Grants Writer

• Jul 2023 - Present

- Prepare grant proposals with the support of the development team. - Research new funding opportunities. - Keep an organized and detailed grants calendar to assure grants are sent out consistently. - Provide data analysis of grant activities for external and internal use. - Prepare grant proposals with the support of the development team. - Research new funding opportunities. - Keep an organized and detailed grants calendar to assure grants are sent out consistently. - Provide data analysis of grant activities for external and internal use.

Freelance Editor

• Jul 2021 - Present

Recruiter

• Jan 2023 - Jul 2023

Our primary mission at People’s First Agency/AO is to protect all children and serve all working families. Our industry is unique, because our success as a business is a direct result of helping hard-working people. Company Accolades: - Forbes Top 24 Happiest Companies To Work For 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - Fortune 500 Company Globe Life owned - Rated A+ Superior on AM best for financial strength - AIL Agency Of The Year 2017 Our primary mission at People’s First Agency/AO is to protect all children and serve all working families. Our industry is unique, because our success as a business is a direct result of helping hard-working people. Company Accolades: - Forbes Top 24 Happiest Companies To Work For 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 - Fortune 500 Company Globe Life owned - Rated A+ Superior on AM best for financial strength - AIL Agency Of The Year 2017

Content Writer

• Apr 2022 - Sep 2022

• Increased community presence and strengthened the organization’s reputation through publication and dissemination of press releases, blogging, and event calendar management. Researched, wrote, and posted messages on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram to widen Sustainable Staffing’s reach on social media. Helped to launch the company on TikTok. • Coordinated marketing events to promote the staffing agency in surrounding towns and cities through working with the local chamber of commerce and other organizations. • Enhanced the writing of job descriptions using professionalism, clarity, and consistency for more than 30 clients. Show less

Public Relations Specialist

• May 2012 - Feb 2022

● Cultivated relationships with Chicagoland’s top media outlets resulting in priority access and key media placement of Oakton’s news events. ● Successfully pitched college-related stories to national and state media outlets resulting in more than 500,000 views. ● Enhanced public relations by working with journalists on all media requests and coaching interviewees to work with reporters. ● Served as a compelling storyteller of the college’s accomplishments through researching, writing, and editing materials for social media and media outlets, including press releases and media alerts. ● Grew Oakton’s social media presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram up to 30% since inception through platform design and data analytics application. ● Led weekly meetings of colleagues to plan public relations and social media messages, ensuring the document is followed and modified as necessary. ● Provided assistance and training to faculty members who looked to launch social media sites and coordinated their media relations efforts. Show less

Writer/Editor

• 2003 - 2012

Played a key role for Oakton’s College Relations Department by: ● Writing at least three press releases per week publicizing events, awards and achievements for the college. Releases generated over $50,000 annually in public relations value by appearing in publications including Chicago Tribune, Daily Herald and Chicago Sun-Times. ● Promoting a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association with 14 sports by writing media guides and athletic newsletters for internal and external audiences. ● Enhancing the college’s athletic and co-curricular conference through branding efforts by collaborating with other league members. ● Producing articles and features for the web. ● Researching and writing a variety of marketing materials for college departments including brochures, flyers and bookmarks. ● Interviewing students, faculty, administrators and staff for public relations purposes. Show less

Sports Communication Assistant

• 2001 - 2003

Played a vital role at a highly successful 26-sport NCAA Division III athletic program by: ● Coordinating with a contracted electronic service to distribute hometown press releases of student-athletes sent to over 100 sports editors and TV directors in the Northeast. ● Writing feature articles for “Triangle,” a publication distributed to 30,000 alumni of Springfield College. ● Serving as primary contact for four NCAA Division III athletic teams. ● Writing and designing a weekly release highlighting athletic accomplishments at Springfield College sent nationwide. ● Assisting in the maintenance of the college’s athletic website. ● Serving as a statistician for the Freedom Football Conference, a league with seven teams from four states. Show less

Sports Editor

• 2000 - 2001

● Managed a daily newspaper staff of 5 employees and provided in-depth local sports coverage for two colleges and five high schools. ● Designed layout for the daily sports section. ● Covered Los Angeles Lakers games, including postseason play. ● Managed a daily newspaper staff of 5 employees and provided in-depth local sports coverage for two colleges and five high schools. ● Designed layout for the daily sports section. ● Covered Los Angeles Lakers games, including postseason play.