Julie Bess Hymans
juliebess@gmail.com
203-727-7496
Hearst Connecticut Media Group
Local Blogger
Connecticut arts and entertainment blog launched in February 2014.
Work Experience
Founder/Editor/Writer
CTGirlAboutTown
December 2011 to Present
Sole founder/writer/editor for an award winning blog and Twitter account (as well as related online assets) focused on Connecticut news and events. Create content – write blog posts, shoot photos and video, and curate content utilizing press releases and local online news resources for additional relevant stories, photos, blogs and videos. Work with local businesses on sponsored content, contests and giveaways. Attend and live-blog/tweet events. Engage with and manage community of 5000+ Twitter followers, 700+ Instagram followers and 600+ Facebook page fans.
• Nominated for multiple awards; won Third Place in two categories in the 2013 New Haven Advocate Readers’ Poll (Best Local Twitter, Best Local Blogger)
Stringer
The Associated Press
August 2014 and November 2014
Will be calling in primary and election night results from the polls in Easton, CT.
Stringer
New Haven Register
November 2013 to November 2013
Tweeted/reported election night polling results in Ward 8.
Freelance/Other
Various Publications
November 2011 to Present
Seasons Magazine
Feature to be published in the Summer 2014 issue
CTNow.com
www.ctnow.com/ctn-
vintage-cocktails-instagrams-
of-summer-dri-006,0,7094308.
photo
Mobile Food News
www.mobilefoodnews.com/
2013/10/hamden-ct-hamden-town-
center-park-keeps-ontruckin-
fall-food-truck-festival-
today/
Norwalk Hour
www.thehour.com/
norwalk-fireworks/image_
eeebe3eee457-11e2-95db-
001a4bcf6878.html
CT News Blogs / The Green / Hearst Connecticut Media Group
blog.ctnews.com/tracy/
2011/11/27/burying-hill-
sunset/
Social Media Marketing Manager
Freelance/Contract/Pro Bono
November 2010 to Present
Curate, create and post content for clients to enhance public awareness and increase community/ consumer engagement. Analyze metrics, generate reports and make strategic recommendations based upon findings. Knowledge of best practices across various social media channels. Pro Bono clients have included Bridgeport Community Gardens, Friends of Felines. Contract work with Fire Brand Social Media included managing digital assets for multiple clients including: Mad Hackers Conference, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Alliance, Strategies Group, Eversock, Greyskye, Inca Business, Sonia Smithson DDS, GlyEco, AOA, Hatfield Insurance, Bridgeport Regional Business Council, Jingged, Next Level Fitness, Devon George, 1stRadarDetectors, Peak Performance Fishing, The Carrier Bag Company.
Event Organizer
City by the Sea Art Fair
Bridgeport, CT
February 2012 to August 2012
The City by the Sea Art Fair is a two-day juried art exhibition and community event held at Captain’s Cove Seaport, presented by the Black Rock Neighborhood Revitalization Zone (BRNRZ), the Black Rock Community Council (BRCC) and Captain’s Cove Seaport. Duties include: participant outreach, application materials trafficking, selection and scheduling of performers, coordinating details and logistics with participants and staff, event publicity, social media marketing and community management, and on-site day-of-event support.
Event Organizer
Bridgeport Arts Fest
May 2011 to July 2012
The Bridgeport Arts Fest is an annual one-day gathering of local-area artists, artisans, crafters, and performers on historic McLevy Green in Downtown Bridgeport, presented by The City of Bridgeport Office of Planning and Economic Development (OPED), in conjunction with the Downtown Special Services District (DSSD). Duties include: participant outreach, application materials trafficking, selection and scheduling of performers, coordinating details and logistics with participants and staff, event publicity, social media marketing and community management, and on-site day-of-event support.
• In 2011, I personally booked five of seven total musical acts, with an overall budget of only $1000. Acts included The Stepkids, The Backyard Committee, Talking to Walls, Christopher Cavaliere, and Nardy Boy.
Event Organizer
Umbrella Arts Gallery
June 2011 to August 2011
Worked with Umbrella Arts’ owners/directors, Margaret Bodell and Maryann Fahey, on the Summer 2011 exhibit, ‘Fans on Facebook.’ Duties included: participant outreach, application materials trafficking, coordinating details and logistics with participants and staff, event publicity, and social media marketing and community management.
Event Organizer
Collective Artists Network
March 2011 to May 2011
Invited by Collective Artists Network (The C.A.N.) director, Jay Cusano, to join the planning committee of IMPULSE! Spring Art Fest at The Nest, a two-day arts celebration the Nest Arts Factory in Bridgeport. Duties included: participant outreach, application materials trafficking, selection and scheduling of performers, coordinating details and logistics with participants and staff, event publicity, social media marketing and community management, and on-site day-of-event support.
• Personally booked fourteen musical acts, plus other performers, with no budget whatsoever.
Social Media Editor/Manager
The Sound Magazine
2010 to 2011
Created and managed social media assets for The Sound Magazine, a regional monthly music and culture print publication. Participated in the creation and execution of campaigns across multiple channels to grow the company’s audience/fan base and build an active social community.
Education
Hollins University – Roanoke, VA
Skills
Microsoft Office, Adobe Creative Suite, Windows and Mac friendly, digital photography/video, Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Foursquare, Yelp, YouTube, WordPress, Blogger, Storify, Tout, Vine, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, HTML, SEO, SMO. Knowledge of social media best practices, AP Style.
Links
blog.ctnews.com/
ctgirlabouttown/
www.about.me/
ctgirlabouttown
www.linkedin.com/in/
jbhymans
www.muckrack.com/
ctgirlabouttown
www.tout.com/
ctgirlabouttown
www.vizify.com/
ctgirlabouttown
Awards
Hartford Courant Webster Awards
2012 Nominee: Best Social Media Account
Fairfield County Weekly Readers’ Poll
2013 Nominee: Best Local Blogger, Best Local Twitter, Best Local Instagram
2014 Nominee: Best Local Blogger, Best Local Twitter, Best Local Instagram (awaiting poll results)
Hartford Advocate Readers’ Poll
2013 Nominee: Best Local Twitter, Best Local Blogger
New Haven Advocate Readers’ Poll
2013 Winner, Third Place: Best Local Twitter, Best Local Blogger
2014 Nominee: Best Twitter, Best Blogger (awaiting poll results)
Hartford Magazine Readers’ Poll
2014 Nominee: Best Twitter (awaiting poll results)
New Haven Living Readers’ Poll
2014 Nominee: Best Twitter (poll currently open)