Biography/Curriculum Vitae

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Karin McKie has been working in public relations and marketing since 1987, after receiving a BS in Communications from James Madison University (Harrisonburg, VA, and London, England). Since 1993, she has run her own firm, Tree Falls Productions, which provides comprehensive and innovative public relations, marketing and special events, as well as writing and editing, group sales and other tasks, primarily for Chicago-based theaters and arts organizations. She creates project-specific campaigns, following them through from conception to completion, specializing in community linkages and outreach. Ms. McKie also supervises short- and long-term strategic planning and mission achievement. She is an author (The Book, Perspective, Interiors and Sources, Moulinet), speaker (WBEZ, WTTW, MCA), and university lecturer (list below). She is a Joseph Jefferson A/T Judge, an American Theatre Company 'Relatives' Member; as well as an actor (SAG, AFTRA, EMC), director, writer, adapter, fight choreographer, and stage combatant.

While Marketing Director for HealthWorks Theatre in Chicago, she was honored as one of Today's Chicago Woman magazine's "100 Women Making a Difference" for her HIV/AIDS education promotional work. Also in Chicago, she hosted and promoted a weekly, educational community affairs talk show for Time Warner, reaching almost a million households. Public Relations training in Chicago includes the Arts and Business Council Marketing Workshop, Donor's Forum Workshop, the Chicago Community Media Workshop, and the Branding workshop from The Doblin Group.

Ms. McKie was Publicist for WETA TV26 and FM91 in Washington, DC, from 1988 through 1993, where she created and implemented innovative, meaningful and award-winning promotion, outreach and marketing plans for the third largest PBS producing station (programs included "The Civil War" and "In Performance at the White House"). During this time, she also received leadership training from numerous sources, including Steven Covey. She was the recipient of a PBS Advertising and Promotion Award (1991 - "Nine Months"), and a Capital Region Emmy Award (1991 - "Part of Me").

Lectures/Panels

• DePaul University, "Careers in Public Relations & Advertising", panelist
• Roosevelt University, annual fall "Theatre PR" lecture
• North Park University, Media Writing lectures
• Arts Management Project at the Athenaeum, "Critics Choice: Developing Media Relationships That Get You Covered", panelist and "Marketing Tips You Can Use", lecturer/teacher
• Fernwork Arts Incubator, Oak Park, "PR for the Arts," two-part class
• Chicago Public Radio, "Theatre Public Relations and Marketing", panelist (CD available) - listen
• Community Media Workshop, "Making Media Connections"
• Community Media Workshop, "Arts Promotion Toolkit"
• James Madison University, "Theatre and Public Relations"

Training

• FCC Broadcasting License
• "Sesame Street" Certification for Pre-school Education Project for at-risk families
• PBS "Signaling Value" Workshop
• Eberhardt Media Training
• Steven Covey Leadership Training
• American Red Cross HIV/AIDS Facilitation Training
• American Red Cross CPR Training
• Doblin Group Branding Workshop
• Community Media Workshop Chicago
• Donor's Forum Grantwriting Workshop

Awards

• Washington, DC, Council of Governments Recycling Award, 1990
• PBS Advertising and Promotion Award, "Nine Months," 1991
• Capital Region Emmy Award, "Part of Me: A World of Difference," 1992
• Today's Chicago Woman magazine's "100 Women Making a Difference," for HIV/AIDS education promotional work, 1995
• Rufus Thomas "Funky Chicken" EU Champion, 1996
• Newcity's Best Original Musical Production Directing Recognition, "The Wicked and the Sexed", 1997
• Time Magazine "Person of the Year" 2006