I'm a freelance journalist for area news publications, including Loudoun Now, the Loudouner Magazine, the Western Loudoun Sports Network (WLSN), and Viva Loudoun. My pieces have also been published in The Loudoun-Times Mirror and The Purcellville Gazette. My articles cover community news, arts and entertainment, food, wine and beer, craft spirits, agricultural commerce, news features, and sports.I also provide strategic communications consulting, focusing on public relations services with an emphasis on market research, writing, and designing and executing targeted media relations campaigns. My clients have included:* The Discovery Channel* The Acuity Project* Federal information technology companies* Odyssey Marine Exploration* Marware* An non-profit organization that restores seagrass habitat* Small retail and restaurants seeking to implement social media strategies* Commercial Real Estate firmsServices provided to clients, include:* Creating and executing strategic communication programs that result in print, broadcast and electronic media coverage* Brand reputation development and enhancement* Corporate charitable partnership programs* In-depth research projects* Writing and editing services* Organizing Congressional lobbying events and press conferences* Developing targeted online social media strategies* Writing annual reports, press releases, online content, speeches and opinion pieces

I wrote a weekly column covering Lovettsville, VA. I also provided freelance media coverage of arts & entertainment, business, and news related to western Loudoun county.

* Reported, wrote, and edited stories for a weekly community newspaper. Filed 3-5 original stories per week* Edited all submitted content for publication* Managed relationships with writers and columnists, wrote editorials, and organized and managed newspaper events in the community* Managed the overall production process to get newspaper to print each week

* Responsible for internal communications, media and investor relations, including serving as company spokesperson for company that searches for, discovers and archaeologically excavates historic shipwrecks and cargoes.* Developed proactive marketing and media efforts, managed internal and external corporate website content, wrote and edited marketing and business development pieces, press releases, media advisories, earnings and annual reports.* Planned and coordinated media and publicity campaigns for company’s publishing division, its New Orleans-based shipwreck museum, and other entertainment ventures.

* Established a corporate communications department from scratch, with programs for internal communications, media/public relations, community outreach, and investor relations. Developed an Integrated communications approach that resulted in being a leading contributor to other corporate, business development and marketing efforts.* Internal communications program resulted in a full-service Intranet, a monthly newsletter, social and networking gatherings, and a quarterly Q&A with the CEO.* Media relations programs resulted in substantially increased press coverage, a formalized press release process, and an online media center. Also served as company spokesperson.* Investor relations program included managing shareholder and analyst relations, writing and producing investor presentations, financial filings and annual reports. Organized and led quarterly conference calls and annual meetings.

* News editor position: edited daily first and last editions of newspaper for web distribution.* Public relations broad responsibilities included community relations and public outreach, included re-branding and managing The Post's speaker's bureau program, negotiating and handling external press visits to cover newsroom, its personnel, management and history; a heavy dose of events planning; provided public tours and publicly spoke about the newspaper, its ownership and history.* Highlights included reorganizing speaker's bureau program, managing the overwhelming interest in Katharine Graham's Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, and organizing events for award-winning DC-area public school teachers.

* Managed strategic media relations campaigns for clients in the energy, telecommunications, and higher education industries.* Leveraged experts from academia and prestigious policy institutes to publicly support clients' communication objectives.* Planned and executed multi-city media tours, public events and press conferences; Resulted in print and broadcast press coverage in national, state and local, trade publications, and radio & TV.