Chris Terry: Creative Writing Instructor in Los Angeles, CA
Work experience
Freelance
Creative Writing Instructor | 01/2015 - Current
* Collaborating with PEN America Grant Writer to obtain funding for community-based creative writing classes
* Developing and teaching generative creative writing workshops for Pen America and Writing Workshops LA
* Reviewing applications and interviewing applicants for PEN’s Emerging Voices Fellowship
DRINKS
Senior Copywriter | 01/2016 - Current
* Developing branding and marketing campaigns for wine e-commerce brands Martha Stewart Wine Co., Maggiano’s Wine Co. and Wine Insiders
* Collaborating with teams throughout the company to drive sales and cultivate customers while maintaining brand voice
* Researching wine and wine history to effectively craft engaging, customer-friendly copy
* Creating and maintaining marketing copy databases to streamline creative team processes
* Copy lead on partnership pitches and partnerships with Maggiano’s, HelloFresh, Pebblepost, Troon Golf, and Chicago Steak
* Copy lead on digital and print assets, including website content, mailers, wine labels, marketing emails, wine tasting notes, web ads and collaborations with deals sites like Groupon
Sunrider International
Senior Copywriter | 01/2015 - 01/2016
* Wrote speeches for the Founder and Vice President of Business Development
* Led copy and concepting on marketing materials for Sunrider herbal supplements for US and international markets
* Collaborated with Sunrider’s founders and multiple departments to create brochures, homepage assets, commercials, instructional videos, and more
TOMS
Copywriter | 10/2013 - 01/2015
* Created seasonal copy briefs and guidelines; approved other Copywriters’ projects based on adherence to brand and campaign style; assisted in hiring and training Copywriters
* Print and digital copy lead: seasonal campaigns, Fall 2014-Spring 2015; launches of TOMS.com/improving-lives, TOMS Animal Initiative and TOMS Passport Rewards; weekly social media posts; e-commerce assets; product launches; in-store branding; collaborations with external partners Make It Right, The Clinton Foundation, World Wildlife Fund and Kitson
Columbia College Chicago
Coordinator of Student Engagement and Culture (Multicultural Affairs) | 09/2012 - 10/2013
-Collaborated with faculty and staff to plan and staff campus events such as New Student Convocation, Parent Weekend and Commencement.
-Created curriculum and lead discussion groups for recipients of the Dempsey Travis Scholarship.
-Coordinated the Sophomore Focus on Academic Success program, enabling at-risk students to maintain scholarships through engagement with the campus; the PSP peer-mentoring program, which helps underrepresented first-year students acclimate to college life; and The Barbershop, an African-American male retention group.
-Planned and led biweekly college and career skills workshops.
-Performed program intake interviews that addressed underrepresented students’ recurring challenges.
-Maintained a safe, friendly, social atmosphere for students.
Storycatchers Theatre
Program Manager and Lead Teaching Artist | 08/2011 - 04/2013
-Created curriculum and handled logistics for writing/theatre programs that I taught in juvenile detention centers.
-Built and maintained relationships with detention center administrators and staff.
-Wrote scripts for inmate-performed musical theatre based on student writing.
-Over the course of a three month program, students wrote and shared their personal stories then performed in a musical play based on their writing.
Solex College
ESL Instructor | 06/2012 - 11/2012
-Taught immersive English classes to college-aged students working toward taking the TOEFL, and attending a university in the USA.
-Created curriculum to supplement the assigned textbooks.