Monkey C Media specializes in author marketing and book publishing, personal branding and messaging strategy, digital marketing, author websites, book cover and interior layout design, as well as book trailers, video, photography, and more.

Developed a marketing campaign that included weekly press-releases, partnerships with organizations like The City of Hope to garner visibility, raise awareness, and increase membership. In addition, I worked closely with our creative team to develop a messaging strategy that we carried throughout our POP branding and online presence.

Among my passions is rock climbing, so when I was given the opportunity to run a mountaineering shop in Portland, Oregon, I jumped on it. I used my marketing and writing savvy to develop relationships with vendors and local outdoor organizations; coordinated fundraising events with wold-class climbers, developed print, radio, and online advertising campaigns; created a newsletter with sales and coupons for our loyal customers. Within a year our sales increased significantly. I also served as the clothing buyer and worked closely with sales reps, and researched the latest trends in outdoor clothing and equipment.

Alexander X was a small niche publisher of regional technology and bioscience directories in Southern California. Initially I worked in production as part of the interior layout team. I was told that we were not able to get our books into Barnes & Noble— that seemed like a challenge so I set about to prove that theory wrong, and did. I worked my way up and served as the Marketing Director, reporting to the Publisher for several years. As part of my efforts to garner more visibility, I developed relationships with local bioscience and technology associations and increased our market reach significantly. I developed POP materials, spoke at local events, worked with our creative team to develop an online presence, and media kits that I used to secure local press. Under my direction we tripled our business, got our books into libraries, small and large chain bookstores, and developed online sales.

During this time I traveled throughout the Western United States in a Volkswagen Vanagon. I wrote articles, and sold advertising for a San Diego magazine from my cell phone, while climbing some of the most magnificent rocks in the U.S.: Moab, Red Rock Canyon, Smith Rock, Yosemite, Lover’s Leap, and many other world-class climbing destinations. I also worked for Yosemite Search and Rescue for a short time and lived in Camp Four for a season.

I began my career at Sam Goody as a part-time sales clerk. I worked hard, learned about the importance of merchandising, customer service, up-selling—blah, blah, blah. Within two years I was running my own store, which I opened with an assistant manager, a third key, and a brand new staff whom I personally hired. Our store had the highest sales, the lowest shrink, was beautifully merchandised, and was always well stocked. We were wildly proud of our store and it showed. I was promoted to Sr. Store Manager, which meant that in addition to running my own store I oversaw four other store managers in our district. I learned how to run a business, delegate, organize my time, and adhere to and develop new and improved store policies.