I started at WFVZ as a volunteer data entry technician in January and was hired full time in July with funding from an NSF grant. I worked to interpret, organize, and digitize antique hand-written data about clutch size, species, nesting location, etc., using Microsoft Access. The aim of this project was to make historical data available to researchers globally through an online data query system. Given my background in writing I was assigned the project of redesigning and editing the organization newsletter. Seeing a need for a new online, email format for the letter and other organization fundraising initiatives I took the liberty of researching and proposing to use an online email marketing software platform, MailChimp.com. This software was free, saving the small tight-budgeted non-profit organization thousands of dollars annually on professional services and enabling frequent communication with members and potential donors in a professional manner. Rather than struggling to produce one annual communication they can easily and quickly and at no additional cost produce as many communiqués as they desire. I wrote and edited newsletter article content and trained their permanent staff on the use of the software before moving away from the area.

In this position I assisted in the drafting a city-wide ordinance to protect, maintain and replenish the urban forest of trees under municipal management. I was responsible for researching and drafting policy for the procedures and rules specifically regarding the maintenance and increase of biological diversity, native habitat areas (ESHA), and the preservation of “viewscapes.”

I worked as a part of a team to enter contracts into Microsoft Great Plains. I was hired during a transition between accounting software systems. This position entailed a great deal of research, troubleshooting, and communication between various departments of the company in order to resolve conflicts between contracts as written and the capabilities of the software and the ultimate output of billings and revenues. In collaboration with management I helped to create new organizational processes and procedures and document them for future employees in my position. I particularly worked on the Contract Cancellations policy and procedures. I assisted in SOX compliance procedures.

I managed the office operations for this small, family-owned business. I performed a variety of operations including inventory, billing, daily accounting, collections, and also assisted the owners by assembling and repairing proprietary equipment which required basic understanding of electrical circuitry, soldering, and troubleshooting.