Derek Klobucher

About Derek Klobucher

Do you know many high school students who taught U.S. Marines to swim in Japan? Communicating isn’t just sharing facts; it’s keeping people engaged. I’ve been honing this skill since I was 17 years old, living in Okinawa and blending comedy with respect while instructing American Leathernecks in water safety. Humor and esteem for my audience have remained guiding tenets through my diverse career, as I found novel ways to connect with: • Foreign special operations forces, as a member of U.S. SOCOM teaching commando skills during overseas deployments • Retail customers, as a video host showcasing cutting-edge recreational equipment in REI product videos • Wall Street decision makers, as a corporate blogger writing about trading and technology trends via Forbes, SAP Community Network and other venues Bringing stories to life with the right words and video on the appropriate channels can transform the most complex concepts into entertaining and educational narratives. At the University of Michigan, I reveled in colorfully telling historical stories, such as those of an alcoholic samurai, a rookie corrections officer and masculine stereotypes influenced by James Bond. Through graduate studies at Northwestern University, I reported on the Chicago beat, the city’s trading exchanges and an ex-governor’s federal corruption trial - I even covered the White House, U.S. Congress and the Supreme Court from our D.C. newsroom. My experiences come to play daily as I write about software, databases and their use in daily life. I’ve covered events on Wall Street and have hosted technical panel discussion videos featuring electronic traders, corporate partners and colleagues. Prior to that, I wrote about outdoor gear and hosted Web videos for REI, a nationwide adventure outfitter. And I have maintained my familiarity with military equipment, including navigation and weapons systems, so I can resume writing about those topics at anytime.

Experience

1. Video Producer Digital Storyteller Brand Journalist

   SAP

   May 2019 — Present · Seattle, WA, US

   Tell engaging stories across multiple media (video, print, social and more). These compelling packages build bridges between SAP, customers, partners and the world.• Create new visions, conceiving exciting ways to share the experiences of SAP customers — and their customers• Foster communication, teamwork and collaboration with internal and external stakeholders to achieve their goals• Showcase innovative ways that SAP users solve business problems, add value and improve their customers’ lives• Direct video shoots on-location — right where solutions have their greatest impact• Lead internal or external vendor crews, as the situation dictates• Mentor and advise colleagues to find story angles that will best resonate with target audiences• Own the storytelling process, from pre-production through post-production, distribution and social promotion• Instruct SAP employees, partners and others in digital storytelling via my proprietary workshop

Education

• University of Michigan

  BA, History

  1992 — 1996

• Northwestern University

  MSJ, Journalism (Reporting & Writing)

  2006 — 2007