SUMMARY

Skilled and dedicated editor, writer, project manager, and team builder with outstanding experience in creating spot-on editorial content. Successfully managed all phases of the publishing cycle, from manuscript to printed/online material. Known for being a problem solver and idea person with an eye for details.

SKILLS

• Writing: Experienced in producing clear, succinct copy that entertains, inspires, and educates. Adept in explaining complicated processes/terminology and producing clear copy for a targeted audience.
• Copy-Editing: Improved the organization, flow, readability, and accuracy of hundreds of manuscripts produced by seasoned and novice writers.
• Leadership: Recruited, trained, and led a staff of talented professionals united in one vision: make WOOD magazine the top franchise in its field.
• Marketing: Oversaw the development of an ancillary business of products sold largely online that contributed more than 500K annually to WOOD's bottom line. Produced and placed ads for those products across a variety of in-house media.
• Photography and Graphic-Design Direction: Collaborated with numerous photographers, illustrators, and graphic designers to create high-impact visuals and layouts. Numerous personal photos have been published in national publications.
• Attention to Detail: In a field where customers have no tolerance for inaccuracies, was responsible for technical content that achieved an accuracy rate for dimensions and other specs exceeding 99.99 .
• Web-Site Development: Oversaw the re-launch of woodmagazine.com and worked with web designers and developers on an ongoing basis to grow visitors and page views.
• Software: Experienced in desktop publishing software, including Adobe QuarkXPress and Adobe InDesign. Expert level skill in Word, PowerPoint, Entourage, and Outlook. Familiarity with Macintosh and PC platforms. Regular user of Huddle, an online collaboration and content-management system.
• Customer Relations: Nurtured long-term relationships through frequent contact with hundreds of associates within the power-tool and publishing industries. Solid presentation abilities and negotiating skills supported WOOD's growth in leading share-of-market edge in advertising sales.
• Project Management: Successfully managed print, online, and downloadable products through all stages including conception, business plan, resource acquisition, assignment of responsibilities, scheduling, marketing, and delivery.

EXPERIENCE

Confidential

Freelance content provider

Produce articles for online and print delivery for clients including Better Homes Gardens, Living the Country Life, WOOD, and Refresh Meredith titles . Primary subject areas include home improvement, lawn-and-garden and do-it-yourself product reviews, and woodworking projects. Also edit copy for Great Garages, America's Best Home Workshops, and WOOD. Work closely with a college professor to revise online textbooks and develop a new course of instruction in the field of career advising for Kuder, Inc.

Confidential

Editor- Confidential

Responsible for the creative direction of Better Homes Gardens WOOD Magazine, a diversified media franchise consisting of a 500,000-circulation publication for enthusiast woodworkers published 7 times per year, a weekly e-newsletter, 7 annual newsstand-only publications, 2 Web sites, and more than 1,000

Confidential

• pay-per-download woodworking plans, videos, and back-issue DVDs. Led a team of 13 editors, writers, and designers. Accountable for strategic planning, budgeting, and hiring.
• Through the development of research-based editorial planning, led WOOD Magazine to the highest customer-satisfaction ratings and renewal rates of any Meredith magazine.
• Reorganized all editorial categories of the magazine and oversaw a redesign that was met with overwhelming support from readers and advertisers.
• Conceived and oversaw the development of the first back-issue DVD at Meredith, a single-disc product selling for 150 each that netted 1M profit in its first 3 years.
• Created a cohesive team that successfully planned and created the profitable WOOD Complete Guide series of 21 topical DVDs completely in-house.
• Directed multiple teams that effectively launched other new and profitable ancillary products including printed and electronic books, an e-version of WOOD magazine, and downloadable woodworking plans.
• Grew WOOD's highly profitable newsstand-only-publication business from 2 titles in 2001 to 7 titles in 2012 with no additional staff. Published WOOD's first newsstand-only titles comprised of original material outside of woodworking subject matter in the areas of garage makeovers and man caves.
• Collaborated with a Russian publisher to produce the first foreign editions of WOOD.
• Grew the frequency of WOOD's e-newsletter from once/month to once/week with no additional staff.
• During a time of contraction in the woodworking-publication segment, when all competitors experienced circulation declines of up to 50 , WOOD maintained its circulation at double that of any competitor due to high reader loyalty.
• Reduced editorial staff from 16 to 13 over two years while maintaining staff morale and producing the same amount of content.
• As a cost-savings measure, recruited new freelance illustrators, writers, and graphic designers, resulting in a 15-30 cost reduction for these services, with no drop-off in product quality.
• Successfully advocated for additional resources for website development and new-product launches by formulating profit-and-loss statements that accurately proved a return on investment within 12 months.
• Moved photography in-house at a savings of 33K per year.
• Led the team that achieved Meredith's highest company-wide annual creative recognition -- the E.T. Meredith Creative Excellence Award -- a record seven times for WOOD articles, special sections, newsstand specials, and DVDs.
• Completed with distinction extensive coursework in leadership, resource management, business ethics, legal compliance, editing, writing, and graphic design.

Confidential

Produced articles across the full breadth of the magazine, including projects, techniques, tips, and tool reviews. Managed 2 writers and copy-edited the work of 4 others. Developed the formats for technique and tool articles that remain in place today

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• Rebuilding Together: House captain for 10 years coordinating a team of fellow employees involved in a myriad of activities from weatherizing and repairing low-income homes to improving youth-campground facilities to building an elevated tree house for wheelchair-bound youth at Camp Sunnyside.
• Habitat for Humanity: Participant in the construction of 3 new homes.
• Youth Sports: Founder, three-term president and current board member for a city-wide middle school volleyball league. Coached volleyball, basketball, and track and field.