Highlights
- A versatile, thoughtful editor with more than 15 years of experience.
- A collaborative leader who took the initiative to learn Web production skills at USA TODAY, then taught them to others in the newsroom.
- A tireless advocate for accuracy and clarity online who has been the leader in quality-control efforts for USATODAY.com's Life section.
- An award-winning headline writer who is always on the lookout for SEO opportunities.
- Excellent performance during a temporary assignment at USA TODAY led to an immediate full-time job offer.
Work history
USA TODAY, McLean, Va., September 2000-present
Production Editor, Life
ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Led the Life copy desk's transition to Web publishing by compiling a dot-com posting guide and taking on extra responsibilities, including learning new tasks and training co-workers. Mentored Web producers to craft headlines and photo captions that meet the newspaper's standards.
DUTIES: Craft headlines, edit copy, enforce grammar and style, format content and perform many other duties across all publishing platforms. Manage and publish fresh content for the Life front at USATODAY.com nightly, including blogs, staff and wire stories, interactive pieces and photo galleries. Copy-edit the Lifeline Live blog and write posts when needed. Assist in editing content for USA WEEKEND magazine and other niche publications. Fill in for the copy desk chief as needed to ensure that deadlines are met.
Honors and awards
USA TODAY Loaner Program, May-September 2000: Selected from thousands of Gannett journalists across the country to take part in a four-month residency/internship working as a full-time staff member in USA TODAY’s newsroom near Washington, D.C. Hired immediately after completing the program.
Excellence in headlines: A 13-time winner in USA TODAY's monthly Hainer Awards competition.
Best of USA TODAY 2009: Recognized along with the Life department staff for exceptional coverage of the death of Michael Jackson.
Best of USA TODAY 2008: Recognized along with the Life department staff for exceptional deadline coverage of the Oscars.
Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, N.C., June 1993-September 2000
Copy Editor, News and Sports
DUTIES: Edited copy, designed pages, wrote headlines and performed many other duties for 55,000-circulation daily morning newspaper. Edited and designed Page One and the main news section four days a week. While in Sports (1993-1995), edited and designed the entire section four days a week, including Sundays.
Honors and awards
Gannett Freedom of Information Award, 1999: Recognized along with the newspaper's staff as finalists in the prestigious competition. Edited copy, wrote headlines and designed pages for a body of work that demonstrated the Citizen-Times' commitment to the First Amendment.
Best of Gannett: Edited copy, wrote headlines and designed pages for several stories and projects that won Best of Gannett awards from 1995-2000.
You Count Award: Named Employee of the Month, May 1997.
Lenoir News-Topic, Lenoir, N.C., December 1989-June 1993
Sports Editor, Sports Writer
DUTIES: Directed coverage, wrote stories, designed pages and supervised staff for a small daily afternoon newspaper. Began as a writer and was promoted to Sports Editor in May 1990.
Skills and expertise
Well versed in SEO. Working knowledge of Omniture Web traffic analytics. Proficient in USA TODAY's entire Web publishing suite: XML Editor (CMS), Front Manager, Communities Manager (blogs), Photo Magician, Photo Gallery Editor, HTML Assistant, Template Editor. Proficient in most major blogging software (Typepad, Wordpress, Blogger). Proficient in CCI NewsGate and CCI News Desk. Significant experience with QuarkXpress. Basic working knowledge of DreamWeaver.
Education
Appalachian State University, Boone, N.C., B.S., Communications
