A longtime Las Vegas resident, Joan Black is the founder and manager of The Creative Octopus, LLC, a professional writing business.  The company provides a diverse range of writing services, develops corporate materials, and delivers marketing tools to reach your target audience.  Building client relationships and providing exceptional customer service are Joan’s highest priorities.

The Creative Octopus, LLC specializes in writing services and content that optimizes business development including advertisements, articles, brochures, biographies, blogs, catalogs, grants, manuals, marketing plans, newsletters, press releases, proposals, resumes, technical reports, white papers, website content, and more.

After graduating with a Bachelor in Biology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Joan proudly served four years as a U.S. Air Force communications-electronics officer assigned to the Pentagon.  She spent the next six years in all facets of software development and requirements definition as a systems engineer, systems analyst, and technical writer for Department of Defense contractors.

Joan brings a wealth of marketing, advertising, and sales experience.  Since 2003, Joan has been a published writer.  Her work has appeared in local, regional and state-wide publications including 944, Nevada Business Journal, Las Vegas Restaurant Guide, and Las Vegas Jewish Reporter.  She has also worked at marketing firms, advertising agencies, publications, and as an account executive in radio broadcasting.

As Public Information Specialist/Marketing Specialist at Clark County Shooting Park, Joan developed and implemented a 20-year Strategic Marketing Plan for the $64 million facility.  She wrote staff administration handbooks, volunteer handbooks and lesson plans.  Using the materials she developed, she conducted courses on customer service and tradeshow guidelines, and managed 35 volunteers.

Joan’s greatest passions are family and food.  A culinary school graduate, she loves cooking and baking for her husband Steve, their children and friends.