1. Ira G. Liss 303-916-4927 | Ira.Liss@colorado.edu | Ira-Liss.format.com
Work Experience
AssistantCommunications Director
ATLAS Institute,University ofColorado Boulder,2008-present
• Conceived and producedpromotion campaigns to consistently attractexcellent audienceattendance to talks,workshops
academic programs and performing arts (dance,music,theaterin Black Box theater)
• Developed branding,wrote copyand created uniquegraphics toestablish brand recognition on web pages,posters,
broadcast emails,socialmedia,calendars and publicity materials
• Developed and Managedsocialmedia presence,including Facebookand LinkedIn
• Interviewed artists,studentsand technologicalexperts to gathercontent foreventpromotion,publicity andarticles
published onATLASand Engineering blogs
• Initiated and responded to pressinquiries forcoverage on ATLASevents in localmedia
• Photographednumerousevents tobe usedas contentforsocialmedia,publicity,newsletters,web pages,university
publications, ATLASwebsite (Photosappeared in BoulderDaily Camera, NY Times and CU materials.)
• Shot and edited online videos capturing student testimonials about ATLASacademic programs for the web page and
of performances in ATLAS Black Box theater
• Designed promotionalgraphicsfor the video wallin the ATLASlobby to increase student exposure to ATLASprograms
• Helped develop openingtitlesofEmmy-award winning ATLAS co-produced TVprogram, Boulder Box Set
Communications staff writer, magazine art director, graphic designer andprint manager
Leeds SchoolofBusiness,University ofColorado Boulder,2005-2008
• Edited, art directed,wrote articles and managed printproduction ofalumnimagazine Portfolio (circulation:18,000+), newslettersfor
the Deming Centerfor Entrepreneurship andRealEstate Center,collateralprint pieces,invitations, programs,fact sheetsand more
• Directed photography andshot assignments(groupphotos,architecturalphotos,studentslice-of-life,receptions,specialevents,
fundraisers)usedin alumnimagazine, newsletters,collateral,brochures,flyers and web pages
• Coordinated with localmedia in locating expert faculty sources fornews pieces and articles
• Supervised and edited workofstudent writers/interns
• Designed/produced effective fundraising print andcollateral
- Designed/co-editedalumnimagazine that resulted in $1,000,000 gift
- Designed fundraisingpiece thatresultedin $4,000,000 naming gift for business school’s Koelbelbuilding
Self–employed, 1977-2005
• Produced creative communicationssolutionsfor hundreds ofclients as free-lance graphic designer
• Worked as a copywriter,marketing consultant, one-personad agency/designfirm
• Helped clients define message,reachtargetaudiences,increase market share and/orcustomerbase
• Helped pre-plan film/video production,designed/art directedanimated graphics,sketched storyboards
Clients include:
Non-profits –
DenverChildren’s AdvocacyCenter,wrote/designedservicebrochure entitled, “Whenyourchild is
sexually abused...” written with information gatheredfrominterviews; won PRSA award
Children’s HospitalFoundation,wrote/designed various direct mail fundraising andcollateral;
one direct mail package pulled a 5.9% response andraised substantialsums
FACES, editorialwriting: conductedseriesofinterviews ofstaffmembers who worked on front lines
with families in distress; wrote articlesbased oninterviews; wrote using first–personvoices/personalities ofstaff
Dancing Spirit, newslettereditor:wrote/editedarticles;initiated stories,conductedinterviews
Arts Organizations –
Nomad Theatre,Boulder:served on board;wrote/designeddirect marketing materials formembership acquisition campaign;
mailings helped create 4xmembership increase; designed theaterads
Jafrika, music/dance/poetrytrio:designed/wrote brochure/mailing package forschools,libraries,potentialclients
Bug Theatre,Denver:producedpublicity materials,programs and collateralfororiginalmusical theaterseries
BoulderPlaybackTheatre,wrote/designed broadcast emails, group sales info handout,editedphotoartwork,informed press
For-Profits –
CableSafe, computercable management system,newproduct:organized phoneand emailcampaign to retailers;
