Marketing and communications veteran with a focus on accomplishing organizational missions, goals and objectives through effective strategy and team leadership.
Professional Experience:
Independent Marketing and Communications Consultant / Freelance Journalist
2017-Present
Provide strategic and tactical marketing and communications counsel to nonprofit and private organizations. Engagements include messaging development, strategic planning, stakeholder relations, media outreach and content development.
Freelance journalist and opinion writer; published bylines include Detroit News, Oakland Press, Foundation for Economic Education, Watchdog.org & Think Freely.
Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Midland, Mich.
Vice President for Marketing and Communications
2016-2017
Led seven-person marketing and communications team that contributed to notable victories for free-market policies advancing individual liberty. Highlights included nation’s most comprehensive public-sector pension reforms, a landmark deregulatory transportation service provider law that allowed ridesharing services to spread statewide, protection of educational choice in Detroit against politicized local government control and elimination of bonding requirements for victims of civil asset forfeiture.
Refocused marketing and communications plans on strategic audiences, improving efficiency in marketing and advertising investment while more effectively influencing the climate of public opinion. Results included rapid and measurable growth in key metrics, including media citations increased more than 250% and Michigan-based returning users to websites up 73% over previous year. Developed and instituted a popular new policy campaign planning model that increased alignment between policy and marketing/communications stakeholders, improving campaign effectiveness.
Expanded audience for policy advocacy beyond existing demographics through effective messaging and relationship building. Gained first-ever positive coverage for Mackinac Center policy positions in Detroit’s alt-weekly and African-American papers, progressive blogs and public radio on topics such as corporate welfare, stadium financing and professional licensure reform. Worked with legislative and policy teams to leverage media coverage in bipartisan coalition-building efforts.
Member of Mackinac Center’s executive team, with strategic plan oversight for entire organization.
Franco Public Relations Group, Detroit
Account Director
2015-2016
Responsible for client results and satisfaction across marketing, advertising, media relations, social media, community relations and other functions. Provided national, regional and local clients with counsel, strategy, implementation, follow-through, reporting and analysis. Led and developed junior team members; selected and managed a broad range of third-party vendors. Agency leadership team member with responsibility for developing a new best practice improvement initiative. Provided senior counsel to account managers and other agency team members.
MCCI, Detroit
Account Director
2011-2014
Led a diverse array of accounts for integrated marketing communications agency, increasing client retainer and project spending year-over-year. Developed new retainer and project business. Managed team of public relations, social media, interactive development and video production professionals and third-party vendors to plan, deliver and measure strategically important results to clients.
Starrconstand Business Communication, Detroit
Account Director
2008-2011
Account lead for boutique integrated marketing, advertising and public relations agency.
Carhartt, Inc., Dearborn, Mich.
Public Relations Consultant
2006-2008
Created and managed a public relations and corporate communications function for global apparel manufacturer in full-time onsite contract position. Worked with international executive leadership team, including CEO, to measurably improve internal and external communications results.
Motech Public Relations, Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.
Principal
2003-2006
As a self-employed public relations/corporate communications consultant, helped small and midsized clients plan and execute public relations and marketing campaigns.
Airfoil Public Relations, Detroit, Mich.
Account Manager
2000-2003
Account team leader for national technology PR agency. Successfully planned and executed strategies and tactics for major technology brands including Microsoft, eBay and Johnson Controls.
Big Net Holdings, Sterling Heights, Mich.
Director of Communications
1999-2000
Led all communications functions for region’s largest Internet Service Provider, cellular retailer and Competing Local Exchange Carrier, driving business growth in key markets.
Marx Layne & Company, Farmington Hills, Mich.
Account Executive
1997-1999
Represented clients for regional marketing and public relations agency.
Health Care Weekly Review, Southfield, Mich.
Associate Editor
1995-1997
Wrote and produced editorial content for weekly health care industry and policy newspaper, covering industry and government.
Pro-Bono Experience:
American Red Cross, Detroit Mich.
Disaster Cycle Services Volunteer
2010-Present
Local Disaster Action Team leader and public affairs volunteer for American Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services in Michigan.
Friends of the Grosse Pointe Public Library
Board Member
2015-2017
Support and extend the educational, cultural and outreach programs of the local library system.
Coalition Against Unsolicited Commercial E-Mail (CAUCE)
Founding Board Member and Vice President for Public Relations
1997–2007
Co-founder, board member and public relations lead of Internet-based coalition of users and systems administrators opposed to junk e-mail. Lead spokesperson for organization, interviewed by more than 100 media outlets on issues including junk e-mail, Internet marketing and privacy.
Miscellaneous:
- Experienced public speaker and media spokesperson
- Accredited in public relations (APR) by the Public Relations Society of America since 2002
- Graduate, Atlas Leadership Academy, including ALA Think Tank Leadership Training
- Conversant in French
- References available upon request
John Mozena 