worked as a Teachers and Research Assistant for rhetoric professor Stephanie Kelley-Romano at Bates College over two terms. -Provided writing assistance for students, helping with thesis construction and argument flow -Assisted in research on myth making and living myth work for scholarly articles and a future publication -Cataloged a variety of first person urban legend accounts through transcription and helping devise an intricate qualitative coding system

3 BellTower Books Campus Contractor Lewiston, ME September 09 December 09 Entrepreneurial experience launching a branch of BellTower Books on Bates College campus, a book-buy-back company that provides fairer prices to students for used textbooks. -Managed equipment, advertising, sales and bank accounts on behalf of BellTower Books -Trained and supervised two employees in purchasing books and point of sales PROFICIENCIES & SKILLS Full Proficiencies Publishing Software -Microsoft Word -Apple Keynote -Adobe InDesign -Microsoft PowerPoint -Adobe DreamWeaver Coding Languages -HTML (5) -CSS3 Analytics Software -HootSuite -Google Analytics -NVivo SPSS -Microsoft Excel Moderate Proficiencies Publishing Software -Adobe Flash -Adobe PhotoShop -Adobe Illustrator -Adobe Fireworks Coding Languages -JavaScript (jquery) -ActionScript Analytics Software -Adobe Omniture Client -STATA Skills Writing -Analytical research and reporting -Scholarly Articles -Corporate Blogging -Creative Copy Technical/Digital -Web/Software UX design -Information Architecture -Analytics and metrics analysis -CMS and CRM management -SEO Marketing/Strategy -Social Media Strategy -Content Strategy -Digital Ecosystem Strategy -Vertical/Industry Research -Pitches and presentations EDUCATION Certificate Degree of Digital Publishing and Design 2013 Bates College B.A. in Rhetoric with minors in Sociology and Economics Dean s List winter 10 and winter GPA in Major 3.62 Overall

4 Choate Rosemary Hall Highschool Diploma AP Scholar Award in Micro and Macro Economics -Dean s List winter 07 EXTRACURRICULARS Professional Young & Starving Group Board Member -Board member for Not-for-Profit art gallery in New-York, NY -Lead Digital Marketing, Web-Design and SEO strategy initiatives AIGA Member -Attend local AIGA events and speeches Bates College Student Government Vice President January 11 May 11 -Elected Student Body Vice President charged with overseeing the BCSG committee system -One of four executive council members leading student government meetings and efforts -Selected and managed a team of five individuals to interview over 100 applicants for various positions within the committee system -Lead interviewing process, including scheduling, developing questions, and assessing applicants Student Conduct Committee September 10 May 11 -One of five students working with the academic and student deans to handle student disciplinary issues -Participated in student hearings followed by closed discussion to assess student cases Budget Committee September 10 December 10 -One of seven students selected to manage the student government budget of over $120,000 -Evaluated various proposals from student organizations to efficiently and fairly allocate the budget over the course of the year Other Student Government Positions -Committee on Committees- member -Student Parking Committee- chair -Committee on Career Services- member Clubs -Model UN Team- member -Young Entrepreneurs Club- treasurer -Investment Club- member

5 COURSEWORK Graphic Design -Typography -Digital Page and Web Graphics -Design Studio -Vector and Raster Graphics Bates College Rhetoric -Film Criticism -Rhetorical Criticism -Debate and Argument -Presidential Rhetoric -Symbolic Logic -Argument Theory Sociology -Theoretical Foundations -Research Methods -Economic Sociology -Survey Methods -Criminology Economics -Calculus II -Statistics -The World Economy -Micro Econ -Macro Econ -Intermediate Econ -States and Markets REFERENCES Reference letters and additional contact information available upon request THINK Inc. Zach Pousman Director of Digital Strategy Michelle Berryman Director of UX Design PGi Sean O Brien EVP Strategy & Communications Lea Green Social Media and Content Strategy Manager Michael Buckham White VP Analyst Relations Holly Quarzo Professor of Interactive and Digital Design Bates College Stephanie Kelley-Romano Professor of Rhetoric Dr. Jan Hovden Professor of Rhetoric Emily Kane Professor of Sociology