Experience

The State Journal-Register

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Staff Writer

  • Dec 2018 - Present

• Correspondent

  • 1989 - Present

  Contributor to Beliefs (Religion) page; spot news and various other sections like Health, Sports, Business and SO Magazine. Wrote compelling features on local survivors of the Joplin, Mo., tornado; a Springfield nun killed in the Liberian civil war; a local family raising a child with Harlequin ichthyosis and a local ranch that provides refuge for hurting children and abused animals.



Whelan Security

• United States
• Security and Investigations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Security Officer/Special Event Services

  • Nov 2014 - May 2018

  +With Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) clearance, staff Police Checkpoint, making sure only badged individuals enter secure area; record all vehicle escorts and record all “Permission to Park” vehicles. +Staff exit lanes making sure all individuals do not re-enter the secure area. +Staff inspection lanes to make sure no contraband materiel is brought onto sterile side. +Assist passengers in terminal and drives with any direction-related questions as “face of the airport.” Assist St. Louis Metro Police Department and other Airport Authority as needed. Show less



Kevin W McClain Investigations

• Centralia, Illinois

• Legal Investigator

  • Jan 2013 - Feb 2014

  +Assisted attorneys, investigators, mitigation specialists and support staff in all phases of investigations, including review of discovery and mitigation material. Participated in Case Reviews, as needed; +Identified, locate and interview pertinent witnesses, including clients, adversarial witnesses and family members of the victims. Draft interview notes into reports when warranted; +Developed mitigation reports, gathering all pertinent records and developing a workable social history; maintain contacts, working relationships and correspondence with clients and family members and develop contacts for experts, as needed. Show less



State of Illinois

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Investigator

  • Apr 2000 - Jun 2012

  +Assist attorneys and mitigation specialists in all phases of investigation, including review of police reports, interviews and other mitigation material. +Identify, locate and interview pertinent witnesses, including adversarial and difficult-to-find witnesses, family members of victims, jurors and clients. Draft interview notes into reports when warranted. +Maintain working relationships and correspondence with clients and family members. +Assist in obtaining various records pertinent to cases, including significant quantities of police reports; medical, psychological, school and employment records and military records. Review and analyze records for various follow-up. +Visit crime scenes and review and analyze crime scene photos, autopsy photos and crime scene reports. +Assist in indexing and maintaining files via programs like CaseMap. Show less



Catholic Times

• Writer/Photographer

  • 1990 - 1994

  +Served as Feature Writer/Photographer for weekly newspaper; +Responsible for spot news coverage and features, including development of Centerpiece, a weekly magazine-length story; +Responsible for proofreading pages +Served as Feature Writer/Photographer for weekly newspaper; +Responsible for spot news coverage and features, including development of Centerpiece, a weekly magazine-length story; +Responsible for proofreading pages