my career path
Start scrolling to see a 30,000-foot view of my professional experience, followed by all of my specific roles, employers, and clients in education (K-12, universities, edtech), technology, arts and entertainment, retail, hospitality, travel, for-profit, non-profit, B2C, B2B, B2G, and much more.
Alternately, you can download my PDF resume.
My career has taken me from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to K12 and 2U/edX in the D.C. area, to Northwestern University and Sears both outside of Chicago, to Microsoft in Seattle, to Landmark Theatres in Los Angeles. The latter location also included a zany three-week movie shoot in the desert with random actors you'd probably recognize from "Family Ties" and "Ferris Bueller's Day Off."
As Johnny Cash would say, "I've been everywhere, man!"
30,000-foot overview
- Exceptionally versatile marketing, communications, editorial, and project management specialist with more than 25 years of experience
- Meticulously organized project and team leader with excellent communication skills, a collaborative nature, and robust research talents
- Proficient in developing and executing creative solutions and bringing cross-functional teams together to achieve business goals
- A tireless hands-on problem solver focused on building, documenting, and training staff on agile processes and efficiencies
- Fluent in all forms of media including print, web, email, social, video, radio, content/asset management, and information architecture
- Strategic abilities extend to campaign planning, targeted messaging, product merchandising, promotional offers, and agency management
- Industry expertise ranges from arts & entertainment to technology, education, travel & leisure, retail, B2C, B2B, and B2G
roles, employers & clients
senior manager of corporate communications
Jan 2021 – present
Lanham, MD
- Ideate, write, and publish a wide range of editorial content for the company's websites, blogs, social media channels, reports, and more
- Focus storytelling on thought leadership, corporate initiatives, partner programs, education trends, and learner outcomes
- Interview executives, university leaders, students, faculty, curriculum designers, employers, and other edtech voices around the world
- Ghost-write articles and develop video assets incorporating stakeholders' unique, nuanced perspectives on a wide variety of topics
- Strategically position core messaging through a lens of diversity, inclusion, access, and opportunity for all kinds of learners
- Collaborate with teams across the business to maximize visibility and impact of content through external and internal channels
- Manage the 2U website and regularly assess performance metrics to apply lessons learned toward future content planning
- Provide assignments and guidance for freelance writers and substantively edit their work
- Served as volunteer communications chair for 2 years for the company's LGBTQIA+ employee resource network
advertising communications manager
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Oct 2012 – Dec 2019
Washington, DC
See my Kennedy Center portfolio
- Led a team of 3-5 in creating content to market hundreds of annual theater, music, dance, and festival events in a fast-paced environment
- Gathered/documented requirements, assigned resources, developed process, monitored/negotiated schedules, removed obstacles, and maintained deadlines
- Developed complex acquisition and retention campaigns to promote single ticket and package sales to multiple customer segments
- Guided all editorial and copyedited and/or wrote own projects for direct mail, email, program brochures, websites, radio, ads, and display
- Facilitated communication, review, and approval among all stakeholders: marketers, designers, event directors, IT, sales, and sponsorship
- Managed daily time-sensitive updates to a vast content management system of ever-changing, public-facing performance information
- Scripted, filmed, and edited video projects from A to Z, from artist interviews and performance trailers to behind-the-scenes activities
- Oversaw the content creation for the Center’s primary social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, blogs, etc.
senior manager of marketing communications
K12 Online Education (now Stride)
Jan 2011 – Oct 2012
Dulles, VA
- Wrote, edited, and proofed marketing communications for an international network of public and private online schools
- Print included corporate program guides, school brochures, curriculum catalogs, case studies, ads, influencer kits, and event materials
- Digital included emails, web content, site organization, landing pages, banner ads, course sales, sweepstakes, school selectors, and SEM
- Developed lead generation for consumer prospects, retention campaigns for enrolled families, and B2B efforts for education leaders
- Ghostwriter for heads of school communications, think tank blog contributor, and interviewer for student profiles and testimonials
senior copywriter
ARS Interactive Agency (now Aisle Rocket)
Apr 2010 – Jan 2011
Palatine, IL
- Conceptualized, wrote, edited, and proofed advertising copy for client interactive projects
- Accounts included Sears, Kmart, Jaclyn Smith, Kenmore, Craftsman, MyGofer, Whirlpool, Maytag, and Gladiator GarageWorks
- Projects ranged from site architecture to landing pages, emails, ad banners, iPhone apps, product finders, quizzes, and client pitches
- Topics included appliances, fashion, tools, toys, lawn & garden, home goods, beauty, auto, fitness, DIY, grocery, and electronics
marketing content manager
Aug 2009 – Mar 2010
Hoffman Estates, IL
- Hired to launch a pilot email program for Sears and Kmart that integrated targeted editorial content with online offers
- Selected articles, videos, social media, and product promotions for inclusion in emails segmented by lifestyle themes
- Wrote and edited copy for email campaigns and made frequent updates to Sears.com and Kmart.com splash pages
- Managed SHC’s content syndication agreements with Hearst Publishing (Cosmopolitan, Esquire, etc.) and cable networks
- Provided day-to-day creative direction to two agencies – Ogilvy and ARS – and oversaw production flow and editorial review
- Collaborated with partners from SHC business units and branding teams to ensure balanced visibility on the editorial calendar
communications director
Northwestern University School of Communication
Aug 2008 – May 2009
Evanston, IL
- Directed messaging programs for students, faculty, the local community, and a national network of alumni/donors
- Supervised a staff of three: a publications writer, events manager, and communications aide.
