REFERENCES |
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Eileen Cunningham, Operations Director Matt began in the editorial department of our Custom Publishing Group, and was promoted to Publications Project Manager when we needed to tap his operations skills. Matt covered much in two years, including helping launch four new client Web sites, growing a monthly magazine for new home builders, managing several health industry newsletters and coordinating the bimonthly Oakland Athletics magazine. “I appreciated Matt's enthusiasm, drive and dedication.”
Bev Rivers, Editor-in-Chief I recruited Matt away from our main competitor, and I'm happy that “Matt was one of the best hires I have ever made.” Matt came on board as the Managing Editor in the middle of the Creative Home magazine start-up and immediately grasped the strategy, organized the team, and completed production smoothly and quickly. In the five years we worked together, Matt took on many new challenges, including launching specials, boosting our book club titles, and even building our group’s first Web site. Matt was especially well respected and appreciated in our field.
Julie Keith, Executive Editor Matt and I teamed as Managing Editors for Better Homes and Gardens publications, often co-producing new magazines. In my three years working with Matt, I appreciated his teamwork and talent. "I particularly enjoyed Matt's creative ideas," eagerness to share resources, and support for our Internet and trade show ventures. I could always trust Matt to put the people and projects first. He earned our confidence and respect.
Mary Bendgen, Art Director I worked with Matt for more than three years as a co-manager. He was a great peer. "Matt mastered a large workload and tight deadlines." He showed tremendous people skills, especially in satisfying advertisers and vendors. His staff partnered well with my designers, and our teams worked harmoniously to create many beautiful and successful publications for the Better Homes and Gardens Crafts Group.
Deborah Murzyn, Creative Director We were looking for the ideal Editorial Director to help launch our new monthly lifestyles magazine, Black Diamond Living. That person, I'm glad to say, was Matt Jones. "Matt fulfilled our highest expectations for a leader" who mastered editorial methods and advised us on publishing strategies. He helped me coordinate concepts and production of our media kit and prototype and premiere issues. I relied on Matt to anticipate and overcome the pitfalls of a startup. He impressed me with his solutions to editorial and art challenges.
Georgia Hughes, Editor-in-Chief I enjoyed working with Matt on his ideas for our book acquisitions process. I know "Matt understands what it takes to make a successful book" from an editorial standpoint. I appreciate Matt's strong ability to recognize a clear book synopsis, outline, market comparison and research study.
William Burns, Publisher Matt worked with me as an editorial consultant to discuss strategy for our line of self-help books. He showed me significant understanding and creativity, and a great grasp of our priority projects, standards, methods, and market. "Matt offered a detailed, cogent plan for growing our catalog" of book titles and range of readers. I valued Matt's thoroughness and ingenuity for our business.
Jerry Cohen, Publisher Matt was already doing a great job as our Editorial Director producing crafts magazines, when I asked him to launch a new line. With innovative concepts and thorough editorial planning and strategy, "Matt formed a vital new publishing wing" for our MLB Baseball Preview and NFL Football Extra magazines. I valued Matt's expertise for the vision and details it takes to create a magazine--and an entire editorial division.
WEB Wei-Tai Kwok, President We hired Matt as an editorial consultant to help our agency redesign the site of a premier client, Stryker.com, a Fortune 500 medical supplies company. He gained traction with the client right away. "We liked how Matt shared his content creation experise with the client's divison managers," training them to successfully utilize their new content management system. Matt managed the content rebuilding process from wireframes to taxonomy to writing--handling each component and step effciently and effectively.
Dan Payomo, VP Marketing We liked Matt’s well-rounded Web experience and editorial skills for our new site. Within the fast-growing field of social networking or "grassroots media,” Backfence.com was leading the way in the Bay Area. But we needed a savvy Web Content Manager to further engage the community and inspire more intriguing local news postings. While he picked up our content approach right away, "Matt attracted the best bloggers to give our site a big user boost.”
Ali Ghafouri, President and CEO As a newly reorganized publishing company, we faced many key challenges. One of the most critical was hiring an Editor-in-Chief to serve as the voice and representative of our Web reviews magazine and site. "Matt quickly assessed the best editorial direction and revamped our publications for a dynamic multimedia operation," coordinating our products for the broadest possible readership. Thanks to Matt, we are also now able to launch a new niche search engine, Plutoz.com, as he helped establish the user content search criteria.
Ken Wilcox, President and CEO We recruited Matt to Silicon Valley Bank to lead our content efforts for Venturelink.com, SVB's Web portal for high-tech entrepreneurs. As Editor-in-Chief, Matt made a great impression with his ability to lead collaborative initiatives and his commitment to process and quality. "Matt is an engaged optimist, and a creative team builder" who leads by example. Prior to the Bank's decision to exit the project, our Web content team, under Matt's able leadership, had done a thorough job of publishing a library of original and relevant content focused on the needs of innovative entrepreneurs.
Valerie Trenter, VP Merchandising While Matt and I shared tenure as peers in the 2000 launch of Homecraft.com, I regarded his editorial abilities as innovative, determined, and resourceful. While I purchased home products and Matt created the content, we developed successful merchandising plans. "Matt effectively led the multi-tasking of our 25-person team." I would happily join Matt in another publishing venture, as I can trust his ability to grow, adapt, and balance the key elements of a sound business plan.
Ric Serianni, VP Marketing As we were approaching our store’s 50th anniversary, I called on Matt to revamp Dale-Hardware.com to something more current. He was a great Web project consultant, as "Matt listened closely to our ideas and provided the creative content changes we needed.” Thanks to Matt, our customers now look up site product info more often--and that’s always good for in-store business. And I think the Web video and animation how-tos that Matt suggested are pretty cool.
Vicki Zeigler, VP Marketing Our consumer Web site DiamondNuts.com was already a solid award-winner when we asked Matt and his Web team to repurpose content for our IPO. “Matt was organized and efficient--and impressed our legal and marketing teams"-- in composing precise text for investors. Matt helped make my job a success, as management was pleased with the care and accuracy in updating content.
Aimee Canlass, Public Relations Manager I enjoyed Matt’s cordial and customer-first attitude in producing our hospital’s marketing publications, including Living Well. “Matt was flexible and adept in meeting content changes" and fine-tuning material for diverse customers. In the long run, with so many copy revisions, Matt was the editorial answer we were looking for. |
