nDash Writer Profile for Joanna Strom Thought Leader

Contributing Writer✴Editor✴Content Creator✴Social Media-Marketing✴Branding✴Web Design✴All things Creative

Even though I do not hold a degree in Journalism, I have extensive experience in print journalism, learning hands-on from my father, Allan J. Keplinger, who was a renowned photojournalist, editor, writer and professor. My father held 2 Masters degrees from Louisiana State University in Journalism and Sociology and 2 Bachelors degrees from the University of Miami. I also have advertising experience, layout/design as well as being a freelance writer, scriptwriter and professional songwriter and musician for over 30 years. I am a Platinum songwriting member of BMI, a former member of the Nashville Songwriters Assn., Los Angeles Songwriters Assn. & Memphis Songwriters Showcase. I was in the top 12 finalists in the Miss Teenage Memphis Pageant and was televised on WHBQ as a teenager. I modeled professionally (television and runway) for Memphis Furs and Jack & Jill Boutiques among others (television ads as well as print). I also have acted professionally; trained through Marilyn Shore Studios, Westlake Village, CA by Bob Hover ( a character actor for over 45 years with numerous TV and film credits), as my acting coach. I have voice over studio experience as well. The gaps you see in employment are from having 6 children and I worked professionally alongside my then husband, Jeff Jones, in developing a huge territory which covered a large regional area in the Western US. He was a regional sales manager and I kept his territory up to date with a customer database. Since he traveled 60-80%, I handled follow up calls for recurrent sales, sending out literature, as well as PR, setting up appts., a liaison to stars who were representatives of the musical instruments, etc. My skillset is self-taught, learning curve is fairly easy for me. I am self-motivated, have an entrepreneurial spirit and a jackie-of-all-trades.