Ben's Freelance Writing
Freelance Writing
Writing Sample #1 of 3
Additional samples & copies of actual
publications gladly furnished upon request.
Publication: CARDONE Industries “Core of the Matter” newsletter- Summer 2001 edition
Date Published: August, 2001
Purpose: To illustrate CARDONE Industries’ environmental responsibility to an external audience
-- Excerpt #6 of 12:
CARDONE Receives ISO 14001 Certification
CARDONE Industries has become the first privately held remanufacturer in the world to receive certification for the International Standardization Organization (ISO) 14001 environmental management system (EMS). The ISO 14001 EMS is structured so a company will abide by standards above and beyond what is expected by the government to ensure environmental protection. CARDONE’s awareness of pollution prevention combined with its normal production operation helps preserve the earth’s limited resources, prevent landfills and contribute to the economy.
The importance of recycling is obvious when considering the lethal effects of landfills. Under the right conditions, solid waste landfills can be just as dangerous as hazardous waste, causing cancer, heart disease, genetic disease and birth defects. The United States currently uses 3,091 active landfills, while more than 10,000 old municipal landfills remain. More astounding, is the fact all landfills will eventually leak, releasing a harmful contaminant (leachate) into the ground and surface water. Some landfills use a state-of-the-art plastic (HDPE) liner, which is only 1/ 10 of an inch thick, the same width as the back of a legal pad! The slight barrier sometimes allows for chemicals to pass into the soil or water it was designed to protect.
On a global viewpoint, reman’s conservation of energy has an enormous impact. Greenhouse gasses are being released into the atmosphere at an alarming rate, breaking down the ozone layer. The depletion of this protective barrier may eventually lead to a series of illnesses such as skin cancer or severe respiratory conditions. Carbon dioxide (CO2), a “greenhouse gas” responsible for global warming, is significantly reduced by remanufacturing existing parts, instead of producing new ones. The amount of carbon dioxide saved by remanufacturing equals 28 million tons per year. This figure is equivalent to the amount of CO2 released yearly by ten 500-Megawatt coal-fired electricity generating plants.
CARDONE’s propensity to create a use for discarded elements is nothing new. “Our commitment to the environment dates back to our beginnings,” said Michael Cardone Jr. “Remanufacturing was born out of the need to reduce waste, and our current production facilities were built on a Brownfield, converting a defunct wasteland into a productive, environmentally-sound operation.”
The environmental impacts of recycling and remanufacturing are significant. However, the economy also benefits. Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates only one job. Land filling the same amount creates only six jobs. Recycling the 10,000 tons creates the highest total--36 jobs. In the year 2000, of the 33 million tons of waste CARDONE generated, over 80% was recycled. This created a substantial number of jobs for people. When considering the cost of municipal waste disposal is $100 per ton, we also save a sizeable amount of money. Nationwide, companies who recycle and remanufacture provide 1 million jobs.
Cardone collects old parts from all over the world that may otherwise have ended up in a landfill. In 1999 alone, the amount of parts obtained and remanufactured by CARDONE equaled 70,256 tons. ”We are pleased to have earned ISO certification because it signifies our commitment to being an environmentally-conscious supplier to the industry,” said Michael Cardone. The ISO 14001 certification sets a good example of environmental awareness, in a state that is sadly the number one importer of waste in the country.
The ISO 14001 system is obtained when a company implements an environmental management system and commits to pollution prevention and continual improvement in environmental performance. The following criteria are necessary for the ISO 14001 EMS:
-- An environmental policy which declares a company’s commitment to environmental performance.
-- Implementing processes that will result in environmental goals and objectives.
-- Ensuring these goals and objectives are being met.
We hope incorporating the ISO 14001 EMS into our business practices allows you a greater piece of mind when it come to your environmental concerns. As a remanufacturing company who finds a use for parts condemned to a landfill, or left in a junkyard to rust, it seems only fitting to implement the EMS strategy. When you choose a CARDONE remanufactured product, you have chosen an environmentally friendly product.
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Writing Sample #2 of 3
Additional samples & copies of actual
publications gladly provided upon request.
Publication: Cardone Industries “Focus” newsletter (internal)- May 2002 edition
Date Published: May, 2002
Purpose: To demonstrate Cardone’s stability in the automotive aftermarket to an internal audience
-- Excerpt #2 of 4
How We Are Adapting to Future Trends
As CARDONE looks ahead to see what will take place in our future market, we see positive movements that are good for our business. Through data collection and analyzation, we are able to develop business solutions on how to handle changes in product demand. Significant trends include the growing number and age of vehicles on the road and the increasing technology of their parts.
Automobile manufacturers determine what types of designs, advancements and enhancements will be successful on vehicles in years to come. CARDONE looks at the new vehicles they produce and determines which recent technological advancements will be important in our primary sales category—vehicles that enter the six year and older range —so that we have the ability to remanufacture their parts when the time arrives.
Studies show that new vehicle sales gradually increased from 12.3 million per year in 1991 to 17.4 million per year in 2000. It is projected that by the year 2007, the amount of vehicles in our target age bracket will be at an all-time high. As this vehicle volume and diversity is steadily on the rise, CARDONE’s current preparation allows for us to handle the complexities of those vehicle’s parts in the future.
