Valerie Durrant Email & Phone Number

Huntington Beach, California

I have been managing the social media and blog accounts as well as performing search engine optimization tasks for Sand Soul Beach Volleyball Club for one year now. When I began, Sand Soul was nowhere near the first page of Google for the optimal keywords. Today, after a year of my work, Sand Soul is not only on the first page of Google, but the second organic option for the keyword they desire! I learned search engine optimization while working for Boostability and have been applying the principals I learned there with great success.

Salt Lake City

I had opportunities to edit and write for the Church's online publications and magazines during my time as a web content intern. I edited articles for the Church News every day and wrote four news articles myself. I learned about how to adapt content for a web audience as I managed a Twitter account for the Church, wrote teasers for the Ensign and Liahona landing pages, and composed four exclusively digital articles for the Ensign and Liahona. I also learned about the process of creating a print magazine, from the conception of articles to creation and refinement. I wrote two print articles for the Ensign. I grew tremendously as an editor and writer as I benefited from the advice and tutelage of those with many years of experience.

Provo, Utah

I worked as a tutor in the university writing center, helping students from all across campus improve their writing. I met with more than 250 students from myriad disciplines during 30-minute sessions designed to help them become more confident writers.Each paper and student was unique, so I learned to be adaptable and quickly diagnose issues as I expanded my repertoire of rhetorical and editing skills. I boosted my interpersonal skills as I worked with students, interviewing them to discover what their real needs were and then discerning which teaching methods were most effective. Many sessions required creative thinking and unique problem solving to move past road blocks and help the student become a more confident writer.

I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with the author of a book to be entitled "Teach Like Him." My job was to take the skeleton of the book and create a finished draft. In this capacity, I researched, brainstormed, and wrote each chapter. Through this experience, I became acquainted with every stage of the writing process. I learned how to press on when writer's block set in, and I learned how to get down to the very essence of research.

Orem

Throughout my time at Boostability, I learned about the best practices to optimize search engine results. I was constantly researching new and upcoming techniques and thought within the digital marketing world in an effort to provide the best possible work for clients. I then implemented techniques to optimize the SERP rank of clients' websites. My responsibilities included implementing link building campaigns for clients to optimize their SERP rank. In this capacity, I created content to build links to their websites, utilizing social bookmarking and directory sites.

San Francisco Bay Area

I assisted in the management of 12+ properties in Northern California and Oregon. My tasks included keeping careful records of accounts payable details, helping tenants with myriad issues as they came in on a daily basis, working with vendors for various service needs, putting together monthly reports, communicating information to tenants, and assembling expense reports. I had to be adaptable, as each issue that arose was novel and specific to the property and tenant. I learned how to get to the bottom of sophisticated problems, using my resources in creative ways. Additionally, I dealt with very tight deadlines on a weekly basis. Because of this, I know how to optimize my time and operate under pressure.

Orange County, Ca

As a content writer at W H & Associates, I analyzed a variety of topics within online marketing, producing valuable content that contributes to the online presence of W H & Associates. I learned about online marketing on a deeper level than a textbook can communicate. I know specific best practices that can be implemented and techniques to execute them well. My articles are featured on the blog at whandassociates.com.

Provo, Utah

I run practices, tryouts, and tournaments. This past year I coached my own team of 14 and under girls from November through April. When I began coaching the team, the majority of the girls had never played organized volleyball prior, and I helped teach them the skills they needed to succeed on the court. At the end of the season, they had ball control, court awareness, and were truly working together as a team. In our last tournament together, my team made it out of pool play and to the playoff bracket. They played competitively with teams at a level that was far and above where they began. I learned the impact that positive coaching and encouragement can have on a team.

Provo, Utah

I had the opportunity to work closely with Professor Nathan Furr, author of "Nail It Then Scale It," as our team investigated the different ways that solar energy companies enter and move through the market. I aided in the research of photovoltaic energy companies’ profiles and statistics regarding their business model, including IPO, value chain participation at entry and date of change for primary and secondary technology.

Madrid, Spain

I was selected to study abroad with Brigham Young Univeristy, living with a Spanish family and studying the Spanish language for three months.I was able to gain a global perspective as I immersed myself in a foreign culture. My 3 months in Spain were the most influential of my entire life. My Spanish language skills were limited prior to the study abroad to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate Spanish during high school. I was forced to communicate with everyone in a language I was not fluent in by any means. I learned to be self-reliant and resourceful, adapting to a new culture and country. Upon arriving in Spain, I realized that my global education had not even started. I learned more about culture in three months than during my entire life. My travels also took me to Lisbon, Portugal, Southern France, Monaco, and Italy.

I instructed students in chemistry, algebra, test preparation, and essay-writing.I found that when I was able to connect with my students on a deeper level, I could communicate with them better, and the instruction became easier. I felt satisfaction from knowing that I was not only helping them with their studies, but providing them with the tools they needed to succeed later on as well.

I instructed students in basic music comprehension, reading and interpreting musical markings, and technique. My students included children with disabilities. I found a deep satisfaction in passing on something that has been so important in my life to others, music. Furthermore, I found it fulfilling to know I was passing on an important life skill in music.

English/Business, English

International Baccalaureate Diploma, 4.67 Gpa

Activities and Societies: Treasurer of Investment Club, Secretary of Make-A-Wish Club The International Baccalaureate Program consisted.