Resume

Work Experience

City of San Diego San Diego, California

Public Information Officer April 2019 - Present
  • Develop and implement strategic communications for various departments within the City of San Diego including the Planning Department, Environmental Services, Performance and Analytics, Real Estate Assets, Information Technology, Fleet Operations, and Public Utilities. This not only requires representing the departments as a whole, but developing key messaging and communication plans for department projects, initiatives and programs.
  • Write press releases and articles for internal newsletters.
  • Quickly, but prudently respond to media inquiries and arrange interviews with department directors and staff. Write talking points for interviews.
  • Effectively pitch story ideas to media outlets by creating solid relationships with reporters.
  • Work with the graphic designers to create brochures, posters, logos and other creative content.
  • Write and work with creative services staff to produce videos that tell a story.
  • Take photographs and create captivating social media content across multiple platforms.
  • Maintain department webpages, as well as posting of department’s press releases on the web and on the City’s television station.
  • Review and edit public documents released by the departments.
  • Serving as the Deputy Public Information Officer for Operation Shelter to Home, a collaborative effort stood up at the San Diego Convention Center by local agencies to protect and serve the homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is one of the largest emergency homeless shelters in the nation and has been applauded for its ability to keep case rates low and for helping more than 1,100 residents find housing. Along with other job duties, I manage sensitive internal and external communications; work with local and national media outlets to tell the positive stories; and produce videos to share the work of our employees and residents.

Time Warner Cable News/Spectrum Rochester, New York

Multimedia Reporter March 2014- March 2017
  • Gathered important facts and information for the public through interviews, phone calls, and rigorous research.
  • Provided continual live updates during breaking news to meet the viewer demands of a 24-hour news cycle.
  • Shot, wrote, and edited stories for on-air and online under a tight deadline.
  • Developed reliable sources by building trustworthy relationships.
  • Developed story ideas by recognizing issues around me and speaking to community members during my free time.
  • Worked with producers, control room and other on-air staff to execute a well-done broadcast.
  • Multitasked by shooting stories while also sharing those stories on several social media platforms.
  • Enterprise stories frequently and asked to take part in special projects.
  • Frequently covered Rochester City School Board meetings, City Council meetings, court cases, crime, news aspects of sporting events, economic development in the region and impacts of high poverty rates in Rochester. Produced many exclusive and unique feature stories.
  • Covered the Boys and Girls Club mass shooting, Black Lives Matter rallies, updates in missing local teen Brittanee Drexel's case, Craig Rideout's murder and arrests, and arrest and trial of former Cornell student Charlie Tan.
  • Covered Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz's presidential campaign visits to the region.

KRTV Great Falls, Montana

Multimedia Reporter February 2012- February 2014

  • Enterprise exclusive content daily for number one evening and nightly newscast.
  • Shot, wrote, and edited packages. 
  • Reported live from the field and in studio.
  • Posted stories to the web as well as used social media tools to keep the public informed as news happened.
  • Served as a general assignment reporter, but also covered courts, breaking news, local city government and Blackfeet Indian Reservation issues extensively.
  • Choosen to travel with Montana veterans to Washington D.C. on the Big Sky Honor Flight. One-man-banded several stories and worked with a photographer to produce on-scenes and other content.

Patch.com Huntley, Illinois

Contributor August 2011- February 2012

  • Reported on local issues and events for Huntley and Lake in the Hills Patch
  • Created stories using multimedia elements such as video, audio and photography.
  • Gathered story ideas by developing relationships with community members and then pitched those stories to my editor.

KOMU-TV Columbia, Missouri

Reporter March 2010- July 2011

  • Shot, wrote, and edited dayturn stories and VOSOTs.
  • Reported live from the field.
  • Covered one of America's deadliest tornadoes in Joplin, Mo. My experience was published in the book "Joplin: Our Words, Our Stories, Their Hope." All proceeds from the book go to "Rebuild Joplin."

Weekend Anchor January 2011- July 2011

  • Anchored the weekend newscasts.

Friday Night Fever October 2009- July 2011

  • Worked in groups to go out and shoot local high school football games for Friday 10 p.m. newscasts.

Cut-in Anchor December 2008- July 2011

  • Rotationally anchor local breaks during Today.
  • Worked directly with producers to edit scripts.

Website Editor December 2008- July 2011

  • Wrote and edited stories in AP style.
  • Added and created additional web-only content for stories.
  • Worked with Avid News Cutter and Avid Content Manager to cut newscasts and post videos to web.
  • Posted breaking news, press releases, and weather videos quickly, but accurately.

Teleprompter Operator December 2008- July 2011

  • Operated and ran teleprompter during 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. newscast.

Segment Anchor December 2008- July 2011

  • Worked with producer and anchored “National Report” segment of the 5 p.m. weekday newscast.

Assignment Desk August 2008- July 2011

  • Made beat calls, worked with iNews, and answered questions from listeners.
  • Listened to scanner for news, watched wires for stories, and made phone calls to investigate possible stories.
  • Maintained cameras, equipment, and cleanliness of station’s cars.
  • Assisted reporters and producer when needed and provided story ideas.

