EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Cum Laude                                         
Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

EXPERIENCE
Senior Associate Director, Strategic Communications       2019 - 2023
Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago, IL

  • Wrote, edited and managed production of digital and print content for the large, nationwide health care association. Created marketing, editorial and informational flyers, brochures, emails, videos, website copy, social media, and other collateral and communications for association products, services and events. Supervised Associate Director and contractors.

  • Wrote editorial articles for association publications and its website. Managed the creation, writing and editing of more than 200 digital and print educational brochures and info sheets about Alzheimer’s disease.

  • Copywriting duties included creating speeches for senior leadership, scripts for fundraising events, and content for association branding/reports including the annual report, DEI Impact Report and internal HR company values. Developed communications and marketing strategy for products, services, and events. Concurrently served as Executive Editor of ALZ magazine (see below).

Executive Editor, ALZ magazine       2019 - 2023
Alzheimer’s Association, Chicago, IL

  • Head editor and director of ALZ magazine, a consumer-facing quarterly editorial publication with a print circulation of over 200,000 and a digital reach extending over 2 million. Managed a team of writers, editors, freelancers, designers and production staff. Generated, assigned, wrote, and edited articles, sourced photos and video, directed layout and art design, and managed the print/digital production and distribution of the magazine. Led content strategy and brand marketing/promotion.

  • Directed ALZ magazine website content creation and design. Managed social media promotion and digital communications. Created and managed magazine budgets, distribution lists and print orders.

  • Led an association-wide Editorial Advisory Board that oversaw the nonprofit health care magazine’s content and strategy. More than tripled circulation during tenure as editor, and led special content/promotional partnerships with TIME and Better Homes & Gardens magazines.

Editor-in-Chief, Editorial Services       2018 - 2019
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Chicago, IL

  • Directed content creation and production of all association print and digital editorial publications, including research journals, trade magazines (print/website) and e-newsletters (15 total publications).

  • Managed the team of Editorial Services department writers, editors, designers, and advertising sales reps. Responsible for the department’s publishing strategy, budgeting and revenue/expense management.

  • Directed editorial and marketing coverage for all publications, including digital SEO content. Oversaw layout, concepted covers/feature art, and managed daily operations of the Journal of AHIMA (see below).

Editor-in-Chief, Journal of AHIMA       2012 - 2019
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Chicago, IL

  • Led creation of the association’s monthly flagship magazine (80,000 circulation) and news website. Managed magazine print and website writers, editors, and designers. Generated and assigned news, feature, department, and column articles, edited copy, and directed layout and art design.

  • Wrote feature and technical articles for the magazine/website. Created the editorial calendar and production schedule. Managed content management system (WordPress) for website and magazine digital edition, leveraging statistics for advertisers and content creation. Printer liaison, creating print order and recipient address reports. Managed revenue/expense budget.

  • Created onsite daily newspaper covering annual association convention. Launched successful native advertising and lead generation programs.

 Staff Writer, Journal of AHIMA           2007 - 2012
American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), Chicago, IL    

  • Developed, wrote, and edited news and feature articles on the health care information management and technology profession for AHIMA’s print and digital publications. Section editor for five monthly Journal of AHIMA columns. Multimedia section editor responsible for producing, creating, and editing audio, video, and multimedia content. Special content editor and reporter for live coverage of association’s onsite meetings.

Community Editor and Journalist       2004 - 2007
Arvada Press, Arvada, CO

  • Developed and assigned hard news, feature stories, and photos for 60,000 circulation weekly newspaper and news website in metro-Denver. Served as the “face” of the newspaper in the 101,000 population Arvada community. News and features reporter covering city hall, schools, crime, and general assignment articles. Also contributed articles to four weekly Mile High Newspapers, the parent organization of the Arvada Press. Newspaper group’s lead features writer, responsible for enterprise article series.

News Reporter       2002 - 2004
Kalamazoo Gazette, Kalamazoo, MI

  • Wrote local and regional general assignment hard news and feature articles for 65,000 circulation daily newspaper. Worked police and fire beat. Also wrote articles for Business, Arts and Entertainment, Homelife, and Generations sections. Beat reporter for Comstock Township and Comstock Public School District. Head reporter for six region Hometown edition newspapers. Uncovered and wrote hard news and feature stories for Hometown papers.

SPECIAL SKILLS
Photojournalism, art direction and design, feature writing, copywriting, audio/video content. Excellent with InDesign, InCopy, WordPress, iMovie, SoundForge, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Smartsheet, Monday.com, PowerPoint, Excel, Microsoft Office, Google Workspace, Microsoft Outlook, Associated Press Stylebook, Chicago Manual of Style

AWARDS
Editor: Winner of over 20 editorial/design awards from ASBPE, ASHPE, AMP.
Writer: ASBPE Midwest Region Award of Excellence for Best Feature Story (2011); Colorado Press Association awards for Best Feature Story (2005) and Best Story/Photo Combination (2006).

 

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