Success Story Interview:
Jon Stoltzfus
From Rocket Scientist to Copy Chief: Building Winning Copy Through Strategy and Process
If you’ve been part of the AWAI community for any length of time, you’ve likely heard of Jon Stoltzfus — the former rocket scientist who built a highly successful career as a copywriter and marketing strategist. Today, Jon serves as a copy chief and strategist in the financial and information marketing niches, where he not only writes winning copy, but trains and guides junior writers as well.
In this Inside AWAI conversation with Executive Director Katie Yeakle, Jon shares how he first made the transition into copywriting, what helped him gain traction early on, and how his analytical background shaped the way he approaches strategy and messaging. He walks through his process for developing “winners” — from understanding the market to structuring copy that performs — and explains how thinking like a strategist changed the trajectory of his career.
Jon also offers insight into his role as a copy chief, including how he evaluates copy, mentors junior writers, and helps teams strengthen both their thinking and execution. Throughout the interview, he reveals what separates writers who simply complete assignments from those who become indispensable strategic partners.
What You’ll Learn
- How Jon transitioned from rocket science to professional copywriting
- His process for developing copy that performs in financial and information markets
- What copy chiefs look for — and how writers can think at that level
- How mentoring and training junior writers sharpened his own strategy
- Why analytical thinking is a powerful advantage in copywriting
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