Service Assistant

Location:

Milwaukee, WI

Posted:

February 17, 2013

Contact this candidate

Resume:

tv/radio

Experience

More than ** years of professional writing and editing experience with strong research and investigative background. Excellent communication and feature writing abilities. Specialize in food, travel, wine, design, health, pets and fitness subjects. Bilingual in Spanish, can Interview in French. Studied Japanese. Member of the American Society of Journalists and Authors, Society of American Travel Writers and Midwest Travel Writers Association. Author of five culinary books. Winner of the 2010 Mark Twain Award for best travel Book. winner of 2009 Mark Twain Award for best socially Responsible Travel article. Winner of the 2007 Mark Twain Award for best article about a Midwestern destination.

Professional History

Freelance Writer and Author (2002-present)

Write for more than three dozen different magazines and Web sites, including: SecondAct.com, Saveur, Clean Eating, Budget Travel, Gourmet, Golf Connoisseur, Parenting, Relish, Midwest Airlines, Midwest Living, Kitchen and Bath Ideas, Destination: Vacation, Lake, Wine Enthusiast, Milwaukee, NWA Traveler, AirTran’s GO, United Airlines’ Hemispheres, and others. Author of The cheeses of California: A Culinary Travel Guide, Published by the countryman press in 2009 and winner of the 2010 Mark Twain Awards for best travel book; The cheeses of Wisconsin: A culinary Travel Guide, published by The Countryman Press in 2008 and second place winner of 2009 Mark Twain Awards; The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Cheese, published by Alpha Books in 2008, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Tapas, also published by Alpha in 2008, and The complete idiot’s guide to wine and food pairing, published by Alpha in 2010. also contributed to 1001 Foods You Must Try Before You Die and My Dog’s Life. Corporate clients Have included: Fullhouse Creative, Medem, Inc., Columbia-St. Mary’s, and Larry’s Brown Deer Market. Write, copyedit, and research articles.

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Reporter (1995-2002)

News reporter and feature writer for this 236,000 circulation daily newspaper. Varied reporting experience, including investigative, courts, police, municipal, business, Hispanic, food and feature writing. 2002 Milwaukee Press Club Nomination for investigative journalism. Noted stories included: series on failed children’s museum project, RacineCounty drug charges analysis, French food features, Mexican immigrant’s journey to riches, and column about my demolition derby win.

Milwaukee Sentinel, Reporter (1994-1995)

Police reporter for this 180,000 circulation daily newspaper. Covered breaking news, developed sources and initiated in-depth projects. Major stories included: first journalist to report that Milwaukee Police Officer Gabriel Bedoya had tried to frame his partner for the murder of Chicago bouncer, first journalist to report the delayed discovery of two deceased sisters. Worked as a correspondent for this newspaper from 1990-1993.

MarquetteUniversity, College Instructor (1995-1997)

Taught news reporting and news writing courses for this private university. Designed course work, arranged for guest speakers and facilitated Chicago field trips. Served on 1996 committee to choose textbooks for the introductory journalism classes. Assisted with university chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

City News Bureau, Reporter/Re-write (1993-1994)

Covered police, fire and city news. Developed sources, pursued leads and followed on-going criminal investigations for this noted Chicago wire service. First journalist to break the city water workers’ cocaine bust. Other stories included: the crash of U.S. Air Flight 427, the indictment of U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds and the Rachel Rachlin murder. Weekend broadcast editor and substitute editor. Also was intern for this wire service in summer 1991; as intern, covered the Jeffrey Dahmer story.

Other Experience

President of Milwaukee Society of Professional Journalists, 1996-1998.

Chicago Tribune freelance business writer, 1994-1995.

Daily Herald freelance feature writer, 1994-1995

Ghost Writer for singles counselor, 1994.

Chicago Magazine intern, 1992.

MacKay Publications education, village reporter and substitute editor, 1998-1992.

Corporate writer of brochures, releases, patient education materials,including 150 page breast cancer booklet, 2002-Present.

Exercise/Synchronized Swimming Instructor for South Shore YMCA of Milwaukee, 2002-2006.

Education

MarquetteUniversity

Graduate cum laude in May 1993, honors bachelor of arts degree in journalism, with Spanish minor. President of the Marquette chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.

Working toward masters of journalism.

L’Ecole de Cuisine

basic French cooking certificate, 2000.

Also trained personally with Chef Edmund S. Tijerina of Estrella Restaurant, Milwaukee. Experienced classes with Chef Guerin Mickael, St. Sauveur de Laundemont, France and Chef Cyril Bretheau, Saumur. Studied sushi making in Chiba, Japan. YMCA group exercise certification, water aerobics certification, water safety assistant certification, hydrofitness certification.

Awards and Honors

2010 first place for best travel book, Mark Twain Awards

2010 second Place, best foreign travel article, SATW awards

2010 third place, domestic travel, SATW awards

2010 fourth place, domestic travel, satw awards

2009 first place for best article about socially responsible travel, Mark Twain Awards.

2009 second place for best travel book, Mark Twain Awards.

2008 Third Place for best article about Midwest destination, Mark Twain Awards.

2007 First Place for best article about Midwest destination, Mark Twain Awards, Midwest Travel Writers Association

Wrote three cover stories for Milwaukee Home’s 2004 Folio award-wining year.

Bradley Scholarship, highest undergraduate academic scholarship.

Dion Henderson Excellence in Journalism Award.

Women in Communications Outstanding Student Award.

Member, Alpha Sigma Nu, Jesuit Universities Honor Society.

Member, Kappa Tau Alpha, Journalism Honor Society.

Featured Speaker at Wild Over Words Conference, 1994-1996.

Featured Speaker at KEMPAHigh School Journalism Camp, 1993-1996.

Member of American Society of Journalists and Authors.

Member of Midwest Travel Writers Association.

Television and Radio

NPR Contributor, 2009-Present

Cheese Correspondent, “Good Fermentations” segment of Lake Effect Show on WUWM-Milwaukee. Discuss cheese and pairings trends, cooking ideas, etc.

Guest Appearances

”What’s Cooking,” CRN Radio; “The Morning Blend” on WTMJ-4, Milwaukee; “The Morning Show,” WITI, Milwaukee; Sunday Morning Show, WITI, Milwaukee; Martha Stewart Satellite Radio Morning Show and others.

Guest speaker

Teach culinary and wine education classes, both public and private, and speak at national and regional culinary events, including: Kohler food & Wine Experience, 2010; Wisconsin Wine & Dine, 2009 and 2010; Wisconsin Original Cheese Festival, John Michael Kohler arts center, 2009; Harvest fest, 2010; Sonoma Cheese Conference, 2009.