Publicist and Proofreader
Contractor through The BOSS Group, Bala Cynwyd, PA. Researched, wrote and pitched press releases for News Bureau, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. Proofread and fact check financial reports, advertisements, monographs, training manuals and web sites. Clients include The Vanguard Group, Inc., Valley Forge, PA; Wyeth Pharmaceutical, Collegeville, PA. and Axiom Professional Health Learning, Yardley, PA.
Freelance Writing Coach and Writer/Reporter
Clients include Fairfax County Government and Lawley Publications' Urban Transportation Monitor.
Communications Director
Reston Community Center, Fairfax County Government,
Reston, VA
Developed communications strategies for programs and special events, designed
and updated websites, edited, published and distributed 70-page Program Guide
three times a year.
Desktop published and placed ads in local newspapers. Composed and distributed
press releases and public service announcements. Designed and maintained websites
for the Community Center and for the Reston Multicultural Festival. 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.
- Oatlands Plantation, Leesburg, Virginia. Authored Oatlands Celtic Festival Cookbook to raise money for the Oatlands Trust.
