Available to hire
Hi, I’m Donald Neal Laskin, an award-winning writer with a dry sense of humor and extensive experience in advertising and marketing. Over the years, I’ve worked on a wide range of projects including integrated ad campaigns, books, blogs, and more, across various industries from hi-tech to real estate. I take pride in being versatile, creative, and humble in my writing craft.
I have managed my own publishing business and advertising agency, creating content for a broad client roster and overseeing projects from concept to publication. I enjoy remote work that challenges my creativity and leverages my deep experience collaborating with diverse teams and industries.
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Language
English
Fluent
Work Experience
Owner/chief creative at The Lone Writer
August 1, 2008 - PresentConcepting and writing ads, brochures, business plans, news releases, backgrounders, websites, and more for companies and advertising agencies in the USA and abroad. Clients included Aduva, Advantage Homes, Cadence Design Systems, Clearspeed, Foote, Cone & Belding, and many others. Created and produced e-newsletters and cartoons to optimize marketing email campaign responses.
Contractor/Outbound Marketing Consultant at NeuStar UltraDNS, div. of NeuStar
August 1, 2008 - July 17, 2025Re-branded and positioned the UltraDNS division including the entire website. Managed outside vendors, edited web pages, promoted webinars via banner ads, researched lead-generation vendors, wrote news releases, RFPs, ads, data sheets, product briefs, and developed corporate style guide.
Writer at First Franklin Financial Corporation, subsidiary Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co., FSB
September 1, 2007 - July 17, 2025Wrote banner ads, email blasts, collateral, corporate copy and style guides. Conducted branding and positioning analysis for top 20 competitors. Responsibilities ranged from flyer copywriting to comprehensive branding.
Online Editor (Contract) at Altera Corporation
February 1, 2007 - July 17, 2025Wrote, rewrote, and edited newsletter content distributed to 150,000 customers, partners, and vendors. Managed production process. Created email campaigns and landing pages. Implemented SEO strategies. Created FuchsiaTech cartoon series with top click-through rates.
Director of Marketing at Advantage Homes Corporation
February 1, 2005 - July 17, 2025Managed $240,000 advertising, direct mail, and promotion budget. Repositioned company messaging to communicate manufactured homes as smart alternatives to overpriced housing. Created tagline and radio campaigns that increased leads companywide.
Contract Creative Services Consultant at Varian Oncology Systems
December 31, 1998 - July 17, 2025Created ad campaigns and devised cost-effective literature distribution strategies. Proposed national consumer awareness campaigns including radio and PR.
Advertising Copywriter at Dazai Advertising, Inc (JWT Tech)
December 31, 1998 - July 17, 2025Developed concepts and copy for ads and direct mail targeting key accounts like Amdahl, OKI Semiconductor, and others. Created comic strip campaigns for OKI Semiconductor that significantly improved brand image and received multiple awards.
Consultant/Communications and Marketing at Unisys Corporation Personal Computer Division
December 31, 1997 - July 17, 2025Produced branding and marketing materials supporting strategic objectives. Created AQUANTA brand and related advertising campaigns, videos, and direct mail programs. Managed a worldwide launch film praised by analysts and editors.
Owner/chief creative at The Lone Writer
August 1, 2008 - PresentResponsible for concepting and writing ads, brochures, business plans, news releases, backgrounders, websites, and more for companies and advertising agencies in the USA and abroad. Clients include companies in hi-tech, biotech, real estate and more. Creator of cartoons and e-newsletters to optimize clickthroughs and client engagement. Produced satirical and informational content for business publications.
Contractor/Outbound Marketing Consultant at NeuStar UltraDNS, div. of NeuStar (NYSE: NSR)
August 31, 2008 - July 17, 2025Led re-branding and positioning of the UltraDNS division including complete website overhaul. Managed and supervised external vendors and suppliers. Created web pages and promotional webinars, produced news releases, RFPs, and marketing collateral. Developed a corporate style guide and researched lead-generation vendors to integrate with CRM systems, supporting sales and brand recognition.
Writer at First Franklin Financial Corporation, subsidiary Merrill Lynch Bank & Trust Co., FSB
September 30, 2007 - July 17, 2025Provided diverse writing services ranging from banner ads, email blasts, and collateral to corporate copy and art style guides. Conducted branding and positioning analyses of top competitors in the company's sector. Responsibilities extended beyond writing to branding, positioning, and marketing strategy during subprime closure period.
Online Editor (Contract) at Altera Corporation
February 28, 2007 - July 17, 2025Wrote, rewrote, and edited newsletter content for multiple products reaching 150,000 customers, partners, and vendors. Managed production processes, email campaigns, and landing pages. Conducted keyword and creative development for search engine optimization. Created the FuchsiaTech cartoon series, achieving some of the highest click-through rates in company history.
