Highlights of Qualifications

• Creative writer
• Skilled and knowledgeable world traveler
• Excellent communication skills with people from diverse backgrounds
• Experience reporting and writing for news, business, sports, art and entertainment stories
• Experience editing a weekly newspaper for content, copy editing and page layout
• Ability to work hard and efficiently on a deadline
• Good eye for photography
• Competent in Microsoft and Macintosh programs including Quark and Photo Shop
• Experience as a manager with a quick appreciation for business ideas
• Experience problem solving between multiple companies

Education, Awards and Affiliations

• Bachelor of Arts, English with a creative writing emphasis, June 2004
  Minor in Journalism - Western Washington University (WWU), Bellingham, WA
• Journalism Department Scholar Certificate of Recognition, presented for scholastic ability and service to the field of Journalism - WWU, May 25, 2004
• Varsity Crew, September 1999-June 2001

Work and Travel Experience

1. Freelance Writer and Marketing Specialist
   January 2008 – Present
   Currently working with a commercial construction company in California to develop new written content, images and design for a new company website. Also writing and designing brochures, flyers and newsletters for a residential construction company in Redmond, as well as providing written online content for their website.
2. Seattle Metropolitan magazine
   January 2008 – June 2008
   Editorial Intern
   Cultivated professional relationships with museum curators, gallery owners, theater managers, artists, and music directors in order to cover all upcoming events in the areas of film, visual arts and classical music performances for the magazine’s On The Town Listings section. Wrote 50-word creative blurbs for each event as well as numerous articles on subjects ranging from future medicine and new political legislation to street luging and university croquet clubs, fact checked lengthy feature articles, and helped compile massive surveys for the Top Companies and Top Doctors issues.
3. One year, sole journey around the world
   September 2006 - September 2007
   Traveler/fruit picker/fisherman/janitor/laborer/dish washer/landscaper/writer/student of the world
   Traveled around the world on a personal journey for one year to see distant lands, reflect on life and learn from it. Traveled by foot, boat, train, horseback, and hitchhiked through New Zealand, Australia, Malaysia, China, Tibet, Mongolia, Siberia, Russia, and Europe on a dime. Learned to be resourceful, made friends from many different countries, experienced new beliefs, exchanged ideas and shared stories.
4. Tilton Pacific Construction, Inc.
   November 2004 - September 2006
   Project Engineer
   Helped manage and coordinate the construction of large commercial construction projects ranging from $100,000 to $25 million in size. Coordinated between developers, architects and subcontractors, reviewed plans for quality control, wrote contracts, managed associated costs, scheduled work, and protected the company's interests and liabilities. Projects included the construction of such stores as Best Buy, Borders, Home Goods, Starbucks and Safeway, as well as smaller shop buildings and restaurants. Integral in developing, writing and designing a newsletter for the company to be used as a communication device and a marketing tool.
5. Comstock's Business Magazine / The Sacramento Bee
   November 2004 - September 2006
   Freelance reporter
   Wrote numerous articles for a popular business magazine in Sacramento while maintaining a full time management position at Tilton Pacific Construction, Inc. Assignments started small but soon increased in size and covered such feature topics as bank mergers, start-up internet companies, non-profit organizations, and sports media entertainment. Also successfully pitched a front page feature article on kite surfing and windsurfing to Sacramento's major daily newspaper, The Sacramento Bee.
6. The Western Front
   Spring 2004
   Editor
   Organized and constructed the weekly entertainment section of the University newspaper. Assigned stories to reporters and edited articles for content and copy mistakes. Helped reporters turn dull writing into creative and engaging articles. Wrote headlines, collected art and created visually pleasing page layouts to capture the reader's eye.
7. Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic
   Fall 2003
   Student/Reporter
   Studied travel writing and literature and the Czech language for four months in Prague. Lived in the heart of the city, met many people from around the world and adapted to a new culture while overcoming language barriers and cultural differences. Traveled throughout Europe, published an article in a selective University magazine, and took numerous photos for a spring exhibit.