Client Work
At Sonnhalter, I interview and collaborate with key client personnel to develop white papers and technical articles to help the client generate leads and establish thought leadership. I also work with the client and our studio team to develop copy for print ads, digital ads, email blasts and other creative jobs. Below are just a few examples.
Go with the Flow
Written in collaboration with a leading manufacturer of pipe fitting installation technology, this feature article outlined a number of best practices for maintaining water flow and temperature to help combat the risk of waterborne diseases. Winner of a 2018 PRSA Cleveland Rocks Award in the "Feature Article" category.
Closing the Gap with Elastomers
I worked with Viega’s product engineer to write “Filling the Gap with Elastomer,” an article which exemplified the company’s thought leadership in the industrial fluid handling system industry. In metal press systems for industrial, commercial and residential projects, the company is the global market leader. Winner of a 2017 PRSA Cleveland Rocks Award in the "Short/Medium Written Content Campaign" category.
Beta Tools — Your Go-To Tools
New to the U.S. market, Italian tool manufacturer Beta Tools asked Sonnhalter to help create a fresh and concise ad/sell sheet for its Collapsible Mobile Tool Cart. With the tagline, “Your Go-To Tools…Now On the Go,” I was able to highlight the cart’s two most important features: portability and capacity. In addition to a fresh design, I developed new body copy and callouts that outlined all of the cart’s essential features and benefits.
Agency Self-Promotion
At Sonnhalter, I am responsible for handling much of the agency's internal copywriting duties. This includes press releases, blog posts, email blasts, case studies and more.
Holiday Email Blast
In 2020, I provided the copy and art direction for our annual holiday email blast. As an agency whose clients exclusively market to professional tradespeople, I wanted to make sure the messaging gave a special nod to the plumbers, electricians and other essential workers who kept the lights on and the water running throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. And of course, the email blast obviously had to pay tribute to some of the holiday season's most famous essential workers...
"Tradesmen Insights" Blog Posts
Sonnhalter's company blog, "Tradesmen Insights," provides agency advice and expertise on a broad range of topics, including social media, trade show relations, media relations and online training resources. Here is a recent blog post I created on ways companies can increase their Instagram engagement.
Sonnhalter Tool Drive
As a way to give back to the community while maintaining its business-to-tradesman niche, Sonnhalter partners with the Greater Cleveland Habitat for Humanity for an annual tool drive., The Sonnhalter Tool Drive has raised more than $2,800,000 in donated used and unused tools and building materials. In years past, I was responsible for developing a number of different marketing materials for the Tool Drive, including press releases, website copy, art direction, promotional videos, social media captions and more.
Journalism
What's my favorite part of being a writer? It's knowing that with each assignment, I have the opportunity to meet and interview someone whose story could completely change the way I think about life. I'm lucky enough to say that this has happened more times than I can count. Below are just a handful of fascinating people I've had the pleasure I've met and profiled throughout the years.
"Ring Leader"
Belt Magazine
In 2014, I wrote one of my favorite pieces about a man named Sam Jones for Belt Magazine. Jones runs a boxing gym in Glouster, a small coal mining town outside of Athens, Ohio. The gym is a non-profit for local kids who are at risk of being lured into a life of drugs and other crimes. Along with mentoring local kids, Jones has trained fighters that have gone on to become world champions.
"Labor of Love"
Ohio Magazine
Doug Lockhart is one of the country's few remaining blacksmiths who still embraces the craft's Old World techniques. In his 40-year career, Doug has reproduced wall sconces from the 1930s for the Ohio Governor’s Mansion, designed lighting fixtures for Walt Disney World and was commissioned to design a Christmas ornament for the Clinton White House. Rather than typical interview, Doug invited me to participate in one of his weekly blacksmith workshops, where I learned to hammer out my own S-hooks and spades.
Rhinegeist Brewery Profile
Ohio Magazine
With Ohio Magazine, I've had the opportunity to profile at least a dozen of the state's most popular microbreweries. While the free samples aren't a bad perk, I am more interested in talking with the owners and master brewers and learning more about each brewery's backstory, aesthetical choices, branding and brewing philosophy. One of my favorite breweries to profile was Rhinegeist, located in Cincinnati's historic Over-the-Rhine neighborhood.