Steve Toms | Curriculum Vitae

>  Consultancy

>  Academic/Author

>  Marketing/Advertising expertise

>  Education

>  Activities/Interests/Opinions

Consultancy (clients)

Steve has worked with more than 100 different organizations,
from international Fortune 500 manufacturing industries to a mom
and pop retail bakery; from international 501C service associations
to a small rural hospice; from major state universities to small
private liberal arts colleges.

Among them: Kraft, IBM, Variety magazine, Wrigley Corporation, The Tennis Channel,
Village RoadShow Productions, Department of Aboriginal Affairs (Canberra, Australia),
Ameritrade, Oceania Cruises, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Ohio State Fair,
City of Houston World Energy Cities Partnership, University of Texas, AIDs Foundation Houston,
and the Musicians of the Houston Symphony . . . to name a few.

His projects—past and present—have taken him to 14 countries, coast-to-coast in the U.S.,
and throughout rural Texas, Arizona, and Ohio.

Steve restricts consultancies, preferring to take on minor projects during his teaching assignments.

Academic/Author (teaching and writing)

• Adjunct professor: Texas Woman's University (Executive MBA in Houston, Ft. Worth, and Plano), University of St. Thomas (Houston), University of Houston (Main and Downtown campus), DeVry University and Houston Community College (ongoing classes in marketing, business communications, consumer behavior, advertising methods, entrepreneurial studies, and public relations)

• Lecturer: American Marketing Association Marketing Certification Program,
  University of Houston (10/02-11/05)

• Assistant professor of marketing, University of St. Thomas (Houston): marketing,
  consumer behavior, advertising, public relations, and business communications (1/78-5/93)

Since 1977, Steve has taught more than 4,500 students.

• Motivational presenter on instructional methods for the faculties
  of the Houston Community College System (current), National Education Center
  (10/86-3/93), and Art Institute of Houston (10/86-3/93)

• Instructor of English at The Ohio State University, College of Agriculture (1970);
  and the North American Institute (Barcelona, 1969)

• “Writing for the reader” workshops for service organizations, including the IRS

• Author: Stop Boring Us! A marketing approach to business communications
  (work in progress)

• Author/lecturer: PowerPoint Master Class. Half-day workshops designed to harness
  the power of computer slideshow presentation design and delivery (ongoing)

• Author: BUSCOM—Effective Business Communications criteria workbook used
   in conjunction with first video instructional class offered at the University of St. Thomas (5/91)

• Author: The Job Game, bridging the gap between Academia and the work world.
  Workshops throughout Texas; re-programmed for the University of Texas
  School of Public Health. Focus on researching companies, personalizing resumes 
  and cover letters, interviewing and negotiating skills ('91-95)

• Motivational speaker at numerous local, state, and national trade associations
  and academic organizations, such as Exxon, Cosentino USA, the Texas/New Mexico
  State Hospice Association, and International Television Association (ongoing)

• Judge at numerous local, state and national public speaking and marketing
  for secondary and tertiary education (ongoing)

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Marketing/Advertising expertise

• ProComm...the fine art of business communications, Houston. President.
  Integrated marketing communications consultancy to business and academia:
  electronic/print communications audit, presentation assessment and support,
  layout/format style convention guides, text editing (5/91-current)

• Audio Visual Services (Houston). Vice President of Marketing. U.S.' third largest
  distributor of audio visual/video equipment and support services (4/77-3/81)

• Bozell & Jacobs Advertising (Houston). Account executive: Soltex Polymers,
  Allied Banks, Skytop Brewster (10/77-5/78)

• Tracy-Locke Advertising (Dallas). Account executive: Phillips Petroleum Company
  and Amateur Athletic Union (4/75-10/77)

• Leo Burnett U.S.A. (Chicago). Account executive: Kentucky Fried Chicken
  and United Airlines (1/72-4/75)

• Ohio State Fair Columbus) Director of Marketing and Public Relations
  for world's largest 12-day fair (9/70-12/72)

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Education

• Post-graduate studies towards Ph.D. University of New South Wales (Sydney, Australia).
  Marketing and sales motivation (1/84-1/85)

• Masters of International Management (MIM/MBA), American Graduate School
  of International Management (Thunderbird), (Glendale, Arizona).
  Marketing/Advertising (1/71-1/72)

• Bachelor of Arts. The Ohio State University (Columbus). Spanish and Communications
  double major (9/66-8/70)

• Diploma of Hispanic Studies, University of Barcelona (Barcelona, Spain).
  Language, art, history, geography, literature (9/68-5/69)

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Activities/Interests/Opinions

I like to stay in touch.
 I consider myself a currentologist.

Steve begins each day by reading or surfing the New York Times, USA Today, and several local papers. Evenings begin by reviewing recordings of 2 nightly network newscasts (usually NBC and ABC), and BBC World News.

On Sunday, it's all 3 network weekly news shows, such as
Meet the Press, This Week, and Face the Nation.

That requires lots of freshly-ground Mexican Altura coffee.

My ongoing passions are aviation and music.

Steve earned a pilot's license during graduate studies. Currently, he's privileged to have several former students who now operate their own aircraft. They invite him to fly
on the weekends. Steve has also performed pro bono communications support for the Lone Star Flight Museum in Galveston.

My second passion is music.

Steve revived the lost art of hosting classical chamber music soirees in his home, attended by 35-70 guests,
and played by members of the Houston Symphony.
Many of these events include wine tasting, featuring selected varietals to complement the musical selections.

Consulting and teaching are about selling change.

Steve is drawn to those with positive attitudes; those with a burning desire
to make things happen; those who are open to learning new approaches
to solving old problems.

It's simple: There are no rewards for efforts, only for results.

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