experience

Freelance Marketing and Communications Professional (July 2005-Present)

Local Clients

• WDG Communications Inc.; brochure copywriting for promoting Foil Imaging: The Original Editioned Prints by University of Iowa art students and faculty 

• Advertising Federation of Cedar Rapids; wrote/developed first student brochure and expanded web content 

• Cedar Rapids Chamber of Commerce; synthesized 20 downtown revitalization proposals covering 15 years of information (1,000 pages) into a report providing clear vision for city’s economic center 

• Mercy Medical Center; copywriting for print ads, direct mail, newsletters, and The Mercy Touch magazine 

• Dr. Ralph Hillman's Powerful Persuasion Seminar; copywriting of press release and radio advertising 

• The Military Wife: A World War II Memoir by Marybelle Carde, copywriting/editing, layout, and publishing 

• Area elementary school, talent show communications and coordination, including parent, staff and student correspondence, email announcements, school flyers, show program, decorations and photography 

• Area high school gofundme web page copywriting and communication management for both the women's and men's cross country teams. Raised $8k for their fall athletic 2021 season

Regional and National Clients

• mStoner, Chicago, IL; website copywriting for Columbia College Chicago and Mercersburg Academy 

• The Royal Order, Chicago, IL; website copywriting for Kohler Co. 

• Lake Region Builders Association, Detroit Lakes, MN; copyediting for Home & Garden Guide (2006) 

• Big Fat Designs LLC, Wausau, WI; website copywriting and tagline development for several clients, including IT consultants Network Solutions of Wisconsin, commercial kitchen equipment manufacturer Piper Products, custom packaging manufacturer Styrene Products, Inc., occupational and regulatory health compliance company Overland Transportation and Health Services and Northwoods Veterinary Service 

• International Storytelling Center, Jonesborough, TN; copyediting 

• Minted.com wedding website development 

Interior Design Studio Manager, Surroundings Interiors, Iowa City, IA (May 2023 to Present)

• Assist designers with duties as needed

• Greet/connect with customers in a professional, friendly manner and sell showroom products

• Answer phones, run credit cards, address company emails and share latest trends

• Maintain showroom current organization and presentation including: removing dated samples, painting doors, walls, trim and reupholstering chairs, cleaning showroom/warehouse weekly and space organization for staff function

• Assist with administrative tasks and clerical duties such as product status excel data and client financial management database

• Microsoft, outlook, word, excel, quickbooks, web/social media management, marketing communications messages and flyers

• Web site Wordpress redesign and updating technical function

• Wrap 100 holiday client gifts

• Receive and check in UPS shipments and staff mail

• Support new owner and uplift staff morale

Catering Assistant, Pink Umbrella Bakery, Coralville, IA (Sept. 2022-March 2023)

• Packaging, labeling, preparing dough, kitchen work and periodic lifting to supply cookies at large companies throughout the area including Hyvee, University of Iowa, Riverside Casino and Hartig Drug. Some marketing and web site input

Communications Account Coordinator, Alliant Energy, Cedar Rapids, IA (Sept. 2003-July 2005)

• Copywriting, design, print, mailing and budget coordination: direct mail, ads, newsletters, e-mail broadcasts, press releases, articles, radio, web and banner ads for www.alliantenergy.com home page 

• PowerHouse TV energy-efficiency ads and monthly newsletter writer/editor, PowerHouse News, for one million customers 

• Branding strategy and trade show execution for Second Nature’s business and residential renewable energy campaigns. Initiated support from Governor Tom Vilsack and University of Iowa Entrepreneurial Center. Increased participation by 20%. Maintained www.alliantenergy.com/secondnature. Launched member rewards program and provided department PowerPoint presentation. Advertised clean energy for a better environment 

• Promoted low income Hometown Care Energy Fund, e.g. “No one should get left out in the cold,” and created e-newsletter Hometown Outreach for low-income agencies 

• Payment program promotions like Easy Pay, and utility bill gift certificates which increased by 25%. 

