John L. Stein Bio
Based in Southern California, John L. Stein provides premium quality creative work for a wide range of publications, video and web programming, and corporations – with all the efficiencies of a lean independent contractor. His expertise comes from over 30 years experience in automotive, motorcycle, adventure travel and environmental journalism – as well as from high-level experience in advertising, sales training, dealer communications, public relations, marketing and product launches. Low fixed overhead means he can deliver superb quality at an attractive bottom line.
Journalism
As an internationally known automotive journalist, John was one of the charter editors of Automobile Magazine and Road Test editor at Cycle, the world’s largest-circulation motorcycle magazine. He most recently served as Editor of the award-winning Corvette Quarterly, GM’s official journal for Corvette, and remains the only independent editor ever to do so. In addition, he has written for AutoWeek, Car and Driver, Motor Trend, Sports Car International, Chevy Outdoors, Truck Trend, Cycle World, Motorcyclist, Adventure Travel, Men’s Journal, Rodale’s Scuba Diving and Outside. His articles have been published in the US, England, Japan, Australia and France.
Sales Training
John substantially developed the curriculum for the launches of the Toyota Prius hybrid and RAV4 EV electric SUV, and has also created instructional design elements and launch curriculum for BMW, Honda, Infiniti, Nissan, Scion and Volkswagen – including ride-and-drive instruction and product-knowledge tests. As Senior Instructor for Sandy Corporation on the award-winning Infiniti Launch Training program, John helped facilitate driving events for over 2,000 dealer employees. In addition, he wrote the comprehensive Infiniti Product Sourcebook from 1990-1997, along with Product Reference Guides and Product Comparison Guides for Acura, BMW, Honda, Infiniti, Lexus, Mazda, Mitsubishi and Yamaha.
Corporate Communications
A co-writer of press kits for the Honda Accord and the Acura MDX, RDX, RL, TL, TSX and ZDX, John is currently a contributing writer on Honda, Acura and Mazda dealer publications specializing in product, sales and training. He has also written showroom catalogs for Kawasaki, Lincoln-Mercury, Mazda and Pierce emergency vehicles, along with press releases for Suzuki and the LA Auto Show. In multimedia, he scripted and co-produced Kawasaki’s 30th anniversary video, along with consumer video scripts for key Star Motorcycles products.
International
John has traveled widely, has toured automotive factories in Europe, Japan and America, and has raced cars and motorcycles in the US and overseas, including at Daytona, Sebring and in the prestigious Monterey Historic Automobile Races. He has likewise researched articles in Germany, France, Sweden, Australia, New Zealand, in the Bahamas and throughout the Caribbean, where he has dived with dolphins and sharks, and inside caves and wrecks. As a photojournalist he has chronicled such disparate topics as the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France, indigenous whaling in Bequia, one of the world’s clearest natural springs in New Zealand, and winter automotive testing in the Arctic Circle.
Synergistic
An eclectic background steeped in science and academia, racing and adventure sports, travel and culture, environment and conservation helps John create useful synergy between seemingly disparate partners. He conceived and co-produced a television segment pairing the delicate Colorado Rockies ecosystem, Chevrolet trucks and Honda motorcycles. Convinced a pair of women adventurers to drive a Corvette north to Fairbanks, Alaska – during winter. And rode a $5 yard-sale motorcycle 1,500 miles to prove a point about reuse and recycling.
Professional Development
John has held creative and account positions at two major advertising agencies. He was Senior Copywriter on Chrysler-Plymouth Division at Ross Roy Group and Senior Account Executive on Chevrolet Motor Division at Campbell-Ewald, both in the Detroit area. He holds a BA in English/Creative Writing from California State University Long Beach, and has resided in four major US market areas including New York City, Detroit, Miami and Los Angeles.