Resume

Updated 02.27.10.  I am available for hire as a freelance writer (articles, copy, fiction and nonfiction stories, blogs, scripts). I also have experience with web design (this website and http://magicofeyri.com), film production (set design, art department, being a gopher) and voice acting.

Contact me via my Contact form or email me at hogand [at] gmail dot com.
LinkedIn Profile

Education:

Grand Valley State University (2000 – 2005)

Bachelor of Arts in Communications: Film and Video Production (Animation emphasis)
Minor: Advertising and Public Relations.

Work Experience:

Current

Co-host, LansingNext, TalkLansing.net, 2/10 – present

A weekly Internet talk show focusing on the people, issues and events affecting Lansing’s next generation. Listen to a sample below. Facebook Fan Page. Twitter. Episodes stream every Wednesday at 11:00 AM EST on TalkLansing.net. Episodes are recorded the night before.

To Listen: click on the gray play button below.

To Download the MP3: Right Click on the Download link, choose Save Target As or Save Link As from the menu and then choose where to save the .MP3 on your hard drive.

Development Editor, Lansing Capital Gains (http://capitalgainsmedia.com), Lansing, MI 2/10 – present

Writes four positive development stories a week, all about 200 words each. Follows leads, researches stories and conducts over-the-phone interviews (some are face-to-face). Responsible for uploading each of the stories to the Lansing Capital Gains website each week via a CMS interface.

Sample 1 :: Sample 2 :: Sample 3

Feature Writer and Guest Blogger,  Lansing Capital Gains (http://capitalgainsmedia.com), Lansing, MI 1/09 – 2/10

1,000 word feature articles about businesses and people around Lansing with a positive feel.

Guest Blogs for http://capitalgainsmedia.com (02.04.09 – 02.06.09)

Uncle Sam’s New Mix for Old Town (Lansing Capital Gains, 03.04.09)

Bringing Back the Boomerangs (Lansing Capital Gains, 04.29.09)

Eastside Lansing’s Golden Spoon (Lansing Capital Gains, 09.02.09)

Life in Lansing Goes Live (Lansing Capital Gains, 09.16.09)

Lansing in Lansing: Shirley Saylor (Lansing Capital Gains, 10.07.09)

Game On, Grow On (Lansing Capital Gains, 01.13.2010)

Single in the City (Lansing Capital Gains, 01.20.2010)

Building a Healthier Lansing (Lansing Capital Gains, 2.17.2010)

Media Production Specialist, Company confidential — contact me for a full resume. Lansing, MI 8/05 – present

Directs live TV coverage. Creates graphics for use during productions (lower thirds, full screen), which requires translating information into easily understood copy.  Duties also include operating remote controlled cameras and other media related tasks.

NOTE: Daniel’s freelance writing, blogging and other activities are not related to his day job in any way, nor do his writings and activities reflect the opinions of his employer.  He does not do any political writing or activities. Daniel’s freelance writing and other activities are done on his own time outside of work.  Website updates appearing during work hours (9AM to 5PM) are scheduled ahead of time–hours, if not days, before they appear.

Lansing Restaurant Examiner, Examiner.com, 11/09 – present

Writes stories about Lansing restaurants (around 300 words each).  Sample.

Past

Guest Columnist, IllegalCurve.com, 11/09 – 1/10

Wrote a weekly column (High Noon Fantasy Hockey) containing fantasy hockey news, tips and advice (around 1,000 words). Sample. NOTE: Illegal Curve “went dark” in early 2010, so the site is no longer updating.

Media Production Intern, House TV,  Michigan House of Representatives Lansing, MI 5/05 – 8/05

Started the internship right after graduating from Grand Valley State University.  Same duties as above.

Videographer, News and Information Services, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 2/04 – 5/05

Freelance videography for the university.  Duties included attending sporting events to record video for highlight reels, attending and recording special events at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, and recording graduation ceremonies at the Van Andel Arena as well as the Grand Traverse Resort (Traverse City, MI).

Art Department & Set Designer, A Moment of Grace (short film), 2004.

Duties included working under the Art Director to create the visual look of the film.  This involved brainstorming ideas, building and dressing sets and acquiring all of the necessary materials to do so.

Equipment Technician, School of Communications, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI 9/01 – 5/05

Duties included renting out and maintaining production equipment to students, helping students with equipment related questions and aiding students in the use of the computer editing suites.

Customer Service Representative, Blockbuster Video, St. Claire Shores, MI 1/00 – 12/04.

