Resumé

FREELANCE EXPERIENCE (2007-present)

Feature articles

Write feature articles, profiles and essays for such outlets as The Washington Post, GQ.com, SUCCESS Magazine, South Magazine, The Huffington Post, American Craft, State College Magazine, Penn Stater alumni magazine, Centered, Grandparents.com, Hilton Head Monthly and Skirt!, as well as business profiles for Central Penn Business Journal and other publications throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.

Marketing

Write and edit marketing materials (including brochures, company profiles, website content, SEO-focused blog posts, social media posts, video scripts, product descriptions and consumer-facing articles) for nationally known companies including Sylvan Learning and Nationwide Lifts, as well as law firms, financial institutions, public relations businesses, nonprofits, and others.

Editing

Serve as associate editor of State College Magazine and Centered magazine. Edit articles, proof pages, assist with photo shoots, brainstorm article ideas, contribute to redesign of sections in both magazines.
I also proof final pages for a handful of regional lifestyle and college alumni magazines, and I have edited product catalogs, marketing materials and press releases for a variety of private companies, as well as book manuscripts and scholarly papers for private individuals.

Books

Authored three books: “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Wedding Vows” (Alpha, 2005); “The Pocket Idiot’s Guide to Wedding Etiquette” (Alpha, 2008); “Stair Lifts: Move Up, Not Out” (Nationwide Lifts, 2013).

Syndicated column writing  

Wrote a monthly syndicated family finance column for parenting magazines throughout the U.S. and Canada.

FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT

Penn Stater magazine, University Park, PA.

Managing Editor | 2019-Present
Assist with editing, proofing, planning and writing for award-winning bimonthly magazine of the Penn State Alumni Association with a circulation of 170,000+.

The Island Packet, Hilton Head Island, S.C.

Features editor | 2006-2007
Managed a staff of six full-time and several freelance employees to produce daily features sections. Duties included assigning and editing all stories and art, proofing pages and guiding the overall design of the sections. Lead a top-to-bottom redesign of the newspaper’s features section in 2006.

Community editor | 2000-2006
Supervised two full-time reporters and several freelance columnists to put out two weekly community newspaper tabs. Wrote, assigned and edited stories, designed pages and proofed all sections. Also lead a redesign of one section in 2005.

Faith & values reporter | 2003-2006
Wrote stories and assigned art for the religion and ethics beat.

New media coordinator/Special sections editor | 1999-2000
Wrote for, designed and edited special advertising sections for the daily newspaper. Also updated local news and calendar items, and wrote special features for the newspaper’s website, www.islandpacket.com.

The News Chief, Winter Haven, Fla.

New media coordinator | 1998-1999

Created written content for websites sold by the newspaper’s New Media department. Coordinated the development of the websites with the client and graphic designers. Also researched and wrote weekly Internet 101 columns for the newspaper, created marketing tools for New Media, including print ads, and assisted with the development of the paper’s website, PolkOnline.com.

Conquest Communications, Clearwater, Fla.

Senior writer | 1997-1998

Wrote advertising copy for radio ads and messages-on-hold announcements, and coordinated audio advertising projects with the clients and voice talent.

HONORS

  • Second Place for News Story, PA Press Club (2019)
  • Newspaper Reporter of the Year Award by the National Alliance on Mental Illness-South Carolina (2008)
  • Employee of the Year, The Island Packet (2004)
  • First Place, Mid-Atlantic Newspaper Advertising Marketing Awards (2000)
  • Several South Carolina Press Association Awards for writing, including:
    • Column Writing (Second Place, 2006)
    • Lifestyle Feature Writing (First Place, 2004; Third Place, 2005 and 2003)
    • Feature Writing (Second Place, 2005)

EDUCATION

BA Journalism, minor in Spanish – 1995
The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA

VOLUNTEER WORK

  • Ridgelines language arts teacher (2019-present)
  • Medi Hospice patient/family caregiver (2014-present)
  • Central Pennsylvania Creative Professionals Brand-Aid (2018, 2019)
  • Chefs on Stage (2016-2019)
  • Oasis Conference for Sexual Abuse/Assault Survivors (2015-2018)
  • Lowcountry Autism Foundation board member (2006-2008)
  • Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Relay for Life Co-chair (2002)
  • American Cancer Society Relay For Life Overall Committee (2000-2005)
  • Palmetto Health Hospice patient and family caregiver (2004-2006)
  • Special Olympics track and field volunteer