Experience

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  Self Employed

  • Ocala, Florida, with telecommuting access to former Washington, D.C. hometown

  • Writer/Editor + Graphic Designer

    • Oct 2018 - Present
    • Ocala, Florida, with telecommuting access to former Washington, D.C. hometown

    Award-winning writer/editor at NOAA's National Geodetic Survey in Silver Spring, Maryland, for 10+ years. Relocated to Ocala, Florida, summer 2018. Interested in writing/editing and graphic design project assignments or positions.

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  NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

  • Silver Spring, Maryland

  • Writer/Editor (Retired, April 28, 2018)

    • Oct 2007 - Apr 2018
    • Silver Spring, Maryland

    Communications Team lead for NOAA's National Geodetic Survey (NGS). Wrote and edited scientific text for promotional materials, reports, publications, and other documents. Designed a visual identity for NGS, including Web design, brochures, one-pagers, posters, and publications.Provided public relations outreach efforts, effectively communicating, clearly and in plain language, on a variety of complex topics, including: • Numerous NOAA reports, such as an exclusive NGS survey report of the Washington Monument,• Press releases, including joint release with U.S. Geological Survey on the height of Mount Denali, • Summary report of NGS' Geospatial Summit, • Traveling Treasures of NOAA's Ark exhibit, • Slide deck to inform constituents of our products and services, • and Editorial reviews for NGS reports and publications. Responsible for apprising Department of Commerce and NOAA leadership of NGS activities and accomplishments via: • NOAA Cabinet Affairs reports, • Secretary of Commerce reports, • National Ocean Service weekly reports, • and NGS Director's Update reports. My efforts resulted in NGS becoming a top contributor among NOAA's National Ocean Service program offices, which in turn contributed to greater organizational visibility on Capitol Hill and at other U.S. government agencies.Coordinated with NOAA Public Affairs on a wide variety of media requests, including • NPR, • The Wall Street Journal, • Local news media (print and TV), • and Trade journals. My professional design expertise significantly improved NGS' impact and messaging, providing a distinct corporate identity for outreach and training materials. Created graphics to promote new website content. Supported projects and activities to promote stakeholder engagement. My reporting efforts included editing video content and contributing to Facebook, Twitter, and other social media regarding NGS activities.

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  Simmons + Associates Graphic Design

  • Silver Spring, Maryland

  • Owner - Art Director - Award-Winning Graphic Designer

    • Apr 1990 - Oct 2007
    • Silver Spring, Maryland

    Graphic designer / art director / sole proprietor for a widely diverse group of clients representing federal government agencies, associations, corporations, small businesses, and non-profit organizations. Designed and produced visual identity programs, brochures, publications, websites, signage, slide programs, posters, books, manuals, and other materials.Partial list of clients includes:United States Postal ServiceThe National ZooNational School Boards AssociationThe Mike Mansfield FoundationTower Construction CompanyFarm Credit System Insurance CorporationNational Association of Federal Credit UnionsEducationWeek MagazineUS Commission on Civil RightsNational Audiovisual CenterPR SolutionsCatholic Charities USAHealth Care Financing AdministrationAmerican Chemical SocietyMechanical Service Contractors of AmericaPaulist National Catholic Evangelization AssociationUS Office of Territorial and International AffairsAssociation for Information and Image ManagementNational Rural Electric Cooperative AssociationTreasury Historical AssociationEverybody Wins! DCBioScience CommunicationsAlliance for JusticeAmerican Iron and Steel InstituteVietnam Veterans of America FoundationPrinting Industries of AmericaAmerican College of RadiologyNational Electrical Contractors AssociationUnited States Department of LaborOlder Women’s LeagueAssociation of Trial Lawyers of AmericaFlorida Atlantic UniversityThe Servant Leadership SchoolSpeiser, Krause, Madole & Lear, law officesChristmas in April—BaltimoreNational Air Transportation AssociationTeacher MagazineSisters of Mercy of the AmericasPardoe Real EstateFamilies for Russian and Ukrainian AdoptionNational Association of Private Industry CouncilsEditorial Projects in EducationLong & Foster Real Estate, Inc.Integrated Fiber Optics, Inc.Industrial Integration ServicesNational Speech/Language Therapy CenterComputer Solutions & Development, Inc.American Travel Association, Inc.

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  Farm Credit Administration

  • McLean, Virginia

  • Senior Graphic Designer

    • Oct 1984 - Apr 1990
    • McLean, Virginia

    Senior Graphic Designer for the Farm Credit Administration. Won prestigious Presidential Design Achievement Award from the National Endowment for the Arts for excellence in design for the Government of the United States. Designed and managed projects, including brochures, publications, signage, photography, video art direction, and writing. _________________________________PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE INCLUDES:GRAPHIC DESIGNERDynamac InternationalRockville, Maryland_______WRITER/EDITOR + GRAPHIC DESIGNERSmithsonian Institution, Museum of American HistoryWashington, D.C.Published (Wrote and Designed): "Official White House China," Booklet and 80-slide set art series for Smithsonian Institution_______ADVERTISING ARTISTThe Hecht Company (Macy's)Washington, D.C.