Jeff Gardenour

Experience

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  Florida Today/Gannett Co.

  May 1993 - Nov 2011

  Freelance writer

  Provided reporting, photography, and online media production on weekly basis for numerous publications, producing upwards of 150 inches of copy per week at peak. Responsible for developing news budgets, complying to financial budget constraints, assigning photography, producing and uploading alternative copy and photography for online sector, discussing and implementing strategies to increase readership, and adapting to continual change within media industry. Provided coverage for multiple weeklies with huge readership, including the Star-Advocate of Titusville, The Press-Tribune (of Cocoa and Merritt Island), The (Melbourne) Times and the (Palm) Bay Bulletin. Show less

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  Seminole Chronicle

  Aug 2008 - Jul 2014

  Staff writer

  Reported on wide variety of topics and individuals throughout East Seminole County, publishing news and feature stories for news, lifestyles and sports sections on weekly basis. Assisted with photography planning on assigned stories, and recommended story ideas for weekly budget. Also, directed and implemented the "Your View" section for the Viewpoints page, taking photographs and interviewing the public.

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  The Orlando Sentinel

  Sept 2008 - Feb 2022

  Correspondent

  Covering wide variety of events for sports department, producing copy for print and online. Vast experience covering high school events and personalities, including state and regional meets, regular and postseason tournaments, all-star events, and more.

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  Heritage Web Solutions

  Sept 2008 - Feb 2011

  Outsource writer

  Developed and wrote website content, press releases, newsletters and more for wide range of accounts, including medical services, financial markets, hotels and resorts, construction companies, computer industries, golf developers, international missionaries, veterinarians, and more. Well-versed in internal corporate website responsibilities, including establishing communication link between clients and company headquarters, compiling and implementing project notes for accounts through main design center, developing and completing account-related tasks, and pitching, developing and finishing website enhancements for clients. Show less

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  Walt Disney World

  Apr 2011 - Dec 2012

  Promoted from merchandise sector to Research Specialist I, an Office and Technical role, in less than 1 year. Conducted market research through multiple survey formats, collecting information from guests on wide variety of topics pertaining to their visit to WDW. Utilized computer tablet in collecting research information, meeting established daily quotas and assisting Research team with “Mickeys” or shortfall work within the department, as well as variances (monthly shortfall survey work) in effort to assist WDW leaders in decision-making processes. Worked in the Magic Kingdom for first five months before moving to Disney’s Hollywood Studios in September of 2012. Worked in all four theme parks and multiple Disney resorts. Also, was selected to write an article for the Research Field Ops Focus newsletter. Additionally, was given administrative duties in contributing articles, blogs and more to Disney's Backlot DRG (Diverse Resource Groups) site. One of division’s top performers. Show less Responsible for multi-purpose strategic planning and operation within merchandise sector of store. Operated cash registers, assisted with display set-up and stock, and helped guests with merchandise and other inquiries. Worked with fellow cast members to ensure the industry’s very best guest satisfaction and meet and/or surpass retail budget on daily basis. Member of team that helped the store set a single-day sales record of $593,000 in July of 2011, and consistently one of store’s top performers, including PWPs (purchase with purchase) transactions that were part of store’s upselling campaign. Recipient of two pay raises within first 11 months. Also, have worked in retail in WDW’s hotel and liquidation merchandise locations and Disney’s Animal Kingdom retail locations, as well as Operations for Disney’s Animal Kingdom (The Tree of Life). Show less

  • Research Specialist I/Consumer Insight

    Mar 2012 - Dec 2012

  • Merchandise Specialist

    Apr 2011 - Mar 2012
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  The Ledger

  Jun 2013 - Jun 2014

  Sports/News Copy Editor

  Edited copy and designed multiple pages across various sections, including sports, for two newspapers within the Ledger Media Group, a division of Halifax Media Group. Utilizing Media Desk and Adobe InDesign and InCopy, responsibilities included assigning pages and their respective stories, appending stories and photographs, editing copy, completing page designs, and final editing and proofing. Also, researched and compiled calendars, wrote local briefs, and responsible for web teases, internal website links and postings through Saxotech, and posting to the newspaper’s multiple social media platforms, including Facebook and Twitter. Interacted with large U-desk and newsroom staffs. Worked for the Winter Haven News Chief and The Ledger publications, reaching a circulation of more than 50,000 readers with The Ledger. Show less

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  Sun Coast Media Group

  Dec 2014 - Sept 2016

  Sports Editor

  Worked as sports editor for Sun Coast Media Group in Highlands County, responsible for turning a bi-weekly, three-newspaper sports section into one of the most dynamic reads in decades. Worked for the Highlands Sun (formerly the Sebring News-Sun, Avon Park News-Sun and Lake Placid News-Journal) and created special zoned sections, utilizing expanded local sports coverage, more photography, extensive agate and local sports calendar, columns, players of the week and more. Made local coverage a top priority, rarely using wire copy. Revived the football tab for first time in more than a decade. Utilized DTI and Adobe In-Design and In-Copy, wrote and edited copy, designed pages and worked with main copy desk in Charlotte to produce top-quality sports pages. Sections praised by management and the public for being the best in years. Received Best Sports Section award 2016 -- second place -- from the Florida Press Association. Show less

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  The Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida

  Mar 2017 - May 2019

  News Director
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  Healthfirst

  Aug 2019 - now

  Health Insurance Specialist