Resume
Email:mike@fioritto.us
AIM: fiorittom
EXPERTISE
Key strengths combine strong strategic thinking with deep project management, communication, technical and editorial experience with a customer driven focus. Talent for assembling project teams with complementary strengths from marketing, design, production and technology. Sales experience includes responding to requests for proposals, proposal development and market and competitive analysis.
Technical skills include an outstanding knowledge of Internet related technologies including Unix, three-tiered web development technologies, RSS, text categorization, and all aspects of web development. Special interests include innovation and new product development, collaborative software, content management, content syndication, knowledge management and project management.
EXPERIENCE
Tribune Media Services, Director of Operations 2006 to present
Direct all operations-related activities within the News & Features division. Provide leadership in project management, process improvement and product development across the division. Primary responsibility for implementation of the technology platform on which the News & Features division will operate.
HighBeam Research Director, Content and Editorial 2004 to 2006
Primary responsibilities include leading the company’s content strategy and acquisition program and the strategic direction for content related product development.
Tribune Media Services, FluentMedia Executive Producer/Implementation Manager 2000 to 2004
Served as a charter member of the project team that identified the product requirements and operational processes needed to create, launch and operate new online corporate content licensing product. Provided project management for all customer implementations coordinating with in-house editorial and technology staffs, technology outsource providers and customer technical and functional teams. Served as a first point-of-contact on all new customer requests and issue resolution resulting in a high-level of customer satisfaction. Operational responsibilities also included recruiting, training and managing a distributed team of freelance editors. Developed online tools to support distributed sales and editorial teams.
Exhibited a natural affinity for monitoring the marketplace for new technology trends and product developments, identified emerging industry trends, reported findings to senior management.
The Arizona Republic Digital Explorer (New Product Development Manager) 1999 to 2000
Researched, developed and launched five wireless products for The Arizona Republic. Provided research of the wireless marketplace and content delivery mechanisms for handheld computers and mobile phones. Reported findings to the Executive Vice President, Digital Media and Operating Committee. As a member of the Newspaper Association of America (NAA) Wireless Task Force, researched and analyzed wireless technology vendors for member newspapers.
Special assignments included trouble-shooting development problems and customer complaints at another newspaper group. Analyzed their online development operation and implemented new development process and issue tracking procedures.
The Arizona Republic Online Operations Manager 1997 to 1999
Managed Online Advertising Producer and team of six developers, Entertainment and Travel producers and calendar desk. Spearheaded the revision of compensation and incentive plans to attract and retain staff. Consulted with Online Director to organize entire digital media staff. Played key role in vendor selection and relationships.
Consulted with Online Sales Manager to determine products and pricing. Created and implemented development and pricing procedures resulting in increased customer satisfaction, higher project fees and increased sales – up 100% year over year.
Primary consultant for all major web development accounts including The Arizona Cardinals, Westcor Development, Bashas’ Grocery and The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Based on customer requests and comments, developed database driven sites that could be managed and updated by clients resulting in increased customer satisfaction and increased web development sales to major accounts.
The Arizona Republic Online Advertising Producer 1996 to 1997
Developed online advertising department growing it from one web developer to four within the first year. Worked on implementation of Realmedia’s Open AdStream ad management software on azcentral.com – one of their first newspaper clients. Part of a team that produced some of the earliest database driven automotive and real estate sites on the web resulting in almost $1 million in sales the first year.
Worked with team to redesign and produce arizonaguide.com, the premier destination site for the state of Arizona, resulting in almost 1 million page views per month – a 150% increase over the previous year. Presented the new site for the Arizona Office of Tourism at the annual Governor’s Tourism Conference.
The Arizona Republic Photographer/Multimedia Producer 1981 to 1996