Ran a cash register, checked materials in and out, helped customers with their selections.

Skills:

Software: Proficient with – Macintosh and Windows operating systems,  Flash, Photoshop, After Effects, GarageBand, Audacity, Final Cut Pro, DVD Studio Pro, iMovie, iDVD, iPhoto, Avid, HTML, WordPress blogging software and Microsoft Office.

Equipment: Experience with – Pioneer DVD recorder decks (PRV-LX1), ECHOlab 2500 switcher, Telemetrics remote camera control system, Deko 500 character/graphics generator,  Sony Beta and HD/DV cameras, Sony digital still cameras, Canon DV cameras, Panasonic DV cameras, and WACOM drawing tablets.

Personal: A quick learner, especially in regards to software and equipment.  I have no problem teaching myself how to do something (I taught myself guitar, bass, drums and piano, as well as HTML, web design, audio editing, audio recording and desktop publishing to name only a few).  I read manuals and I am not hesitant to look up information online if I run into a problem of some kind (which is how I solve most of my web design related mysteries).  I meet deadlines and work better with them.  I also like creative challenges.

Other Skills: Directing live TV coverage, Self-Publishing, using social networking websites (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Livejournal, Myspace, Flickr, YouTube), graphic design, desktop publishing, web design, viral marketing, guerrilla advertising, writing press releases, art direction, set design, set painting, set construction, managing a team of animators, being a production assistant.

Appearances:

ConClave 32 – Guest writer and panelist
ConClave 33 – Guest writer and panelist
ConClave 34 – Guest writer and panelist

ConFusion ‘08 (High Voltage) – Artist Alley

Motor City Comic-Con ‘08 – Artist Alley

Penguicon ‘08 – Guest writer, panelist and Artist Alley
Penguicon ‘09 – Guest writer and panelist

Delta Township District Library – Self-Publishing Panel (2008), Battle of the Bands 2009 (Judge), Teen Writing Workshop (Summer 2009), Fantasy Writing Panel (2009, along with Jim C. Hines).

Photos of appearances on Flickr

Book signings

Everybody Reads Bookstore (2007),

Bestsellers Bookstore (with Jim C. Hines, 2008),

Penguicon ‘09 (with Jim C. Hines, John Scalzi, Brian Briggs and others–sadly, not Wil Wheaton, who had to cancel due to illness).

I’ve had more signings (at pretty much every convention I’ve ever gone to) but these were some of my favorites.

Awards and recognition:

Awarded a special scholarship by the Grand Valley School of Communications to attend a stop-motion animation workshop in Grand Rapids.

Won ‘Best Student Animation’ at the 2004 Grand Rapids Festival of the Arts (www.festivalofthearts.org), for the animated short “Lunch Date.”

Selected to the 2005 Muskegon Film Festival (www.muskegonfilmfestival.com)

Selected to the 2005 Nontzeflash Animation Festival (www.nontzeflash.com), a Europe based Flash-animation festival and was one of only four Americans to selected.

Participated in the 2005 Kalamazoo Animation Festival International “Cartoon Challenge” as captain of the Grand Valley State University “Cartoon Challenge” team. Final short.

Featured as a “GVSU Success Story” on the Grand Valley State University website.

Three-Time Winner of the National Novel Writing Month contest by finishing a 50,000-word novella within 30 days (2005, 2007, 2008).

Other:

Listed on the Internet Movie Database.

Performed live improv comedy for over three years.

Did digital effects and digital clean up on Dave Patton’s award winning film, Rhapsody in Red.

On-air DJ for Grand Valley State University’s student run radio station, WCKS 1610 AM, for over four years (www.thewhale.org).

Self-taught guitarist, bassist, pianist and drummer.

Member of the ASIFA (International Animated Film Society) Central Chapter.

Volunteer Work:

Volunteered as a student helper for the 2004 International Animated Film Society – Mid West Chapter (ASIFA) Animation Retreat (www.swcp.com/animate).

Was a teacher assistant for an entry level media production class as well as a history of animation class.

Worked as a half-time show volunteer for Super Bowl XL in Detroit by helping set up speakers for the Rolling Stones half-time show.

Volunteered at the 2006 East Lansing Art Festival and helped with tear-down and clean-up (http://www.elartfest.com)

Volunteered at Lansing Potter Park Zoo’s “Boo at the Zoo,” 2007.

Frequently volunteers with the Detroit Race For the Cure (www.karmanos.org/detroitraceforthecure)