KEVIN POLAY

Writer | Creator | storyteller | Producer

Award-winning creator of insightful & engaging brand narratives, concepts & campaigns. 

Strategically driven to grow visibility, generate buzz, and build durable brand loyalty.   

FLINT & STEEL GROUP | DIRECTOR OF CONTENT (FREELANCE) | 2012 to PRESENT

Responsible for creative/strategic oversight and production of film, TV, social media, digital, web, print, mobile, and direct marketing projects. 

• Launched digital platform for BAZOOKA that increased sales by 83%, taking bubblegum brand from #12 to #1 (in sales/volume)

• Oversaw development of THE NBA HOOP TROOP, a fully loaded gaming property that drove 80K new members & 950M impressions in just 4 months (surpassing annual goal by 40%)

• Cultivated solid client relationships with world-class brands including T-Mobile, William Grant & Sons, and Crayola.

PROMESA USA | D.O.C & MKTG | SR. COPYWRITER/PRODUCER | 2021 to 2024

Lead the transformation, growth, and increase in revenue of a Los Angeles based women's retail fashion brand by achieving:

• A 15.2% increase in online revenue within the first year.

• Conducted comprehensive customer research to better target consumers, resulting in a 22% boost in customer engagement and a 13% rise in conversion rates through strategic UX enhancements.

• Spearheaded the overhaul of the brand’s look, image, voice, and content and marking strategies to better target the brands key demographics.

• Streamlined paid and social media strategies, driving a 28% increase in click-through rates and a 120% rise in audience reach by harnessing the diverse expertise of cross-functional teams, implementing new communication protocols, and improving internal and external collaborations.

• Efficiently managed a $180,000 photo and video production budget, achieving a 15% cost reduction while increasing the quality and delivery of campaign assets.

• Conducted content audits, competitive analysis, and opportunities to optimize content that contributed to a 200% surge in Return on Investment (ROI) through targeted content enhancements and strategic campaign adjustments that increased customer acquisition by 18%.

• Leveraged SEO best practices and conducted keyword research, resulting in a 13% increase in organic traffic and a 9% rise in website visibility within search engine results.

HEARST MAGAZINES | BRANDED CONTENT WRITER/BLOGGER | 2007 to 2019

As a freelance copywriter and “content creating chameleon” I developed, wrote, created and executed hundreds of successful Requests for Proposals (R.F.P.’s) that resulted in creative, engaging, and strategically effective integrated branded content solutions that contributed to an estimated $25M+ in revenue across print, digital, native, and outdoor marketing & advertising.

• Assisted Corporate Communications/HR with speechwriting, event naming, editing of annual reports; and employee & recruitment messaging

PIX SYSTEM  |  MARKETING & ACCOUNT MANAGER  (L.A.) |  2012 to 2014

Developed strategic marketing/internal communications and a library of tutorials/trouble-shooting guides that significantly improved closing rates to turn SAAS Collaboration Tool into an entertainment industry leader.

ZIP RECRUITER - LEAD COPYWRITER (L.A.) | 2006

Lead the strategy and overhaul of all customer facing marketing and advertising messaging and copy to reflect a new personal, caring, and knowledgeable voice AND on the ZipRecruiter job searching tool to improve the user experience of job seekers on their industry leading online employment site, and the launch of a new AI-powered chatbot/fictional employee named, Phil, which included:

• Humanizing the onboarding process by scripting questions and conversation trees to make job seekers “feel heard”;

• Collaborated with engineering team to align content and technical capabilities, producing more relevant search results

• Strategized, create, and wrote copy and concepts for paid & social media,

SWIFT ENGINEERING (SAN CLEMENTE, CA) 2004

• Rebranded/refreshed all consumer-facing content (web, social, sales, event collateral) and launched new blog for leading product and technologies development company

• Conducted in-depth interviews/research to transform complex innovations & technologies for NASA, National Geographic, Formula 1 Racing, and USAF into compelling stories of human and global achievement.

WONDERLAB  |  PRODUCED SCREENWRITER / E.P.   |  1999 - PRESENT     

Pitched/sold 25+ original feature films, TV series, video games (from concept through production) to Netflix, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Paramount, Sony, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, Village Roadshow, Dark Horse Comics, THQ Revolution, and Activision

• Creator / Story & Screenplay Development / Script Doctor: "CSI: NY” (CBS), "Torque" (Warner Bros.), "Mind Hunter" (Netflix/Fincher), "Hot Import Nights" and “True Crime: Streets of NY" (Activision)

• Genres: Action, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, Procedural, Dark Comedy, Drama, Unscripted.
  WONDERLAB  |  PRODUCED SCREENWRITER / E.P.  |  1999 to PRESENT     
  Pitched/sold 25+ original feature films, TV series, video games (from concept through production) to Netflix, Warner Bros., DreamWorks, Paramount, Sony, CBS, FOX, NBC, ABC, Village Roadshow, Dark Horse Comics, THQ Revolution, and Activision

  • Creator / Story & Screenplay Development / Script Doctor: "CSI: NY” (CBS), "Torque" (Warner Bros.), "Mind Hunter" (Netflix/Fincher), "Hot Import Nights" and “True Crime: Streets of NY" (Activision)

  • Genres: Action, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Thriller, Procedural, Dark Comedy, Drama, Unscripted.

IT’S BEEN SAID…

“Kevin has shown a supernatural knack for creating copy/content that delights consumers while rewarding clients with the traffic, engagement, & sales they demand. His creative spirit—tempered by an incredible sense of responsibility—is immensely valuable to any enterprise.” 

—Chris McKee, CEO, Flint & Steel 

 CONTACT

Los Angeles, CA

310.482.9060

KPolay@me.com  

www.linkedin.com/in/kevinpolay

CAPABILITIES

Advertising (Print, Digital, Broadcast)  Content Creation & Development Copywriting • Branded Content • SEO • Budget Oversight • Time Management • Proofreading & Editing • Talent Casting • Concept Creation & Strategy • Social Media • Integrated Marketing • Web Development • Media, Film, Podcast Production • Organic Outreach • Screenwriting (TV, Film, Gaming) • Art Direction • Blogging • Speech Writing • Business Development

EDUCATION & AFFILIATIONS

ITHACA COLLEGE
BA, Speech Communications

(Cum Laude; Oracle Award for Highest GPA)

ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW
Juris Doctorate of Law

Editor - St. John’s University Law Review

2X National Moot Court Competion Winner)

Executive Board: St. John’s Moot Court Competition

WRITER’S GUILD OF AMERICA

Member Since 1999

BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA

Founding Leader Troop 189

TRAINING & PROFICIENCIES

GOOGLE GARAGE: Fundamentals of Digital Marketing 

THE WHARTON SCHOOL: Viral Marketing & How to Craft Contagious Content 

MS Office Suite, • Adobe Suite • Keynote,  WordPress • Final Draft • Jira • CRM • And more…