Newsy.com Columbia, Missouri

Multimedia reporter January 2011- May 2011

  • Researched US, technology, and entertainment stories to find out how the media portrayed them. Wrote a story with the idea of the company's philosphy,"news with more views."
  • Used photoshop and various video capturing programs to gather elements to create a multimedia story.

WNDU-TV South Bend, Indiana

News Intern June 2010- August 2010

  • Worked with producers to write for the 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts.
  • Reported on issues around the Michiana area. Wrote and edited VOSOTS for the noon, 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. weekday newscasts.
  • Wrote stories and uploaded content for wndu.com
  • Shot, wrote, and edited practice packages, while also practicing anchoring and standups.
  • Shadowed reporters, photographers, producers, anchors, directors, and other individuals.
  • Asked to take photographs of President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden's visit to a local Chrysler Transmission Plant for the website.

WMAQ-TV Chicago, Illinois

Editorial and Web Producer Intern June 2009- August 2009

  • Creatively wrote and created content for more than 100 stories on nbcchicago.com.
  • Uploaded video, pictures, and other content for various articles.
  • Reported on a variety of events while also creating slideshows from photos I took.
  • Helped to relaunch the new version of nbcchicago.com.

WREX-TV Rockford, Illinois

News Intern June 2009- August 2009

  • Worked with the producer to write scripts for the noon, 5 p.m., 6 p.m., and 10 p.m. weekday and weekend newscasts.
  • Reported on a number of stories, while also shooting the video, writing the scripts, and editing the video.
  • Shadowed reporters, anchors, producers, directors, photographers and web editor.
  • Wrote stories and created content for wrex.com.
  • Practiced anchoring and standups.

KBIA-Radio (NPR Affiliate) Columbia, Missouri

General Assignment Reporter September 2009- December 2009

  • Reported on issues around mid-Missouri

The Maneater Columbia, Missouri

Staff Writer August 2007- April 2008

  • Reported and wrote stories on local issues and events.
  • Worked with copy-editors to correct stories.

Additional Experience

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, February 2017

  • Judged 8 spot news entries on content, craft, creativity and commitment
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, November 2016

  • Judged 13 in depth news entries on content, craft, creativity and commitment
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, November 2016

  • Judged 22 feature entries on content, craft, creativity and commitment
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, March 2016

  • Judged 23 spot news entries on ability to turn well shot story under pressure
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, March 2015

  • Judged 39 feature news entries on ability to turn well shot story under pressure
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

National Press Photographers Association (NPPA)

TV Quarterly Contest Judge, November 2014

  • Judged 24 feature entries on content, craft, creativity and commitment 
  • Provided useful feedback to entrants

University of Missouri Journalism School Columbia, Missouri

Broadcast Lab Teacher’s Assistant August 2007- May 2011

  • Assisted students in checking out camera equipment and handing out grades.
  • Maintained cameras and equipment, computer lab, and classrooms.
  • Graded quizzes for professors and filed papers.

Grace Gospel Center Cable Program Bensenville, Illinois

Production Assistant, Camera Operator June 2006- September 2006

  • Worked with producer to create Sunday church service program for cable television.
  • Edited the shows and created graphics.

Education

University of Missouri School of Journalism

Bachelor of Journalism in Broadcasting

Minor: Psychology

Graduated Cum Laude

Skills

Editing: Avid iNews
 • Avid Active Content Manager
• Avid NewsCutter
&bull ENPS • Final Cut Pro
• Cool Edit Pro
• Grass Valley NewsEdit • iMovie HD • Non-Linear Editing • Dalet

Software: Clickability Content Management System
• Photoshop CS4
• Dreamweaver • Adobe Indesign • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe Bridge CS4 • HTML and basic CSS

Cameras: Panasonic DVC Pro
• Panasonic Betacam • Sony HDV1080i • Sony XD Cam HD

Other: Proficient in AP Style

Honors & Organizations

• 2016 NYS Associated Press 2nd Place "Best Feature"

• 2015 NYS Associated Press Special Mention "Best Sports Feature"

• Member of the National Press Photographers Association

• Member of Radio and Television News Directors Association

• Member and Fellow of the Association of Health Care Journalists

• Missouri School of Journalism Ambassador

• Northern Illinois Journalist of the Year 2007

• Member of the Amateur Radio Relay League- Holds a General License

• Comcast Public Access Producer Volunteer

• Women In Management Scholarship

• Dean's List 2007 - 2011

Community Work

•National Center For Missing and Exploited Children Volunteer - Sept. 2016 - March 2017 

• Relay for Life Emcee - 2014, 2015, and 2016

• Let's Get Muddy 5k benefiting YMCA Camp Arrowhead 2015

• Donkey Basketball benefiting Cascade FFA - 2013

• Redneck Run benefiting the Cascade County Boys and Girls Club - 2013

• Summer Showcase Theater benefiting University of Great Falls Performing Arts - 2013

• Polar Bear Plunge benefiting Montana Special Olympics - 2012

• Relay for Life - 2011