Zach Walker

experience

2018–2024: REI CO-OP
SENIOR CONTENT DESIGNER

Oversee all UX copy and digital creative for Co-op Experiences—REI’s adventure travel, day trip, and outdoor education brand.

Content strategy & analysis
• Research, test, and develop digital content for the Co-op Experiences brand and product portfolio
• Facilitate messaging workshops and user research sessions, ensuring that content that meets user needs and business goals

UX writing
• Partner with product designers, researchers, and business owners to develop new features and improvements to the user experience

Brand marketing
• Collaborate with brand design and marketing partners on campaign concepts, copy guidelines, and creative execution
• Develop and maintain guidelines for brand voice and tone

Content publishing
• Create, update and deploy content through an internal content management system. Everything from seasonal marketing promotions to the daily mileage for one of our cycling tours.

2014–2018: ETSY
COPYWRITER / UX WRITER / BIKE GUY

Product design
• Managed, wrote, and approved all UX copy across the seller experience, ensuring clarity, concision and consistency
• Partner with designers, product managers, and researchers to iterate on words and user interactions until we all feel great about them (users included)
• Developed and helped maintain our tone of voice and style guides
• Areas of focus: shop management, shipping, payments, and checkout

Brand design
• Creative concepting, pitching, and content creation for marketing and advertising projects: video and print ads, direct mail and email campaigns, signage systems for events, packaging for physical products, etc.

Bicycles
• Captained our Bike-to-Work Challenge team to city-wide victory four consecutive years

2007–2014: DONORSCHOOSE.ORG
DONOR RELATIONS MANAGER & COPYWRITER

Writing and Editing
• Served as the voice of the organization; created and edited all donor communication and outreach
• Created and maintained DonorsChoose.org style guide as a resource for entire staff
• Work closely with Marketing to strategize, plan, and execute all fundraising campaigns
• Collaborated with product managers and engineers to conceive, test, and optimize copy for all new features

User Experience
• Created and oversaw usability testing program, working closely with product managers, engineers, and CTO
• Develop, implement, and analyze A/B tests for new or underperforming features

Donor relations and cultivation
• Managed portfolio of major supporters giving $1.3M+ annually
• Implemented and oversaw the maintenance of online self-help portal

2006–2007: GOOGLE
ACCOUNT STRATEGIST, RETAIL/TECH (CONTRACT)

• Developed and optimized advertising campaigns - driving revenue growth for both Google and their clients
• Analyzed client budgets and made revenue-driving recommendations

2002–2006: WARNER MUSIC GROUP
SENIOR SALES ANALYST

• Prepared national sales team with detailed sales forecasting/tracking system for all new releases
• Proofread and compiled sell sheets for monthly new release catalogs

education

VIRGINIA TECH: BACHELOR OF SCIENCE
MANAGEMENT SCIENCE & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

• Business Leadership minor
• Omicron Delta Kappa honor society