Background and Experience

Overview

Award-winning journalist. Excellent writer, editor, and communications strategist.
Former Board Member – NAMI-Yolo

Experience

Freelance Writer and Editor
2007 – Present 
  • Writer
  • Contract editor
  • Clients include: EdWeek Market Brief, OpenDataSoft, Government Technology magazine, California Department of Public Health, Valley Vision, EdSource, Bureau of National Affairs, TechWire, California School Boards Association, Bloomberg News, Sacramento Magazine, UC Davis magazine, Ketchum University, UC Davis Graduate School of Management.

(NOTE: I maintained a part-time consulting business while employed at various full-time positions. I am now a full-time consultant.)

College Admissions Essay Consultant — 2015- Present

  • Developmental editor and creative consultant for students working on college admissions essays.

Chief Editor 

California Department of Water Resources — February 2018 — January 2019

Chief Editor in Public Affairs Office. Edited news releases, online content, brochures, scientific reports, FAQs, fact sheets, Q and As. Wrote blogs, op-eds. Executive speech writer.

Senior Communications Specialist

Association of California Water Agencies- October 2012 – December 2017

  • Senior communications specialist for this statewide association of water agencies. Wrote web content, e-newsletters, press releases, fact sheets, talking points, backgrounders, blogs, magazine stories, year-in-review pamphlets.
  • Prepared turn-key communications products for our association members, offering them public outreach toolkits to customize locally to educate customers on issues related to water such as conservation during drought and water quality.
  • Part of a team that crafted and implemented communications campaigns around various statewide water issues. Worked with legislative and regulatory staff to help translate technical issues into material written for lay audiences.
  • Oversaw the association’s monthly magazine ACWA News, from assignment of stories to layout, working with an in-house designer.
  • Staffed committees of water communications professionals from member agencies throughout the state.
  • Wrote marketing materials and speeches for annual conferences.
  • Worked on various writing projects for statewide water conservation campaign.
  • Detail oriented. Deadline driven. Multi-tasker.

Senior Writer

 The Sacramento Bee- 1997-2007 (10 years)
  • Senior writer for this regional, daily newspaper. Covered local government, military affairs, education, courts, profiles and general features. Online content. Won numerous state and national awards, including awards for a five-part series on women in the military.

Reporter

Journalist- January 1990 – June 1997 (7 years 6 months)

  • Journalist for various small to mid-size papers in California.

English Teacher

China, Venezuela, Dominican Republic, California

  • Taught English as a second language and English literature in various international settings as well as at Davis Senior High School. I taught before my journalism career and during a sabbatical in the midst of my career.

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