To keep pace with these trends, CARDONE recently adopted new intricate technology such as Magna-Steer, Electronic Variable Orifice (EVO) steering and Flash. Magna Steer and EVO are revolutionary new refinements to power steering, while Flash Technology replaces an outdated method of ECM Reprogramming. Our firm grasp on these technological advancements, means we are ready for when they enter our primary sales market. ECMs that use 42 volt currents appear to be the next hot trend in technology, which we are already actively researching.
Studying new technology and focusing on market trends allows us to stay ahead of the curve and prepare for changes in demand now and in the future. This pro-active approach helps us provide a quality remanufactured alternative in the market, and further demonstrates how we are "driving solutions" for our customers.
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Writing Sample #3 of 3
Additional samples & copies of actual
publications gladly provided upon request.
Publication: Cardone Industries “Focus” newsletter (internal)- October 2002 edition
Date Published: September, 2002
Purpose: To demonstrate the significance of electronics to an internal audience
Excerpt #3 of 10
Another Stage in the Electronic Age:
Telematics
Imagine that you are in the market for a new vehicle. A trip to your local car dealer turns up exactly what you are looking for, as a brand new 2003 model 4X4 SUV is on display in the dealer’s lot. The exterior of the vehicle is a marvel of modern design, and the interior is equipped with practically every option available. Imagine sitting in the driver’s seat of this $35,000 vehicle, then looking to the middle of the dashboard, only to find a factory installed AM radio/8-Track player. Obviously, the sound system of the vehicle should be relatively sophisticated in comparison to its much-heralded design and modern driving features. Telematics (vehicle electronics) are proving to be just as important to consumers today as performance features like 4-Wheel steering or traction control.
Today’s refinements in automobile steering, horsepower, agility, mileage and more give us an overwhelming sensation of control and the ability to feel as though we are practically one with the vehicle. Telematics are steadily keeping pace with rapid positive changes in the mechanics of vehicles. According to Polk Data, a resource in vehicle purchasing trends, frequent new car buyers (consumers that purchase vehicles every one to three years) have come to expect the kind of quality electronics that you might find in your home living room. Instead of tape players with basic speakers, you find CD players/multi-disc changers with eight speakers and amplifiers. Instead of keeping children occupied with a coloring book, select vehicles feature a TV/VCR. Instead of using roadmaps, people are turning to on-board electronic navigational systems. While studies show that Americans spend an average of 82 minutes a day in their car, the presence of telematics help to make the most of this precious time.
As fast as today’s automobiles are, they cannot escape the inevitable grasp of the information age, as a would-be simple driving routine becomes a state of the art entertainment experience and source for information.
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My job allows me to write creatively to an extent--but not as much as I would like. Here is another writing avenue I am experimenting with. Watch for more entries soon, or please let me know if there is a commercial you would like me to review for you!
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Kia Shut It
This review describes a KIA commercial that I’m sure everyone has seen.
The entire commercial takes place within the confines of a Kia SUV, and starts off by showing two ladies in the front of the vehicle—neither of whom look happy. An unattractive lady named Susan is in the driver’s seat, while a pretty blonde named Trish is riding shotgun. Meanwhile a female voice is narrating a not-so-original sounding script, which explains how Trish mistakenly bought a competitor's vehicle, and Susan wisely purchased the Kia featured in the commercial. As the voice drivels on about Kia warranty benefits and price advantages, the two women continue to blankly look in opposite directions. Suddenly another female head pokes in between the driver and passenger seats from out of the back. The woman’s face is about as homely as anything you’ve ever seen, and her lips are moving. It is at this point that you realize this lady is actually the narrator of the commercial (a somewhat feeble attempt at creativity). You may not realize it right away though, due to poor dubbing, and the fact that this woman’s homely face does not match the polished professional sound of the narrator. Anyway, the lady continues her spiel on Trish's poor choice of vehicle, and after the last straw has been broke, the hot blonde yells “Jill will you shut it!”. Out of sheer stupidity and ignorance, Jill declares “Aww Trish is upset. Could it be that Susan is dating your ex-boyfriend?” Jill then contorts her face into a mock “Oops I shouldn’t have said that look”, and the commercial mercifully ends.
This commercial annoys me to no end, not only because of the obnoxious Jill, but also the fact that the same guy who dated the sexy Trish, would even consider dating the highly unattractive driver. Oh, and the fact that they play this 80 times a day (at least in PA) doesn’t help either.
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Sprint Trenchcoat Guy
I don’t know what the story is with this guy. I think Sprint introduced this character about three years ago as a sort of “Shane” type cowboy who comes to your town to set things straight. However, instead of helping you defend yourself against gunslingers, he is there to save you from cell phone static. The earliest commercial I recall is one of my favorites. The setting is a rural diner, which he enters only to find people speaking in a gibberish manner. The broken gibberish represents cell phone static you hear when you are using someone’s cut-rate service. I remember one line—“I could tell they were speaking, but just couldn’t make any sense of it”, or something to that effect. I love this line because it reminds me of a film-noir quality you see in films of the 40’s. Towards the end he says—“You’re alright now” (after signing them to Sprint’s plan) “And soon….well all be alright”
So he was ok in the beginning, but Im getting a little tired of seeing this guy in the black trenchcoat with his monotone voice and blank expression-less face. I can only pray that Verizon doesn’t keep their “Can you hear me now?” guy around as long as this.
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