Doug is an award-winning business writer-editor-strategist known and respected for his creativity and depth of experience in delivering top-tier marketing content for lawyers and other professional service providers. He has been a professional writer and editor for over 30 years, earning several PR and business communication awards. These include a first place for Editorial Writing from the Society of Professional Journalists. In addition to writing marketing content for lawyers and law firms -- throughout the U.S. and abroad -- he has taught writing at the college level and has handled just about every kind of writing assignment, including Search-Engine-Optimized Web sites, proposals, speeches, brochures, videos, print ads, press releases and technical reports.As a ghostwriter, Doug has published op-eds and articles in the world's top periodicals, including the New York Times and Washington Post. "One of the speeches I ghosted was published in Vital Speeches of the Day."Fund-raising“I’ve worked with several local and statewide non-profits on every phase of fund raising – from successful direct-mail campaigns to talking points to special events and more.”

Doug is a Co-Leader Candidate in this international, men's service and training organization -- mkp.org -- based in its Kentucky community. "I helped bring a multi-cultural leadership training to Louisville in November 2014, co-led by Thomas Griggs and Baba Wekesa Madzimoyo and attended by 25 women and men from nine states." In addition, in 2021, Doug completed a course of training developed and offered by ManKind Project and Woman Within International (https://www.womanwithin.org/)-- Unpacking Privilege Power and Difference (https://mkpusa.org/unpacking/).More recently, Doug made another visit to the All Nations Gathering Center, Pine Ridge, S.D., where the Oglala Lakota Men and Women’s Oyate and the ManKind Project USA have entered into an alliance.

Doug says, "I was a regular contributor to IL in its early days, thanks to its founder and publisher, Terry Boyd. I wrote on a variety of topics, ranging from architecture and urbanism, to business communications and more."Here's one of Doug's most widely-read and hotly-debated pieces, from August 2012 and dealing with the pluses and minuses of the hip, hot NuLu district east of downtown Louisville.

From 1998 to 2005, Doug was the marketing director for a regional law firm with offices in eight cities. While at Stites & Harbison, he managed a coordinated marketing and business development program that won an Legal Marketing Association award and fueled a doubling of the firm's size and footprint.Mastered the tying of the bow-tie. Discovered that he was a crosswords puzzle savant. ("Well, I'm at least really good.")

Before joining Stites & Harbison, Doug Stern owned and managed a full-service, Louisville-based marketing communications agency for 10-plus years, working mostly on public policy issues and the marketing of professional services. Doug's clients included the Louisville airport authority and its $800 million airfield expansion and improvement program. He also helped develop communications leading to an increase in the fuel tax for the Michigan Department of Transportation. Doug provided initial marketing communications for the Park DuValle neighborhood redevelopment, one of the first successful applications of HOPE VI funding in the nation.This is where Doug was first hired to do law firm marketing work. He also had other professional services clients, including physician practices, engineers, architects and health care providers, earning a bunch of awards from PRSA and IABC along the way.

Wrote speeches, did advance work and worked on policy research for Harvey I. Sloane, M.D., Jefferson County Judge/Executive and Democratic nominee for one of Kentucky's U.S. Senate seats. ("Harvey narrowly lost to incumbent Mitch McConnell in the 1990 general election.")

Ran an award-winning heritage and document management program. Visioned, planned and established a program to encourage, accept and manage donations of scenic easements. Staffed the disposition of the Old Louisville Trust Building (including preservation easements) for tax-credit-assisted redevelopment.

Managed a heritage program housed in an urban development office. Oversaw the stabilization of a surplus historic federal property, the U.S. Post Office and Custom House (1875-79, William Appleton Potter). Recognized with awards from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Park Service.

"This was my first job out of college. Here's where I fell in love with architecture and cities. It's what convinced me that I wanted a career in historic preservation, including graduate school. I also met many wonderful people and mentors--such as Ann Hasset, Helen Abell and Penny Jones."Toward the end of 1975, I transferred to the city's Department of Building and Housing Inspection. The city of Louisville had just adopted a progressive landlord-tenant code, and I worked on the public info aspects. "By the summer of 1976, I was in Charlottesville to pursue my master's degree and a career in historic preservation."Wahoowa."

"The summer I was 13, my mother suggested that I get out of the house...and it wouldn't hurt if I made some money while I was at it. I hated the idea of mowing lawns and didn't want the responsibility of a paper route."So, one hot and muggy day, I rode my bike to the nearest golf course--the one at Big Spring Country Club--where I quickly discovered my natural gift for caddying. Eventually, I rose through the ranks and became the #2-ranked caddie in the whole club. (Back before carts, when being a caddie really meant something.) I believe I would have been #1, too...except that I heard that Tommy Knadler had told the pro, Jack Ryan, that young Tommy planned to enter the priesthood...which gave him an advantage I couldn't touch."Anyway, I caddied for years, even into college. The money was OK, I liked the game, and the caddie shack was where I learned to drink, gamble, smoke and swear--skills I had trouble pursuing at home."