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Technology Summary

I spent three years covering the city government beat for the Times-News in Burlington, N.C. and and a year covering education and business at the Times-News in Hendersonville; both publications are local daily newspapers. The smaller city atmospheres in each location afforded me chances to branch out and write breaking news, crime, business, lifestyle, profiles, and arts and entertainment stories.

I am currently the Public Information Officer for Henderson County Public Schools, a district with 23 schools throughout Henderson County, N.C.

 

THE TIMES-NEWS, Hendersonville, N.C. - Education & Business Reporter

​March 2014 - Nov. 2014

 

  • As the paper's full-time education reporter, covered school board meetings and school features, localized state education issues (e.g., budget, teacher tenure, longevity pay, Common Core)
     

  • Also served as the paper's full-time business reporter and covered new business openings, the local airport, Henderson County's robust manufacturing and agriculture industries,  unemployment, and wrote a regular "High Interest" column featuring local business and business education briefs.
     

  • Created and maintained "Local Investments," a business blog with updates on Henderson County's economy, industries, new businesses, closures and relocations
     

  • Compiled feature articles from the week’s editions and edited them to run in the publication’s weekly “Times News Weekly” tabloid insert
     

  • Wrote and compiled stories on Hendersonville’s 68th annual Apple Festival for a special tabloid insert published prior to the Labor Day weekend event
     

  • Maintained a social media presence, promoting stories and blog posts through Facebook and Twitter activity

 
THE TIMES-NEWS, Burlington, N.C. - City Reporter

​Dec. 2010 - March 2014

 

  • As the paper's official full-time city government reporter, covered city council meetings and decisions (e.g., annexation, water and sewer requests, rezoning requests, ordinance changes, local elections and appointments, board restructuring)
     

  • Consistently covered a range of other areas in the community (e.g., news, crime, business, lifestyle, arts and entertainment, profiles)
     

  • Regularly uploaded stories to the publication's website, adding updated content to breaking news items when necessary 
     

  • Maintained a social media presence, promoting stories through Facebook and Twitter activity

 

 

THE LAKER AND LUTZ NEWS, Lutz, Fla. - Freelancer

​July 2010 - Oct. 2010

 

  • Wrote news features and business profiles for the weekly newspaper

 

 

BAR BUSINESS MAGAZINE, New York, N.Y. - Freelancer

​Feb. 2010 - Sept. 2010

 

  • ​Wrote two regional feature stories describing the local flavors of the Triangle area in North Carolina and the Central West End in St. Louis, Mo., for a trade publication

Windows & Mac OS Platforms

MS Office (Word, Excel, Publisher)

Adobe (InDesign, Photoshop)

Final Cut Pro video editing software

Digital & 35mm cameras

Skills

Press Release Writing
Social Media Marketing

Community Journalism

Education Reporting

City Government Reporting

News Writing

News Feature Writing

Feature Writing

Lifestyle/Profile Features

Proofreading/Editing

AP Style

Purdue Universtiy - West Lafayette, Ind.

2015 - 2017

 

  • Earned a M.S. in Communications and graduate certificate in Strategic Communication Management

​
Elon University - Elon, N.C.

​2006 - 2010

 

  • Earned a B.A. in Journalism and English (concentration in Creative Writing)
     

  • Graduated as an Honors Fellow, which required a 3.2 GPA and completion of an undergraduate Honors Thesis; member of Lambda Pi Eta, a School of Communications Honor Society affiliated with National Communication Association; member of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society

 

RESUME

Professional ​

info​​
 

Reporting​

Experience
 

Education
HENDERSON COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS, Hendersonville, N.C. - Public Information Officer

Dec. 2014 - Present

 

  • Coordinates coverage with news media, arranges interviews with administrators and staff, works with teachers within the schools to find and promote the best stories on teacher, student and school accomplishments
     

  • Increasing HCPS’ social media presence on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram through original posts and photos and by sharing local media’s coverage of the schools
     

  • Creates advertisements, promotional designs, and both digital and print publications for the district

Public Relations

Experience

 

THE TIMES-NEWS, Hendersonville, N.C.
 
  • Earned a 2014 NCPA second-place award in Education Reporting for "More kids living in poverty" in the Daily Division D (circulation under 12,500)

 

THE TIMES-NEWS, Burlington, N.C.

 

  • Earned a 2013 NCPA first-place award in Profile Feature for "Rude Awakening" in the Daily Division E (circulation 12,500-35,000)
     

  • Earned a 2012 NCPA second-place award in Arts & Entertainment Reporting for "Witnessing the power of art" in the Daily Division E (circulation 12,500-35,000)

Press
Awards
Public
Relations
Awards
NORTH CAROLINA SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION
  • 2017 Gold Awards for Excellence in Writing x 2
  • 2017 Gold Award in Image/Graphic Design
  • 2017 Gold Award in Photography
  • 2017 Gold Award in Special Events/Programs
  • 2017 Bronze Award in Publications x 2
  • 2016 Gold Award for Excellence in Writing
  • 2016 Gold Award in Digital Media Engagement
  • 2016 Gold Award in Special Events/Programs
  • 2015 Gold Award in Digital Media Engagement
  • 2015 Silver Award in Excellence in Writing
  • 2015 Silver Award in Publications

​

NATIONAL SCHOOL PUBLIC RELATIONS ASSOCIATION
  • 2016 Golden Achievement Award: #HCPSsnow 20156 Photo Campaign
  • 2016 Golden Achievement Award: "We Are Hope" Week 2016
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