PROFESSIONAL SKILLS:
- Award-winning journalist with extensive experience in broadcast, print, and digital media.
- Flexible team player who adapts to dynamic environments and embraces new challenges, with strong interpersonal and problem-solving skills.
- Excellent reporting, interviewing, and research skills.
- Multimedia editing tools including Adobe Cloud — Audition, Premiere, Photoshop, Lightroom, Adobe Express, InDesign, and Acrobat Pro. DSLR and mobile photography and videography. Web tools including Google Analytics, Similarweb, Hootsuite, and HTML. Project management tools including Jira and Basecamp. Content management systems including WordPress, Adobe Commerce, Boxer, Core Publisher, and Blox. Microsoft Office Suite, including Excel and PowerPoint. Field and studio recording: microphones, audio recorders, mixers, DSLR cameras, video cameras and mobile photography and videography.
RELEVANT WORK HISTORY:
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company (Mansfield, MO). Media Specialist (August 2018 – present). Manage media relations and external communications with media partners. Produce video and other content for distribution on the company’s social media channels. Lead writing and editing of print materials, including catalogs, email newsletters, and blog. Developed “Seed Stories,” a highly regarded content marketing initiative exploring the history of heirloom varieties. Monitor social media analytics. Work with tech and ad teams on content design, SEO, and digital best practices. Program four major public events each year.
Wisconsin Public Radio (Madison, WI). Executive Producer, Mornings, (2017 – 2018). Managed the teams that produce The Morning Show, the flagship morning talk show of The Ideas Network, and The Larry Meiller Show. Oversaw the editorial process for booking and producing shows. Served as interim technical director for The Morning Show. Led search committees for a new morning host and producer. Worked with other departments to carry out live broadcasts and talk-show host events in regional communities. Implemented new WPR protocol for social media management of The Ideas Network content. Digital Producer. Contributed digital content for WisContext.org, including original research and reporting. Worked with The Ideas Network director on special projects, including technical documentation, best broadcast practices and network soundscape.
WFYI Public Media (Indianapolis, IN). News Director (2014 – 2017). Led the news operation at dual licensee WFYI. Managed a staff of seven part- and full-time reporters, news hosts and a digital editor. Oversaw a CPB-funded journalism collaboration focused on public health. Helped oversee a CPB-funded regional journalism collaboration focused on statewide issues. Worked with TV production division to produce video packages for legislative affairs show. Served as executive producer for live call-in show. Established editing protocols, built strong relationships with NPR and other Indiana public media organizations. Set editorial policy and established social media and ethics policies. Initiated a strategic planning process for news at WFYI. Managed newsroom internships for university students.
Winston-Salem Journal (Winston-Salem, NC). Digital Media Editor (2009 – 2012). Served as content manager for JournalNow.com, the web site of the Winston-Salem Journal, supervising a team of content producers. Managed all aspects of the digital delivery of news, including social media initiatives. Trained staff in use of content-management system and audio/visual tools for storytelling. Multimedia Editor (2007 – 2009). Supervised a team of five with special focus on breaking news and multimedia content for JournalNow.com. Worked with all newsroom departments and the content-management team of JournalNow.com to develop and produce multimedia components and presentations. Oversaw a continuous-news plan for the newsroom that included strategies for covering breaking news. State Editor (2005 – 2007). Managed a staff of six reporters who covered higher education, health and medicine, regional bureaus, state government and the N.C. Congressional delegation in Washington. Administered annual budget of approximately $306,000. Participated in regional news consortium for Media General, the parent company of the Winston-Salem Journal. Helped develop a newsroom policy on media convergence and multimedia. Assistant Metro Editor (2003 – 2005). Worked as line editor with state and metro staff reporters. Supervised night public-safety reporter and obituary desk. Worked with copy desk on all aspects of paper’s content and design. Higher Education Reporter (1999 – 2003). Covered the region’s colleges and universities as well as the University of North Carolina system. Developed enterprise stories and covered breaking news. Worked with a team to produce multimedia features for JournalNow.com.
WFDD Public Radio (Winston-Salem, NC). News Director (1998 – 1999). Directed daily operations of award-winning news department and supervised a staff of full-time and freelance reporters. Produced breaking news and feature reports. Hosted local broadcast of NPR’s All Things Considered. Filed spots and features with National Public Radio. Producer-Reporter (1996 – 1998). Produced features and interviews and hosted local broadcast of NPR’s All Things Considered.
SELECTED AWARDS:
- Milwaukee Press Club, Best Non-Deadline Reporting, 2018
- Indiana AP Broadcasters Association, Outstanding News Operation, 2016
- Indiana AP Broadcasters Association, Best News and Public Affairs program, 2014 and 2015
- D. Tennant Bryan Award for non-deadline multimedia reporting, 2009 and 2011
- N.C. Associated Press Broadcast Award, 2007
- Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism, Casey Journalism Foundation on Children and Families and Radio-Television News Directors Association Edward R. Murrow Southeast Regional Radio Awards, 2006
- Alfred I. DuPont-Columbia University Award for Broadcast Journalism, Gracie Award, Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television, Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Awards, finalist, and Harry Chapin Media Award, World Hunger Year, 2005
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS AND LEADERSHIP:
- Association of Independents in Radio; June 2010 – December 2018
- Board of Directors, Indiana Society of Professional Journalists; 2016 –2017
- President’s Council, Leadership Indianapolis; 2015 –2017
EDUCATION:
- Professional certificate in PR Strategy, Cornell University, 2021
- Graduate certificate in Communication and Technology, UNC Chapel Hill
- Master of Arts in English Language and Literature, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
- Bachelor of Arts in English, Augustana College, Rock Island, IL