Valerie M. Simkus
Sterling Heights, MI 48310
Voice/SMS: 248-***-****
eMail: ********@*****.***
Summary: Computer Typesetter and Administrative Assistant seeking an
Interview or Trial Employment to explore the occupations of Sales
and/or Marketing Clerk and related posi-tions supporting Sales,
Marketing, Business Development, Brand Development, Social Media
Strategy and/or General Business Writing and Research.
Skills and Abilities:
. Reviewed a variety of documents for errors, misspellings and
abnormalities, in support of activities such as business
correspondence, company newsletters, brochures, business cards and
other corporate communications, including the processing of
residential loans
. Effective researcher of people, topics, records, payment
histories, and liens, and able to reliably identify specified results
and file all supporting documentation
. Reviewed mortgage and other legal documents for abnormalities,
inaccuracies and other outstanding issues in support of processing and
closing of FHA refinanced loans
. Proficient with data entry using Sage ACT!, Sage Peachtree,
Microsoft Access, and Microsoft Excel
. Efficient with scanning text, photographs, graphical, and
drafted hardcopy into several electronic formats
. Able to complete industry-specific forms accurately and
reliably, following prescribed methods
. Prepared business and marketing correspondence using Microsoft
Word, Adobe InDesign and reports, presentations and other specialized
documents using Micro-soft Excel, Publisher and PowerPoint
. Composed expense reports, after computing fees, expenses, and
other itemized costs, using Sage Peachtree
. Experienced with intermediate-level website design for
composing or updating website pages using Website Tonight (Godaddy
proprietary application), and Microsoft FrontPage
. Assist in all aspects of office administration, including
reception, routing phone calls, and marketing or survey calls
Education:
June 2012 Baker College, Auburn Hills, MI
Graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration,
with a con-
centration of coursework in Marketing, Minor in Graphic
Communications
Dec 1998 Macomb Community College, Warren, MI
Graduated with an Associate of Applied Science in General
Studies and a
minor in Commercial (Graphic) Art and Business Administration.
Valerie M. Simkus Resume Page 2
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Employment History:
Present- Crewperson, McDonald's Restaurants USA, LLC, Sterling
Heights/Troy, MI
Jan 2007 Working in the capacity of Counter Clerk, Beverage and Product
Specialist.
Coordinated in-store special events, such as Product Rollout,
Product (Menu Item)
Sampling, and "Family Night." Have also been instrumental in
the placement of POP,
increase in per Order 'Up-sales' and an increase of Customer
Retention by at least 40%
at whichever location this tenured Crew has worked,
intermittently, since 1988.
May 2012- Receptionist/Office Assistant/Research Assistant, Social
Resources, Inc.,
Aug 2010 North Macomb Center and Headquarters, Macomb Township, MI;
Began as the
Receptionist for this nonprofit organization that provides
vocational and life skills
services for developmentally disabled and mentally impaired
adults. Answered phones,
routed calls, took messages, greeted and directed visitors,
VIP's and clients. Responsi-
bilities were expanded to office administration support,
computer typesetting and assisted
with graphic design. Used Microsoft Publisher to update the
monthly consumer activity
calendars for the site supervisors, and created the master
copies of the calendars for mass
reproduction and distribution to the hundreds of Consumers who
attended each month. Used
Microsoft Excel to record consumer demographics and related
data; used Microsoft Word to
update monthly consumer Goal Sheets for each attendee by
referencing their corresponding
MCCMH Plan of Service and identifying newly established as well
as reinforcing existing
goals. Used the Website Tonight application software (provided
by GoDaddy web hosting
service provider) to redesign outdated agency websites, which
resulted in increased traffic
and search engine optimization, (SEO). Composed routine
correspondence and agency
literature. Composed advertising and marketing copy draft
proposals, requested media
advertising quotes, reviewed proposals with the Executive
Director and principal managers,
and then finalized advertising or marketing copy for in-house or
external distribution.
Unexpectedly recognized and rewarded, along with other
headquarter Office Assistants,
for "Great Team Support" by the Executive Board in 2011.
Jul 2010- Computer Typesetter/Customer Service Representative (Self-
employed Contractor),
Jul 2005 Surfergirl Services, Inc., Warren, MI; Supported multiple and
ongoing advertising
and marketing projects for several small companies spanning a
period of approximately
five years. Consulted with customers to take orders for
typesetting, graphic design
and printing services, and entered text-based and graphic
design orders into a Sage
Peachtree database using a more efficient and intuitive manner
for In the Mix Produc-
tions, (Warren, MI; 2005-2006). Entered customer and
prospective customer contact,
purchase behavior and billing information into a Microsoft
Access database for Expert
Enterprises, Inc., (Warren, MI; 2006-2007). Made business-to-
business calls to market
the Information Technology and Consulting services of Expert
Enterprises, Inc.
June 2006- Administrative Assistant, Scientel Information Technology,
Inc., Bingham Farms, MI;
Mar 2006 Worked on a short-term assignment to assist in the development
of a new marketing
plan to support the Distribution Business Information System,
(DBIS) software, which
was engineered and published by this small company. Updated the
DBIS End-user
Manuals as well as other miscellaneous office duties in support
of the Scientel Founder
and President, Norman Kutemper.
Valerie M. Simkus Resume Page 3
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May 2005- Administrative Assistant, Global Technology Associates,
Dearborn, MI
Jan 2005 Worked on assignment at Key Safety Systems, Inc., located in
Sterling Heights, MI;
Supported automotive test engineers by copying blueprints, and
inserting photographic
and wireform views of seatbelt and airbag restraint systems into
documents. Added
graphic images and text to engineering presentations created in
Microsoft PowerPoint.
Used Microsoft FrontPage to design and update ASIA Group's
Intranet pages of the
corporate website. Made travel and accommodation arrangements
for senior engineers,
compiled expense and other reports.
Jan 2005- Crewperson, Madison Food Services, L.L.C. (McDonald's), Madison
Hghts, MI;
Mar 2004 Worked in the capacities of counter clerk and fast-food worker.
Sep 2003- Department Clerk, Birmingham Bancorp Mortgage Corp, West Bloom
field, MI;
Mar 2001 Researched payment histories, ordered credit reports, and
calculated debt to income
ratios of borrowers seeking to refinance their mortgages.
Reviewed property titles for
abnormalities, outstanding liens, or other issues that would
prevent the loan from closing.
Assisted in the preparation of FHA and HUD documents. Compiled
HUD loan applica-
tion packets for prospective clients. Prepared business
correspondence. Entered data
into departmental database using Microsoft Outlook and
MorVision.
Dec 2000 - Text and Graphics Department Specialist, Manpower Professional,
Mar 2000 Southfield, MI; Worked on assignment at the IBM Corporation,
Sales and Service Center,
located in Southfield, MI. Copied a range of technical or sales
materials into electronic
formats. Typeset and laid out documents using various graphic
and text-based software,
such as Lotus WordPerfect, Lotus 1-2-3, IBM Freelance Graphics,
and Microsoft Visio in
support of various IBM Sales and Systems Consultants.
Dec 1999- Department Clerk, Birmingham Bancorp Mortgage Corporation and
BBC Funding,
May 1999 West Bloomfield, MI;
Compiled loan application packets for Retail Loan Officers.
Selected, designed, ordered
and stored promotional items. Maintained stock of promotional
literature, such as brochures,
loan package offerings, sales info sheets, and flyers.
Submitted orders to print shops for
bulk-order printed materials, which were disseminated by the
company's various Loan
Officers to would-be Borrowers as well as local Real Estate
Agents and other partners.