BRIEFLY I AM...

A senior-level administrator, publicist, event coordinator, grant writer and creative writer / editor / feature journalist.

* Currently serving as a licensed insurance specialist for Farmers Insurance at MVP Insurance Agency, Woodbridge NJ

* Currently serving as Arts & Media Specialist for Skye Consulting 
with urban redevelopment clients throughout New Jersey

* Former Executive Director of Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce

* Former Executive Director for Union County Performing Arts Center 

* Former Press Director for Hall Institute of Public Policy-NJ

* Served 9 years in the Mayor’s Office of Woodbridge Township, NJ working with three administrations as Public Information Officer and Grants Officer/Special Projects Coordinator

I have experience in:

program planning • budget making • fundraising/sponsor solicitation • publicity implementation • grant writing • educational outreach • staff and volunteer coordination • board development • proofreading/editing • publication design/marketing • media representation • topic research • corporate/political/motivational speech writing • university-level teaching • community visioning

** Contact me for details on recent projects I've managed and assisted that improved, enhanced, made a Bigger, Better Difference. **

HOW I'M USEFUL TO YOU...

• As a publicist and media relations specialist, I have served a great variety of clients with marketing campaigns that achieved maximum exposure and impact, as well as organizing scores of community outreach events including seminars, business conferences and arts showcases.

• I have served as an event coordinator and consultant for major special events: academic conferences, trade shows, music and arts festivals, product introductions, educational seminars, workshops, symposia and special showcase events.

• I have written grants and planned development campaigns for dozens of non-profit groups; devising unique and successful fundraising strategies is a specialty, as well as liaison and lobbying experience with government, education and community agencies at local, state and national levels.

• As a copywriter/editor, I have produced writing and multi-media presentations for education, health, retail, entertainment, publishing and corporate clients. My credits range from software manuals and training handouts to hundreds of film, radio and television scripts, documentaries, jingles, liner notes, pamphlets, brochures, web site content, annual reports, newsletters and commercial ad copy for print and broadcast.

EXPERIENCE...

Executive Director - Metuchen Area Chamber of Commerce
Metuchen, NJ / 2015-16

Executive Director - Union County Performing Arts Center
Rahway, NJ / 2013-2015

Press Director - Hall Institute of Public Policy
Trenton, NJ / 2011-2013

Grants Officer/Event Coordinator - Mayor's Office

Woodbridge, NJ / 2007-2013

Public Information Officer/Mayoral Press Aide - Mayor's Office

Woodbridge, NJ / 2004-2006

Contract Writer/Editor - Words & Music, Inc.

Woodbridge, NJ / 2000-2004

Administrative Director - Humanities Theatre Group

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, IN / 1996-2000

Assistant Director - Indiana University School of Music

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, IN / 1990-1994

Senior Entertainment Publicist - Englander & Keesee, Inc.
Austin, TX / 1988-1990

Executive Director - Music Umbrella of Austin, Inc.

Austin, TX / 1984-1988

EDUCATION...

School of Irish Studies - Dublin, IRELAND

Irish literature, history, language, creative writing
1-year undergrad coursework in Irish Studies with professors from University College Dublin and Trinity College.

Indiana University - Bloomington, Indiana
B.A. Liberal Arts

Earned degree from Independent Learning Program focusing on music and culture with specializations in Anthropology, Linguistics, Ethnomusicology, Folklore; studied at IU Folklore Institute and Archives of Traditional Music.

University of Pittsburgh - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
M.A., Ph.D. Ethnomusicology

2-year winner Andrew Mellon Fellowship; 2 National Endowment for the Arts fieldwork grants; concentration in Irish, British Isles, European folk music; authored first-ever dissertation in Irish Folk Music; earned Ph.D. at age 25