Equal parts creative and strategic, Double Sugar is a boutique communications firm devoted to helping mission-driven organizations and small businesses stand up, stand out and make the world a little sweeter.

Led large-scale awareness-building efforts for this philanthropic collaborative, focused on making the economy work better for people, ultimately influencing the agendas of civic leaders and helping to bring about real and lasting change. Worked closely with diverse group of member organizations, comprising private, corporate and community foundations; higher education institutions; public-sector stakeholders; and community-based collaborations, to promote our work, communicate our successes and foster and grow an engaged network of organizations dedicated to strengthening the region's economy. Directed all internal communications among the collaborative's members and led efforts to maintain, engage and support the network through regular newsletters, grant reports and proposals, quarterly board meetings, special events and publications, annual reports, blogs, and other materials. Also worked closely with grantees and their internal communications staff to promote successes and connect them to local resources and assets throughout the region.

Provided strategic content and fundraising support, writing and editing grant reports and proposals and overseeing all grant-related knowledge management tasks. Also served as project manager of 10th Anniversary marketing campaign, developing compelling collateral materials, coordinating video production, and managing a number of staff members in moving the campaign forward and bringing it to life.

Provided writing, editing and research support to School of Public Service professors, focusing on a wide range of topics, from urban transportation to ethics in evaluation of a development project in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Served as editor of the school's quarterly newsletter.

Created more than 20 communication pieces for this Chicago nonprofit dedicated to addressing the needs of the nation's underbanked consumers through advocacy, research and consulting, as part of a new initiative to "tell the story" to stakeholders about innovations in financial services. The goal was to reach more than 20,000 people via the web, social media and a targeted media campaign. Delivered a consistent message about the importance of responsible financial services through the creation of general marketing materials, external newsletters, newspaper columns, and website content.

Developed and managed a social awareness campaign entitled “State of Chicago,” that brings together a number of local thought-leaders around issues of poverty, education, arts and entrepreneurship. The project included creating and maintaining a Facebook page, as well as regular Twitter and blog posts.

Led coverage of consumer finance topics for daily newspaper, American Banker, a trade publication for the financial services industry.

Among small team of journalists who served on the financial news desk during the 2008 financial crisis. Shared responsibility for writing the daily stock market report, one of most-read stories on Yahoo Finance at the time, managing hourly updates incorporating the day’s news and analyst commentary. Wrote daily reports on other markets, including commodities and Treasurys. Handled breaking news events and covered earnings, mergers and acquisitions, personnel changes, and other newsworthy events of big banks, including JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo. The role required the ability to multi-task in a high-profile, fast-paced, 24/7 news environment and quickly translate often complex financial information into clear, concise stories for consumers.

Led the content creation for a bimonthly trade magazine for professionals in the collections technology industry; drafted daily posts on the retail banking industry for the website BankNet360.com.

Joined Great Lakes Publishing as an editorial intern in the fall of 2002 and worked way up to Deputy Managing Editor by November 2005. At the time of my departure, I managed day-to-day operations of 80-plus page monthly magazine focusing on the Northeast Ohio business community; oversaw a staff of three associate editors; developed and wrote feature and cover stories, as well as several regular features; managed a stable of regular freelancers, assigning articles, managing their deadlines and payroll, and editing copy; coordinated and supervised editorial interns; worked in cooperation with art directors to develop quality art and appropriate layout of articles; and represented magazine at local business events and trade shows.