Key Career Accomplishments – David McDonald Yawn (901) 767-6968; 827-2587 +

Book Authorship and Co-Authorship

  • Author of published book, “The Bodine Story”(2009) [history of the Bodine School, the Bodine Co. and biography of Dick Bodine in one volume] (ISBN: 978-0-615-32722-8).
  • Co-Author alongside Darrell Uselton of published book, “From the Ground Up” (2010) [subtitled A Lifelong Journey in Reinventing Yourself – the biography of Brian Pecon]. (ISBN: 978-0-615-35905-2). see
  • Editor of commissioned biography book on the life of executive banker Tom Garrott: “My Journey” published in 2011 – now in its third printing phase. Cited by CLSA America’s Research- Pacific Markets – Asia’s leading and longest-running independent brokerage and investment group. Books have been requested by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan and the Research Library of Capital Group Cos. (with 23 offices worldwide) among other entities including Wellington Management Co. in Boston and Steadfast Financial in New York.
  • Managing editor of published book on the life of medical school professor Robert Atnip, PhD carrying the title: “The Life of Bob Atnip: Then Sings My Soul.” (2012)
  • Co-author of book manuscript in progress highlighting the history of Youth Service USA and the biography of Father Don Mowery. Darrell Uselton is co-author of this work.
  • Author of published book, “Moving Out to Meet the World,” highlighting the history and mission of the distinguished CIBER – The Robert Wang Center for International Business. (ISBN: 978-0-615-63166-0). Nationally released February 2013 at the U of M Board of Visitors reception.
  • Co-author of practical martial arts book, “Golden Talon Kung Fu” (1997) (ISBN: 0-9661047-0-6; Library of Congress Catalog Number: 97-07630).
  • Editor of current autobiographical book on the life of Terry Graves titled “A Special Breed.” (ISBN: 978-0-615-9140-6).
  • Author of biographical work on the life of Jack Morris with alternate working titles of “Mission to Memphis” and “Heart for Memphis.”
  • Editor of devotional guide book by Pastor Sam Laine titled, “Hope Realized.” (ISBN: 978-0-615-71563-6). Published March 2013.

Book Editing

  • Stylistic Editor, Executive Editor and/or Consulting Editor of published books by various authors: “The Partnering Paradigm” (1994) (ISBN: 1-55793-047-3);“Sane Investing for the Non-Financial” (1995), “In the Shadow of the Wall” (1995) (ISBN: 1-55793-023-6; Library of Congress Catalog Number: 94-79631);“A History of the Mid South Fair” (1996) (ISBN: 1-55793-046-5);“Planting the Faith” [St. Johns Episcopal Church] (1996) (ISBN: 0-9654666-0-4; Library of Congress: 96-70465); “From His Promise” [St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital] (1996) (ISBN: 1-55793-051-1); “You’re the Greatest” (2000) (ISBN: 1-890651-09-5); “Navigating Change” (2002) (ISBN: 0-9656506-6-5);“Bound and Determined” (2005) (ISBN: 0-944897-05-3); “Medical Device Marketing” (2010) (ISBN: 978-1-4327-5072-5; Library of Congress Control Number: 2010926618); “David, the Illustrated Novel” (2010) (ISBN: 978-0-9845282-0-2)’ “Global Supply Chain Management: Leveraging Processes, Measurements, and Tools for Strategic Corporate Advantage” college textbook to be published in 2013.
  • Consulting editor of Guild Bindery Press (1993-1996)

Corporate and Trade Magazine Editing

  • Creator and editor of worldwide internal FedEx magazine, International Connection [circulation 2,500] (1997-2000)
  • Editor of worldwide International Paper employee magazine, Unity [circulation 125,000] (2000-2001)
  • Contributing editor/international of Rice Farming and Cotton Farming magazines (1996-97)
  • Author, cover article on Memphis real estate for Real Estate Forum magazine (1988)
  • Co-author, article on the South for North America Now British magazine (1996)
  • Author, Trade and Commerce article (Canada, 1993)
  • Multiple Southeast Real Estate News articles (1993-1996)
  • Multiple National Real Estate Investor articles (1994-1997)
  • British magazine, North America Now feature article on state-by-state economies in the US Southeast (1996)
  • World Trade magazine article (2007)
  • Computer and Internet Lawyer article (2007)
  • Area Development Magazine article (2007)

Newspaper Work

  • Full-time senior staff writer, Memphis Business Journal (1985-1997)
  • Initial marketing agent for The Memphis News monthly newspaper
  • Former Executive editor of The Daily News
  • Real estate stringer for four articles in The New York Times (1990)

