Robert Pickard
Writing and Communications Management for Journalism and Business
760-451-6065 (h) 310-872-7682 (c) www.bobpickardwrites.com
SUMMARY
 Experienced manager with excellent writing skills and proven ability to shape complex
material into clear, compelling Web content, print articles, and more
 Wrote feature articles for Esquire, Outside, and City Sports magazines; wrote hard
news stories and features on politics, business, personalities, and more for several
community magazines and AOL’s Patch news website
 Won two national writing awards from the International Association of Business
Communicators; won five regional and Los Angeles area IABC writing awards
 Wrote and edited two blogs at Yahoo covering Web advertising trends and
technology; increased page views for tech blog by 60%
PICKARD COMMUNICATIONS, Fallbrook, California
2/11/2010 – Present
Writing and editing services for journalism and business clients
 Wrote, edited, and helped plan coverage for two Yahoo blogs focused on trends and
solutions in Web advertising; fulltime contractor from 4/2010, hired fulltime in 9/2012
 Produced news stories, columns, photographs and videos for AOL Patch news
website for community of Rancho Palos Verdes; covered city council meetings,
elections, other local events ranging from art shows to conservation initiatives
 Wrote marketing materials for the County of Orange County internal audit team
YAHOO, Burbank, California
9/20/12 – 12/31/14
Online content and advertising
Manager, Marketing Communications
 Wrote, edited and helped plan coverage for two blogs focused on trends and
solutions in Web advertising and technology
 Planned and executed blog and social media coverage for industry events in New
York and San Francisco, including photos and video interviews
BOEING SPACE & INTELLIGENCE SYSTEMS, El Segundo, CA
8/10/09 – 9/15/10
Satellite development and launch; a division of The Boeing Company
Manager, External Communications, Space & Intelligence Systems
 Created and executed media communications to support 3 military communications
satellite programs; worked closely with print, Internet, and television reporters
 Planned and executed external communications to support 2 satellite launches at
Cape Canaveral, including media teleconferences, press releases, and interviews
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IBM TIVOLI SOFTWARE, El Segundo, California
6/15/04 – 1/18/09
Management software; a division of IBM Corp.
Project Manager, IBM Tivoli Web and Executive Communications
 Wrote or co-developed 30 executive presentations in 2008; earned reputation as “goto” expert who delivered quality executive presentations under tight deadlines
 Organized, wrote, and hosted 6 executive podcasts to drive attendance for Pulse
2008, Tivoli’s key customer event — more than 5,000 people attended
 Managed development and launch of an IBM website that introduced a new
technology management strategy and solutions; averaged 150,000 hits a year
CANDLE CORPORATION, El Segundo, California
4/08/98 – 6/15/04
Management software; acquired by IBM in 2004
Senior Director, Employee and Executive Communications
 Developed and executed communications plans for major initiatives such as new
product introductions, strategy changes, reductions in force and acquisition by IBM
 Wrote presentations, quarterly updates and memos for Candle president to
communicate management decisions and actions to global employee audience
 Started company’s first regular internal online publication, the weekly Candle News, to
educate global work force on latest company and industry news
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COMPUTER SCIENCES CORPORATION, El Segundo, California 3/23/88-4/20/98
Computer services and consulting
Manager, Publications and Publicity
 Managing Editor of CSC World, an award-winning magazine distributed to 50,000
customers and employees; lead writer, managed staff of four, plus contractors
 Won two national writing awards from International Association of Business
Communicators; mentored new staff writer, who also won two national awards
 Started company’s first online news report, CSC Daily News, to keep global work
force up to date with important company and industry news
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
HONOLULU STAR-BULLETIN: Statewide daily newspaper, circ. 100,000+
Sportswriter: Covered breaking news; interviewed Muhammad Ali; wrote investigative
series on Hawaii Boxing Commission and University of Hawaii women’s sports program
Kauai Correspondent: Covered government, police, and courts; interviewed Walter
Cronkite and Sen. Mike Mansfield; covered former President Nixon’s visit to Kauai
EDUCATION
BA, English major, Journalism minor at University of California at Berkeley
PUBLICATIONS
Esquire, Outside, City Sports, South Bay Living, Rendezvous, Peninsula People, and
Easy Reader magazines