Editor, manager, writing coach |
Mark Holthaus is a writing and editing professional who has held full-time positions in publishing, marketing and communications since 1968. For much of that time, both on and off the job, he has been a writing coach, helping hundreds of people improve their writing.
He currently edits a medical journal and its companion web site and newsletter, while writing and consulting.
Professional Experience
2008 - present: Advanstar Communications, Cleveland, Ohio
Managing Editor, Geriatrics, a MedLine-indexed, peer-reviewed medical journal with both print and digital editions (circulation 73,000), its companion web site, www.geri.com (part of the ModernMedicine network), and its companion newsletter, Geriatrics E-News.
2005 - 2007: American Greetings, Cleveland, Ohio
Editorial Manager, Creative Division. Recruited into new key manager position to find ways to help stabilize fluctuating editorial workloads resulting from demands by major retailers for faster turnaround of new card products to market. Established network of more than 300 contract and freelance writers to increase amount of copy available for new cards. Recruited and trained “variable resources” staff of 10 editors and support specialists to level out demands on existing staff of 50 editors and writers. Implemented Excel-based system to track workflow and forecast capacity for editorial production of 12,000 cards across 16 different product lines. Leads team of six editors collaborating with product managers, planners, designers, artists, and technical staff to produce Gibson, Tender Thoughts and other “value” card brands comprising 25% of the company’s product sold.
2000 - 2005: Journal Register Co., Lorain, Ohio
City Editor, The Morning Journal, where he worked with editors and reporters on daily local news stories. He spent much of his time editing and rewriting stories while personally training and developing young journalists as reporters and writers. He also wrote articles and editorials, and planned, edited and helped write special news series. His writing awards include Best Explanatory Journalism from the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists. Click here to read his winning article.
1987 - 2000: Plain Dealer Publishing Co., Cleveland, Ohio
Assistant Managing Editor, Editorial Operations Planning Manager, Imaging Manager. He managed the news photography and graphics departments, and newsroom library, while converting them to digital systems, and led the implementation of digital news pages. He then joined an in-house team building a $200-million, state-of-the-art offset printing facility, and was responsible for developing and installing digital color production systems. He later managed daily production of all news and advertising color material for printing. As part of the effort to convert the newspaper from black-and-white to color printing, he played a key role in The Plain Dealer being the first U.S. newspaper to win the IFRA international color quality competition, ahead of later winners such as the New York Times and Los Angeles Times. Click here for a white paper explaining the competition.
1984 - 1987: Gannett Inc., Fremont / Port Clinton, Ohio
Executive Editor, Fremont News-Messenger and Port Clinton News Herald, where he managed news operations of daily newspapers in two cities concurrently, edited and wrote articles and editorials, and personally trained and developed young journalists as reporters and writers. During that time, the Associated Press named the News Herald the best small newspaper in Ohio.
1983 - 1984: Gannett Inc., Cincinnati, Ohio
Copy Desk Chief, Cincinnati Enquirer, where he supervised eight-person universal news editing desk and was responsible for approving the editorial quality of all stories and headlines before publication.
1979 - 1983: Kentucky State Government, Frankfort, Kentucky
Deputy Commissioner, Department of Public Information; Deputy Commissioner, Department of Tourism; Executive Director, Office of Tourism Development. Appointed by Gov. John Y. Brown, he managed day-to-day operations of 112-person state public affairs agency, then was responsible for reorganizing and directing the state's marketing efforts for its vital tourism industry. He oversaw the state's $1 million Oh! Kentucky advertising campaign and worked on projects for the governor and his wife, Phyllis George Brown, including the Kentucky Derby, My Old Kentucky Home, the opening of the Kentucky Horse Park and the premier of the movie Coal Miner's Daughter. Click here to see his reorganization plan.
1969 - 1979: Herald-Leader Co., Lexington, Kentucky
Reporter, Copy Editor, Copy Desk Chief, News Editor and Assistant Managing Editor at Lexington Herald, and then Managing Editor of The Lexington Leader.
1968 - 1969: United States Air Force, Thailand
Editor of military newspaper that was printed in Bangkok and distributed to personnel in northeastern Thailand who were supporting military operations in North Vietnam, South Vietnam and Laos. For three prior years he helped compile written histories of Air Force units.
Education
Master of Business Administration, 1978, Xavier University, Cincinnati, Oh.
Bachelor of Arts, 1974, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Ky.
This is the personal Web site of Mark Holthaus. References and links to businesses, organizations or individuals are for information only and don't imply relationships or endorsements of him as a writing coach or consultant.
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Mark Holthaus has been writing professionally for more than 35 years. Click here to see recently published and past articles. He has been a writing coach and editor to people from all walks and at all levels -- physicians, scientists, professors, military officers, a governor, business owners, CEOs, other executives and managers, long-term employees, new hires, graduate and undergraduate students, people thinking about going back to college, and high school and junior high students. In addition to private coaching, his professional positions have involved extensive work with newly-hired college graduates and aspiring creative employees who needed help getting their writing to the levels required in their new positions. His recent focus also includes coaching high school students Although he enjoys any opportunity to help someone with writing, he gets special satisfaction from being able He guards the privacy of everyone he coaches, knowing that confidentiality can be key He enjoys the classroom His wife is an accomplished writer and development manager for a major medical institution. They have two daughters, one in high school and one attending Johns Hopkins University. He also has three grown children. References are available on request. He can be reached by e-mail at info@writing-coach.net or by calling (440) 915-6117.
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