CAREER SUMMARY

copywriter and Communications professional with 7+ years of experience in corporate communications, e-learning, business-to-business publishing, and marketing is adept at creating original and innovative content  for web and print including marketing collateral, search engine optimization and website content, instructor-led and web-based courses, executive presentations, social media content, and all types of digital and print communications to help achieve strategic business or marketing objectives.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Achieved the only top performance rating of “1” in department at a major healthcare company.
• Produced all content for a variety of web-based courses and trainings which have become best practices for many Fortune 500 companies including Bank of America, Kraft and Allstate.
• Published in variety of magazines, newspapers and online publications and quoted as source in various online encyclopedias.
• Created unique leadership development program which became best practice for healthcare organization.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Confidential,
Chicago, IL
Senior Copywriter (June 2011 – Present Contract)

• Write copy for a wide range of online marketing projects, including advertising, mobile, social, emails and web.
• Develop and/or edit all copy for new ASCP website in line with new brand messaging and positioning.
• Deliver creative concepts according to creative brief requirements.
• Collaborate with creative teams to develop comprehensive, integrated campaigns.
• Manage project with aggressive project plan and editorial calendar.
• Actively collaborate with the information architect and SMEs for rapid turnaround of copy.
• Implement best practices for web copywriting.
• Ensure web copy is written following SEO best practices.

Confidential,
Evanston, IL
Content Developer (August 2010 – June 2011)

• Produce learning content for a variety of training courses for clients across all industries, including many Fortune 500 companies. Includes content for Instructor Led Training (ILT) and/or Web-Based Training (WBT) among other formats, primarily e-learning.
• Recent projects include:
• Bank of America course to educate associates on a web-based system created to store, track and communicate about Debt Issuance documentation and Trades.
• Allstate Business Insurance courses, including Business Auto Insurance, to educate agents on guidelines for selling business insurance
• Kraft Foods course to teach Marketing associates about new guidelines for marketing to children.
• Meet with client/s regularly to track projects, obtain feedback and receive direction in order to align their vision with final course and keep on schedule with course deadlines.

Confidential,
Chicago, IL
Freelance Writer (February 2010 – Present)

• Research and write articles for variety of b2b publications including Green Business Quarterly, Canadian Builders Quarterly, Profile, March, Hispanic Executive Quarterly and Energy International Quarterly geared towards business executives in U.S. and Canada.
• Merge creative style with business writing and focus on in depth, detailed reporting with high quality writing. Provide guidance to photo editors in order to obtain appropriate images.
• Collect additional statistical information on company or industry from interviewees to provide detailed sidebars.

Confidential,
Des Plaines, IL
Freelance Writer (January 2011 – Present)

• Research and write SEO and marketing copy geared towards consumer for websites, social media, brochures and newsletters for clients primarily in the medical/healthcare industry, also some in retail/e-commerce.
• Includes promotional copy as well as informative/fact based content on various topics.

Confidential,
Chicago, IL
IOLTC Learning & Talent Consultant (August 2009 – May 2010)
IO Senior Communications Specialist  (January 2008 – August 2009)

Role expanded from communications resource for two customer service projects, Campaign Manager and Concierge Service Analytics, to communications department lead and SSD newsletter editor after rapid and noticeable successes with contributions on CM and CSA teams. Additional projects included Employee Engagement and Change Management Interventions and Focus Groups, Rising Stars Program, Website Redesign, 2010 Leadership Development Proposal and Leadership Development management. Promoted to lead heavily matrixed projects. 
Communication

• Served as Lead in delivering strategic communications for all employees within Internal Operations division.
• Coordinated, developed and delivered traditional and innovative communications including memos, e-newsletters, video scripts/content, website content, proposals, social media and blogs, toolkits and education forums for all levels of the organization. 
• Designed and executed customized communication plans and initiatives for numerous programs, ranging from overall divisional plans to targeted plans for individual projects. 
• Wrote reports for executives attending Inter-Plan Programs Committee (IPPC) quarterly meetings. Led project team in creating web-based portal for Inter-Plan Programs Committee (IPPC) reports.
• Consulted across the division on communication plans, interactive activities and vehicles.
• Launched original communications for Campaign Manager, Concierge Service Analytics and Rising Stars to foster engagement and produce measurable increases in strategic adoption rates. 
• Wrote scripts for service rep campaigns and all project communications to customer advocates.
• Lead in communications for annual employee engagement survey.
• Collaborated with team on planning large-scale events and meetings.

Talent Management/Leadership Development

• Developed unique leadership development program which later became best practice throughout the organization.
• Revamped Customer Compliments program and transformed from manual to automated process.
• Cultivated and developed leadership qualities throughout all levels of the organization through communication and education of critical skills, values and behaviors (eg leadership model). 
• Created and/or coordinated interactive and innovative leadership seminars, training classes and workshops. 
• Enhanced leaders’ understanding of communication techniques and audience analysis through whole brain technology.
• Confidential,

Chicago, IL
Staff Reporter  (May 2007 – November 2007)

• Served as first full-time reporter for start-up online architecture publication.
• Researched leads and conducted interviews with architects, developers and other sources in architecture and real estate industry.
• Wrote 5+ features and 15+ short updates per week.
• Attended monthly Plan Commission Meeting to obtain new leads and breaking news.
• Assisted with marketing efforts and created editorial calendar for upcoming months.

Confidential,
 Chicago, IL
Research Editor (May 2006 – May 2007)

• Role was in newspaper department of media research company.
• Primary responsibilities included writing and editing media profiles for media outlets throughout U.S.
• Conducted phone interviews with media contacts to provide detailed information for clients in PR & advertising. Awarded “Star of the Month” for high production and performance in December 2006.

Confidential,
Chicago, IL
Sales & Marketing Assistant & Writer (Jan 2005 – August 2005)

• Wrote articles on current point of purchase marketing trends and campaigns for In-Store Marketing Institute website, P-O-P Times magazine and assisted with tasks related to content in Home Décor Buyer and P-O-P Design magazines.
• Created ad plaques for ad sales presentations.
• Assisted sales representatives with writing and editing letters to clients or potential clients.
• Helped write and design presentations for clients

Confidential,
Chicago, IL
Search Engine Optimization – Independent Writer (September 2004-September 2005)

• Wrote keyword content articles on various topics for clients in retail, real estate, insurance, mortgage, education and other industries.
• Organized content in order to optimize keyword search.
• Translated technical content into more comprehensible terms for layperson/consumer.

Confidential,
Iowa City, IA
Arts & Entertainment Reporter (January 2002 – May 2002)

• Wrote articles for A&E section of paper.
• Researched and/or conducted interviews for potential Arts & Entertainment stories.
• Visited and attended events and places of interest to DI

VARIOUS FREELANCE ASSIGNMENTS – Misc.
Confidential,
Writer/Editor (2002-ongoing)

Articles & marketing emails/letters for Mary.com website. Travel articles for Pupil Magazine & Transitions Abroad website. Articles for LuminoMagazine.com including on music, pop culture, entertainment, city life and other topics

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Arts in English Degree – University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (2004)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology Degree – University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA (2004)

   COMPUTER SKILLS

MS Office, Adobe Creative Suite, CMS, HTML, SharePoint, Hootsuite, Trivantis Lectora, Articulate, Captivate, SnagIt, WordPress, Tumblr, Facebook, Twitter, Yammer, Google+, iMovie, Instagram