WORK & teaching EXPERIENCE:

Marketing Consultant & Grants Writer, Contract / SPIRIT LEAGUE

February 2025 - Present

• Grants writer for a nonprofit sports organization serving 600+ developmentally disabled youth and adults and their families

• Collaborate with Executive Director to find new funding sources to expand the League and access to it

• Work with the Board and Exec. Director to prioritize grants that match stated goals

• Create marketing materials for various uses & mediums: table cards, field banners, brochures, apparel and swag

AI Trainer & Image Expert, Contract / HANDSHAKE AI

October 2025 - December 2025

• Evaluated AI-generated images and edits using specific criteria for a Handshake AI client

• Assessed and rated overall quality and instruction-following

AI Editor, Quality Reviewer / MERCOR

September 2025 - October 2025

• Developed prompts, reviewed AI responses from various models

• Prompt researching and identifying quality web sources to test AI models

• Rubric development

CAREER BREAK & PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

January 2024 - January 2025

*Please see BIO & SUPERPOWERS page for details about how that time was used.

Director of Marketing & Communications / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

August 2014 - December 2023

• Provided text, photography, video, graphics, media coverage, logo and art direction for the President’s Office (graduation, State of the College Address, bond initiatives, groundbreakings & ribbon cuttings)

• Public Information Officer—press releases, media relations, community partnership development, crisis communications (Caldor Fire, COVID-19)

• Managed content and publishing of college social channels (Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube)

• Contributed content for accreditation reports, DEI initiatives, mission statements and slogans

• Produced, designed bond reports, class schedules, program brochures, athletics materials, postcard mailings, field banners, billboards, college merch, large display screen graphics

• Managed external website: content, updates, publishing, compliance

• Created TV, radio, print and digital ads

Adjunct Instructor / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

January 2008 - Fall 2019

• Encouraging, supportive English & Grammar teacher for correspondence-based classes serving CA Dept. of Corrections students (2016 - 2019)

• Online History of Film instructor for a three-part series of classes (2010 - 2015)

• English Dept. tutor and substitute teacher, launched online writing tutoring service (2008 - 2010)

Library Technician / LAKE TAHOE COMMUNITY COLLEGE

January 2007 - August 2014

• Provided reference desk support to students and faculty

• Instructed on information literacy and how to find reliable academic sources

Marketing Assistant / WHOLE FOODS MARKET

April 2005 - August 2006

• Created, published marketing collateral, posters, banners, table cards, recipes and price signs

• Social media & website content management

• Special tasting events & product demonstrations

Morning Show Producer / KVVU FOX5 Vegas

January 2003 - March 2005

• Selected, arranged story order and elements, co-produced in the control room

• Wrote copy, booked guests, arranged liveshots for a two-hour, Monday-Friday news broadcast

Morning Show & Story Producer / KTNV Channel 13 News

March 2002 - December 2003

• Writer, story producer for various live news broadcasts

• Show producer for one of a two-hour morning news show

• Wrote, produced Inside Las Vegas, a 30 min. weekend recorded tv program

Website Producer & News Writer / WNBC New York & MSNBC

October 1997 - February 2002

• Edited, produced text, photos, videos, graphics, interactive elements

• Trained, mentored newsroom college interns and junior staff

• Reported on, contributed stories to MSNBC and MSNBC.com’s national coverage of New York City

• Story producer for long-format “sweeps” piece for broadcast and web

EDUCATION:

MA, Journalism & Mass Communications

New York University, 1997-1998

BA, English

State University of New York at Stony Brook, 1994-1997

AWARDS & nodS:

Community College Public Relations Org (CCPRO) Gold for Best Internal Communications & Class Schedule; Silver for Best Response to Major Event, Brochure, Website, Mailer

National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR) Paragon Award (national), Medallion Award (district) Best Outdoor Media and Speciality Publication

Emmy Award for Local Television News, Outstanding Morning Program, KVVU FOX5

MSNBC Affiliate News Excellence Award