Bob DeRosa is a public relations and marketing communications strategist and copywriter.
Official Bio:
Although he erased his last chalkboard in 1982, Bob DeRosa has never stopped teaching.
In his careers as technical writer, public relations account executive, vice president of marketing, smoking-cessation instructor, jazz-camp co-owner and business communication consultant, he has always viewed communication as an educational pursuit—helping to move an audience from A to B (or to Z) by teaching the benefits of doing so.
Bob taught English at both high-school and college levels from 1975-82. He moved into the private sector as a technical writer for Computer Consoles, Inc. (now Nortel) in 1982, was quickly promoted to technical writing group leader, and left as marketing communications supervisor in 1987.
From 1987-88 he served as a public relations account executive for Rumrill-Hoyt Advertising, garnering significant visibility for a Xerox account. He was hired away from Rumrill-Hoyt by Rochester Telephone, where he served as marketing communications manager for more than two years. During this time, he also taught smoking cessation in the HealthPerks program of a Rochester, NY HMO.
In 1990, he began his entrepreneurial career as a business communication consultant, performing a wide range of consulting, writing, and media-relations services for businesses of all sizes—startups to Fortune 100 companies.
In 2000, Bob was asked by a client to help start up a fiber-optics company, where he served as co-founder and vice-president of marketing for more than two years while continuing to serve selected communications clients. He also did a stint as vice president of a graphic-design firm from 2005-6, while also maintaining his consulting practice.
Bob co-owns Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps, week-long immersions in jazz playing and learning for amateur adult musicians.
Bob is married, has three grown children and one grandson. He lives in Penfield, New York.
Unofficial (And More Interesting) Bio:
Why did you choose this career?
Flunked out of both med school and astronaut school and needed something to do. Knew how to speak; knew how to write. It was a natural.
What’s your favorite: food?
Linguine with clam sauce
What’s your favorite: song?
Almost any mainstream jazz tune
What’s your favorite: movie?
Dr. Strangelove and almost anything else directed by Stanley Kubrick
What’s your favorite: book?
The one I’ll write someday
What’s your favorite: recreational activity?
Playing upright bass
You think the world would be a better place if:
We all took ourselves a whole lot less seriously
The most profound thing you’ve ever heard or seen or experienced is:
My children’s birth
It would surprise people to know that you:
Are an introvert
Besides marketing / writing, your other passions are:
Trying to determine if I have any passions
Favorite joke:
Too dirty to tell here, but when we meet over a beer….
Suddenly blessed with a day off and no limitations of time, space or cash, you would:
Be on Italy’s Amalfi Coast with a nicely chilled limoncello
The web site you think everyone should have in their favorites file:
http://dictionary.com