SUMMARY

A data analyst, programmer, writer and editor who finds news in data and communicates the findings with clarity and precision.
Download this resume (PDF).

EXPERIENCE

USA TODAY, McLean, Va., 2008 to present.
Senior Database Editor

• Lead team responsible for data analysis, programming and reporting to support investigative journalism and interactive graphics. Recruit staff, manage projects.
• Oversee development of USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list, including data analysis, managing partnerships and contributing to redesign of site that doubled traffic.
• Created workflow, wrote code to distribute Census data to more than 100 Gannett Co. newsrooms, enabling journalists to report on complex topic on deadline.
• Co-winner of 2009 Education Writers Association award for investigation of school lunches, Trouble on the Tray.

USA TODAY, McLean, Va., 1997 to 2008.
Database Editor, News and Entertainment

• Gather, analyze data for investigative and daily stories on health, education, religion, music, movies, books and TV.
• Co-winner of 2007 Missouri Lifestyle Journalism award for investigation of college student deaths. Finalist in 2001 for investigation of amusement park safety.
• Built first archive of USA TODAY’s Best-Selling Books list, leading to in-depth books coverage and launch of online list that generated millions of dollars in advertising revenue.

Poughkeepsie Journal, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1986 to 1997.
Editor, Reporter: Police Reporter, Community Reporter, 1986; Music/Lifestyle reporter, 1987-88; Systems Editor, Copy Editor 1988-91; Assistant City Editor, 1990-91; Life Section Editor, 1991-94; Technology Editor, 1994-97.

• After start as obituary writer and police reporter, promoted into reporting and editing roles with increasing responsibility and impact.
• As Life Editor, led staff of seven through redesign of two print sections. Coached writers to improve readability, impact.
• As Technology Editor, in 1992 launched one of the first dial-up online services at a daily newspaper by creating a newsroom computer bulletin board system.
• Co-lead redesign and product development that led to Gannett naming newspaper “Most Improved.”

The Summer Institute for the Gifted, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1994-1996.
Instructor. Taught news writing and creative writing to gifted middle school and high school students. Three summers.

Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1989; 1992.
Adjunct Instructor of Journalism. Taught three semesters of college-level introductory journalism courses.

Freelance writer, 1990 to 2005.
Columns, reviews and features for Computer Reseller News, CCM, Sevenball.

WEOK/WPDH Broadcasting, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1983 to 1986.
On-air personality and news reporter at the top-rated AM/FM station in mid-Hudson Valley.

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EDUCATION

Master of Science in Computer Science/Information Systems. Marist College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1997. Systems analysis and technology management. 3.8 GPA.

Bachelor of Arts in English. Marist College, 1986. Concentration in writing and journalism. Editor on staff of student newspaper, The Circle. 3.7 GPA.

Associate in Science in Communications and Media Arts. Dutchess Community College, Poughkeepsie, N.Y., 1983. Focus on mass media, television and radio broadcasting.

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AWARDS

Education Writers Association, National Awards for Education Reporting.

• First Prize, Investigative Reporting (Large Media), with Blake Morrison, Peter Eisler and Elizabeth Weise for Trouble on the Tray, 2009.
• Special Citation, News Feature or Issue Package, with Tamara Henry for The School Construction Divide, 1999.

Missouri Lifestyle Journalism Awards

• Winner with Robert Davis for First Year in College is Riskiest, 2007.
• Finalist with Gene Sloan, Consumer category, for Park Safety Rules Lax, 2001.

The Association of Food Journalists. Best Newspaper Special Food Project, with Blake Morrison, Peter Eisler and Elizabeth Weise, for Trouble on the Tray, 2010.

The Association of Educational Publishers. Distinguished Achievement Award Finalist, 1999, for The School Construction Divide.

The Center for Education Reform. Excellence in Journalism Award, First Place (team), for Learning Curve I: A Yearlong Poughkeepsie Journal Project, 1997.

New York State Associated Press Association Writing Contest. First Place, Business/Finance, 1995, for Cirrus Logic.

Company: USA TODAY Enterprise All-Star Team member (1999, 2000); Employee of the Year, Poughkeepsie Journal (December 1989).

Excellence in English. Top GPA among graduating English majors. Marist College, 1986.

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TECHNICAL SKILLS

Data analysis: SPSS for statistical analysis including crosstabs, regression, correlation, analyzing weighted survey responses, recoding data; Access and Excel for general analysis.

Data extraction, transformation, storage: SQL Server (T-SQL, data design, stored procedures, functions, XML output, data parsing); SAS (data transformation); PostgreSQL; Python (web scraping, data parsing).

Web development: WordPress; ASP.NET/Visual Studio/C#; Django, Python, HTML/CSS/JavaScript: Coding techniques for web page design and interaction.

Mapping: ArcGIS, Google maps.

Audio production: Sonar/Cakewalk, Audacity
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PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PythonJournos. Online study group focused on Python scripting for journalism. 2011.

Northern Virginia Community College. Class in Visual Studio/C#/.NET. 2008.

National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting/Investigative Reporters and Editors. Frequent attendee and speaker at IRE boot camps and conferences. Completed Stats and Maps boot camp, SQL Server boot camp, Django mini boot camp.

Wilmington News-Journal. Wilmington Writers’ Workshop. Wilmington, Del., April 1993.

American Press Institute. Feature and Lifestyle Editors’ Seminar. Reston, Va., March 1992.

American Newspaper Publishers Association. Technical Exposition and Conference. Las Vegas, June 1990.

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