Elected representative in District 5, serving the residents of Speedway, Indiana and Wayne Township as their representative to the Wayne Township Legislative Advisory Board. Board has been responsible for the renovation of four existing fire stations and the building of a fifth new station on West Washington Street.

Development of membership and organizational marketing programs, plans and events, both short- and long-term in scope. Events that build visibility and enhance revenue, with innovative and inspired membership programs that bring results to both corporate and not-for-profit entities. Marketing "gun-for-hire" with ability to take item from development through concept, design then printing. Marketing experience with local small businesses, corporations and not-for-profits. Design and marketing portfolio available for review.

Retail store manager, promited from Sales Associate to Store Manager after less than 6 months. Responsible for staffing and on call store coverage for adult toy and novelty store open 14+hours per day, 7 days a week.

Key holder responsibilities for three store chain of gift and adult novelty stores. Store opening and closing duties. Reported accurate end-of-day settlement of transactions, using QuickBooks Retail (Point-Of-Sale) software and Microsoft Outlook. Tracked customer demand and quickly reported low inventory levels. Utilized production and art skills to design innovative and creative merchandise displays for key target audiences, while maintaining store integrity and vision. Professional and friendly, skilled at putting customers at ease -- even when discussing sensitive personal issues. Asked probing inquiry questions, to determine a customer’s individual issues, and then recommend products best suited to their specific needs. Monitored customer activities while in-store, combining good customer service with loss prevention efforts. Investigated and wrote detailed product information sheets for employee training manual. Chain filed bankruptcy and closed September, 2014. References and photos of designed merchandise displays available upon request.

Began as a substitute teacher for the District, but was hired on as a full time paraprofessional teacher's aide with weeks of arrival. Using my communication and language skills, I worked in the District's Developmental Preschool. Our students, age 3-5 years old, were all challenged in some manner; autism, ADD, Aspbergher's Syndrome, etc. With calm, caring patience, we worked with our lead teacher to develop a skills plan and goals for each student. From crafts to story time to dance time, we made preschool a fun, safe and educational place for our students every day. To safely learn to deal with students who might cause harm to themselves or others, I successfully attended and competed the Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) training program through Methodist Hospital.

Directed marketing, administrative, membership recruitment and customer service activities for a 76-year-old private social club and 501(c)(7) social and recreational facility. Ensured members’ complete satisfaction with all aspects of the Club’s offerings. Served as the “go-to” staff member for questions, comments, or suggestions. Initiated member recruitment and retention efforts; supervised all events, and directed Front Desk staff. Coordinated activities with department heads to maximize facility use. Analyzed financial data and membership participation changes to determine potential programs and services to ensure long-term financial viability. Directed and coordinated the hiring and activities of full-time dining staff and summer-only student workers. Gave facility tours.Made presentations to explain Club rules, policies and procedures to current/prospective members and new staff. Created first comprehensive scheduling program for the 27-acre complex that hosted 4 outdoor pools, 2 indoor pools, 14 tennis courts, a gym, ballroom, dining hall, and enclosed picnic house.This ensured that no spot in the facility was double-booked. Working together with the Director of Facilities and the Director of Aquatic Programs, we managed the Club while the Board conducted a national search for a full-time executive director.

A brilliant studio for working artists in northeastern Indiana, the art Center was originally a three-story garment factory built in the late 1800's. I was hired to realign organization’s financials and community PR relations and image. Investigated grants that might enhance the Center’s programming; hired a grant writer. Oversaw gift shop sales and volunteers.Worked with Western Boone School System to create the first successful WEBO student art show held at the Center. First full-time Executive Director hired by the all-volunteer board. Unfortunately, we were unable to generate the grant money and sponsor revenue quickly enough to sustain a full-time director-level position.

Oversaw administration of all marketing and client services activities for this 3-office, top 20 Indiana law firm. The firm also owned a Title Company in Southern Indiana, and I also gained valuable experience in the Mortgage and Title industry as well. When the firm was invited to join the Great Lakes Law Alliance in 2004, I served as the firm's administrative representative, facilitating networking and client referrals between the 13 international law firms. I hosted a highly successful Annual Meeting for the GLLA in Indianapolis in 2006. I created content for firm brochures, practice guides, proposals and presentations. Frequently and consistently updated the firm's web site and attorney biographies, monitoring listings and attorney award submissions to six different web referral sites. Created award-winning brochures and a firm identity kit, with coordinating letterhead, envelopes and other matching identity materials. Conducted training sessions within the organization, including a mock cocktail party (a client communication exercise for associates) and Using PowerPoint for Courtroom Presentations. Won two Printing Industry of America (PIA) South (2004) awards for law firm’s media kit design and services catalog. Coordinated all aspects of trade shows, overseeing show selection and planning, exhibit design and set-up, signage; client meetings, promotional events, and staff itineraries. I love working with smart people, and these were some of the smartest people I've ever had the pleasure of working with.

