Communications manager for MSU Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness (AABI) staff, providing strategic communications and marketing advice, facilitating and managing online and print communications and marketing needs for projects, programs and events. Assists AABI educators with writing articles, and edits and posts articles to the CANR/MSU Extension website. Oversee online content curation and creation of MSU Extension websites which comprise the vast majority of the MSU College of Agriculture and Natural Resources website. In 2022, the CANR website saw more than 9.8 million unique viewers and 13.3 million unique pageviews.Email marketing lead for the expansive MSU Extension News Digest account responsible for custom newsletters and email marketing consulting. Implemented tactics to grow our opt-in subscribership from less than 4,000 subscribers to more than 90,000 subscribers. Supervise a team of communications and marketing staff members.

Communications liaison to MSU Extension Agriculture and Agribusiness (AABI) and Greening Michigan (GMI) staff, providing strategic communications and marketing advice, facilitating and managing online and print communication and marketing needs for projects, programs and events. Assists AABI and GMI educators with writing articles, and edits and posts articles to the CANR/MSU Extension website. Oversee online content curation and social media for MSU Extension’s signature program, Breakfast on the Farm. Constant Contact MSU Extension News Digest account coordinator responsible for custom digests and Constant Contact consulting. Supervise a team of student and temporary communications and marketing staff members.

Created content and handled CMS updates of MSU Extension websites, created successful Constant Contact newsletter campaign, wrote and edited news releases, created InDesign documents, brochures, and infographics, managed interns, performed software training for on and off-campus staff, presented strategies for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to large groups.

Wrote and edited news releases, created InDesign documents and brochures, managed interns, updated and maintained websites, performed software training for off-campus staff, gave presentations on social media and farm marketing to large groups.

Managing editor of the quarterly Michigan Home and Lifestyle Magazine.

Directs, curates and organizes website and social media updates for the farm.Presentations:Social Media and Marketing, Michigan Family Farms Conference, Battle Creek, Mich., Jan. 2012 - Presented tactics for starting and strategically managing a social media presence for a family farm.

• Write, edit, photograph and design content as well as coordinate advertising for the Michigan Milk Messenger, MMPA’s full-color magazine with 4,500 monthly subscribers. Ghostwrite editorials, write human interest, news and technical articles, requiring close interaction with the dairy cooperative’s members and state and national agriculture community representatives. Also write and edit various news releases, employee publications, create and design promotional brochures and programs for events, products, services and the cooperative’s annual report. • Write about and analyze legislative issues and assist members in meeting with their respective state and national legislators. • Organize and run multiple yearly conferences of up to 500 dairy farmers and industry representatives, securing speakers and location, planning meals and agendas as well as presenting information to the audience. • Manage various projects and events in cooperation with other departments within MMPA and consultants, ensuring projects are completed accurately and within a timely manner. • Serve on various committees within the agriculture industry, representing the best interests of MMPA’s dairy farmer members and working to improve their situations.

Maintained and grew existing IKON accounts while prospecting and developing new accounts. Duties included daily contact with customers, equipment demonstrations and sales presentations. Grossed over $150,000 in competitive low-volume office equipment sales.

Worked for Reynolds and Reynolds in Troy, Mi, prior to the merger with Universal Computer Systems.On-site sales representative of a $10 million plus business forms account located at First Chicago NBD Corporation. Grew existing business in the bank’s credit card, mortgage and investment divisions as well as assisting other account representatives by creating innovative designs to fit the customer’s needs and save them money. Recommended redesigns, consolidation, and obsolescence of various forms, personally saving the bank more than $300,000 while exceeding 100% of sales goals. Assignment ended when First Chicago NBD was purchased by Bank One and moved operations to Chicago.

Team leader of a $4 million on-site business forms and commercial printing account located at Kmart’s then corporate headquarters. Worked with Kmart personnel to create, design, layout and improve forms used nationwide. Exceeded sales objectives for Wallace within the account while also meeting high cost-savings objectives for Kmart. Coordinated printing, shipping and distribution of printed materials. Supervised other representatives on the account as well as training new Wallace account representatives to be placed at other customer locations. Assisted in proprietary software testing and development programs within Wallace. In addition to designing printed material for Kmart, also designed items for Penske Auto Centers, GMAC and other various Wallace accounts.

Wrote, designed and illustrated technical manuals for pneumatic valves used predominantly in the automotive assembly and stamping industry. Wrote press releases and worked with media. Executed several special projects for the president and owner of the company for his personal art collections and designs.Created, edited and distributed company press releases and fact sheets to trade groups and local media. Wrote, illustrated, edited and updated various technical manuals and instruction sheets. Designed, edited and co-wrote a bi-monthly company newsletter. Designed and procured all printed materials and forms for ROSS Controls.

Researched, interviewed, wrote, edited and photographed news and feature articles and events, many appearing on the front page of this weekly publication. Supervised other reporters and edited their work. Also rolled and developed film as well as printing photos.