Alan Berks

About Alan Berks

RECENT CAREER HIGHLIGHTS ⇒ Led the rebranding and communications transformation of 100+ year-old social service center into a 21st century arts-infused center for creativity and community—including logo, font, building-wide redesign, print and digital media—while increasing Pillsbury House Theatre’s annual attendance by 150% and revenue 200% in 4 years and helping other programs reach capacity participation. Served people from marginalized neighborhoods. ⇒ Founded in 2008, built, managed writers and staff, wrote articles, created video and audio interviews, and sold for a profit in 2017 Minnesota’s premier online trade publication for the performing arts, growing to serve approximately unique visitors a month with job and training announcements, calendar listings, talent database, and articles and videos. ⇒ Co-founded three acclaimed theater companies with oversight of marketing, fundraising, budget, and strategic planning: Thirst Theater (20••••07), Workhaus Collective (20••••16), and Wonderlust Productions (2014-Present) SKILLS/CORE COMPETENCIES Content Management: Writing, editing, and proofreading. Editorial Development. Script writing. Speech writing. Technical Writing. Interviewing/Reporting. Research. Website management. Content Mapping. Email marketing. Social media marketing. Grassroots marketing and community outreach. Google Analytics. HTML. Word Press. Drupal. Video editing. Audio editing. Leadership: Design thinking. Multi-program management. Consensus Building. Collaboration Training. Strategic Planning. Team Management. Training and Mentoring. Public Speaking. Volunteer management. Event management.

Experience

1. Co-artistic Director Co-founder

   Wonderlust Productions

   Jun 2014 — Present · Minneapolis, MN, US

   Wonderlust Productions illuminates a community’s story through live performance, mixing community members with professional artists.• facilitate story gathering in communities whose experiences are often ignored or misunderstood.• collaborate with the community and other artists to transform those stories into powerful new live events.• Write and direct plays created in collaboration with professional artists and community members.• Oversee all aspects of Wonderlust Productions administration including grant writing, budgeting, marketing, and strategic planning.

Education

• Columbia College, Columbia University

  BA

  1991 — 1994

• Arizona State University

  MFA

  1997 — 2000

Skills

• New Media
• Writing
• Press Releases
• Web Content Writing
• Report Writing
• Copywriting
• Creative Writing
• Nonprofit Organizations
• Publications
• Theatre
• Magazines
• Strategic Communications
• Newsletters
• Social Media Marketing
• Teaching
• Public Relations
• Blogging
• Editing
• Web Content
• Non-Profits
• Nonprofits
• Public Speaking
• Higher Education
• Research
• Feature Articles
• Editorial
• Marketing