Zach Linder

Costanza Lite

Profile

Zach Linder
Multimedia Producer at WWE
Online Media | Greater New York City Area, US

Summary

I have always been fascinated by various types of media. I'm a news junkie, and cannot overstate the importance of the printed word, yet I've always embraced social media while being an early adopter of the digital world. It's not just the forms of media that I'm interested in, but who consumes them, why they consume certain media, and how this consumption is changing. I am a nostalgic yet progressive individual, and believe it is important to keep our roots in the worlds of newspaper and television while broadening our horizons in the mobile and social landscapes.

Growing up, my grandpa would often say "Nothing happens until someone sells something." A cliche to be sure, but a powerful mantra which eventually brought me to my time performing duties for national broadcast ad sales. This led to a role performing business development for a fast-rising digital firm, winning clients in a wide range of industries.

I've advanced my love of comedy by completing the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre's improvisation training program, and have performed in various improv & sketch comedy shows, but I've taken a backseat to onstage roles in recent years. Still, I run a weekly show which is a hybrid of traditional improv comedy & pro wrestling parody. Believe it or not, improv & wrestling have striking similarities, most notably of which is making sure your partner looks like a star. I've taken this theory to heart by promising to myself that no matter who my team is, the end result will ALWAYS be spectacular work.
Specialties: Account management, business development, ad sales, RFP responses, proposal production, pitch presentations, public relations, digital strategy, social media, writing, editing, agency partnerships, agency coordination, branded entertainment, product marketing, sponsorships.

Experience

  • Dec 2011 - Present
    Mutimedia Producer / World Wrestling Entertainment
    My role in WWE's digital/interactive group involves covering the television programming, and evangelizing the brand by creating and writing features online for the current product and historical content. You'll occasionally see my byline on WWE.com. I combine my experience producing best-in-class digital content with my obscure and relevant professional wrestling knowledge, which I'd already been doing running a wrestling parody show at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. My role at WWE is is very editorial in nature, and will be highly focused on the WWE Network, the new cable TV channel, when it launches later this year. And yes, I will see you in the ring. Challenge accepted.
  • Oct 2011 - Present
    Account Manager / The Fresh Produce Group/Agency212
    ● Account management & new business efforts for a boutique branding/marketing arm of a small advertising agency. ● Completely redesigned capabilities deck for presentation & submission. ● Coordinated deliverables for use in trade publications.
  • Jul 2010 - Present
    Business Development Coordinator / HUGE
    ● Managed materials for potential clients including written proposals, pitches, and a company-wide asset library. ● Coordinated strategy, creative, technology and client services teams to create pitch deliverables and RFP responses. ● Tracked all incoming new business, and evaluated initial opportunities serving as the primary first contact for potential clients. ● Played a key role in the pitch process of winning significant clients in the financial services, QSR, government, and telecommunications industries. ● Worked closely with Engagement Directors to build business with existing clients across several industries. ● Completely revamped the firm’s use of Salesforce to successfully track incoming revenue, manage the overall pipeline, and share contacts.
  • Dec 2007 - Present
    Ad Sales Coordinator, USA Network & Syfy / NBC Universal
    ● Executed deal maintenance and client requests for over two dozen accounts including Procter & Gamble, Walmart, Kraft, Sears, Sony Pictures, Yum! Brands, Mars, Campbell’s, AT&T, Johnson & Johnson and others totaling over $50 million. ● Worked closely with ad sales, strategic marketing and commercial operations teams to arrange and steward deals. ● Communicated and built relationships with media buying representatives at agencies including MediaVest, Universal McCann, MEC and others. ● Tracked invoice payments and made necessary adjustments to solve and reconcile billing issues. ● Coordinated with the Branded Entertainment division on several high-profile product integrations including Subway in USA Network’s WWE Raw, and Subaru in Syfy’s Eureka.
  • May 2007 - Present
    Booking Production Assistant / Court TV
    ● Researched cases, compiled and distributed information packets. ● Served as a liaison between bookers, producers and on-air talent.
  • 2007 - Present
    Programming & Production Intern / WRSI / WHMP Radio
    ● Imported new music into the station’s library and scheduling system. ● Edited recordings of shows and transferred them to web for podcasting. ● Assisted with on-location radio broadcasts and promotional events.
  • Sept 2006 - Present
    Production Intern / The Daily Show with Jon Stewart
    ● Transcribed and logged raw footage of field pieces. ● Found news and film clips for use in comedy segments. ● Assisted writing, on-air talent, accounting, studio & field production teams on day-to-day basis.
  • 2006 - Present
    Arts Assistant Director / Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation
    ● Supervised daily programming in summer camp for children, ages 6-12. ● Provided instruction in drama/arts & crafts curriculum.
  • 2004 - Present
    Office Assistant / Susan Friedman Ltd.
    ● Evaluated advertising portfolios and reels of prospective job candidates. ● Created packets representing individual job candidates for placements.

