Alan M. Perlman, Ph. D

815 Hill St.
Highland Park, IL 60035
847/433-8569


PROFILE

  • A highly senior, multi-talented, internationally-known communications professional with a deep theoretical and practical understanding of language.
  • An experienced writer/editor who has ghostwritten virtually every form of corporate communications, as well as book summaries, opening and closing arguments for attorneys, and technical, professional, and medical articles.
  • An executive speechwriter who knows how executive/corporate communications support business objectives and has extensive experience in developing strategic communications and counseling management on the content and impact of communication.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Developed and wrote a wide variety of CEO and other top-executive speeches at Fortune 100 companies.
  • Developed and wrote position papers, articles/commentary, videoscripts, corporate mission/vision/image statements, company/organizational histories, annual reports, book chapters and forewords, recruiting materials, policy/procedural manuals, technical/training materials, conference presentations, press releases, newsletters, and other forms of corporate communication; supported the project, if necessary, with presentation training and audio-visual coordination.
  • As freelancer, developed and wrote a wide variety of documents: speeches, articles, PowerPoint presentations, opening/closing statements for attorneys, brochures, memoirs, business plans, video scripts, and book summaries (for Discover Card Services and The Fast Track).
  • Developed a considerable body of original knowledge and methodology.
  • Presented more than 40 professional seminars, workshops, lectures, and classes on various aspects of writing, speechwriting, business communications, editing, research techniques, and public speaking. Click here to jump to professional seminars, workshops, lectures, and classes.
  • Published more than two dozen articles on various aspects of writing, speechwriting, business communications, editing, research techniques, and public speaking. Click here to jump to published articles and books.
  • Published three books:
    • Write Choices: New Options for Effective Communication, Charles C Thomas, 1989.
    • "It Gives Me Great Pleasure..." -- A Guide to Writing Ceremonial Speeches, Ragan Communications, 1992.
    • Writing Great Speeches: Professional Techniques You Can Use, Allyn & Bacon, 1997.

EXECUTIONAL SKILLS

  • Produced each project with clear, simple language and compelling argumentation in the precise style of the speaker or organization.
  • Researched and synthesized information on a wide range of topics; factored in emerging business, political, economic, social and demographic trends; and generated ideas and constructed coherent, persuasive documents, often with minimal prior input.
  • Integrated input from many sources, reconciling conflicts where necessary, creating a final product that is an integrated, seamless whole. Click here to jump to writing samples.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

1991-2002: Director, Executive Communications (reporting to Sr. VP, Corporate Communications), Kraft Foods, Northfield, IL 60093.

1984-91: Speechwriter, Public Relations Staff, General Motors Corporation,
Detroit MI 48202.

1981-83: Manager, Speechwriting, Burroughs Corporation, Detroit MI 48232.

1979-81: Staff Supervisor, Marketing Communications, Michigan Bell, Detroit and Southfield MI.

1968-79: Assistant Professor; taught English linguistics and composition at the college/university level; published scholarly articles (list available on request); organized a composition program and helped establish a graduate program in the theory and structure of writing.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PhD, University of Chicago, Chicago IL, 1973; linguistics.

M.A., University of Chicago, 1967; linguistics.

BA, Brown University, Providence RI., 1964; linguistics (summa cum laude, high honors, Phi Beta Kappa).

Research Assistantships (computer applications to language analysis), University of Chicago, summers, 1966-68.

Russian language (Harvard University; University of Michigan), summers 1962, 1963.

PRSA/NYU seminars: "The Speech as an Effective PR/PA Tool" (1981); "PR/PA Writing Workshop" (1982).

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