Brett’s photography
Summary
As the co-creator of The Journalism Shop, I built this website using a multi-purpose WordPress template and a ridiculous number of plugins. Besides the functionality intended for our members, I hope this site displays my range of skills, which include consulting, project management, writing, editing, technology, trainer, page designer and web designer. I am a strong team leader with the ability to bring together disparate members. I have supported Gannett, Cox, Tronc and McClatchy newsrooms around the United States.
Recent Projects
Experience
Owner, Editor & Publisher
McDowell Mountain Ranch Real Estate News
November 2016 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
Write, edit, design and manage a 23-year-old community newsletter in Scottsdale’s McDowell Mountain Ranch at mmrhomes.com/our-newsletter. Circulation is about 4,000 copies with six publication dates a year. WriteThru Media, LLC is my company name.
Key Duties:
- Social media manager for real estate team
- Manage several contractors
- Write & edit stories
- Photograph events
- Design 24-page book six times annually
- Manage printing & mailing contracts
- Manage finances
- Maintain extremely active, modest-traffic Facebook presence for realtors: @mmrhomes
- Ad sales, marketing
Contributing Editor
McDowell Mountain Ranch Real Estate News
April 2013 – November 2016| Scottsdale, Arizona
I edit and write portions of an unusually relevant community newsletter that serves about 4,000 homes in McDowell Mountain Ranch.
Senior Consultant
Red Badge Consulting, Inc.
April 2011 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
Expert at implementing editorial Content Management Systems in shrinking newsroom environments to staff often ill-prepared for continuing technological change. Collaborated with management from dozens of newspapers to improve newsroom workflow, provide technical support and train staff.
Key Duties
- Configure editorial systems to meet newsroom design standards
- Train editorial staff on Content Management System and designers on pagination software
- Support journalists onsite and remotely during software implementation period
- Produce user and technical documentation.
- Find workflow solutions
Co-founder
The Journalism Shop
July 2009 – Present | Scottsdale, Arizona
I designed and built TheJournalismShop using Dot Net Nuke technology to help former Los Angeles Times journalists find freelance work.
Consultant
Stateline.org (PEW Charitable Trusts)
October 2009 – December 2012 | Scottsdale, Arizona
Expert at aggregating state-specific news using the Stateline.org Content Management System and posting between 100-200 stories via their Content Management System Monday through Friday. Became expert at identifying weaknesses and strengths of newspaper websites.
Editor
TradersQuest
August 2006 – May 2009 | Chicago
I operated TradersQuest, an online school that contracts with experienced traders to teach the ins and outs of futures and options markets. I helped our teachers convert their knowledge into online courses consisting of video, text, quizzes, PowerPoint and live trading. I also was responsible for sales, managing a store, SalesForce and marketing at TradersQuest.
Communications Director
FuturePath Trading, LLC
August 2006 – March 2009 | Chicago
Spent three years writing corporate memos and annual reports while configuring Customer Relations Management System for medium-sized futures brokerage in Chicago. Cleaned up old CRM database to remove duplicate and dead leads. Managed internal SharePoint system as well as built and managed corporate website.
Additional Accomplishments:
- Composed query letter and company report that garnered $5 million offer for sale of FuturePath Trading to TD Ameritrade
- Designed and built company’s websites
- Planned, recorded and edited successful 7.5-hour video education course on trading futures
- Managed installation of SalesForce.com. Trained about 15 employees
Business Systems Analyst
Los Angeles Times
August 1998 – August 2006 (8 years 1 month) Greater Los Angeles Area
Managed portions of multi-million dollar Content Management System projects at the newspaper, including installation of the massive Stibo DX Content Management System and redesign of the paper, which resulted in record number of Society for Newspaper Design awards. Provided technical support to newsroom staff.
Accomplishments and Duties:
- Trained hundreds of journalists
- Team leader of employees across several departments
- Designed and copy edited news pages for the National Edition, 1998-1999
- Developed workflow solutions
Pagination Editor
The Palm Beach Post
January 1997 – August 1998 | West Palm Beach, Florida Area
Partially managed move to the DTI Content Management System, which helped save Cox Enterprises millions of dollars. Planned & implemented incremental roll out. Trained more than 100 employees. Facilitated communications and served as liaison among multiple departments.
News Editor
East Valley Tribune
June 1986 – December 1997 | Mesa, Arizona
Managed award-winning team of 35 copy editors, designers and artists covering major news events. Responsible for hiring, personnel decisions, reviews and managing complex staffing schedule. Managed newspaper’s typographical appearance and content. Rotated through all job roles on the copy/news desk. Determined all workflow solutions.
Brett’s Tweets
@DJCollins82 @byMorganWright Ooo, we now have two things in common: A love of #cats and our wrapping skills.… t.co/h0O1hrsYJD
@byMorganWright Typical.
@ddgbooks "Cleanup on Aisle 5!"
WriteThru
Contact
Additional Projects
March 2015 – June 2016
I provided onsite support for journalists using CCI’s NewsGate print and online Content Management System. I also configured design tools to enhance user efficiency and experiences. I have an excellent record for meeting and regularly beating deadlines.
I helped Gannett convert all of its newspapers to the CCI NewsGate Content Management System, which allows print and online publishing from one massive editorial system. My role was to help set up the new system, train users around the nation and provide real-time support.
Built and helped client design WordPress website for his overseas product design and manufacturing business.
Trade Interlink
Volunteer Work
January 2008 – Present
Ex-laters is a closed Yahoo group of nearly 250 former Los Angeles Times journalists who share information on career opportunities, pension and health care issues as well as relevant LA Times news. https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/exlaters/info
The semi-closed Facebook group L.A. Times Line is an offshoot of ex-laters, which I started in 2103 to help current and former LA Times journalists remain in touch with each other. I keep this group of nearly 400 members active and relevant by posting 8-10 times a day on key industry news, promotions, job openings and deaths. https://www.facebook.com/groups/latimes.line/
July 2015 – September 2015
Help with kitchen prep and food service at Umom in Phoenix.
May 2012 – January 2014
As a first-year coach, I led a team of five youngsters, including my son, to the FIRST LEGO League state meet at Arizona State University. Out of 300 teams in Arizona, our small team placed seventh out of 50 teams that made it to state. During my time at Desert Community Robotics, I also mentored about a dozen children and helped organize STEM-related field trips. We also built underwater sea perches and worked with Raspberry Pi circuit boards.
Education
Indiana University, 1986
BA Journalism
BA Political Science
Testimonials
Christian McDonald
Brett is very dedicated to his work. He has a great attention to detail and wants to “get it right” every time, whatever “it” happens to be. If the path isn’t clear to the goal, he’ll make new one, usually better than any workflow or process that was in place before.
Jesper Seiersen
I found Brett to be a very competent and knowledgeable person, with a strong understanding of the needs found in a modern editorial newsroom – and the technical tools involved in the complex workflows of cutting-edge newspaper production. … His calm, friendly & constructive approach to any given challenge has made our customer-supplier relationship a very positive experience and I sincerely hope others will feel the same way about working with Brett on future jobs.
Dawn Mena
During our years working together at the Los Angeles Times and beyond, Brett Levy has always been the go-to guy for informed and enlightened advice and input on matters ranging from emerging technology to the state of journalism today to clearly conveying the hardships and successes of being a parent and a professional in today’s world.