I prepared marketing plans, directed marketing activities, and handled communications campaigns for business and retail clients such as The Futon Factory, TelSpan TeleConferencing, Eden Systems Corporation, EcoSearch Environmental, VISTAinfo, MSE Corporation, Lewis & Wagner, and The Accountant Inc., among others. My not-for-profit project related experience includes plan development for the International Special Events Society, the American College of Sports Medicine, and the Indiana Juvenile Justice Task Force. For every client and project, I bring creative ideas, artistic talent, and a strategic thought process. Project tasks have included development of successful trade advertising, marketing programs, trade show exhibits, direct mail campaigns, media kits, promotions, product catalogs, sales collateral, and special events. Coordinated media negotiation and buying (print and radio ads), and in-store promotions. I'm a great juggler, who works on a budget. For example, I directed the marketing activities for a chain of 12 furniture stores; analyzed markets, designed and produced targeted ad campaigns and negotiated advertising in eight (8) different markets simultaneously. My writing projects have included technical, legal and engineering GIS proposal responses.

Once one of the top web and sheet-fed printers in the country, Graphic Arts Center/Indianapolis (also known as Shepherd-Poorman Printing) was purchased by Colorado-based Mail-Well in 2001. For a brief, highly enjoyable period, I provided some of the best sales people in the printing industry with the materials and marketing support they needed to land new national clients. To increase local goodwill, I hosted the Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce After-Hours event at GAC. I experienced a series of four different bosses as the company shed its sheet-fed printing division and changed direction. Always adaptable, I provided management with three different marketing plans, based upon who the target was at that moment. Mail-Well failed to recognize what they had in GAC/Indy. Mail-well closed the plant in Indianapolis. Absolutely heart-breaking -- the pressmen who ran those machines so beautifully for years were then forced to take apart their beloved presses and put them on a train leaving town for St. Louis. Bye-bye, job. I still miss those talented, technical people and the smell of ink.

Directed production and printing of the newsweekly, successfully moving from manual paste-up to digital production process, saving time, money and manpower. Served at the executive management level, as an active leader on the Executive Steering and Management Groups of this 60,000 circulation newsweekly. Obtained two years of Deming Management Training while working at NUVO, and it was a fantastic experience. I have utilized the skills I learned using Deming Management principles on every project I've supervised since this job. Developed promotional programs to target community market segments. Supervised special activities/events. Managed business and community relations.

Directed start-up of statewide high-tech association, developing a network of 126 software companies in the two year grant program from the Indiana Department of Commerce. First full-time Executive Director, I developed procedures, rules, structure, materials, membership plans. Created quality educational programs, focused on Indiana’s fledgling technology companies. Identified topics and speakers, then produced numerous events statewide. Coordinated not-for-profit volunteers to build educational and member programs. Became Indiana’s first technology association (now TechPoint), at a time when all I heard while recruiting around the State was "Indiana has a SOFTWARE industry???" Yes, we have a fabulous technology industry here in Indiana, and I was honored to have a very small part in its start up.

Planned and directed marketing operations for largest trade association publication in the U.S. managing a $750,000 marketing budget. Coordinated communications and promotion campaigns to support internal and external sales teams. Designed and managed trade show booth for magazine. Received design awards in two categories (media/sales kit design and direct mail campaign) from Society of National Association Publications. Orchestrated research activities such as national subscriber studies, usage and membership surveys, quality assurance surveys and focus groups. Conducted nationwide research and subscriber projects, working with top research firms such as MediaMark Research, Simmons Market Research Bureau, Readex Readership Research, Harvey Research, et al.

My first not-for-profit association job, plus my first chance working for a national magazine -- and it was great! I worked with the magazine sales and editorial staff, determined what literature and promotional items they needed, then created them. Working with a great local agency, Ashley & Associates, we designed a four piece direct mail campaign where a little copy of the magazine cover was three-dimensional and appeared to pop off the page when opened. The photo shoots included our wonderful management staff, and the sales team certainly appreciated the leads it generated. Unfortunately, I became involved in the NRHA just at the time when the hardware retailing industry was shedding local stores in favorite of the big box stores. Those Mom-and-Pop retailers were the life-blood of the magazine and the association. After less than a year, the association went through a major downsizing in which 2/3rds of the staff were let go - me included. What a learning experience, as this would also serve as my first downsizing!

What began as a summer internship became a full-time job within the first three weeks. Trained by Gannett in their newspaper selling style (similar to Solution Selling). Created two events for south Richmond business owners, one called "Proud to be South" week. Formed the Olde Richmond Court Neighborhood Business Association. Successful with a large, tough territory -- the south end of Richmond, extending to Metamora and east to Ohio. I met some really great business owners, and helped them design their newspaper print ads for the daily newspaper (Richmond Palladium-Item) and the weekly shopper (The Pal-Item). I returned to Ball State to finish my degree in May, 1988.

At the Ball State Daily News, I was the first student Sales Manager of the Ball State Daily News (1985-1987), where I developed the first ad sales training program for student sales personnel in 1986. For advertising sales exceeding all set goals for my territory, I was inducted into the Ball State Daily News Hall of Fame "20 Grand Club" (1986) and "25 Grand Club" (1985). Prior to joining the Daily News, I served successfully as an ad sales representative for Campus Verbatim, and was named Campus Verbatim Magazine's Sales Person of the Year, 1984.