Director of Marketing at Advantage Homes Corporation
February 28, 2005 - July 17, 2025Managed $240,000 advertising, direct mail, and promotion budget for California's largest manufactured home seller. Repositioned company messaging to redefine manufactured homes as smart housing alternatives. Created taglines and the well-received "butler" radio campaign, which increased leads across the company.
Contract Creative Services Consultant at Varian Oncology Systems
December 31, 1998 - July 17, 2025Created advertising campaigns and devised cost-effective literature solutions for rapidly expanding product lines. Proposed national consumer awareness campaigns utilizing radio and PR.
Advertising Copywriter at Dazai Advertising, Inc (JWT Tech)
December 31, 1998 - July 17, 2025Developed strategically targeted concepts and copy for ads and direct mail campaigns for clients including Amdahl, Arbor, OKI Semiconductor, and others. Created comic strip campaigns featuring superheroes and industry inside copy lines that improved brand recognition and reader engagement.
Consultant/Communications and Marketing at Unisys Corporation
December 31, 1997 - July 17, 2025Supported personal computer division with branding, video production, advertising campaigns, direct mail, trade show themes, website messages, PR, and sales collateral. Created AQUANTA brand and related advertising strategies and produced widely appreciated launch video. Pioneered business-to-business point-of-purchase direct mail program.
Owner/chief creative at Laskin Publishing and The Lone Writer Advertising
January 1, 2008 - PresentOversaw every aspect of Laskin Publishing, creating and publishing books and artwork in-house with outsourced printing and distribution. Created and published books including 'The Trilevolence' and others. Managed Lone Writer Advertising, concepting and writing ads, brochures, business plans, news releases, websites, and more for companies and agencies across the USA and abroad. Maintained client contact through YouTube videos. Served diverse clients such as Cisco Systems, Pepsi, Tektronix, among others.
Contractor/Outbound Marketing Consultant at NeuStar UltraDNS, div. of NeuStar
August 31, 2008 - July 17, 2025Re-branded and positioned the UltraDNS division including the website. Project managed and supervised vendors, created and edited web pages, produced and promoted webinars, researched and recommended lead-generation vendors for CRM integration. Wrote and edited news releases, RFPs, ads, data sheets, product briefs, customer stories to support name recognition and direct sales. Created and implemented a corporate style guide.
Copywriter at First Franklin Financial Corporation
September 30, 2007 - July 17, 2025Responsible for writing email blasts, banner ads, collateral, and the corporate style guide. Managed branding and positioning for the top twenty companies in First Franklin's space before closure due to the subprime mortgage recession.
Contractor at Altera Corporation
February 28, 2007 - July 17, 2025Online editor of four newsletters reaching 150,000 customers, partners, and vendors. Wrote email campaigns and created/edited landing pages. Known for the FuchsiaTech cartoon series which achieved high click-through rates.
Director of Marketing at Advantage Homes Corporation
June 30, 2006 - July 17, 2025Led marketing efforts including creative services.
Creative Services Consultant/Contractor at Varian Oncology Systems
December 31, 2004 - July 17, 2025Provided creative consulting services.
Senior Advertising Copywriter at Dazai Advertising, Inc (JWT Tech)
December 31, 2003 - July 17, 2025Created character-driven comic strips for OKI Semiconductor which won awards and notable readership. Developed creative advertising content.
Consultant/Communications and Marketing at Unisys Corporation
December 31, 1999 - July 17, 2025Created the AQUANTA brand name and HOTtech™ philosophy. Budgeted, wrote, co-produced, and directed the AQUANTA launch film for a global product launch.
Advertising Copy Chief at Ballantine Books div, Random House
December 31, 1997 - July 17, 2025Managed advertising copy and promotions.
Associate Promotion Manager at Warner Communications, Inc.
December 31, 1994 - July 17, 2025Handled promotional activities.
Senior Advertising Copywriter at Oxford University Press
December 31, 1991 - July 17, 2025Developed advertising content for academic publishing.
Education
BA at The City College of New York (CCNY)
January 1, 1960 - December 31, 1965BA at The City College of New York (CCNY)
January 1, 1960 - December 31, 1964BA at The City College of the City University of New York
January 1, 1966 - December 31, 1966Qualifications
Announcers Training Studio
January 11, 2030 - July 17, 2025Enlisted US Army Combat Tour
January 11, 2030 - July 17, 2025Announcers Training Studio
January 11, 2030 - July 17, 2025Industry Experience
Software & Internet, Computers & Electronics, Financial Services, Real Estate & Construction, Life Sciences, Media & Entertainment, Healthcare, Professional Services
Skills
Experience Level
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate
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