A decades-long career in journalism as an editor and writer prepared me for message-oriented work supporting a mission-based organization that is dedicated to working in the public interest.
COMMUNICATIONS-RELATED HISTORY
San Fernando Valley Business Journal
A regional, twice-monthly newspaper with a 7,000 circulation, geared to the business leaders throughout the northern L.A. County area.
SENIOR REPORTER, -- 2007 to 2008:
- covered real estate, law, accounting, retail businesses, plus reporting and photography for additional content as needed;
- oversaw production, managed reporters and researcher position.
Given a bonus for management during editor's extended absence and instituted production protocols that streamlined processes saving time and reduced costs.
Variety
A trio of trade publications with combined circulation of 70,000 that serve the international entertainment industry.
WRITER, Variety.com -- 2003 to 2004:
- created and produced Outside The Box weblog, all text and photographs;
- occasional book and concert reviews.
Innovative and original content at Variety.com/Outside_The_Box increased overall readership and attracted a wider audience to what was then otherwise subscription-only online content.
COPY EDITOR, Daily, Gotham and Weekly editions -- 1999 to 2004:
- designed pages and supervised pagination;
- proofread, made final page check and transmitted to press;
- photography research, retrieval and purchasing;
- copy edited and paginated.
Introduced streamlined photography research process used across the staff saving time on deadline. Maintained contact with remote press site and photo services.
Los Angeles Daily News
Then, a 200,000 circulation daily serving northern Los Angeles County.
DEPUTY PAGINATION CHIEF, features department -- 1996 to 1999
- designed and paginated pages;
- designed and compiled content for monthly calendar page;
- trained paginators in production, style and design;
- produced graphics, logos and illustrations;
- wrote feature stories and music reviews;
- supervised pagination production as needed.
Created unique calendar page showcasing community events, unheralded staff photography and urging month-long feature presence, which garnered consistent advertiser support.
NEWS DESK EDITOR, main news department -- 1989 to 1996:
- designed and paginated pages;
- edited local and wire stories, photographs and graphics;
- supervised page production [news desk pagination and composing room pasteup].
Served as part of the team at the forefront of the newspaper's conversion from manual pasteup to electronic pagination, which eventually streamlined production.
Thousand Oaks News Chronicle
The 35,000 circulation daily in suburban Los Angeles was absorbed into the Ventura County Star.
COPY EDITOR, features department -- 1987 to 1989:
- page design; produced graphics and illustrations; wrote weekly column;
- edited stories, photographs and graphics; wrote headlines; supervised page production.
Showcased and hired local features illustrators and coordinated themed weekly high school student participation pages.
Turlock Journal
At the time, the 10,000 circulation daily served 35,000 residents in California's Central Valley.
LIFESTYLE EDITOR -- 1985 to 1987:
- page design; produced graphics and illustrations; wrote headlines; edited stories, photographs and graphics; supervised pasteup production;
- responsible for hiring and promoting feature writers and artists.
Instituted new local news features and set-up seminars for community members to participate in gaining access and streamlined forms for calendar items and wedding announcements.
REPORTER -- 1984 to 1985:
- wrote feature and news stories; photography as needed.
OTHER CONTENT EXPERIENCE
BRAD SMITH FOR COUNCIL; web page content and design -- 2010 to 2011.
GEEKS WHO DRINK; contract writer of trivia questions -- 2007.
KAISER PERMANENTE; online services, contract writer -- 2004 to 2006.
IRRIGATION & GREEN INDUSTRY trade magazine with supplement SOIL EROSION & HYDROSEEDING; writer, feature stories and general content -- 2005 to 2006.
RESEDAWEB.COM; civic weblog publisher -- 2002 to 2007.
ISRAEL TODAY; proofreader and illustrator
SIMI VALLEY MIRROR; production manager, reporter and photographer
OTHER WORK and ACHIEVEMENTS
Genessy Management & Development: CHIEF OF STAFF for 30 office personnel and 60 resident managers for 80 properties with 2,200 units, primarily low and very low income housing -- fulfilling human resources and operational functions, training, asset allocation, customer service, correspondence, online strategic planning, branding cohesiveness, housing law compliance, vendor issues, etc. -- 2012-2013
Beyond Shelter Housing; PROPERTY MANAGER for a 3-site development of 46 units providing residences to primarily formerly homeless families, and oversaw maintenance and inspections -- 2010.
Greener Than Grass; CONSULTANT on landscaping, design and installation -- Since 2008, creating low-water and low-maintenance landscaping, specializing in reduction of lawn areas in favor of flowers, trees and edibles.
Beyond Shelter Housing; PROPERTY MANAGER for a 3-site development of 46 units providing residences to primarily formerly homeless families, and oversaw maintenance and inspections -- 2010.
Greener Than Grass; CONSULTANT on landscaping, design and installation -- Since 2008, creating low-water and low-maintenance landscaping, specializing in reduction of lawn areas in favor of flowers, trees and edibles.
West Valley Occupational Center; horticulture certificate -- Studied integrated pest management, soil science, sprinkler system design and plant identification of more than 300 species amid maintenance of 14-acre garden, greenhouse and shade house.
Reseda Neighborhood Council; City of Los Angeles municipal panel, publicly elected inaugural BOARD MEMBER 2002-2003, active through 2007; contributions recognized by L.A. City Council, California State Senate and California State Assembly -- Mission Statement Committee chair, public relations appointee, web content provider; panel oversaw $50,000 annual budget and advanced or denied commercial and residential developments.
CORO Neighborhood Leadership Program -- Training workshop provided skills and techniques in identifying assets and liabilities of groups and regions, conflict resolution and building consensus from divergent opinions.
LANI, Los Angeles Neighborhood Initiative; Reseda-area recognized community organization member -- Approved street-side improvements including a neighborhood pocket park, decorative crosswalks, utility and light pole improvements and planting 350+ sidewalk trees.
Associated Transportation Company; school bus driver -- Bonded and held Class A license, Department of Transportation medical certificate, CHP First Aid card, L.A. Unified School District handicapped passenger certificate and Teamster Union membership.
PUBLICATIONS-RELATED HONORS
L.A. Press Club; 2004 Southern California Journalism Awards, online commentary finalist for Outside The Box weblog.
Journalism Association of Community Colleges; 2004 state conference, judge.
California Newspapers Publishers Association; contest winner: feature sections, first and second places; feature writing, second place.
ART / DESIGN-RELATED EXPERIENCE, TRAINING and HONORS
VIVA Gallery; Southern California regional exhibit, prize winner -- 2007.
Continental Art Supply; customer service and delivery, -- 2004 to 2005
Renee's Art Studio; instructor and co-proprietor -- 2004 to 2007.
Monarch Art & Frame, Inc.; contracted artist in nationally distributed catalogue, showcase artist for 2004 Temporaries Gift Show at the L.A. California Mart.
Valley Artists Guild; juried exhibition member.
Artists Helping Artists; networking group member.
City of Burbank Rose Float; artist and co-designer, Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade, Founders Trophy winner, worked with club's floral, design and construction committees to enhance and advance production of float for 1992 parade.
National Press Photographers Association; Northern Short Course and San Jose Mercury News graphics conferences representative for -- and redesign projects team member at -- Los Angeles Daily News, Thousand Oaks News Chronicle and Turlock Journal.
Los Angeles Pierce College; Photography Salon black & white open -- first place winner; teacher's assistant to art history professor and sculptor Eli Karpel.
UCLA Extension; typography.
