Freelance Writer/Editor and Writing Coach
- Articles published in The Washington Post, Alexandria Gazette, Northern Virgina Association of Realtors' Update Magazine, The Old Time Herald, Renaissance Magazine and Lawley Publications' Urban Transportation Monitor.
- Blog for Linton Hall Realtors (Prince William County, VA), and Arbour Realty (Arlington, VA).
- Facilitated writers' group as contractor for Fairfax County, VA.
- Editorial work for Drexel University's News Bureau, Philadelphia, PA; The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley Forge, PA; Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Collegeville, PA., and Axiom Professional Health Learning, Yardley, PA.
Writer/Editor
The International Institute of
Ammonia Refrigeration, Alexandria,
VA
- Create content for association magazine, newsletter and website
- Edit standards, technical papers, training materials, promotional mailings and advertising
- Assist in speakers' presentations at annual conference
Communications Director
Reston
Community Center,
Fairfax County Government,
Reston, VA
- Developed communications strategies for programs and special events
- Designed and updated websites for the Community Center and for the Reston Multicultural Festival
- Edited, published and distributed 70-page Program Guide three times a year
- Desktop published and placed ads in local newspapers
- Wrote and distributed press releases and public service announcements
- Supervised staff of two
Writer/Editor
Technology Transition Corporation, Washington, DC
- Principal liaison with the media
- Wrote articles on alternative energy
- Created strategic public relations plan
- Conducted grant and marketing research
- Assisted in preparation of marketing materials and slide presentations
- Desktop
published newsletters, conference materials, flyers and other
promotional items
Public Information
Specialist
Office of Historic
Alexandria, Alexandria, VA
- Spearheaded a publicity campaign to recruit a new Town Crier resulting in coverage in a wide variety of local and national media outlets including the Washington Post, Fox News, CNN, Associated Press Radio, local television stations 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9, and National Public Radio
- Learned HTML coding for the purpose of updating the Historic Alexandria Web Site. This saved the City approximately $40,000 in consultant fees
- Converted publication process for Historic Alexandria Quarterly to desktop publishing from a time-consuming and more expensive conventional printing operation
- Wrote grant proposal, which brought $33,000 in funding to the City's 250th Anniversary celebration
Project Coordinator,
Future Interconnection System Project Office
(FISPO)
National Public Radio,
Washington, DC
Kept senior management at 500 stations informed on the progress of $54 million
satellite project by responding to station queries by phone, mail and e-mail,
writing reports, press releases and articles, coordinating newsletter, videos,
mass mailings and conferences.
EDUCATION:
M.A., Political
Science, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
B.A., International Service, American University, Washington, DC
Public Relations training at University of Virginia includes:
- Integrating PR and The Internet,
- Basic Training for Public Relations Practitioners,
- Proposal Writing, and
- Web Page Design.
Training in proof
reading and editing at George Washington University's Publication Specialist
Program.
JOB-RELATED
SKILLS:
Microsoft Windows, Microsoft Office, Microsoft Word for Windows, Word
Perfect, Dreamweaver, Access, Adobe Acrobat, Adobe Photoshop
CS2, PowerPoint, Quark Xpress, PageMaker, Microsoft Publisher.
ACHIEVEMENTS, HONORS, AND PUBLICATIONS:
- Writing contest Winner and panelist, OhmyNews International Citizen Reporters Forum, Seoul, South Korea, 2006
- Founder and facilitator of the Reston Community Center's Creative Writing Group.
- Live Events/Senior Editor, Green Man Review
- Editorial Consultant, Electric Folk, The Changing Face of English Traditional Music. Britta Sweers, Oxford University Press, 2005
- National Association of Counties Act of Caring Award for Thanksgiving Food Drive (2004)
- Commendation by Fairfax County Board of Supervisors (2001 and 2004)
- Virginia Recreation and Parks Society Award for Best Publication (2003 and 2004)
- National Association of County Information Officers Award of Excellence (2000, 2003 and 2004)
- Contributing Editor, Utility Fleet Management Magazine, Alexandria, Virginia, 1994 – 1999
- Features Editor, Washington Revels, Washington, DC, 1994 - 2000
- Author, Oatlands Celtic Festival Cookbook to raise money for the Oatlands Trust, Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, Virginia.
