ABOUT ME
My story
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I am a San Francisco Bay Area-based writer and editor. I love words: writing them, correcting them and often deleting them.
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In my career, I have been a newspaper writer and editor, a magazine editor and a freelance writer and copyeditor. I’ve worked on online sites as a writer and editor as well. I bring a strong work ethic, a creative spirit, flexibility and a sense of professionalism to every project I encounter.
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Currently I am a job-seeking freelance writer, editor and content marketer. I love my freelance clients, especially the Concord Pioneer and the San Francisco Chronicle, but I am looking for more corporate and agency clients, or a full-time position.
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Before working in agency life for a year at AMF Media Group, I edited the Lamorinda Weekly, a 26,000-circulation community newspaper for the towns of Lafayette, Moraga and Orinda. This was deja vu for me, because I covered the same community for the Contra Costa Sun (now Lamorinda Sun) back in the early 2000s. That solidified my love of community news, and I ended up overseeing all the Central County Community Weeklies. That was under the umbrella of the Contra Costa Times, now the East Bay Times.
After I left there I fell into a niche: Producing parenting magazines, which touched another one of my loves. I did that for the Bay Area’s two main regional parenting magazines -- Bay Area Parent and later, Parents Press -- until 2016.
At the same time I worked as a freelance writer, covering hard news and delightful features for a variety of Bay Area publications. I also honed my strong working knowledge of AP style as a copyeditor for the Clayton and Concord Pioneer. When the Concord paper launched, I took over covering the Concord civic beat, writing about such things as the Concord Naval Weapons Station, rent and housing issues and crime.
I rebranded my Independent Contracting as PS Content Creation in 2021, just as the pandemic shutdowns were easing. Then, in early 2022, i was able to turn my passions -- nonprofits and affordable housing -- into a career when I took a job with one of my clients, Novin Development, as its Communications Managerand Project Assistant. I was in for a wild ride as I learned about affordable housing literally from the ground up, and I feel proud of the work I have done to promote the good work that Novin and others are doing.
I have had a colorful and stimulating career that has allowed me a strong work-life balance.
I am currently an empty nester, with my husband Tony and I having raised three adult children. We reside in Concord, California with our dogs Posey and Lola – and my 93-year-old mother!
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Work​
experience​
Communications Manager
Novin Development Corp.
Walnut Creek/Concord, CA – 2022 to present
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Use all of my communication skills -- from writing to public relations to community engagement -- to promote the work of an affordable housing development company. Assisted in the due diligence of acquiring property, closing governmental entitlements and working with sometimes hostile neighbors, using strong community engagement tactics. Created a press strategy and implemented it, along with social media, e-Blasts and video.
Principal, PS Content Creation
Walnut Creek/Concord, CA – June 2011-to present
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Leverage writing and editing skills, as well as aptitude for flexibility, to act as an independent writer, editor and content producer for numerous clients, such as the San Francisco Chronicle, Adams State University, Walnut Creek Magazine, the Concord Pioneer, the San Jose Mercury News, East Bay Times, Diablo Magazine, Wildflower Health, CareerCOACH and Bay Area Home Companions.
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Covered a variety of topics, including healthcare, lifestyle, entertainment, business, education and government.
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Key Contributions:
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Create content for cross-platforms, including long- and short-form copy, blogs, websites and social media
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Demonstrate marketing skills by creating a wide range of materials, including brochure copy, eblasts, social media copy and other deliverables
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Assistant Managing Editor, Rossmoor News
Walnut Creek, CA – Jan. 2020 to May 2020
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Helped drive the content of a 50-plus page newspaper for a 10,000-member active retirement community.
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Developed and wrote enterprise stories, copyedit content, and assist the Managing Editor in keeping the paper publishing during the COVID-19 shutdown, working with a small onsite staff. Organized photos for production, edit staff- and resident-written stories and acted as liaison to the production staff.
Key Contributions:
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Improved editorial quality;
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Planned technical advancements;
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Wrote enterprise and spot-news stories;
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Built morale.
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Editorial Director, AMF Media Group
San Ramon, CA - July 2017 to July 2018
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Spearheaded brand marketing and messaging content for a mid-level boutique marketing agency, while also guiding production, editing, and writing for two associated healthcare magazines.
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Strengthened messaging for cities, building contractors, investment companies, and other clients by drafting copy for digital marketing and press releases. Created copy aligned with responsive design for online and mobile applications. Connected target markets with company’s services through strong branding, messaging and storytelling.
Key Contributions:
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Launched company’s first bilingual healthcare magazine, in collaboration with team, by developing story ideas and writing/editing content.
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Managed editorial content for San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.
Editor, Lamorinda Weekly
Moraga, CA - March 2016 to July 2017
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Directed production and editing for a bi-weekly local newspaper with a circulation of 25,000.
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Guided and directed six-person writing staff, plus ten columnists and additional freelance writers, while editing approximately 50 entries per issue according to AP style guidelines.
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Key Contributions:
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Spearheaded complex local and national coverage of 2016 election, highlighting impact on residents of three communities;
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Steered spotlight back to local news during national events.
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Editor, Parents’ Press
Alameda, CA - Dec. 2013 to March 2016
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Led creation of editorial content for monthly parenting magazine, ensuring alignment with readership’s interests and values.
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Oversaw up to 10 freelancers and a designer in the timely development of quality content. Extended publication’s reach by creating content for social media.
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Key Contributions:
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Introduced “front of the book” content that included a personal editor’s note and feedback from readers;
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Launched Education section covering important trends in both public and private schools.
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Editor, Bay Area Parent
Walnut Creek, CA - Oct. 2006 to Oct. 2010
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Directed editorial production for award-winning monthly parenting magazine, as well as seven sister publications and the organization’s website.
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Led staff two assistant editors and 12 freelancers to cover areas events featuring children and parents and design specialty content around readership interest.
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Key Contributions:
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Personally won four first-place national awards from the Parenting Media Association for content;
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Transformed old stale content into an award-winning, teen-focused magazine, Teen Focus. Additional four years of experience as Editor/Writer for the Contra Costa Times.
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EDUCATION & PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS
Bachelor of Arts in English | University of California, Berkeley | Berkeley, California
International Association of Business Communicators – Member;
Walnut Creek Chamber of Commerce – Member, Ambassador.