mike skuras

mike@skuras.com

310 428 3785

Overview

A wide range of media experience -- ranging from international Ad Agencies (Leo Burnett/USA) and Network/Cable Television (NBC/ABC/Fox Sports), to new technology startups, Digital Signage Networks for the healthcare industry, and Public Relations, Magazine Writing, Design and Production.

Career Highlights (Details in resume below)

Advertising

After originally hired as a Copywriter, served for 6 years as a Digital Creative Director at Leo Burnett/USA, overseeing the application of creative digital technology used by hundreds of creative teams on accounts such McDonald's, Philip Morris, Kraft, Walt Disney World, Hallmark, Altoids, and the Tony Scott-directed Oldsmobile Intrigue campaign. Member of the transition team responsible for incorporating the previously independent production house Capps Studio into Burnett prior to the agency being purchased by Publicis Groupe.

Broadcast Television

10+ years of Producing, Writing and Editing the annual Marian Anderson Award events, where I had the opportunity to write for Oscar-winning talent such as Elizabeth Taylor, James Earl Jones, Mia Farrow, Richard Gere, and Harry Belafonte.

Created and served as Executive Producer for Fox Sports Net's first regional Mixed Martial Arts show.

Performed various roles on television projects with the comedy troupe Upright Citizens Brigade alongside talent including Amy Poehler, Matt Besser, Donald Glover, Paul Rust and Aubrey Plaza.

Digital Signage Networks, Marketing, and the Healthcare Industry

Co-founded The Reel Health Network, which was first in industry to provide completely customizable, advertising-supported Digital Signage Television Networks to healthcare systems located across the country.

By developing and maintaining relationships with healthcare giants such as Ascension, Henry Ford, and Crittenton, along with healthcare-related advertising sponsors such as Allergan, Coloplast, Dendreon, Medtronic, and Bayer, I oversaw RHN’s growth — from two dozen urology practices in the Detroit area, to hundreds of host locations and an audience of millions nationwide.

Produced and procured all video content broadcast on the network -- from for-profit companies like AOL, ScreenFeed and Fox affiliates, to non-profit entities including the American Heart Associate, dLife, and regional locations of The Humane Society. Also responsible for creating programming schedules for each individual host location, based upon waiting room wait times, practice demographics, and host preferences.

Worked hand-in-hand with the Marketing and IT departments of Host Health Systems in aspects ranging from overseeing the installation of RHN internet-connected media players, to monitoring their status and trouble-shooting technical issues via Remote Access/Remote Control software.

Magazine Publishing:

Have launched, designed, written and produced a number of Print Magazines, ranging from entertainment-oriented national magazines, to regional Bridal and Niche publications.

Abilities

Highly adaptable and thrive under pressure. Through my experiences working in just about every sort of media, in just about every capacity, I'm able to maintain effectiveness and flexibility by adjusting my behavior and work routine — allowing me to meet goals even with changing circumstances.

This same experience also allows me to organize, prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously, along with managing project schedules.

I have a very strong and wide range of communication and presentation skills, including written, oral and multi-media to build collaborative relationships and strengthen partnerships. I'm able to utilize these skills with clients and contractors to meet all required expectations, deadlines, and budget requirements.

Having proficiency and accomplishments in a number of different disciplines allows me to have confidence in my leadership capabilities, including the ability to influence the achievement of a goal. My experiences with encouraging teamwork and collaboration foster a positive team concept to resolve problems and achieve optimal results

Technically proficient in Adobe Creative Suite, PowerPoint, Apple applications (FCPX, Productivity Suite, etc.), Along with countless others. Experienced in hardware & software training, along with providing support for each, both locally and remotely.

experience

2020-Present

The Display Group

Marketing Project Manager

Detroit, MI

Responsible for the management of all social media outlets for each of Display Group’s six divisions -- Display Group Events, AVL-Creative, Mandell, DG3D, Fantasee Lighting and BDG22.

Social Media responsibilities include:

• Building and maintaining a content calendar

• Coordinating production and organization of social media assets

• Assisting employees with LinkedIn pages

• Managing all paid social media campaigns.

DG website-related development and maintenance, including:

• Managing relationship with web developer vendor

• Coordinating and/or executing content updates to website

• Coordinating special projects related to website

• Maintaining up-to-date project galleries

• Maintaining up-to-date home-page content and presentation

• Writing, editing and publishing case studies to website

• Coordinating production of assets for website

Managing Sales Tools for the DG Sales Staff, including:

• Producing promotional videos, PPT presentations and Decks

• Maintaining the Sales Toolbox

• Updating existing sales tools

• Creating new sales tools as needed

• Maintaining up-to-date capabilities presentations

Running weekly marketing meeting consisting of:

• Presenting u[coming content that will be published on all marketing channels and edit if necessary based on feedback

• Recording of new ideas and marketing initiatives from management

• Updating team on special marketing projects

Writing, scheduling and publishing of DG’s monthly email and blog postings

2012–2020

Reel Health Network

Director of Creative and Production

Greater Detroit Area

Co-founder and co-owner of the Reel Health Network, which was first in industry to provide completely customizable, advertising-supported Digital Signage Television Networks to healthcare systems located across the country.

As one of the three founders of this start-up company, I was solely responsible for:

Researching, testing, and purchasing media player hardware, peripherals, and content-management software, in particular, Scala Content Manager.

