Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Additional Information
BusinessAnalyst
E.L.  VALENTINE

E.L. VALENTINE

A Writer-Storyteller
Boise,ID

Summary

E.L. Valentine (aka Eric Leins), B.A.–Psychology, B.A.–Philosophy

An award-winning writer-storyteller across 3 disciplines: journalism, marketing, and storytelling. The UCLA alumnus serves as Creative Director for True Story Project, LLC —an Idaho company doing business as:

  • Independent Creativity (marketing)
  • Ei (Ai consulting)
  • True Story (a performing arts ensemble featuring Valentine's short stories told to live music)

Work History

Creative Director

INDEPENDENT CREATIVITY
2008.01 - Current

Clients:

  • DAVIES-MOORE AD AGENCY—Healthwise, Bardenay, University of Idaho, Boise Philharmonic
  • CLM MARKETING & ADVERTISING—Idaho Dept. of Health & Welfare, Western Idaho Fair, Idaho Central Credit Union
  • SCENTSY, INC.—corporate office
  • DBSI GROUP—corporate office
  • INDEPENDENT CREATIVITY (SELF)—Troy McClain, Boise Philharmonic, The Tanya Acker Show, Steve Eaton Music, K&D African Hair Braiding, Battleship IOWA, True Story Project

Responsibilities:

  • Wrote advertising copy for TV, radio, print and online content, adhering to employers' overarching brand identity and personality.
  • Customized brand style (logos) and message (taglines, vision statements, other copy) to reach and capture target audience interest and drive engagement.
  • Won Silver Rockies copywriting awards (Radio, 2008), (Corporate Video, 2016).
  • Humming Bull Storytelling Competition 1st Place (2018)
  • Reviewed and edited final copy for accuracy and to correct grammar errors.
  • Researched industry trends and customer preferences to inform copywriting efforts.
  • Developed short and long-term media outreach strategies in collaboration with cross-functional teams.

Public Speaker

TRUE STORY PROJECT, LLC
Boise , ID
2012.11 - Current
  • Keynote speaker: Family Advocates, ArtsNorthwest, KymFest
  • Lead storyteller and writer of The Mammal Problem (a play performed off-Broadway at the Anne L. Bernstein Theater in New York)
  • Featured performer: TEDxBoise, Idaho Songwriters Association, Treefort Music Fest, Story Story Night and more
  • Winner of the 2018 Humming Bull Storytelling Competition in Sun Valley, Idaho

News Reporter

MAINSTREET MEDIA | SUN DOG MEDIA
1999.06 - 2022.11

PUBLICATIONS: Ramona Sentinel | Gilroy Dispatch | Del Mar Times | Wood River Weekly

Responsibilities:

  • Wrote 500- to 1000-word multiple-sourced articles, up to 2 per day, on deadline and in AP style.
  • Covered a variety of beats: City Council, Development & Land Use, Education, Water District, Fire & Police and Human Interest for more than 6 years in California and Boise.
  • Mentored and supervised by retired Wall Street Journal reporter, editor and bureau chief, Wayne Green.
  • Provided field reporting during major events to gather and share reactions from individuals directly impacted.
  • Won 2004 Best Spot News (California Newspaper Publishers Association)
  • Wrote Wood River Weekly's most popular news article in its history. 'Grand Theft Water' received >3,000 online views in addition to regular hardcopy distribution.

Social Media Content Developer

THE MCCLAIN COMPANIES | BEYOND INDIGO
2011.01 - 2014.10

Responsibilities:

  • Developed original content for 10 to 15 clients monthly using social listening and independent sources.
  • Applied current editing and photography tools to tell compelling stories and reach benchmarks for "likes" and "follows".
  • Created dynamic graphics and pieces to increase website and social media traffic, spiking reach by 100% and more.
  • Strengthened content through copywriting and editing blog articles, posts, white papers and more.

Medical Copywriter & Copy Editor

UNITED HEALTH GROUP
2010.03 - 2011.12

Responsibilities:

  • Wrote health and wellness articles for Optum Health employee and member informational portal
  • Researched topics using evidence-based medical resources—focus area: Mens Health, Heart Health
  • Promoted to Editor after 9 months
  • Developed Optum Health style guide based on AP and AMA templates with consideration for online (screen not print) reading.

Education

Bachelor of Arts - Psychology

UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
06.1993

Bachelor of Arts - Philosophy

UCLA
Los Angeles, CA
06.1993

Skills

  • Award-winning Copywriter and Journalist
  • Proficient Creator of Content: Social media, graphic design, and website content development
  • Associated Press (AP) Style Copy Editor
  • Experienced Public Speaker (TED, Arts Northwest, Family Advocates, TreeFort Music Fest, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society)
  • AI Enthusiast (Chat-GPT, Bard, etc)

Additional Information

ACCOMPLISHMENTS & AFFILIATIONS

The best writing advice I ever received was from an Emmy-winning NBC executive and Hollywood/Broadway producer, Michael Manheim: "Live a full life so you always have something to write about," he said.

My full life includes:

  • Surviving the passing of my wife to terminal bone cancer
  • Living and working in Tokyo, Japan for 3 years (English teacher, AEON Corporation)
  • Reaching the summit of Mt. Fuji x2 (1998, 2018)
  • Performing my play, The Mammal Problem, off-Broadway (Anne L. Bernstein Theater in New York City)
  • Traveling abroad—Japan, Thailand, Germany, England, Netherlands, Italy, France, Canada and Mexico
  • Hiking and whitewater rafting—Middle Fork Salmon River, Payette River, Boise River, Boise Foothills, Wood River Valley
  • Volunteering—Chair of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Idaho leadership committee | Idaho Songwriters Association marketing director | Boise Philharmonic social media content creator
E.L. VALENTINEA Writer-Storyteller