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My foot in the door began with bunion surgery…
Not mine, thankfully. I had just graduated from Purdue University with a bachelor’s degree in communications when The News-Sentinel in Fort Wayne, Indiana, needed someone to fill in for the features clerk, who was out for foot surgery. Six weeks later she returned but I stayed, invited to join the desk as a copy editor.
My career has included positions with the daily News-Sentinel, where I served as copy desk slot, prep sports copy editor, business copy editor and business section designer; with the weekly Elbert County News in Castle Rock, Colorado, where I was copy editor and reporter; and with the Denver metro daily The Rocky Mountain News, where I was a copy editor.
Early on, I also worked as marketing and volunteer coordinator for the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical Society and History Museum. I later employed my marketing expertise as special sections editor for Fort Wayne Newspapers' marketing department, overseeing a heavy schedule of existing publications and developing new publications, as well as writing promotional copy.
I worked for a year as a book editor at Our Sunday Visitor (OSV), an international Catholic publishing company in Huntington, Indiana, then was asked to serve as presentation editor for OSV newspaper after its redesign. I also was invited to write children's books for OSV; the second and third of my four titles have resided on the national Catholic children's best-seller list. The fourth book tied for first place in the children's book category of the Catholic Press Association's 2007 national book competition. My freelance work for Our Sunday Visitor includes extensive promotional copy for persuasive letters, advertisements, catalogs and back covers.
I also worked for Canterbury School, an independent, private, college-prep school in Fort Wayne, handling the Web site, weekly newsletter, quarterly magazine, media relations, print materials, event planning and photography.
Most recently I served as managing editor of parish relations in new product development at Loyola Press of Chicago. There I wrote, I edited, I managed people and projects, and I indulged in lots of creative brainstorming with a dynamic team.
In my abundant spare time, I write a monthly fitness column for Fort Wayne Magazine. Past endeavors included a profile of a local chef each month, a bed and breakfast review column and occasional full-length features. I've been published on topics as diverse as travel, business, sports, food, nutrition/fitness, religion, parenting and education.
As a freelance copy editor, I have revised business communications, scholarly books, thesis papers and more. I also have employed my layout and design experience with Quark and InDesign to write and produce newsletters on health, religious education and school issues.
I do try to step away from my computer often. I am a single mom to a bright and happy daughter who is a voracious reader, much to the delight of her mother. Fitness is one of my primary interests -- I work out daily and study exercise and nutrition extensively. I travel often, for writing and for pleasure. I am a member of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Chicago, and I just passed Level One of the Court of Master Sommeliers. (This is also a good excuse to sample lots of wine.)
My turnaround time on all my work is relatively short, courtesy of many years spent on a daily deadline. Quality is never sacrificed, however. A persistent quest for perfection means I’m always putting my best foot forward. |