General and Specialized Business Writing Projects, Research and Speechmaking

  • Author of PowerPoint presentation on economic developments for the DeSoto Council
  • Author of FedEx senior Customer Service worldwide management conference booklets: “The Great Ideas Book” (1998 and 1999)
  • Editor of internal and external guides for FTN Financial Corp. (2013).
  • Participant in WMC TV panel about establishment of a Memphis hub by Northwest Airlines (1986)
  • Participant in roundtable interviews of producers and cast of movie, “Memphis Belle” (1990)
  • Participant in three TV panel discussions on WKNO’s “Informed Sources” show
  • Attendee, Sen. Fred Thompson’s Middle Eastern Trade Conference in Nashville (1995)
  • Separate invitational media tours to Holland, Portugal, Switzerland, Puerto Rico, Denmark, Sweden, France and Germany (1995-2006)
  • Workshop Speaker, Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute’s National Meeting (1991)
  • Moderator, Panel at University of Memphis Governor’s School International Day (1993, 1994)
  • Speaker, Dutch Association of Travel Managers in Industry and Commerce (1995)
  • Speaker, English Speaking Union (1995)
  • Speaker, Germantown Rotary Club (1996)
  • Ad hoc fulfillment for assigned direct research for GE Capital, Boston Consulting Group, Rubloff Real Estate, Wells Fargo Real Estate Group, Global Aviation Associates, Pickering Inc., Newman Realty Group, Northwest Airlines (now Delta Air Lines), Shearman & Sterling (international law practice headquartered in Washington, D.C.), Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Memphis and the Japan External Trade Organization
  • Core writing team member, Memphis Area Chamber of Commerce Long Range Economic Development Planning Committee (1994)
  • Boeing Company’s dual rollout ceremony and briefings for the 737-400 and 747-400 series in Seattle (1988)
  • Private news feature interview meeting with the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Netherlands, The Hague
  • Private news feature interview meeting with Interpol specialists, Lyon, France
  • Meetings with representatives of German Federal Foreign Office, Federal Ministry for Education, Sciences, Research & Technology, Federal Ministry of Economics, European Union Commission, Deutsche Bundesbank, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, and European Monetary Institute
  • Meetings with German Federal Ministry of Economics during visit to Memphis
  • Contributor, Memphis 2005 Economic Development Strategy (1996)
  • Meetings with the Dutch State Secretary for European Affairs
  • Meetings with Portugal Telecom, Lisbon Stock Exchange, and Portuguese ministries of Economy and Finance
  • Research contributor to PhD dissertation/thesis of Oxford’s St. Antony College candidate Carl Aaron in his treatise “The Political Economy of Japanese Foreign Direct Investment in the US and the UK: Factors in Locational Decision Making.”
  • Speaker, Memphis Bar Association Fall Conference: “Increasing Your Client Base” (2006)
  • Steering Committee Member, Metro Business Council (2007)
  • Sponsorship member liaison, Rhodes College’s Institute on the Profession of Law (2007)

Educational Sphere

  • Author of successful charter school grant for Osceola School District (2002)
  • Mississippi Association of Educators’ School Bell Award (1983)
  • Mid South School of Banking Regents’ Scholarship recipient (1990)
  • Co-Author of Synopsis and Rationale book for the Memphis City Schools Academic Plan 2010-2014 (2010)
  • Stylistic review editor of the following key documents for Memphis City Schools (2009-2010): 5-year MCS Facilities Plan, Compendium of Strategic Initiatives, Teacher Effectiveness Initiative, School Operations Regionalization, Technology Annual Report, TEI Formal Report, People 1st Initiative, Practitioners Summit Book, TEI Case Study, Professional Development Annual Report.

Awards and Commendations

  • Communicator Awards, Apex Awards, Society of Professional Journalists, Tennessee Press Association, Dalton Pen and Tennessee Press Association awards (several years)
  • Attendee, C. Whitney Brown Management Seminars (1993-1995)
  • Commendation letter from U.S. Mint upon writing about gold market trends

Consolidated Skill Sets

  • Mentoring and training reporters
  • Public speaking on business topics
  • Writing tailored research papers
  • Developing a publications production schedule
  • Building a source network across the community
  • Building co-marketing liaison relationships with companies, news bureaus and associations
  • Producing a magazine on schedule
  • Photographic work
  • Sharing international best practices among diverse cultures
  • Conducting focus groups
  • Launching specialty publications and marketing them citywide
  • Supervising writers
  • Editing a worldwide publication
  • Prolonged knowledge about the businesses of logistics, transportation, distribution, international business, small business and commercial real estate
  • A developed and on-site knowledge of European business practices
  • Writing corporate history books
  • Moderating panel discussions
  • Writing and editing web page text