• Proactive media relations, kept call center informed. Organized off-site Synergy retreat

Copywriter, Stamats Communications Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA (May 2002-Sept. 2003)

• Branding and promotional work for leading higher education marketing firm. Traveled to meet with schools 

• Client projects: Manhattan School of Music, New York, www.msmnyc.edu, wrote new 90 page, award-winning site; Denison University, Ohio, www.denison.edu/admissions, developed architecture and wrote new admissions portal. Our Lady of Holy Cross, New Orleans, developed tagline “Small College, Serious Results,” billboards, radio and viewbook; Valparaiso Law School, Indiana, www.valpo.edu/law, wrote website analysis, site and brochures; Castleton, Vermont viewbook; Dakota Wesleyan, sales proposal, new tagline “Go farther” and viewbook; University of St. Thomas, Houston, developed sales proposal, Web analysis and brochures; Paul D. Camp Community College, sales proposal and new tagline “Get A-head” 

• Wrote Stamats’ sales marketing material and web analysis for their design firm site, www.opnarchitects.com

Marketing Specialist, Credit Union Executives Society, Fitchburg, WI (Nov. 1999-April 2002)

• Promoted products/services such as strategic planning manuals, executive assessment tools and consulting; technology portal and online university system; conferences and institutes; and membership retention 

• Wrote/developed progressive concepts for: website and banner ads, catalogs, brochures, flyers, ads, postcards, award-winning e-newsletter, e-mail and fax broadcasts, telemarketing scripts, press releases and cover letters from senior management. Recognized for industry’s best marketing pieces 

• Contributed to sales peak of over $2 million in 2001 and 2002, and highest member retention in 2002 

• Maintained institutes/conferences web, www.cues.org/conferences, generated over $1 million annually 

• Elevated brand: 2001 new catalog theme “Moving Minds” and 2002 “Speak with Experience. Lead with Knowledge.” Added global perspective to mission statement. Supervised summer copywriting intern

Assistant Editor, The Madison Business Journal, Madison, WI (Dec. 1998-Sept. 1999)

• Promoted business potential for Madison-area companies and provided how-to information 

• Proofread, edited 16-20 page weekly paper, wrote articles on Madison Cultural Arts District, Madison convention centers, State Street Strategic Plan, legislation proposals and area businesses 

• Researched 50 industries, compiled The Madison Book of Lists 2000; wrote endorsement from Governor and Madison Chamber of Commerce President. Oversaw publication completion for the Madison ITECH show 

• Established media contacts with key members of business community; attended area news conferences 

• Assisted advertising department, maintained circulation database, oversaw billing and supervised intern

Communications/Marketing Writer, Lands’ End, Inc., Dodgeville, WI (May-Sept. 1998)

• Developed first international employee magazine with company profiles on U.S., Japan and Germany 

• Wrote corporate newsletter, college recruitment brochure and updated public relations briefing book 

• Intern, wrote corporate casual brochure, copy for women’s tailored, newsletter articles and media kits 

Education 

• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A. in English, wrote for Badger Herald, GPA 3.6 

• Thames Valley University, London, Spring (UW Study Abroad); University of Oregon 

Related Skills

• PC proficient, Microsoft, Office suite, Dreamweaver, Photoshop and Excel 

• Kirkwood College: Certificate in Website Development; Basic Adobe InDesign; Marketing Your Business on the Internet  

• University of Iowa Summer Writer’s Workshop  

• DMA Direct Marketing Institute, Chicago; Creative Marketing Conference, Dubuque; Effective Marketing & Communications, UW-Madison Business Center; Seminar & Conference Marketing, Clemson Univ./Las Vegas 

• Cedar Rapids Advertising Federation Education Committee. Student mentor. AdFed Star of Month 

 Recognitions

• Featured in Corridor Business Journal, Cedar Rapids, for city revitalization consultant report 

• Silver AdFed Award - Cedar Rapids, direct mail campaign, Alliant Energy’s Second Nature renewable energy 

• Silver AdFed Awards - Cedar Rapids, interactive, Manhattan School of Music & Denison University – copywriter 

• Wisconsin Direct Marketing Award - two CUES’ conference brochures - creativity and results 

• Women of month October 2005-Women Entrepreneurs, Cedar Rapids; Empire Who’s Who 2005 recognition 

• National Library of Poetry winner