PJ HRUSCHAK
Liberty Township, OH (USA)
1.513.377.8028
pj@hruschak.com
pjeigh@gmail.com
LinkedIn

EXPERIENCE

Marketing Consultant
Self-employed (1996 - present)
  • Multiple projects including SEO, writing (creative, brand, e-commerce, technical, social media, press releases, marketing, emails, newsletters, journalistic, blogs, B2B, mobile apps, games stories, game rules, scripts and comic books), editing, proofreading, design (websites, logos, graphics, print media, app icons and apps), grant proposal illustrations/infographics, online giveaways/promotions, animated commercials, brand marketing, social media (graphics, posts and management), UI/UX design (web and app), content management, email marketing (writing and design), story concepts (movie, digital shorts, games and comic books), game level designs and eCommerce solutions.
  • Clients include: Time Warner, Quality Hotel & Suites, Davey Tree, Subway, Cornerstone Brands, Meyer Products, DigiOrange, CopsPlus, Air America Radio and Lakota School District.

    • Creative/Brand Copywriter, Proofreader
    Frontgate, QVC Group (February 2017 - June 2023)
  • Wrote creative, product, editorial and brand marketing copy for catalogs, website and various marketing materials.
  • Helped establish and implement productivity efficiencies including a new DAMS for copy.
  • Managed and edited copy by freelance and contract writers.
  • Proofread and edited product, editorial and marketing copy for print and web distribution.

    Marketing Director, Project Manager, Business Development
    Apostrophe Apps, LLC (December 2013 - July 2015)
  • Created original mobile product concepts, wrote design documents and orchestrated product pitches.
  • Wrote and designed various marketing materials including press releases, email newsletters, banner ads and mobile app descriptions.
  • Coordinated mobile app production, releases and business relationships.

    Marketing Director, Producer, Content Manager
    Zoo Games, Inc. & indiePub Entertainment, Inc. (February 2011 - December 2013)
  • Created original game concepts, wrote game design documents (GDDs) and produced games (iOS, Android, PC-Win, Mac).
  • Wrote in-game text including stories, tutorials, dialog and menus.
  • Wrote and designed myriad marketing materials including press releases, email campaigns, product descriptions, award show scripts, newsletters and websites.
  • Orchestrated and executed social media marketing efforts across multiple outlets for multiple products.
  • Wrote periodic news articles, features and interviews. Edited and assigned articles written by international freelance writers (often game developers).

    Editor-In-Chief
    GamerTell, NAPCO Media (May 2007 - December 2012)
  • Assigned articles to and edited articles by a staff of international writers. Organized live coverage of major events including E3 and CES.
  • Wrote video game news, previews, reviews and interviews on a freelance basis.
  • Executed social marketing efforts including cooperative website relationships.

    Gadget & Technology Blogger
    GadgeTell, NAPCO Media (August 2006 - May 2008)
  • Wrote articles for a gadget and technology website on a freelance basis.

    Contributing Writer
    GamesRadar, Future Inc. (October 2006 - March 2008)
  • Wrote articles for a video game website on a freelance basis.

    Contributing Editor
    Geek Monthly Magazine (December 2007 - October 2009)
  • Wrote feature articles on assignment for a monthly entertainment magazine.

    Columnist, Contributing Writer
    CiN Weekly & Cincinnati Enquirer, Gannett (November 2000 - March 2008)
  • Wrote a weekly column featuring video game reviews and related topics.
  • Wrote news and feature stories on assignment for the entertainment and business sections of the newspaper.

    Marketing Director, Sr. Web Developer, Entertainment Writer
    iHeartMedia/Clear Channel (December 2001 - June 2007)
  • Developed, designed, executed and fulfilled more than 1,000 national web giveaways for the company's network of more than 1,400 websites.
  • Developed and maintained relationships with corporate and industry contacts.
  • Designed and implemented hundreds of site templates, ads and other marketing assets for radio, TV and on-air talent websites.
  • Wrote video game, movie, DVD, TV, pop culture and technology articles and reviews for national web news feeds and on-air broadcasts.