designedgraphicsforboothat public festival; negotiatedagreements with retailstores to carry product
Mount Baldy Press,consulted on bookpackage,helpeddefine audience,designed bookcover,illustratedbook, wrote/designed
promotion forlibrary & bookstore bulkpurchasers; brainstormed marketing strategies
Castle Pines Village, real estate development:wrote copyforhigh–end home developmentused in promotion and publicity
Golf Card, wrote/designedgift boxpackage offering trialmemberships; created point-of-purchase displays forgolfpro-shops;
designeddirect mail and affiliate handouts/folders; materials successfully helpedsellmemberships

2. BusinesstoBusiness –
Associated Press (AP),art directed severalmultimedia presentations forclient’s newspaperpublisherconventions
HBO, designed storyboardand art directedanimated film/video fortarget audience ofcable-systemoperators
IBM, designed self-mailer that promoted product workshop; art directedvideoannouncingnewdivision
Weitz Company,nationalbuilder/contractor:wrote 3,500 piece forportfolio/annualreport; conducted20+ interviews; gathered
material & testimonials fromexecutives,clients,technicalstaff,supervisors; wrote company overviewand case histories
Technology/Scientific/Healthcare –
Dragon MedicalCommunications,NYC 1982-1984:storyboarded,art directed anddesigned film/video animated graphics
for Continuing MedicalEducation (CME)programs; managed bids,selected anddirectedvideo editors,illustrators and
animators; developedlogosandvisualidentities formedicalsymposia; healthcare products and topics dealt with arthritis,
diabetes,AIDs,atherosclerosis,bacterialinfection
ProCide, cold liquid sterilant products:conceived,wrote and art directedad and direct mailcampaign that helped
client gain market share againstmulti-billion dollar competitor in market where they were previously unknown
Pfizer, Roche,ICI Pharma, Lederle and others:designed/art directed CMEprograms, ads,video,collateral,branding,
graphics forconferencesandsymposia; designedstoryboards forfilm/video graphics;art directedartists/animators
W.L.Gore: designed product logos,packaging andcollateralfor healthcare division
Education
Pratt Institute,NYC – Bachelorof Fine Arts,1978
State University at Binghamton,1971–73
Various workshops,1986-2005;web and socialmedia strategies, copywriting,direct marketing,software/coding,
acting,theatre improv,Playbacktheatre,stand-up comedy,pianoimprov,songwriting and music
Teaching
Regis University,Denver,1999-2003
Wrote,designedand presented originalcreativemarketing/brainstorming workshopforworking professionals
Art InstituteofColorado,Denver,1998-2001
Developed curricula and taught undergrad courses: Fundamentals ofDesign,Storyboard Design,Business Presentations
Private workshops,1991-present
Theaterimprovisation,music, standup,Playbacktheater(taughtsporadically over the years)
Performing Arts
1986 to present:Proven abilityto effectivelyconnect withaudiences as MC,facilitator, improviser,pianist,
actor,songwriterandinterviewerin many andvariedvenues in NYC,Arizona and Colorado.
BoulderPlaybackTheatre,2005 to present:assistantdirector,interviewer/conductor, actor,musician/pianist (Playback
is an interactive,audience-participation storytelling theatre performed aroundthe world.)See BoulderPlayback.com.
BoulderInternationalFringe Festival,2008-2011:wrote and performed originalmusicalcomedy one–person show
called,Piano,Poetry andPassion; won “Best ofVenue” award one year
DenverInstruments,wrote and performed interactive musicalcomedy where client’s productpoints became song and
entertainment;600 salesrepsjoined in a sing-along ofproductbenefits at a Fisher–Scientific nationalsales meeting.
NYC’s Village Gate, Denver’sMercuryCafe,Boulder’s Dairy Center &othervenues:performed originalsongs and theater pieces
Awards
Public Relations Society ofAmerica (PRSA), brochure copywriting&design,DenverChildren’s AdvocacyCenter
InternationalAssociation ofBusinessCommunicators (IABC),awards fordesign and illustration ofenvironmental report,
client: Roche Pharmaceutical(previously,client was part ofSyntex)
Bronze Telly Awards fortwo business-to-business videos;storyboarded script,designedgraphics