- Produced hands-on multimedia projects including theater “behind-the-scenes” videos and faculty/student profiles
- Wrote and edited all web site content: news articles, recruitment zones, program/event updates, and social media pages
- Guided text and design for the annual report and alumni magazine; launched school-wide and alumni HTML e-newsletters
- Led photo shoots and either directed photographers’ work or armed myself with a high-end camera for event documentation
- Organized visiting artist/scholar events, school celebrations, discussion panels, lectures, workshops, and reunion activities
- Publicized news and events via HTML emails, posters, invitations, postcards, listserv management, and student outreach
advertising communications manager
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Dec 2001 – Aug 2008
Washington, DC
- See above; initial 6.5 years in position focused on more hands-on writing, web content management, and supervising year-round interns
senior copywriter
Feb 2001 – Dec 2001
Fairfax, VA
See my Borenstein Group portfolio
- Determined creative concepts and wrote both print and online collateral for the agency’s advertising and PR clients
- Executed integrated marketing campaigns through a combination of print ads, direct mail, and email
- Generated brand identifiers including taglines, logos, and product names; also counseled on marketplace differentiation
- Corporate communications ranged from brochures and press releases to sell sheets, press kits, and event displays
- Multimedia projects encompassed scripted videos, exploratory CD-ROMs, web animations, and information architecture
- Created internal and external communications for client executives: speeches, investment proposals, and policy documents
freelance writer
Wyndham Resorts, America Online, and Microsoft
Aug 2000 – Feb 2001
Alexandria, VA
- Wrote copy for Wyndham travel destinations, AOL Shop Direct and Digital City, and the Microsoft 2000 holiday catalog
>> Wyndham website >> AOL website >> Microsoft website
marketing communications manager
Feb 1999 – July 2000
Redmond, WA
- Developed the editorial voice and vision for Microsoft’s online store, Xbox countdown site, and “Insider.com” web portal
- Wrote and edited web copy, promotions, contests, headlines, step-by-step “how-to” articles, and product feature stories
- Managed a team of two staff writers, a designer, and various vendors in content creation, asset delivery, and site updating
- Determined merchandising calendars per corporate initiatives, customer surveys, focus groups, sales tracking, and inventory
- Led weekly editorial strategy meetings and project planning teams
educational product manager
and acquisitions editor
Chadwyck-Healey Electronic Publishers
Mar 1997 – Nov 1998
Alexandria, VA
See my Chadwyck-Healey portfolio
- Oversaw the editorial make-up and marketing of literature anthologies for the national higher education market
- Determined content for the company’s Literature Online web site, American poetry CD-ROMs, and drama collections
- Wrote and coordinated brochure design, newsletters, flyers, catalogs, and direct mail; also directed freelance writers
- Developed business models, budget plans, revenue goals, and marketing campaigns for new product launches
- Negotiated with publishers, agents, and authors in the acquisition of electronic licensing rights in return for royalty payouts
film department coordinator
Landmark Theatres of Samuel Goldwyn Studios
July 1993 – July 1994
Los Angeles, CA
- Supported the VP Film Buyer and two film buying agents for the nation’s largest “indie film” cinema chain
- Worked with Disney, Miramax, MGM, and other studios to secure film distribution rights and plot weekly screening schedules
- Reviewed and approved advertising for newspapers, directories, Landmark’s bi-weekly newsletter, and other publications
apprentice to the art director
"Whit & Charm" Short Feature Film
June 1993 – July 1993
Los Angeles, CA
- Supported the art director in creating and staging scenes and props on the set of the short feature film "Whit & Charm" shot all around Los Angeles and also in the desert
- The film starred Page Hannah (“Shag: The Movie” and also Daryl's sister), Scott Valentine (Justine Bateman's boyfriend Nick in “Family Ties”), and Alan Ruck (Matthew Broderick's best friend Cameron in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”)
- Carla Malden (daughter of Karl) wrote the project through the UCLA Extension program
summer video camp counselor
Technology Instruction Corporation (TIC)
June 1992 – Aug 1992
Washington, DC
- With 2 other counselors, ran the video department at a summer day camp hosted on the grounds of American University, guiding young campers ages 10-18 in scripting, shooting, acting, directing, editing, producing, and showcasing short films
- One of my “star” junior high students was Zal Batmanglij, who went on to write and direct the Netflix series “The OA” and the major motion pictures “The East” and “Sound of My Voice”
summer instructional aide
Fairfax County Public Schools
June 1991 – Aug 1991
McLean, VA
- Supported the ESL (English as a Second Language) program at Franklin Sherman Elementary School as a teacher’s assistant for a first-grade classroom of 30+ children