writing - editing - marketing
resume
Award-Winning Journalist - Creative Copywriter
Innovation, Creativity and Reader Empathy
I’m like everyone else: Pulled in many directions.
My phone is always pinging me. I worry about comments on my Facebook wall. I fear I’m missing something on Twitter. The dog wants a walk.
I know the importance of getting the attention of people like me. If writing is boring or clumsy, it doesn’t get the job done. Whatever that job might be, the first hurdle is getting it noticed.
Proven Versatility
Many years of professional journalism taught me how to quickly learn new subject matter and explain it, as simply as possible, to readers. I am one of the fastest writers around, producing lean and clean copy that hits the mark.
I’ve written more than just hard news. My experience includes advertising copy, opinion columns, Web content for businesses, blog blurbs, social media posts and more.
Work Experience
Owner and Editor
TAPintoRoxbury
An award-winning hyperlocal online news site focusing on Roxbury Township, NJ. Part of the TAPinto.net family of similar sites. I write the stories and I sell the ads.
Founder, Owner and Operator
MOBILE GRAPHICS NEW JERSEY - KENVIL, NJ
Sole proprietorship offering on-site merchandising/advertising services to car dealerships. Built multi-state customer base through cold-calling, self-marketing and product innovation.
Associate Director of Marketing
ECC HORIZON & ECAP - RANDOLPH, NJ 2011-2014
Responsible for all corporate marketing efforts including the creation of Web sites, social media pages, print collateral, email and print mail campaigns, the continuing education program, business cards and blogs.
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Mastered WiX.com for Web site creation utilizing online Flash and HTML5 site editors
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Launched several blogs and social media pages
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Designed graphics for booths used at trade shows, including 10-foot-wide murals
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Developed and managed in-house production of all print collateral, including design, printing and distribution
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Created online ‘flipbooks,” where images appear to animate, using online services including FlipSnack and Uberflip
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Crafted and distributed branded holiday e-cards
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Administered the company CRM program
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Self-taught in the use of Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Microsoft Publisher, WordPress, MailChimp email campaign maker, Pipeline Deals CRM, Pixlr online photo editor and the Wufoo form builder
Freelance Reporter/Columnist/Copywriter
SELF-EMPLOYED – BLAIRSTOWN, NJ 2001-2011
From an office in an old barn, wrote online and print content for news organizations and for several advertising/public relations agencies with major clients including Samsung, BMW and Sun Microsystems. A typical day involved writing a column about trout fishing for The Star-Ledger, a news piece about Web advertising for www.clickz.com and success stories for an IT company’s new Web site.
Senior Editor
ZIFF DAVIS MEDIA NEW YORK, NY 2000 -2001
Full-time staff member for SmartPartner, a weekly trade magazine focused on the computer reseller space. Researched and wrote tech business news and features and was a main contributor to the “First Shots” section which poked fun at industry ironies and foul-ups.
Staff Writer
THE STAR-LEDGER NEWARK, NJ 1989-2000
Specialized in coverage of courts and crime. Led the nation in breaking news about the 1998 “thrill-kill” murders of two pizza deliverymen in Sussex County, NJ. Also wrote opinion columns and covered politics, the environment and county government.
Staff Writer / Bureau Chief
THE Times Herald-Record Middletown, NY 1986 - 1989
Manned several small news bureaus in Orange County, NY before becoming county courts reporter. Beats included crime in Newburgh, NY and the U.S. Military Academy at West Point.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Education
B.A. - Communication
William Paterson University
A. A. S. - Business
County College of Morris
Awards
First Place, Spot News Coverage - New Jersey Press Association