About

I am a professional with over 18 years of progressive experience in communications, media, public relations, and marketing in the Twin Cities and globally. My background spans corporate, nonprofit, education, and media sectors, drawing experience from all for a well-rounded perspective. I have a broad and deep knowledge of the local business environment that supports my ability to draw from multiple sources for numerous purposes as an editor and producer. I am self-directed and ethical. I am collaborative in management style and continuously improving relations between source and audience; interpersonally, electronically, and institutionally.

See LinkedIn Profile

Experience
Editorial Director, Managing Editor
Lavender Magazine, Edina, MN
June 2011 – Present

Direct all editorial functions, collaborate on art direction and production, and plan editorial calendars for bi-weekly glossy magazine with circulation of 33,400; over 150 issues to date (26/year)

Author various articles, over 225 articles to date, personally winning nine awards for production and nine awards for writing

Act as a figurehead to the larger community in the Twin Cities and nationally

Establish and nurture business contacts across industries for content partnerships and mutual business opportunities

Manage photo/video shoots and use graphic design and post-production skills as needed for print and digital platforms

Coordinate content of Lavender Media, including top-editing all copy, effectively managing the budget, and efficiently trafficking between departments to meet daily, weekly, and bi-weekly deadlines

Strategize internal and external branding and storytelling for both the community and the peripheral audience

Prepare and execute bi-weekly editorial logs to be commensurate with fluctuating ad revenue, staying within similarly fluctuating budgets

Expand online presence with procurement of materials via content partners, publicists, and inclusion of community voices

Maintain award-winning WordPress website, www.LavenderMagazine.com, with 44,000 bi-weekly visitors, created after UX/UI evaluation and development

Analyze and act on more than doubling Facebook followers after developing low-cost digital marketing strategy since January 2016

Produce weekly e-newsletter and mailing lists for community building, visibility, marketing, and revenue

Independent Marketing & Communications Consultant
Self-Employed, Saint Paul, MN
August 2009 – present

Develop and execute marketing plans to ensure optimum efficiency of marketing dollars

Build online presences that increased engagement and brand recognition for individuals, companies, and organizations

Design and develop collateral materials, ads, and websites using software including Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, and basic CSS editors

Establish online presences then introduce and train small organizations and enterprises to use emerging social media platforms

Freelance writing, photography, production

Director of Communications & Marketing
SKD Architects and MS&I Building Company, Plymouth, MN
February 2005 – August 2009

Planned and implemented artistic direction, copywriting, graphic design, internet marketing, media relations, and special events

Designed company websites, coordinated and maintained all content for the websites as well as materials for third-party sites such as Houzz

Managed special events including partnerships with the Luxury Home Tour and Parade of Homes

Coordinated vendors for collateral materials, photo shoots, styling, and ad buys

Director of Admissions & Marketing
The International School of Minnesota, Eden Prairie, MN
2003 – 2004

The International School of Minnesota (ISM) is a private, for-profit, college-preparatory school for PS-Grade 12 students and is owned by the SABIS® Educational System of the United Arab Emirates. Initially hired to be the Marketing Coordinator, my duties quickly expanded to oversee all Admissions, Financial Aid, and I-20s (student visa applications) for the school, in addition to the marketing initiatives. Responsible for marketing, communications, public/media/parent relations, special events, and branding.

Director of Development
Minnesota Friends of the Orphans, Roseville, MN
2001 – 2003

Minnesota Friends of the Orphans (now Friends of the Orphans) provides direct support to Nuestros Pequeños Hermanos, homes for orphaned and abandoned children in Latin America and the Caribbean. As the Director of Development, I was responsible for the planning, supervision, completion, and evaluation of the entire Annual Fundraising programs of MFO through communications, marketing, special events, and branding.

Communications Coordinator
Point2Point Communication Solutions
1999 – 2001

Point2Point Communications Solutions, Inc., was the corporate subsidiary of Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) and offered business-to-business event, video and television production as well as webcasting services. As the Communications Coordinator, my position was a combination of Public Relations/Communications coordination, marketing assistance and office management.

Technology

Design: Experienced in Acrobat, Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign
Podcast: Experienced in GarageBand, iTunes, and RSS feeds to record, produce, upload, and podcasts
Operations: Effectively utilize MS Office, Google Drive, and File Maker for collaboration and operation
CMS: Experienced in WordPress and other CMS to generate websites, update existing content, and drive visitors with superior design and UX/UI
Email Marketing: Experienced in MailChimp, EventBrite, Constant Contact, and MailerLite for increasing impressions with audience for messaging, branding, and advertising
Multimedia: Concept, film, produce, and publish video and audio to YouTube, Vimeo, and Vevo for stand alone, website embedding, or use in social media
Social Media: Avid and early user of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (including Live and Stories), Tumblr, and Snapchat for branding, messaging, and advertising
SEO: Familiar with Spyfu.com, Yoast SEO, and other SEO tools and concepts

Awards:

Minnesota Magazine & Publishing Association (MMPA) Awards:
2016
2016 Magazine of the Year
Gold: Single-Topic Issue, 2015 Fall Wedding Issue “Finders Keepers”
Silver: How-To Article, “How to Harbor View” by Andy Lien
Bronze: Editor’s Letter, “Finders Keepers” by Andy Lien

2015
Gold: Single-Topic Issue, 2015 Spring Wedding Issue “From Minnesota With Love”
Bronze: Editor’s Letter, “Grow Old Along With Me” by Andy Lien
Bronze: Overall Excellence, Lavender Magazine

2014
Gold: Editor’s Letter, “Born This Way” by Andy Lien
Bronze: Editor’s Letter, “Love: In Sickness & In Health” by Andy Lien
Gold: How-To Article, “Halloween How To” by Brett Dorrian, Morgan Ross and Andy Lien
Silver: Single-Topic Issue, The Wedding Issue

2013
Gold: Editor’s Letter, “Of Empathy and Our Future” by Andy Lien
Silver: Profile Article, “2012 Organization of the Year: Minnesotans United for All Families” by Andy Lien

2012
Bronze: Overall Excellence, Lavender Magazine
Silver: Single-Topic Issue, The Wedding Issue
Silver:Website, LavenderMagazine.com

Education
Macalester College, 1995 – 1999
BA, Majored in both Communications Studies and Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Contact:
Andy Lien
[email protected]