Creating, editing, procuring, and producing the programming for hundreds of customized television networks. This included negotiating, creating, and maintaining relationships with content providers ranging from industry standards such as AOL, Fox, NPN and Screenplay, to non-profits organizations such as the American Heart Association, The Humane Society, dLife and National Geographic.

Developing and maintaining relationships with healthcare giants such as Ascension, Henry Ford, and Crittenton, while concurrently developing work relationships with healthcare-related advertising sponsors such as Bayer, Terumo, and Medtronic.

Ensuring that Host and Advertising messaging best utilized RHN's Digital Signage technology, along with the vetting, scheduling, and programming of hundreds of individual television networks.

Handling hardware/software/training support for digital signage issues, along with working with the IT and Marketing Departments of previously referenced Healthcare Providers and Sponsors.

In charge of creating and overseeing the production of all ancillary materials, such as print publications, websites, advertising, marketing pieces, and promotions, along with the hiring of third-party vendors/staff on an as-needed basis.

Overseeing a department of five, along with freelancers and project-specific vendors.

Accomplishments:

Over the course of eight years, oversaw RHN’s growth — from two dozen urology practices in the Detroit area, to hundreds of host locations and an audience of millions nationwide.

Increased RHN's audience from thousands of viewers in SE Michigan, to millions of viewers at hundreds of locations spanning the country -- including healthcare industry giants like Ascension Healthcare, Henry Ford Health System, St. John Providence, and Crittenton.

NOTE: Due to COVID, the loss of their largest client, and management issues, RHN is currently "operating" with a skeleton staff consisting of the owner, his daughter, and his daughter's neighbor.

2005-2019

R.E.N. Publishing

Art & Production Director

Chicago, IL

NOTE: An ongoing, part-time, remote position, I perform duties as both Art & Production Director for the following publications: Chicago Bride Magazine, Inland Architect Magazine, Real Estate News, and New Accountant Magazine.

Duties:

Monitoring printing and out-of-house pre-press activities for quality control;

Creating layouts, advertisements and promotional pieces, as well as writing and editing copy;

Coordinating the efforts of freelance writers, photographers, stylists, models, etc.;

Bidding jobs to outside vendors, as well as creating and managing production orders.

2003-2014

The Marian Anderson Awards

Writer/Producer/Editor

ABC Television/Philadelphia Festival for the Performing Arts

Philadelphia, PA

Duties included writing, producing/editing video packages, along with the acquisition of video/photo/musical elements for packages, creating/producing graphics and additional video packages for both the live event and the subsequent television broadcast.

Past honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Elizabeth Taylor, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Mia Farrow and Richard Gere.

2008-2010

The XCC on FSN

Executive Producer

Fox Sports Net

Troy, MI

Creator and Executive Producer of The XCC on FSN -- an hour-long, bimonthly Mixed Martial Arts show for Fox Sports Net.

Duties included:

Writing scripts for co-hosts
Conducting fighter interviews
Producing and editing bio and feature packages
Overseeing post-production
Creating marketing materials, FSN promos, merchandise and TV spots
Negotiating with vendors, venues, and promoters

2007

The Back Room

Writer/Producer

HBO

Hollywood, CA

Wrote, edited, and created graphics package for the pilot episode of The Upright Citizens Brigade's tribute to early '80s, late-night, cable tv -- THE BACK ROOM.

2007

The Very Funny Show

Writer/Editor

Turner Broadcasting

Hollywood, CA

Co-wrote, edited, created graphics package for, and co-scored five out of the ten episodes of The Upright Citizens Brigade web series The Very Funny Show for wtbs.com.

2005-2007

Canoga Park

Writer/Producer

Alta Loma Entertainment

Hollywood, CA

Co-creator, Head Writer, and Story Producer for a 13-episode season of the sitcom Canoga Park.

Duties:

Supervising a writing staff of 5
Overseeing all script-related responsibilities
Coordinating the episode-specific efforts of Art Department, Wardrobe, Cast and Outside Vendors
Developing production timelines, schedules and budgets

2005

Badge Pranks

Writer/Producer

Hallock Healey Entertainment

Hollywood, CA

Writer and Producer for the hidden-camera television pilot, Badge Pranks.

2003-2005

Nashville Star

Marketing/Promotions & Casting

NBC Universal, Inc.

Hollywood, CA/Nashville, TN

Created and designed both print and video promotional pieces for three seasons of the show NASHVILLE STAR.

2004

Crossballs

Package Producer

Comedy Central

Hollywood, CA

Co-produced graphics packages for Crossballs, a faux-talkshow created by Matt Besser and The Upright Citizen's Brigade.

CFQ Media

Web & Print Associate Editor

Venice, CA

Designed and produced web sites for Cinefantastique (CFQ) and Femme Fatales magazines, as well as editing and writing content for both the web and print.

Leo Burnett, USA

Digital Creative Director

Chicago, IL

Member of the transition team responsible for incorporating the previously independent production house Capps Studio into Burnett prior to the agency being purchased by Publicis Groupe.

education

University of Kansas

BA/English, Film

Activities and Societies:

Radio Host - KJHK; K.U. Film Board

Centro Linguistico Italiano Dante Alighieri

Florence, Italy

Language Studies