Shawn Paul Wood
Before joining the Cooksey team, Shawn amassed over 20 years as a public relations and content strategy executive for paid, earned, shared and owned media. Over that time, he has managed teams at regional and global communications agencies while leading multifaceted client projects in professional services (e.g., architectural, financial, healthcare, legal) and other prominent B2B, B2C, B2G, and faith-based organizations.
His proudest moments include directing the national digital content strategy for a Super Bowl XLIX commercial that even snagged a retweet from President Obama. He secured a compelling Time magazine cover story featuring Bishop T.D. Jakes, was the publicist for three musical icons while acting on behalf of UNCF, represented U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle, and wrote a PSA for two well-known dignitaries working with the Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund.
In his free time, Shawn has spent 20 years offering his editorial quill as a trade journalist for outlets like Adweek, Campaign, Psychology Today and PR News, and publishing networks like FanSided, Radiant Digital and Valnet. Beginning in his junior year of high school, he also spent 12 years in Dallas/Fort Worth radio, where he took on roles as an on-air host, producer and voice-over artist.
What inspires you?
My family. I’m married to a kindergarten teacher who far outworks her salary. Despite the horror stories, my daughter is in college to follow in her footsteps. My son wants to follow mine by attending seminary and studying to be a pastor. (I wanted to teach in college, FYI.)
What are your favorite hobbies?
Cooking (I learned how to cook when I moved out and recorded The Food Network), writing (yes, it’s my job, but writing about movies and getting paid to see them is a thrill), martial arts (although I no longer attend classes, I did for many years) and baseball (next to going to church, Globe Life Field is my sanctuary — Go Rangers).
What can’t you do without?
All things nerd. Fantasy, sci-fi, comics, superheroes, manga, martial arts — you name it (or make fun of it), and I’ve written about it. I don’t collect it much because my wife and I need a place to sleep.
What is your favorite part of your job?
It’s that wonderful moment when you listen to a client and write down something in a release, website, social media, editorial, or anything that requires thinking and typing, and the light bulb goes off: “That’s what I was trying to say!” Storytelling is an art, and I adore my palette full of paint.