Education

  • 2003 - 2007
    University of Massachusetts, Amherst
    BA in Communication & Film Studies
    Activities: Student Valley Productions (comedy groups), UMass Theatre Guild

Additional Information

Websites:
Personal Website, Blog, UCBW twitter
Interests:
Woody Allen films, public radio, professional wrestling, New York City history, baseball, real estate, mid-century design, journalism and all 180 episodes of Seinfeld
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Posts

May 26, 03:23 PM

“I shot a moose.”

A must for any comedy fan that’s never heard it.

[via deconstructingwoody]

May 26, 02:41 PM

Sometimes good things happen when you least expect it.

May 25, 11:22 PM

TGIF (Taken with Instagram at Katz’s Delicatessen)

May 25, 11:00 PM

Taken with Instagram at Katz’s Delicatessen

May 25, 06:28 PM

I am judging this, and am excited about it.

bakeanddestroy:

Official rules coming soon!

May 22, 08:29 PM

WWE Classics: Underrated: Superstars without their due

I’m very pleased with my latest piece for WWE Classics. One of wrestling’s most loaded questions, answered here, and is sure to cause plenty of controversy among wrestling fans. It took one month to figure out how we’d tackle this question, and what structure the piece would take. I think it’s a successful format.

We asked a number of current talents on the roster who they think is overrated, then I respond with a verdict on whether or not they actually are. Then, we go to our collaborator, WWE Hall of Famer Howard Finkel for a pick. And eventually make a final selection of our own.

May 22, 06:36 PM

WWE Classics: The 50 Greatest Stars in WCW History

Similar to last month’s 50 greatest tag teams countdown, WWE Classics ranked the top 50 WCW performers. I’m responsible for the entries of the above talents. Enjoy!

May 21, 03:23 PM

WWE.com: Over the Limit 2012 - Brodus Clay def. The Miz

WWE.com: Over the Limit 2012 - Ryback def. Camacho

Last night I was up in Stamford for WWE’s May pay-per-view, Over the Limit. Among many other tasks, I wrote up these two articles covering some of the results. Not the biggest matches on the show, but I had the opportunity to write about two of my favorite current characters.

May 20, 09:18 PM
May 20, 04:28 AM

Tortoni, cafe amaretto, rainbow cake in background. (Taken with Instagram at Veniero’s Pasticceria & Cafe)

May 18, 05:39 PM
May 18, 02:19 PM

Just in case you’ve never seen Sesame Street’s version of Mad Men.

May 16, 05:25 PM
Some would say that an age of print media is passing, but you don’t see me throwing that in your face do you, New York Times? And what’s up with this paywall of yours? Only 10 free articles a month? And you call me the tyrant!? But to answer your question, no, I do not think that an age of tyranny is passing. We are merely in the eye of the storm. The Arab Spring is just a silly fad, like “mood rings” or “human rights.” And I don’t worry about it happening in Wadiya because my people love me so greatly. However, just to be safe, I have removed all the spring months from the calendar and made February 128 days long.
NYT: Sacha Baron Cohen Won’t Talk but the Supreme Leader of Wadiya Has a Lot to Say
May 16, 02:15 PM

[via popculturebrain and Collider]

May 16, 02:01 PM

It’s coming.

brokelyn:

Spotted yesterday hiding on the Q train platform at Atlantic Center.

May 14, 04:33 AM

NYT Magazine: Twelve Uncomplicated Summer Cocktails - Interactive Feature

A great feature showing recipes for some of my favorite drinks. I’m mostly an old-fashioned drinker, but I think I might have to go for a Tom Collins sooner than later.

May 14, 01:52 AM
[Flash 10 is required to watch video.]

Luise Linder loves Flo Rida. Happy Mother’s Day.

May 13, 09:08 PM

Makin’ guac. (Taken with Instagram at The Shish House)

May 13, 08:10 PM
May 13, 07:48 PM

Beans, mustard, onion / chili, cheese, onion (Taken with Instagram at Bark Hot Dogs)

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Videos

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