Kenneth Jon Smith Home phone: 608-221-3484
5013 Maywood Road E-mail: ken@ideasmith.com
Monona, WI 53716 Phone: 608-698-4375
 
Ken Smith uses the Internet, imaging technology, clear writing, journalistic savvy, public relations experience and webmaster and online database skills to build communities of interest among diverse populations of stakeholders. He chooses which media to use based on the needs of the sender, the key or priority message, and the preferences and technology capabilities of the receiver. The result is effective communication, even with highly technical material.
 
Experience and talents include:
  • Webmaster since 1995, dozens of sites, thousands of pages and millions of hits. Ken's websites have built communities and fostered and coordinated development and change in those communities;
  • Database management allowing self-registration and group-only access to media;
  • 30 years of science and technical communications experience;
  • Experience training professionals on effectively communicating in and through the media and on use of software technologies.
  • See online listing of computer skills at http://www.ideasmith.com/skillset.html .
 
Employment History:
  • Since 1987, Ken has been sole proprietor of IdeaSmith a multi-media communications consultancy. During this period, Ken has occasionally taken on full-time work, including:
    • 2002-2005 Outreach Specialist, Agricultural and Applied Economics, UW- Madison.
    • Jan-August 1999 Marketing Communications for Expct, computer training firm.
    • March-June 1997, limited-term Account Executive, The Hiebing Group, Madison, WI.
    • Outreach Specialist, University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, 1989-1993. Established and conducted marketing programs, including an innovative monthly newsletter, supporting the center's technology transfer function.
  • Newsletter Publisher and Entrepreneur, 1987-1989. Established a biotechnology industry newsletter, provided media consulting and publication planning services to clients.
  • State Editor, Agri-View(state-wide weekly newspaper) 1979-1987. As a news reporter, covered many aspects of agriculture, including biotechnology, dairy, meatpacking, property tax issues, farm management and legislative affairs. Won a national writing award.
  • Editorial Assistant, national agribusiness publication, Feedstuffs, Miller Publishing Company, Minneapolis, 1977-1979.
 
Education:
Bachelor of Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1977. Major: Agricultural Journalism. Track: broadcast. Also wrote for campus student daily and held a number of editorial jobs while a student.
 
References:
 
See links to writing samples, graphics samples and websites by Ken Smith.