John Kovacevich Bio

Over the past 18 years, I worked with organizations large and small--schools, businesses, theatre companies, non-profits and major corporations. I'm proud to say that I left each one better prepared to tackle its challenges. (Click here for a detailed resume.)

I have an eclectic mix of experience (I’ve been called the definitive “communications generalist,” and I think it was a compliment), but there is a common thread in my work: I help organizations connect more deeply with their key constituents.

Whether it was working as a freelance journalist and photographer, representing a college as an admissions counselor, or publishing a magazine, I told the organization's story and found ways to engage the audience.

To help an organization connect with its constituents, you need to be more than just a good storyteller. You must plan responsibly, tackle the less-glamorous nuts-and-bolts work behind the scenes, and manage resources judiciously. That’s why I’m equally proud of my work creating budgets, implementing online accounting systems, and designing constituent databases; in other words, building the infrastructure needed by an organization to fulfill its mission.

Currently, I work as an assoicate creative director at Goodby, Silverstein & Partners, an advertising agency in San Francisco. In my role there, I create and produce TV, radio and online campaigns for brands such Tostitos, HP, Yahoo, Emerald Nuts and Dropps.

I served as executive director for BATS Improv, a San Francisco theatre company, where I helped grow revenues by 40 percent in four years. Before and after my time at BATS, I worked at Tendo Communications, a custom publishing company, where I developed print material and web content and strategy for a variety of corporate clients. At Tendo, I grew revenue on my accounts by 60 percent in my final year.

In the late 90s, I worked at Santa Clara University, first as a major gifts officer, and then in University Marketing Communications, where I served as the acting director of the department. In addition to restructing the program and implementing a campus-wide integrated marketing effort, I served as editor of the award-winning alumni publication, Santa Clara Magazine, and the monthly faculty/staff newspaper.

Prior to my time at SCU, I created the advancement program at Garces Memorial High School, founded the alumni association and magazine, and led a development program that doubled net fund raising revenue in three years. I also managed the construction of two new buildings—an administration complex and the library/technology center.

In addition, I am a working actor and a proud member of the Screen Actors Guild and American Federation of Radio and Television Artists. The credit that was the most fun to discuss at my high school. reunion was my appearance on screen with Will Smith in The Pursuit of Happyness.

Lest you think that my acting work is a bit out of left field, I believe it dovetails nicely with the rest of my communication work. It’s all about connecting with an audience in a truthful and interesting way. As a result, I appeared in more than two dozen industrial training films for companies such as Oracle, Microsoft, Sun Microsystems, Macy's, IBM, CNET, Siemens Medical, Advanced Micro Devices, Wells Fargo, SBC Communications, Intuit, Peoplesoft, Genentech, and Gillette.

I am the producer and director of an award-winning documentary short entitled Portrait of an Artist: Victor Hugo Zayas which debuted at the AFI Los Angeles International Film Festival and screened at festivals around the world.

I graduated Magna Cum Laude from Loyola Marymount University with a degree in communications and a minor in business administration.

And to answer the most commonly asked question, it's pronounced CO-VACK-UH-VICH.