*
organizations. Gatty specializes in Washington, DC coverage for business and professional publications, and also provides feature articles, profiles, and special editorial projects.
He is the founder and owner of Gatty Edits, a publishing and editorial services company with clients in the food, medical, transportation, and health and fitness industries.
EXPERIENCE & ACHIEVEMENTS
Gatty Edits—Writer, editor and publisher, 6/2004 to present.
Gatty Edits serves trade and business magazines, trade associations, public relations firms and businesses. Services include: feature articles, advertorials, speeches, scripts and continuities, printed and e-mailed newsletters, marketing copywriting, editing and publication management.
Food Marketing Institute—Vice President, publisher & executive editor, Advantage Magazine – 1/1003-6/2004
Advantage, a monthly national trade magazine covering the supermarket industry,
was published from January 2003 until June, 2004 by the Food Marketing Institute
(FMI), a Washington, DC-based trade association.
Gatty developed the concept and strategy for the publication, and positioned
it as a national supermarket industry trade magazine that leveraged information
and expertise available from FMI as major content components. Advantage covered
FMI activities and services as well as the industry at large, providing executives
with insight and analysis of key developments and trends that affect their
companies every day. Topics included government relations, industry trends,
business strategies, technology, supply chain efficiency, business successes
and failures, people in the news and more.
After 14 months, the magazine’s readership survey provided extremely high marks (93% and above for content, value and reliability) and ranked it second only to the long-standing industry weekly as readers’ “favorite trade magazine.” Just before publication was suspended for financial reasons, Advantage was named first place winner in a national magazine design competition by the Society of National Association Publications (SNAP).
Advantage had a circulation of about 40,000 and was published on-line at www.fmi.org/advantage/, where it can still be reviewed.
Gatty managed a staff of three additional editorial employees, a team of several outside writers and editors, and eight outside advertising sales representatives.
Food Distributors International, Falls Church, VA--Vice President, Communications & Marketing—7/1998-12/2002.
At FDI, Gatty was responsible for the association’s public relations, media relations and marketing communications programs, which included publication of its magazine, Food Distributor, management of the association’s website, and marketing and promoting FDI’s conferences and annual meeting. He managed a budget of about $500,000 and six professionals and support staff.
Gatty initiated and supervised a complete redesign and repositioning of Food
Distributor, and led the development of the association’s web site.
He provided the leadership needed to help the association take advantage of
its government affairs activities by generating publicity in such publications
as The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Times, and many national trade
and business publications.
Gatty was also responsible for overseeing creation of the association’s
conference and convention marketing campaigns, its annual reports, and for
scripting major conference presentations, as well as writing speeches for
the association’s CEO, former Agriculture Secretary John R. Block.
Grocery Headquarters Magazine, Chicago, IL—Editor—1/1995-7/1998
Gatty joined FDI after serving as editor of Grocery Headquarters magazine
for three years. His work with Grocery Headquarters was under contract with
Gatty Communications, Inc. (GCI), his editorial services company,
Leading the Grocery Headquarters editorial operation, Gatty helped developed
a new editorial strategy, which included renaming it (from Grocery Marketing)
and repositioning it as the industry publication written and edited specifically
for supermarket industry headquarters executives and decision-makers.
He supervised the in-house editorial staff and coordinated editorial activities with the publisher and advertising sales executives. The editorial concept and departments created during this period is still being used successfully by Grocery Headquarters today.
Gatty Communications, Inc. (GCI), Washington, DC—President & CEO—1/1978-7/1998
GCI provided coverage of the federal government for trade and professional publications, as well as public relations, communications, and marketing services for businesses and national trade associations.
Gatty’s articles were published in dozens of national business, trade and professional journals, including: Forbes, Nation’s Business, Physician’s Management, Ophthalmology Times, Dermatology Times, Hotel & Motel Management, Sporting Goods Business, Meeting News, National Jeweler, Mortgage Banker, and many others.
GCI’s Periodicals News Service was accredited for coverage of the White House and Congress. Gatty still writes a “Washington Update” column for two of his clients, Dermatology Times and Urology Times.
GCI also provided editorial services, such as the preparation of scripts, annual reports, and marketing campaigns for trade associations, political candidates, and small and mid-sized businesses.
Among GCI clients were the Food Marketing Institute, the National Grocers Association, the American Dental Association, the National Homebuilders’ Association, the Private Truck Council, and Lily Truck Leasing Co. For political candidates, including several candidates for the House of Representatives and a race for governor, Gatty developed the media strategy as well as wrote, scripted and directed radio and television commercials and prepared print marketing materials.
Gatty also wrote and published Insight Reports, a package of newsletters for ophthalmologists, which focused on governmental and business developments important to these eye care specialists.
Capitol Hill – 1970-1975
Prior to launching GCI, Gatty served for a combined seven years as administrative
assistant to former Reps. Edwin B. Forsythe (R-NJ) and James J. Florio (D-NJ),
running their Washington offices and their political campaigns.
In each case, he managed Washington staffs, coordinated legislative and political
activity, served as the spokesperson for the Congressman, directed media relations
operations, and managed media for re-election campaigns.
For Rep. Forsythe, Gatty often substituted for the Congressman at events--once
in a debate before 250 senior citizens against his Democratic opponent.
For Rep. Florio, Gatty developed a strategy that led to preservation of Ft.
Dix, NJ, targeted for closure by President Carter’s administration.
A highlight of that effort was a White House meeting with the President for
members of the New Jersey House and Senate delegation, which Gatty orchestrated
and attended.
United Press International – 1965-1970
Before coming to Washington, Gatty was Trenton, NJ bureau chief for United
Press International, and also was a legislative reporter in the wire service’s
Harrisburg, PA Bureau.
In Trenton, he managed a 3-person editorial staff, covered the state legislature
and politics, planned and orchestrated election night coverage for New Jersey,
and covered the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. He initiated and launched
a new radio news service from the State House for New Jersey radio stations,
without adding cost or staff.
In Harrisburg, Gatty covered the state legislature, wrote copy for the radio wire, covered an appearance by the President of the United States, and was quickly promoted to the Trenton bureau manager’s position.
The Tribune Review, Greensburg, PA -- 1964-1965
Gatty covered local governments, the police beat, high school sports, and wrote feature articles for this County Seat newspaper.
The Jeannette News Dispatch, Jeannette, PA -- 1963-1964
Gatty was the proofreader, feature writer, and covered local activities. He wrote a "color" story about local residents' reaction to President Kennedy's assassination.
Education – Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA
Gatty obtained his training in journalism and communication at Point Park College, Pittsburgh, PA, where he also worked as a part-time reporter for The Pittsburgh Courier, and produced a college radio news program.