Career Summary

Phone: 847-770-5973 | Email: jimcsmylie@gmail.com

 
  • Created SEO- and research-driven blog posts, articles, and downloadable materials for a variety of clients across the manufacturing, agriculture, technology, and transportation sectors.

  • Assembled knowledge through focused interviews with SMEs around AI and automation’s effects on domains ranging from food supply chains to financial regulations.

  • Built content calendars in close cooperation with clients and sales team members, leading to thousands of additional registrations for North America’s largest industrial automation conference.

  • Developed weekly emails to prospects and subscribers, boosting readership on existing articles by 25% and resulting in hundreds of new registrations.

  • Produced 10+ long- and short-form videos in partnership with visual designers and video editors, leading each project from initial storyboarding through final release.

  • Composed high-performing, analytics-informed copy for Instagram, LinkedIn, X, TikTok, and Facebook, as well as paid advertisements on Google.

SENIOR Copywriter

LoSasso Integrated Marketing, Chicago, IL

March 2023–February 2024


  • Developed custom learning solutions for 7 business sectors through research and client interviews.

  • Identified resources and 5+ subject matter experts for the first large scale SAP system integration project to help clients pivot from classrooms to virtual training.

  • Maintained a digital banking course, leading to reduced training time from 90 days in-person to a few hours online, removing the need for travel and improving other Instructor-Led Training (ILT) logistics.

  • Led a team of 3 programmers and designers to script and build a self-paced, 1-hour course for company-wide training, structuring it for use in ILT with minimal alterations.

  • Rebuilt and improved a food service client’s training materials, condensing a 50-slide ILT presentation into 25 interactive digital "cards,” reducing sessions from a half-day to 35 minutes, resulting in repeat business and a request for another 10-15 cards.

  • Built training from scratch for telecommunications client’s new mobile service line within 3 months.

  • Collaborated with team of 5-7 designers, programmers and partners from other service lines.

  • Trained and mentored 6 new hires regarding content production and quality assurance.

  • Aided in development of new best practices following EY’s acquisition of NogginLabs.

SENIOR CONTENT DEVELOPER

EY, Chicago, IL

November 2018-February 2023

CONTENT PRODUCER

NogginLabs, Chicago, IL

January 2018-November 2018


  • Generated research-heavy, SEO-driven informative content.

  • Obtained hard-to-find details of regional grocery chain promotions through a combination of cold calling and online research.

CoNTRIBUTOR

First Quarter Finance, Remote

May 2017–June 2017


  • Wrote and produced voiceover for television and radio commercials, reducing marketing expenditures.

  • Revitalized sales at the Green Bay location by co-leading the rebranding initiatives.

  • Built relationships with local businesses via grassroots marketing, cold calling and emails.

  • Tripled the number of followers on Twitter and Facebook pages through direct engagement with local institutions and contests.

  • Maintained and improved engagement with 100+ E-Club members via weekly email blasts.

Marketing associate

O'Brien International, Skokie, IL

2012-2017


  • Wrote all copy on SmylieBros.com.

  • Addressed customer complaints on Yelp and Facebook leading to changed reviews.

Writer

Smylie Brothers Brewing Company, Evanston, IL

2013-2017


  • Collaborated with a dedicated creative team in various roles on over 80 comedic sketches. 

  • Co-wrote and performed in 22-minute sitcom pilot.

Writer, editor, producer, performer

PlanetTown Films, Chicago, IL

2012-2017


  • Directed tech-heavy show from casting to production over 2-month period.

  • Co-wrote and performed in 12 comedy sketch shows. 

  • Produced and edited video and audio content.

Writer, editor, performer

Clown Car to Sicily, Chicago, IL

2011-2017


  • Built relationships with neighboring businesses’ employees, improving sales. 

  • Supervised tight-knit, effective teams at Glencoe and Evanston locations. 

  • Engaged in effective teamwork at all locations.

  • Received multiple MUG awards for customer service.

Shift Supervisor, Barista

Starbucks Coffee Company,

Glencoe, Evanston, Chicago, IL

2007-2012


  • Composed hundreds of posts as over 50 unique “users” on http://www.elumaforum.com, driving customer engagement. 

  • Researched message board personalities and used latest e-cigarette information to heighten realism of posts.

Copywriter

Eluma E-Cigarettes, Chicago, IL

August-October 2011


  • Promoted Nike’s SPARQ initiative via conversational “magalogue” copy. 

  • Took initiative to find sources within Nike for research purposes, comparing and contrasting SPARQ with other training programs.

Writer

Dick's Sporting Goods, Remote

April-May 2007


  • Reviewed Japanese animation and comic books.

  • Wrote news pieces about latest trends in Japanese animation.

blogger

Japanator.com, Remote

January 2007-January 2008


Education

Second city training center

Improvisational Comedy, 2009

Musical Improvisational Comedy, 2010

iO Training Center

Improvisational Comedy, 2011

drake university

Bachelor of Arts in Magazine Journalism, 2006