Experience

Morgan Park Academy

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Communications

  • Jul 2011 - Present

  I oversee digital and print communications to support enrollment management, fundraising, and alumni engagement goals for the South Side's top PK-12 independent school. • Set direction and vision for communications to position MPA brand in the Chicago-area market • Develop annual marketing plan and budget in collaboration with senior leadership; design, create, and place print and online advertisements • Publish daily news content and weekly email newsletter for school… Show more I oversee digital and print communications to support enrollment management, fundraising, and alumni engagement goals for the South Side's top PK-12 independent school. • Set direction and vision for communications to position MPA brand in the Chicago-area market • Develop annual marketing plan and budget in collaboration with senior leadership; design, create, and place print and online advertisements • Publish daily news content and weekly email newsletter for school community • Plan, write, edit, and design annual print magazine of 40-plus pages for alumni and parent audiences • Develop and leverage media relationships as primary public relations contact; write press releases • Create and manage website content to serve both prospective families and current families • Build robust, daily social media presence on multiple platforms; increased Facebook fans 250% • Increased website traffic 12%; achieved Google search ranking among top Chicago private schools • Shoot, edit, and archive photos and videos for events and marketing; 8 million photo views in past year • Conceived and launched school blog to promote brand, establish faculty and staff as thought leaders, and drive website traffic; manage and edit blog posts by faculty, staff, and students • Review and edit written communications such as handbooks and senior leadership letters and speeches • Create event programs, brochures, flyers, posters, and other promotional materials • Lead training workshops on digital communications for faculty and staff • Research industry best practices, present plans and reports to senior leadership and board of trustees • Work collaboratively with all subsets of the school community; manage student volunteers Show less I oversee digital and print communications to support enrollment management, fundraising, and alumni engagement goals for the South Side's top PK-12 independent school. • Set direction and vision for communications to position MPA brand in the Chicago-area market • Develop annual marketing plan and budget in collaboration with senior leadership; design, create, and place print and online advertisements • Publish daily news content and weekly email newsletter for school… Show more I oversee digital and print communications to support enrollment management, fundraising, and alumni engagement goals for the South Side's top PK-12 independent school. • Set direction and vision for communications to position MPA brand in the Chicago-area market • Develop annual marketing plan and budget in collaboration with senior leadership; design, create, and place print and online advertisements • Publish daily news content and weekly email newsletter for school community • Plan, write, edit, and design annual print magazine of 40-plus pages for alumni and parent audiences • Develop and leverage media relationships as primary public relations contact; write press releases • Create and manage website content to serve both prospective families and current families • Build robust, daily social media presence on multiple platforms; increased Facebook fans 250% • Increased website traffic 12%; achieved Google search ranking among top Chicago private schools • Shoot, edit, and archive photos and videos for events and marketing; 8 million photo views in past year • Conceived and launched school blog to promote brand, establish faculty and staff as thought leaders, and drive website traffic; manage and edit blog posts by faculty, staff, and students • Review and edit written communications such as handbooks and senior leadership letters and speeches • Create event programs, brochures, flyers, posters, and other promotional materials • Lead training workshops on digital communications for faculty and staff • Research industry best practices, present plans and reports to senior leadership and board of trustees • Work collaboratively with all subsets of the school community; manage student volunteers Show less



Gapers Block

• Writing and Editing

• Section Editor

  • Jun 2010 - Oct 2012

  I coordinated sports content for an award-winning city website. • Wrote and edited daily blog posts on Chicago professional, college and recreational sports • Managed eight staff writers plus freelancers; recruited and developed writers • Used Twitter to advance Gapers Block brand and connect with local audience I coordinated sports content for an award-winning city website. • Wrote and edited daily blog posts on Chicago professional, college and recreational sports • Managed eight staff writers plus freelancers; recruited and developed writers • Used Twitter to advance Gapers Block brand and connect with local audience



Viewpoints

• Greater Chicago Area

• Associate Editor

  • Jan 2010 - Sep 2010

  I produced content for a national consumer reviews and product rankings site with 2 million monthly users. • Wrote, edited, and planned new content initiatives to serve internal and external clients • Headline writing, SEO optimization that serve readers and drive traffic • Managed social media accounts to increase Viewpoints brand awareness and community interaction I produced content for a national consumer reviews and product rankings site with 2 million monthly users. • Wrote, edited, and planned new content initiatives to serve internal and external clients • Headline writing, SEO optimization that serve readers and drive traffic • Managed social media accounts to increase Viewpoints brand awareness and community interaction



