Adam Lasnik

WORK EXPERIENCE

Search Evangelist – Google, Mountain View, CA, 3/2006 to present

Key roles:

• External communications: Improving and extending Google’s relationship with Webmasters by engaging in online and offline conversations and ensuring such communications are scalable long term.
• Internal communications: Effectively sharing Webmasters concerns, bug reports, and other feedback with pertinent teams throughout the organization and working with engineers and product managers to refine tools and processes to address these issues.
• Index Quality Enhancement: Analyzing Web spam trends and helping colleagues fine tune indexing and ranking algorithms.
• Miscellaneous communications: Assisting teams with various projects.

Online Communications Strategist – Independent Contractor, San Francisco, CA, 3/2001 to 2/2006

Key roles:

• Advertising: Managed clients’ online advertising budgets (as high as $600,000 per quarter) on AdWords and Yahoo! Search Marketing. Evaluated audience segments, oversaw all budget and bidding issues, as well as wrote and edited ad copy. Also provided recommendations on clients' Web landing pages to maximize conversions.
• Community Development: Provided design and policy recommendations for Virgin Digital’s upcoming comprehensive online music community* to increase customer retention and purchasing transactions. Advised executives, programmers, and designers on user interface, customer communications, and related issues. [* currently on hold]
• Customer Communications: Substantially improved customer support for Plaxo’s millions of members through support policy updates, knowledgebase enhancements, and e-mail template creations. Served as the “Face of Plaxo” in both the e-mail discussion group and forum. Restarted and managed the company's Public Beta Test program. Worked closely with Engineering, Product Development, Business Development, and Public Relations colleagues to communicate consistent and coherent messaging to customers and partners. Co-authored external communications policy. Internally evangelized reducing company’s reliance on e-mailed “Update Requests” in favor of non-push forms of communication.
• Webmastering and Affiliate Marketing: Single-handedly developed personal site to reach 50,000 monthly visitors and earn up to $11,000 in monthly revenues through successful affiliate partnerships, ethical marketing and advertising, strong understanding of search engines and placement strategies, opt-in e-mail newsletters, frequent interactions with members, and constant ROI monitoring. Assisted others with marketing and online community development strategies to maximize revenues while respecting visitors’ privacy and other interests.

Interactive Strategies Executive – Niehaus Ryan Wong, South San Francisco, CA, 11/1999 to 3/2001

Key roles:

• Client account management: Assisted wide set of B2B and B2C clients with comprehensive Internet communications, including privacy policies, online public relations opportunities, e-mail newsletter content and structure, and more.  Worked with client teams involved in PR, technology and marketing to create cohesive and coherent customer experiences.
• SEO and Web site communications: Wrote detailed yet accessible reports for clients, including a well-received Search Engine Optimization paper for a prominent education-related company.
• Development of new services: Wrote business plan to formalize more advanced NRW Interactive Strategies services, winning approval from all NRW executives.

Business Consultant and Entrepreneur – Ascena Information Technology, Mannheim, Germany
(also co-founder of Boston branch), 5/97-8/97, 5/98-4/99

Key roles:

• Research: Assessed financial, cultural, and partnership issues for global corporate extension. Engaged in in-depth competitive intelligence gathering via online and offline resources.
• Entrepreneurship: Wrote business plan, marketing copy and HR materials. Hired employees and outside counsel. Managed relationships with third parties (including accountant and lawyer).

University Instructor – Indiana University Kelley School of Business, Bloomington, IN, 12/97 to 4/98
Taught business research, writing, and presentation skills to traditional and international students.

Senior Writing Consultant – Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, 9/91 to 6/93
Provided faculty and students with writing assistance on course syllabi, 150 page theses and everything in between. Also helped supervise full staff of consultants.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND (BS ’93 / JD ’98 / MBA ‘98)

• Masters in Business Administration (MBA) – Indiana University Kelley School of Business, 8/96 to 5/98
  Juris Doctorate (JD) (concurrent with MBA degree) – Indiana University School of Law, 8/94 to 5/98

Combined academic focus:
International Electronic Communications and Commerce , understanding today’s management and business processes from technological, legal, and people-oriented perspectives. Studied with e-commerce and Internet law pioneers – Fred Cate and Raymund Burke.

• Bachelor of Science (Communication Studies / Political Science) – Northwestern University, 9/89 to 6/93
  Took extra load of classes (beyond core and major requirements) that were typically reserved for arts majors; extra courses included Orchestration, Jazz Ensemble Performance, Writing for Wind Ensembles, Jazz Dance, and others. Within major classes, focused on intense writing seminars…
  writing as many as eighteen papers in one quarter.

ACTIVITIES: INVOLVEMENT IN LEADERSHIP, TECHNOLOGY, AND ARTS

• Beta testing: Dedicated beta tester for more than two dozen technology products and services, with a focus on both music and communication products and services. Received personal kudos from key software developers and even senior executives based upon articulate user-interface feedback and recommendations.
• Webmastering: Creator of multiple Web sites, using XHTML, CSS, Movable Type, Dreamweaver, and many other tools. Quick to explore and adopt new technologies.
• Online community work: AOL Forum Leader for both Simon and Schuster’s College Online and AOL’s The Gallery areas, assisting with the development of area Terms of Service documents, writing general content, moderating message boards, and answering customer service inquiries with efficiency, tact, and warmth. Also co-founder of "SwingTalk," the Bay Area's newest and largest online swing dance community, spearheading board organization as well as stimulating and moderating conversations.
• Campus leadership: Coordinator of university orientations for graduate, undergraduate, and international students at both Indiana University and Northwestern University and co-founder of Graduate Residence Hall orientation program at IU.
• Philanthropy: Co-chair of university organization philanthropy committee, involved with extensive corporate fundraising.
• Music: Performed and composed music in a wide variety of genres, with a classical foundation and also extensive jazz training.

AFFILIATIONS, AWARDS, AND INTERESTS

• Scholarship: Awarded "A*" (highest grade in class) in "Negotiations," taught by Associate Dean of IU School of Law. Placed on Dean’s List for two semesters in the IU School of Law. Selected as member of IU Kelley School of Business “Internet and New Media Academy.” Honored with Graduate Assistantship positions each year while in business school; first year in the Information Systems department, second year in Marketing.
• Certification: Selected as a Qualified AdWords Professional based upon account history and tested knowledge.
• Travel: Traveled throughout more than a dozen European countries and also Australia and Singapore.
• Learning: Voracious reader of news and commentary... both online and in dead-tree format.
• Dancing: Enthusiastic dancer with a special passion for Lindy Hop (swing dancing) and Waltz.