Experience

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  Abbott Laboratories / AbbVie, Inc. (Techlink Systems placement)

  • North Chicago, IL

  • Web Content Developer / Senior Writer / Communications Specialist III

    • Sep 2012 - Apr 2017
    • North Chicago, IL

    Wrote features and web content for Internal corporate website and Research and Development website for this world leader in pharmaceuticals, whose brands include Humira, Andro Gel, Biaxin, Depakote, Lexapro, Vicodin, and many others. Communications responsibilities included video script development, marketing strategies and communications plans, Power Point presentations, web content in the form of articles, news briefs, leadership messaging, and distilling highly technical medical and drug research information into reader-friendly pieces. Managed and wrote copy for annual award presentation ceremony (President Awards) where top-performing research scientists were recognized. Developed surveys and solicited feedback for Human Resources.

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  Lifeline Vascular Access, (Digital People placement)

  • Vernon Hills, IL

  • Communications Manager

    • Apr 2011 - Dec 2011
    • Vernon Hills, IL

    Responsible for all media contact and article placement as well as production of advertising and collateral materials, including trade ads, press releases, brochures, online informational copy, marketing strategy documents for the nation’s leading network of kidney dialysis centers. Power Point presentations, letters from the CEO, internal and external newsletters, and annual reports. Developed a comprehensive marketing plan for the organization’s celebration of half-million patient encounters, including marketing tools for individual centers, solicitation of testimonials, and booth materials for the American Society of Nephrologists (ASN) annual convention.

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  National Safety Council (The Creative Group placement)

  • Itasca, IL

  • Marketing Project Leader

    • Oct 2010 - Mar 2011
    • Itasca, IL

    Responsible for developing marketing projects from conception to completion, including sales support material, emails to council members and prospects, letters from the president, fundraising projects, brochures, catalogs, invitations, and other projects for this nationally recognized advocacy group. Helped increase attendance at Texas Safety Conference & Expo by fifty percent over previous year with promotional materials, persuasive emails, and creative invitation. Helped generate a record $1 million in donations and ticket sales for Green Cross for Safety dinner through advance promotional efforts and invitation, the council’s largest fundraiser.

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  Andel Media

  • Greater Chicago Area

  • Copywriter/Editor/Web Content Writer/Ghostwriter/Media, Communications, and Development Professional

    • Jan 2009 - Sep 2010
    • Greater Chicago Area

    Copywriting/content development contractor of a marketing communications business. Produce web content, newsletters, brochures, and collateral sales support materials for small businesses. Write freelance articles for websites, newspapers and trade publications, including the Chicago Tribune Redeye and Metromix web site. Develop catalog content and web site updates for clients. Ghostwriter of books, white papers, and newsletter pieces for CEOs, company presidents, and top-level managers. Taught writing at McHenry County College.

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  Catholic Church Extension Society

  • Director of Communications

    • May 2004 - Jan 2009

    Director of Communications responsible for website content (www.catholicextension.org), media relations, advertising, public relations, and online appeals and e-newsletters for this 100-year-old nonprofit agency serving America’s missions, Wrote fundraising appeal letters to a donor base of 50,000+, magazine pieces for Extension Magazine, and personality profiles for the website to encourage financial support. Wrote brochures, annual report, newsletters, and collateral materials.

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  Timeout Chicago

  • Freelance Writer

    • 2005 - 2008

    Wrote bar and restaurant reviews for this Chicago weekly publication geared toward urban entertainment.

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  McHenry County College

  • English Instructor

    • Sep 2003 - Jun 2004

    Full-time Instructor of English, teaching four sections of Composition I and two sections of Composition II per semester. Received consistently positive student and administration evaluations of performance (TABS); on-campus involvement with several committees and directives. Technologically efficient in the use of “smart classroom” tools and Blackboard, integrating a multi-media approach to the classroom, combining lecture with hands-on writing, critical analysis of readings, and discussion of social and newsworthy issues as way to generate writing topics.

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  Chicago Tribune Media Group

  • Freelance Writer

    • 2004 - 2004

    Wrote bar and restaurant reviews for the Chicago Tribune Redeye edition and the Tribune's Metromix web site.

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  Impact Communications, LLC

  • Partner

    • Jun 2001 - Aug 2003

    A freelance copywriting and editing business that produced web sites, brochures, mailers, and trade articles. Another branch of this was an English tutoring business for students needing help with their English Composition and writing skills that involved 1,000+ hours of substitute English teaching. At this time, I was also an adjunct English instructor at McHenry County College, teaching several courses concurrently.

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  Mercy Home for Boys and Girls

  • Vice-President of Communications

    • Jun 1997 - May 2001

    Vice President of Communications for a residential care facility, serving as agency spokesman in media relations and public relations. Developed brochures, newsletters, and internal employee newsletters, and supervised a marketing coordinator, department secretary, and volunteer staff. Assisted with the promotion and implementation of special events and fundraisers, which raised more than a half-million dollars a year for the agency. Worked closely with the Development team to ensure consistency of message to a national donor base. Editor-in-chief and primary writer for the Waif’s Messenger, a quarterly four-color development magazine directed to donors of Mercy Home to inspire support. Secured television and newspaper coverage of events at Mercy Home.

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  Wright College

  • English Lecturer

    • Sep 1993 - Jun 1997

    English Lecturer, teaching four sections of Composition I and two sections of Composition II per semester. Received consistently positive student and administration evaluations of performance. Combined lecture with hands-on writing, critical analysis of readings, and discussion of social and newsworthy issues as way to generate writing topics.

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  Newark Electronics

  • Catalog Production Manager

    • 1993 - 1994

    Marketing Communications Manager for a Fortune 500 catalog-based distributor. Organized vendor materials and met with marketing representatives in order to write persuasive sales copy for the company catalog. Arranged for product photography and line art as needed.

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  Dunlap, Schulze and Associates

  • Sr. Writer

    • 1989 - 1991

    Senior Writer for business-to-business advertising company. Conceived and wrote trade advertisements for clients in the technology tools and precision equipment business. Wrote company newsletters, brochures, catalogs, and sales support materials for technology-based clients.

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  W.W. Grainger

  • Catalog Merchandising Manager

    • Mar 1987 - Nov 1989

    Catalog Merchandising Manager for a global supplier of industrial products. Responsibilities included annual complete revisions of various catalog sections and frequent updating of other sections, including office equipment, lighting, blowers, and motors. Wrote descriptive, persuasive catalog copy, maintained vendor literature files, and arranged for in-house product photography

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  McMaster-Carr

  • Copywriter

    • 1979 - 1988

    Senior Copywriter for a large industrial supply company. Worked with merchandising managers to secure new product information to update catalog copy and search for new product lines to generate revenue. Performed copywriting and layout work in a desktop publishing PC environment.