    Columnist
    Rochester Insider, Gannett (January 2005 - July 2005)
  • Wrote a weekly column featuring video games for a city entertainment magazine.

    Editorial Director, PR Manager, Critic
    GameBattles (January 2004 - January 2005)
  • Recruited, managed and edited articles by a staff of international writers.
  • Wrote video game reviews, news articles and press releases.

    Web Designer, Web Developer
    RHI Consulting (February 2001 - December 2001)
  • Designed and implemented templates for radio station websites.
  • Performed on-site redesigns for several major markets.

    Web Designer/Developer, Usability Specialist
    Spherion (June 2000 - November 2000)
  • Performed website usability evaluations for large corporate websites.
  • Designed websites and website navigation systems for various clients.
  • Assisted with multiple eLearning projects.
  • Created a Flash quick course for educating both consultants and clients.
  • Developed and produced a monthly newsletter for the local branch.

    Senior Webmaster, Web Designer, Web Developer
    Ohio.com & Akron Beacon Journal, McClatchy Media (May 1996 - June 2000)
  • Designed, developed and maintained a city newspaper's website on a daily basis.
  • Designed, developed and maintained entertainment microsites for national entertainment groups.
  • Developed, designed and executed dozens of online giveaways and promotions.
  • Created Flash animations and animated web ads.

    Guest Columnist
    Inside Business Magazine (July 1997)
  • Wrote a technology guest column for a regional business magazine.

    Web Designer, Web Developer, Flash Animator, Illustrator, Graphic Designer
    Various Clients (1996 - present)
  • Tipsy Chicken/DigiOrange (2024)
  • SciNcite (2022)
  • MaturePreneuers (2016)
  • Good Natured Baby (2008 - 2012)
  • Chocizza (2006 - 2016)
  • Air America Radio (2006)
  • Norwood Sash & Door (2006 - 2008)
  • Brinkley's Restaurant (2005 - 2006)
  • Quality Hotel & Suites (2002 - 2006)
  • Craver Marcom, Inc./Time Warner (1996 - 2000)
  • Davey Tree (1997 - 1998)
  • Follansbee Roofing (1998 - 1999)
  • Meyer Products, Inc. (1996 - 1998)

    • EDUCATION

    Master of Arts, Journalism & Mass Communication
    Kent State University

    Bachelor of Science, Psychology (Sociology Minor)
    John Carroll University

    Apprenticeship, Graphic Design
     The Poynter Institute for Media Studies

    SKILLS

    Project Management

    Staff Management

    Writing
    Creative, Technical, Journalistic, Scripts/Treatments, Press Releases, Blog, Listicles, Proposals, Marketplace Submissions

    Editing
    Style, Content, Line, Copy Editing, Proofreading, Story/Plot, Script

    Adobe Suite
    InDesign, Photoshop, Acrobat, Illustrator, Dreamweaver

    Microsoft Suite
    Word, InCopy, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams

    Web Development
    HTML, CSS, JavaScript

    Design
    Web, Graphic, Creative, Graphs/Charts, Logo, Print, Newspaper, Magazine, Email, Newsletter, User Flow, UI/UX

    Content Management Systems/CMSes
    WordPress, Insight, Expression Engine, MediaBank, etc.

    Social Media
    Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Reddit, Pinterest, etc.

    Game Design
    Game Design Documents/GDDs, Dialogue, Scripts, User Flow, Story, etc.

    Brand Marketing
    Design, Writing, Email, Press Releases, Logo Design, MailChimp, etc.