CBS Interactive

• United States
• Online Audio and Video Media
• 700 & Above Employee

• UWIRE Section Editor

  • Sep 2007 - Oct 2009

  I coordinated sports content for the leading source of student-generated media. • Set direction and vision for all sports content • Produced sports section of UWIRE website, choosing top stories and featured packages • Managed postseason football, basketball, baseball projects, partnering with CBSSports.com, NCAA.com • Online publishing, including blog software, html and web design skills • Assisted with production of video and audio • Edited wire copy… Show more I coordinated sports content for the leading source of student-generated media. • Set direction and vision for all sports content • Produced sports section of UWIRE website, choosing top stories and featured packages • Managed postseason football, basketball, baseball projects, partnering with CBSSports.com, NCAA.com • Online publishing, including blog software, html and web design skills • Assisted with production of video and audio • Edited wire copy from 60-70 college newspapers each day; copy editing, headline writing • Hired, trained and managed a staff of 10 student employees and freelance contributors around the country • Developed social media strategies, using Twitter and Facebook to boost UWIRE brand • Coached young writers and editors to improve their skills • Outreach to college newspapers; developing relationships with college journalists throughout the country • Coordinated weekly college football poll featuring a national panel of 50-plus voters • Occasional column writing Show less I coordinated sports content for the leading source of student-generated media. • Set direction and vision for all sports content • Produced sports section of UWIRE website, choosing top stories and featured packages • Managed postseason football, basketball, baseball projects, partnering with CBSSports.com, NCAA.com • Online publishing, including blog software, html and web design skills • Assisted with production of video and audio • Edited wire copy… Show more I coordinated sports content for the leading source of student-generated media. • Set direction and vision for all sports content • Produced sports section of UWIRE website, choosing top stories and featured packages • Managed postseason football, basketball, baseball projects, partnering with CBSSports.com, NCAA.com • Online publishing, including blog software, html and web design skills • Assisted with production of video and audio • Edited wire copy from 60-70 college newspapers each day; copy editing, headline writing • Hired, trained and managed a staff of 10 student employees and freelance contributors around the country • Developed social media strategies, using Twitter and Facebook to boost UWIRE brand • Coached young writers and editors to improve their skills • Outreach to college newspapers; developing relationships with college journalists throughout the country • Coordinated weekly college football poll featuring a national panel of 50-plus voters • Occasional column writing Show less



The Roanoke Times

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Copy Editor

  • Sep 2006 - Aug 2007

  I had a full range of copy editing duties for a sports section ranked in the AP Sports Editors' top-10 among mid-sized newspapers. • Edited daily copy for content, style and grammar; wrote headlines and captions; some page design • Assessed news value of staff and wire stories, compiled briefs packages

• Staff Reporter

  • Jan 2005 - Aug 2007

  I covered a wide range of professional, college, and high school sports for one of the AP Sports Editors' top 10 mid-sized sports sections. • Event coverage, news reporting, feature and enterprise writing • Frequent contributor to the newspaper’s first sports blog • Primary beat writer for Pulaski Blue Jays minor-league baseball • Backup on University of Virginia and Virginia Tech football and basketball beats • Helped produce online sound slides that complemented stories… Show more I covered a wide range of professional, college, and high school sports for one of the AP Sports Editors' top 10 mid-sized sports sections. • Event coverage, news reporting, feature and enterprise writing • Frequent contributor to the newspaper’s first sports blog • Primary beat writer for Pulaski Blue Jays minor-league baseball • Backup on University of Virginia and Virginia Tech football and basketball beats • Helped produce online sound slides that complemented stories with audio and added photo content • Ongoing coverage of departure of local minor-league franchise and legal cases surrounding coach’s exit



The Washington Post

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Freelance Reporter

  • Nov 2001 - Dec 2004

  I covered University of Virginia athletics on a daily basis as a freelance correspondent in Charlottesville, Va. • Daily coverage of football and basketball beats, including postseason tournaments, bowl games • Also responsible for athletics department reporting, athletes’ court cases and other sports news • Covered 2004 NCAA women’s basketball tournament, including Final Four; contributed to Virginia Tech beat I covered University of Virginia athletics on a daily basis as a freelance correspondent in Charlottesville, Va. • Daily coverage of football and basketball beats, including postseason tournaments, bowl games • Also responsible for athletics department reporting, athletes’ court cases and other sports news • Covered 2004 NCAA women’s basketball tournament, including Final Four; contributed to Virginia Tech beat



The Washington Post

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Reporter

  • Jun 2001 - Aug 2001

  As a general assignment sports reporter in the Post's 12-week internship program, I wrote regularly on a variety of professional, college and youth sports, including the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Redskins, and Washington Capitals. As a general assignment sports reporter in the Post's 12-week internship program, I wrote regularly on a variety of professional, college and youth sports, including the Baltimore Orioles, Washington Redskins, and Washington Capitals.