PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Freelance, Writer, Editor, Translator January 1997 – Present

Work freelance providing a range of strategic communication services from the conceptualization of ideas to their realization. Function as editor, copyeditor and proofreader in concert with writing and translation projects. As translator, work with documents from numerous business fields translating (Spanish-English) text and ensuring that the technical, cultural and/or idiomatic contexts maintain their significance in the process. Clients include CARE the international relief and development agency, Borough Manhattan Community College; the Educational Broadcast Corporation aka Thirteen/WNET; Centerdesign, a New York-based design firm; Chip & Cookie, a new retail concept with international projection launched October 2004; and the Paraprofessional Healthcare Institute, a social service agency with offices in New York, Boston and Philadelphia.

Proofreader October 2007 – March 2008

Clipper Magazine, Lancaster, PA. Proofread advertisements for this national publishing company that prints over 1,000 magazines in 30 states across the country advertising consumer retail products and services

Executive Director June 2006 – April 2007

BASE, Inc., Lancaster, PA. BASE (Building and Supporting Entrepreneurship) Inc. Reporting to the board of directors, served as senior staff person for this community economic development organization. Oversaw day-to-day operations. Responsible for achieving established organizational objectives and goals. Represented organization at public events. Forged relationships with other community-based organizations and the business community. Responsible for fundraising.

Director of Development July 2005 – May 2006

Community First Fund, Lancaster, PA. Functioned as part of management team for this community finance development institution with four regional offices serving ten counties in Central Pennsylvania. Responsible for creating and directing the fund solicitations program for a $1.3 million operating budget and a $5million loan fund. Coordinated individual solicitations, foundation and government grant writing, and annual bank funding requests. Coordinated marketing activities, including the production of quarterly newsletter and annual report.

Sales Associate April 2005 – September 2005

J.D. Byrider, Lancaster, PA. As a Sales Associate for the Lancaster store of this unique national used-car dealership, sold cars as a credit repair program to customers who normally would have difficulty acquiring financing.

Coordinator of Marketing February 2003 – May 2004

STRIVE, New York, NY. Coordinate marketing, advertising and publicity for this nonprofit workforce development and job placement agency that also serves as headquarters for a national network of 21 affiliate agencies. Oversee creation and production of agency collateral material. Create and implement marketing plans; coordinate advertising and publicity of diverse agency departments. Serve as point person with external consultants and vendors (i.e. public relations, graphic designers, printers, mailing houses). Because of limited agency staff, function as project manager when necessary. For example, managed the establishment of an after school computer center for young students from program design to start of operations. Currently am managing the creation of an agency intranet for document sharing among the network affiliates. Manage website content.

Development Associate January 2001 – February 2003

STRIVE, New York, NY. In fundraising department of three, assisted in all elements of fundraising and external relations. Responsibilities centered on conceptualizing, writing & editing unique approaches to donating entities. Oversaw direct mail solicitations, and donor tracking using Fund E-Z (a donor gift & pledge tracking software). Monitored contributions & produced weekly income reports for department head as well as quarterly fiscal reports for board of directors’ meetings. In addition to fundraising responsibilities, functioned as de facto marketing coordinator. Produced and edited all aspects of quarterly newsletter. Produced and edited 2000/2001 biennial report. Produced agency’s national and New York websites and managed their content. Created agency’s nascent marketing plan and serve as point person with external marketing consultants in the modification & implementation of that plan. Functioned as agency editor ensuring that all materials written for mass publication are correct and accurate, and conveyed clear, consistent messages regarding agency identity to appropriate audiences. Supervised marketing intern.

Development Officer May 1995 – December 1996

CARE Foundation CARE INTERNATIONAL, Atlanta, GA. Supported major gifts fundraising activities of 14 domestic field offices and headquarters functions from the in-house foundation responsible for major gifts fundraising for the 50-year-old relief, development and emergency assistance organization. Assisted in devising and implementing fundraising strategies. Liaised between fundraisers and overseas program staff. Interpreted and communicated overseas Program Division strategies and specific project activities for use by fundraisers. Majority of activities focused on writing. Specific tasks included: extensive speech writing for executive staff at special events like the Washington Anniversary Celebration; proposal writing for fundraising campaigns; mass mailing appeal letters; major gifts acknowledgment letters for executive staff; special projects like event synopsis and newsletter articles. Coordinated preparation of briefing papers for executive staff in preparation for donor calls and their attendance of special events. Auxiliary duties included: donor account tracking through Universal Fundraising System; servicing national donor organizations like General Federation of Women's Clubs and Garden Clubs and assisting in the creation of fundraising programs for these groups; and assisting in the execution of special events on an ad hoc basis.