    Search Engine Optimization/SEO
    Analytics

    AFFILIATIONS

    Mid-Ohio Con
    Panel Moderator (2009 - 2010)

    National Academy of Video Game Testers & Reviewers Corp.
    Member/Judge (2004 - present)

    Canadian Awards for the Electronic & Animated Arts
    Media Juror (2006)

    Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)
     Member (1996 - 1998)

    HONORS & AWARDS

    C.A.D.E.I. Award (Frontgate)
    Collaborate, Accountable, Diversity, Engagement and Innovation (2019)

    Ohio Newspaper Association Awards (Ohio.com)
    Best Content (1997)
    Best Community Service (1997)
    Best Navigation (1997)
    Best Overall website (1997, 1999, 2000)

    MDLink (The Digital Stater)
    Best of Campus Award (June 1996)

    SCJ National Journalism (The Carroll News)
    First Place: Feature Writing (1991)

    Teamwork Award
     The Disney Store, Akron, OH (2000)

    CERTIFICATIONS

    Google AI Essentials
    Corsera, 2025

    Developeing Your Emotional Intelligence
    LinkedIn, 2022

    Storytelling
    LinkedIn, 2022

    Written English
     BrainBench [PDF], 2000

    VIDEO GAMES, TABLETOP GAMES & APPS


    (* unpublished titles)
    (** to-be-published titles)

    Silly Bandz – Story Updates
    Zoo Games (iOS - 2010)

    Minute to Win It for Kinect – Dialogue, Box Copy & Marketing
    Zoo Games (Xbox 360 - 2011)

    Kona's Crate – Character Concept, Story & Marketing
    indiePub (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac - 2011)

    Fractal – Marketing
    indiePub & Cipher Prime (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac - 2011)

    Pictago – Original Concept & Marketing
    IndiePub (iOS - 2012)

    Turkey Stuffin' – Original Concept, Achievements & Marketing
    IndiePub (iOS, Android - 2012)

    Vessel – Marketing
    indiePub & Strange Loop Games (PS3, iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, Steam - 2012)

    Fireburst – Marketing
    indiePub, Big Ben Interactive, exDream & Digital Tribe (PS3, Xbox Live, Windows, Steam - 2012)

    Diamond Trust of London – Marketing
    indiePub & Jason Rohrer (DS - 2012)

    Auditorium – Marketing
    indiePub & Cipher Prime (iOS, PS3, PSP, Windows, Mac, Steam - 2013)
     
    Capsized – Marketing
    indiePub & Alientrap (iOS, Windows, Xbox Live, Steam - 2013)

    Hungry Gows – Characters, Story, Dialogue, Audio Director & Marketing
    indiePub (iOS, Android - 2013)

    Storm – Marketing
    indiePub & Eko Software (Xbox, PS3, Windows, Steam - 2013)

    Bad Bots – Producer & Marketing
    indiePub, Point Five Projects & Digital Tribe (Windows, Steam - 2013)

    Beaver Kickin' – Story, Achievements & Co-Producer
    indiePub & Kratavrat Studios (iOS, Android, Windows, Mac - 2014)

    Weedikulous – UX/UI Concept & Marketing
    Apostrophe Apps (iOS, Android - 2015)

    Snorg Tees – UX/UI Concept, Pitch Deck & Marketing
    Apostrophe Apps & Snorg Tees (iOS, Android - 2015)

    StoreFrontSDK – UX/UI Concept, Pitch Decks & Marketing
    Apostrophe Apps (iOS, Android - 2015)

    Sober Harbor – Content Development, UI/UX Design & Writer
    Claire Phillips (iOS, Android - 2016)

    Yell Spell – Writer, Rules
    Tipsy Chicken/DigiOrange (Tabletop ~ 2024)

    Chewy* – GDD, Story/Level Concepts, Dialogue, Achievements & Co-Producer
    indiePub (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Sounds Crazy* – GDD, Content, Achievements & Co-Producer
    indiePub (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Cellphone Zombie* (working title) – Original Concept, GDD & Producer
    indiePub (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Brick Witch* – GDD, Original Concept, Pitch Deck, Characters, Story & Co-Producer
    indiePub, deNA (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Go to Hell* – Producer, Pitch Deck, Marketing
    indiePub & Empty Clip Studios (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Smash the Castle* (working title) – GDD, Story & Producer
    indiePub (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Realisitic Casual Fishing Game* (working title) – GDD, Pitch Deck & Producer
    indiePub & DeNA (iOS, Android ~ 2013)

    Otterly Genius** – Writer, Rules
    Tipsy Chicken/DigiOrange (Tabletop ~ 2024)

    ©2025 PJ Hruschak. All rights reserved.