For over two decades, I have worked as a writer, editor, photographer and video producer in marketing and journalism, with a proven track record for accuracy, creativity, attention to detail and versatility.

WORK EXPERIENCE

SEO Content Specialist, Copy Editor, Copywriter, Photographer

Cuyahoga Community College — October 2022 to Present

This role allows me to use my copy editing, writing and photography skills for marketing materials in Tri-C’s Integrated Communications Department. I have taken an active role in improving the department’s messaging through content suggestions and rewriting copy. I am also involved in an effort to improve Tri-C’s website by making our copy SEO-friendly and adding components such as meta descriptions and keywords. Plus, as a former reporter and photojournalist, I often write press releases and articles and photograph events, which are used for marketing purposes and the college’s “Tri-C Times” magazine. My editing and proofreading responsibilities include press releases, brochures, newsletters, flyers and long-format guides and documents.

Freelance Marketing Writer, Copy Editor, Video Producer, Photo Editor

Self-Employed — January to October 2022

After a family emergency required me to leave my former full-time position, I freelanced in marketing as a writer, proofreader and photo editor. Two of my positions included:

• Marketing Coordinator, OnStation: Wrote articles, created videos and managed social media posts for construction app

• Photo Editor, 247wallst.com: Wrote list articles and created photo slideshows for this financial news and commentary website

Reporter, Photographer, Videographer, Editor

Ashland Times Gazette — November 2016 to September 2021

As a photographer, reporter, videographer and editor, I balanced multiple assignments with daily deadlines, writing feature articles as needed for this six-day newspaper, photographing news and sports and producing video packages. I also developed and produced a weekly arts and entertainment calendar and a column of area “Best Bets.” As a “digital first” medium, we focused on producing stories using SEO best practices and studying website analytics. I received the Best Photographer award for my newspaper’s division in the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors Awards for a portfolio of my photography work in 2019. I also produced video packages for the website and social media pages, acting as the videographer, editor and graphics designer. I worked full-time for the newspaper until August 2020 and moved to freelance status to care for my father as he battled stage IV bile duct cancer.

Reason for leaving: My father passed away in October 2021, and I needed to take time off work to settle his estate.

Photographer, Videographer, Writer

Self-Employed — July 2004 to November 2016

For more than 12 years, I worked as a freelance photographer, video producer and writer for advertising and news agencies on a local, national and international level. These are examples of my clients:

• Photographer, BLOC Marketing: Photographer for marketing company representing Budweiser

• Photographer, Richfield Script Type: Photographer for Richfield newspapers

• Photographer, Premier Event Services: Event photographer for entertainment company

• Photographer, Eivan’s Photo: Photographer for weddings and events

• Photographer, George Street Photo: Photographer for weddings and events

• Videographer, Ruptly News: News photographer for Berlin, Germany, news service

• Videographer, Barcroft USA: News photographer for international news service

• Videographer/Editor, Clatter & Din: Produced, shot and edited commercials for Seattle-based company working with local Cleveland television stations

• Videographer/Editor, Knowlera Media: Produced, shot and edited news packages for Washington D.C.-based company working with Yahoo! local pages

• Freelance Writer, J-Style magazine

• Freelance Writer, Northeast Ohio Luxury Living magazine

• Freelance Writer, Paddle Dealer magazine

Multimedia Producer, Writer, Editor, Photographer

Cleveland Jewish News — February 2016 to May 2016

In this role, I built the website daily, photographed news stories, formatted articles for the web, proofread print pages, wrote feature articles and produced video packages for this weekly newspaper, performing all the videography and editing. I received a second-place award from the Ohio Associated Press Media Editors for one of my video features.

Reason for leaving: This was a temporary position.

Multimedia Producer, Web Producer, Graphic Designer

Cleveland.com — June 2007 to February 2009

During my time at the website for the Cleveland Plain Dealer, I built the home, news and business pages daily, which included managing editorial content, formatting stories for the web and photo editing. I also regularly produced multimedia content, which involved conceptualizing new video series, designing motion graphics and performing all the videography and editing.

Reason for leaving: A quarter of the company was laid off, and I was one of four let go from my department.

Web Producer, Writer, Multimedia Producer

Ohio.com — July 2004 to February 2006

While working for the Akron Beacon Journal’s website, I played an integral role in a redesign of the site’s home, sports, news and business pages, which included implementing a new layout. My daily duties included managing the pages’ daily content, formatting stories for the web and photo editing. I also produced video packages and wrote feature articles.

Reason for leaving: My position was eliminated when the parent company (Knight Ridder Digital) was sold.

EDUCATION

  • Western Kentucky University, Bowling Green, KY. B.A. in Television Production with a minor in Psychology.
  • Certificate earned in The Fundamentals of Digital Marketing from Google Digital Workshop in March 2022
  • Social Media Marketing Certified by HubSpot Academy in March 2022
  • SEO Certified by HubSpot Academy in March 2022
  • Certified following Complete SEO Content Writing Course For Web Promotion on Udemy in June 2022
  • Digital Marketing Certified by HubSpot Academy in March 2022
  • National Press Photographers Association Television News Video Workshop, March 2000

AWARDS

  • Ohio Associated Press Editors Awards, 2021, Third Place, Best Feature Writer
  • Ohio Associated Press Editors Awards, 2020, First Place, Best Photographer
  • Ohio Associated Press Editors Awards, 2016, Second Place, Video Package
  • Virginia Press Association, 2004 – First Place in Critical Writing for collection of movie reviews
  • Virginia Press Association, 2004 – Second Place in Feature Writing Portfolio for collection of feature stories
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – Student Award for Best Reporter
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – First Place Student Award For News Report
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – First Place Student Award For Feature Report
  • Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), 2001 – Second Place Mark of Excellence Student Award for Feature Report in Region 5 (Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana)
  • Ohio News Media Association, 2020, First Place, Best Photographer
  • Ohio News Media Association, 2016, Second Place, Video Package
  • Virginia Press Association, 2004 – First Place in Critical Writing for collection of movie reviews
  • Virginia Press Association, 2004 – Second Place in Feature Writing Portfolio for collection of feature stories
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – Student Award for Best Reporter
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – First Place Student Award For News Report
  • Kentucky Associated Press, 2002 – First Place Student Award For Feature Report
  • Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), 2001 – Second Place Mark of Excellence Student Award for Feature Report in Region 5 (Kentucky, Illinois, and Indiana)