Contents

• Paid Experience
• Volunteer Experience
• Celebrity & Other Interviews

Communications Specialist
TechLink Systems/New Century Financial, Irvine, CA
Nov. 2006-April 2007
(Contract to Permanent Position)

• Write, edit and distribute internal communications, primarily via e-mail.
• Pulled together news clippings for Daily Briefing.
• Organized "Ask CEO" questions coming in through online form (with anonymity as an option) during crises communications time.

Managing Editor, Magazine Content
Vocus Inc., College Park, MD
Nov. 2004-Oct. 2006

• Manage a team of 2-3 senior media researchers and 8-11 media researchers in building and maintaining the magazine portion of a media database.
• Manage a team of 2-12 temporary staff for a 5-month editorial calendar project.
• Write outlet profiles and edit the profiles written by my staff.
• Manage the magazine team’s portion of the project.
• Interview, hire and train staff members, participate in planning meetings and other management-related tasks.

Web Content Editor/Writer (Contract)
Z-Tech Corporation, Rockville, MD
Oct. 2003- Nov. 2004

• Wrote and edited copy for National Human Genome Research Institute’s external (genome.gov) and internal websites.
• Helped with re-evaluation of website, including re-launch with new format and design, as well as other writing and editing assignments as needed.
• Client commented that I was a “quick-study” in learning proprietary content-management system.

Freelance Writer/Editor
2000-Present

• Edit and write a quarterly online travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans. Launched, on time, on Sept. 25, 2005.
• Edited web copy for clients such as Pediatric Health Alliance, AheadInTheGame.com, and BrainBench.com.
• Wrote web and marketing copy for clients, including Persian Partners, Arcturus Inc., Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and New Vision, Inc.
• Wrote training manual for Wells Fargo Home Equity RESPA Department and trained new team members.
• Wrote a course on writing press releases for Virtual University.

Writer/Editor
KidsGrowth.com/AviaHealth Inc., Tampa, FL
Nov. 1999-May 2001

• Managed content for KidsGrowth Professional, including writing features, basic content, recruiting and hiring freelance writers, managing freelance budget, editing staff writer’s work. Resulted in growth of site from a dozen pages to more than 200. AviaHealth purchased website in less than two years.
• Developed proposal for website geared toward pediatric residents. Resulted in interest from Ross Pediatrics, the makers of Pediasure, before AviaHealth closed the company.
• Described as "pleasant," "easy-going," having a "can-do personality," and offering "many fresh ideas that contributed in part to the overall success of KidsGrowth."

Newsletter Communications Specialist
Blue Shield of California, San Francisco, CA
June 1998-Oct. 1999

• Edited, managed and wrote for six publications with circulations from 40,000 to 600,000. Developed editorial schedule and brought publications into a regular publishing cycle.
• Led launch of four-color, bi-monthly magazine sent to more than 50,000 members. Improved reader relations.
• Managed and edited two newsletters, improving readability.

Writer/Marketing and Communications Specialist
City of Hope, Duarte, CA
Oct. 1994- June 1998

• Edited, managed and wrote weekly employee newsletter. Led launch of monthly employee newsletter, improving relations between geographically separated sites. First three issues won three awards.
• Marketing contact for "internal clients," including Human Resources; Molecular Genetics; Volunteer Services; Nursing; Nursing Research and Education; Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism; and Hematology.
• Described as "enthusiastic," "diligent," "hard-working," and "as an excellent writer and thorough editor" able "to take complex information and make it understandable in layman’s language to a varied audience."

Assistant Account Executive
Gracelyn & Burns, Santa Rosa, CA
April - Oct., 1994

• Developed press kit and handled public relations for Champagne Deutz.
• Wrote press releases and other marketing copy for The Bergkelder and Llano Estacado.

Staff Writer
Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, College Park, MD
School Year, 1992-1993

• Using grant applications and interviews with researchers, wrote press releases, newsletter articles and helped with annual report. Placed stories in a variety of agricultural newspapers and The Baltimore Sun.

Customer Service Representative
The Santa Cruz Operation, Santa Cruz, CA
1988-1991

• Improved efficiency by writing training manual, organizing Media Library and developing checkout system.
• Supervisor stated that my "creativity" and "superb organizational skills, enabled" me "to take loosely defined projects, and see them through to fruition."

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Special Assignment Reporter
SyFyPortal.com
2005-Present
RabidDoll.com
2006-Present

• Started off as staff writer writing news items. Now I concentrate on writing up interviews of professionals in the science fiction and horror movie and television industry.

Assistant, Public Relations
KRCB Channel 22
1993-1994

• Designed promotional post-card for fund-raising event. Edited program guide. Wrote press releases.

Assistant, Events Manager
Luther Burbank Center for the Arts
1993-1994

• Designed program booklet for event. Wrote press releases. Assisted Events Manager during events.

Assistant, Publicity
North Bay Career Resource Center
1993-1994

• Wrote press releases. Designed logo and promotional brochure for Entrepreneur’s Forum.

Writing and Communications Intern
The Marine Mammal Center, Sausalito, CA
1992

• Science Department -- Researched and wrote report of whale stranding; used as basis of poster presented at scientific meeting.
• Communications Department -- Wrote press releases and newsletter articles. Accompanied journalists on tours of facility.

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For both paid and volunteer positions, I've been fortunate to interview some very interesting people. Here are just a few:

Celebrities & Personalities

• Pierce Brosnan, Actor (in person), for F.Y.I., City of Hope's weekly employee newsletter.
  
  
• Willard Scott, NBC News Personality (telephone), for Better Living with Blue Shield 65 Plus, Blue Shield of California's Medicare member magazine.
  
  
• Mike Nelson, Writer and Host of Mystery Science Theatre 3000 (telephone), for SyFy Portal, an entertainment news website for science fiction fans.
  
  
• Damian Kindler, script writer (telephone), for SyFy Portal, an entertainment news website for science fiction fans.
  
  
• Andras Jones, actor and musician (telephone), for Rabid Doll, an entertainment news website for horror fans, and The Genre Traveler, a travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans.
  
  
• Bob Eggleton, Hugo award-winning artist (email), for The Genre Traveler, a travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans.
  
  
• Kealan Patrick Burke, horror author (telephone), for The Genre Traveler, a travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans.
  
  
• The Nice Mr. Denham, creator of interactive murder mysteries (telephone), for The Genre Traveler, a travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans.
  
  

Scientists & Researchers

• Dr. Susumo Ohno, theoretical biologist (in person), for Cancer Center Research Report, City of Hope's researcher magazine.
  
  
• Dennis Balthaser, UFOlogist (telephone), for The Genre Traveler, a travel magazine for science fiction, fantasy and horror fans.
  
  
• Dr. Arthur N. Popper, biologist (in person), for the Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station.
  
  
• Dr. Steve S. Sommer, molecular geneticist (in person), for CityLINK, City of Hope's monthly employee newsletter.
  
  

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