Education
1988 – 1993
Memphis State University (now The University of Memphis), Memphis, TN
• Bachelor of Arts ~ Journalism
• Undergraduate work included news writing & reporting, magazine writing and desktop publishing.

Summary of Qualifications
• Five years experience in web development including HTML, CSS, PHP/MySQL and Perl programming
• Two years corporate advertising layout & design experience.
• Several years’ independent layout & design experience.
• Five years in newspaper & magazine journalism.
• Experience in public relations including press releases and press kits.
• Experience in handling multi-tasks and organization.
• Experience in positions which require self-motivation.
• Ability to learn computer hardware, software and other tasks quickly and easily.

Work Experience
October 2009 – Present
Bayou Community Magazine, Darling, MS
Editorial Director
• Organize the direction of each issue
• Identify stories and images needed
• Organize freelancers for writing and photography
• Write and edit content

January 2009 – Present
Southern College of Optometry, Memphis, TN
Communications Specialist/Writer
• Write for alumni magazine called Visions
• Write for 2 organizational newsletters SCOnline & InSight
• Responsible for some proofreading and copyediting
• Responsible for researching and creating press releases

October 2008 – October 2009
Smith & Nephew, Memphis, TN
Freelance Writer
Freelance writer in Consumer Communications

September 2008 – December 2008
The Commercial Appeal, Memphis, TN
Freelance Writer
Freelance writer and reporter covering higher education and other issues; feature writing

December 2007 – January 2009
Bayou Community Magazine, Darling, MS
Freelance Graphic Designer
• Designed bi-monthly community magazine
• Responsible for art direction and layout
• Responsible for some proofreading and copyediting
• Responsible for expediting files to printer

2001 – Present
Freelance Web & Graphic Design, Memphis, TN
Web Design & Development, Graphic Design & Writing – www.yumemedia.com
• Web design & development, graphics, image editing, logos, brochures, letterhead, business cards, newsletters, brochures, public relations copy, ad copy, journalism

2002 – 2006
CySpace City Internet Marketing, Oak Brook, IL
Freelance — Web Design & Development
• Web design, web graphics, and site development.
• Analyze existing websites for better development.
• Develop site plan for individual clients with existing space or seeking web presence for the first time.
• Execute site development plan upon approval by clients.
• Responsible for site design, graphics, image editing and site content development.

1999 – 2001
The Kroger Co., Memphis, TN
Advertising Layout
• Responsible for the typesetting and layout of The Kroger Co. weekly sales papers and other ad pieces and signage for the grocery stores in its Delta Marketing Region.
• Requires the use of Multi-Ad Creator and Adobe Illustrator desktop publishing programs in the creation of artwork and layout of the ads.
• Also responsible for ordering images used in the ads from the printing company, The Watkins Co.
• Make sure proofs are hung on boards for weekly advertising meetings and that they are distributed to department merchandisers for corrections and approval.

1998 – 1999
Staffing Associates, Inc., Memphis, TN
Receptionist/Secretary – Stephens Brothers, Inc.
• Set up and maintain contract files for commercial and residential HVAC jobs.
• File contracting permits with the appropriate municipal offices; make sure the fees are figured correctly and a check cut for those fees.
• Reconcile daily Accounts Receivable with open invoices in customer accounts using a Microsoft Excel database.
• Sort daily Accounts Payable invoices by job contract number using a Microsoft Excel database; distribute them weekly to the appropriate supervisor for their approval before payment.
• Invoice customers for Pure Air, Inc. filter maintenance service and reconcile accounts receivable for that company. Keep track of account balances and mail out past due notices for those invoices past due.
• Update and distribute list for contract jobs.
• Assist the main secretary and bookkeeper with any filing or typing.
• Maintain phone log and sort and distribute company mail.

1997 – 1998
North Little Rock Times, N. Little Rock, AR
Staff Writer
• Report and write articles on the education beat in North Little Rock and Pulaski County.
• Report and write news feature stories and obit feature profiles.
• Report and write general assignment stories.

Nov. 1995
Young Sisters & Bros. Magazine, Washington, DC
“Staying Ahead of the Game: Short Takes on Common Problems”
• Freelance article written for a nationally published magazine.
• Reported information on how to graduate from college on time.

1995
Sales & Marketing Comm. Assoc., Inc., Memphis, TN
Assistant Conference Coordinator – National Civil Rights Museum’s 1995 Conference On Freedom
• Solicited and confirmed the participation of panelists for conference.
• Coordinated hotel and travel accommodations for panelists.
• Oversaw the creation of conference publications.

Administrative Coordinator – NCNW 1995 Mid-Southern Region Black Family Reunion Celebration
• Coordination of volunteers and volunteer coordinators solicitation and confirmation of sponsors, creating and following up on leads for exhibitors.
• Created press releases, fliers, handbills and event correspondence and oversaw the creation of advertising materials from the designer to the printer.

1994 – 1995
Chronicle-Tribune, Marion, IN
Staff Writer
• Report and write articles on the county government and courts in Marion and Grant County.
• Report and write news feature stories.
• Report and write general assignment stories

1993
The Daily Helmsman, Memphis, TN
Staff Writer
• Report and write general assignment newspaper articles on different aspects of the University of Memphis.
• Report and write news feature stories about the University of Memphis.

1993
The Tri-State Defender Memphis, TN
Reporting Intern
• Report and write general assignment articles for a newspaper that serves the Mid-South area.

Foreign Languages
Some Spanish, Some Japanese

Technical Experience
Computer Hardware
Experience with Macs, PCs, Scanners, Zip Drive and CD/DVD Burner.

Computer Software
Graphic Design: Adobe InDesign CS2, Adobe Illustrator CS2, Adobe PhotoShop CS2, Acrobat 7, QuarkXPress 5, Adobe PageMaker 6.5, Paint Shop Pro 7.02, Microsoft Publisher 2003

Web Design: Macromedia Dreamweaver 8, Macromedia Flash 8, Macromedia Fireworks 8

Programming Languages: HTML, CSS, PHP, MySQL, Perl

Office: Microsoft Office XP: Excel 2003, PowerPoint 2003, Word 2003, Outlook 2003, Microsoft Works

Internet: Internet Explorer 7, Mozilla Firefox 2.0, Opera 9.1, WS_FTP Pro 9.0 (File Transfer Protocols)

Typing: 40 wpm