John Elderkin

Background

About John Elderkin

I've had wide-ranging success as communications professional, and in each opportunity I've found that a clear, compelling narrative makes everything go. I've worked as a writer (The Times of London; MFA in fiction writing; science and technical documents and features), as a proposal administrator responding to RFPs, a writing professor and Fulbright recipient, as an editor for trade publications, and as an instructional designer. Much of my writing experience has been focused on rebranding and marketing campaigns, including both private sector and academic settings. As an educator, I was awarded a Fulbright teaching exchange in part for my redesign of an International Baccalaureate social studies program. I've taught rhetoric and persuasive writing to honor undergraduates, and I've designed coursework for some of North Carolina's most underserved students. As a science and technical writer, I create and manage white papers and pillar content. I also interview Subject Matter Experts, rendering arcane knowledge into engaging narratives for both public and in-house audiences. That outcome might best represent my broader intentions in the communications field - reworking and presenting important ideas so that others can find meaning, too. As an instructional designer, I work with SMEs and corporate reps to design integrated instruction for stakeholders throughout a training lifecycle. I help design complete programs that align with business goals, including participant guides, instructor guides, visual support, and other materials that model best practices. Two Association for Talent Development (ATD) certifications. Other interests and skills: Before widespread social media, I co-founded a website meant to serve as an interactive portal for college basketball fans. And I'm a songwriter whose work has been acclaimed in national publications (Spin, Billboard) and also appears in ongoing stage productions.