During my journalism career, I have spent several years as a writer and an editor for various magazines. I am currently the Senior Associate Editor of GX magazine in Nashville, TN, the official publication of the Army National Guard, which has more than 220,000 readers, including soldiers and their families. Previously, as an Associate Editor at Angie’s List, I was responsible for the overall quality of seven magazines across the United States, during which time I reported on homeowner issues for 210,000 readers. As an Assistant Editor with Chicago’s Global Cosmetic Industry (GCI) magazine, I interviewed high level business partners; reported breaking business news online and in print; wrote feature articles and cover stories in regards to skin care, cosmetics, technology, marketing, and business issues; and managed content from a staff of freelance writers for a circulation of 14,000 readers. Prior to that, I was an editorial intern at Journey and Endless Vacation, two travel magazines in Indianapolis, Indiana, and I interned as a fact-checker for Indianapolis Monthly magazine. I later had a feature story on the 2009 Indianapolis Dream Home published in Indianapolis Monthly. Previously, as a graduate journalism student, I held an editorial graduate assistant position with Ball State University’s Alumnus magazine, for which I interviewed former students, pitched story ideas, and wrote and edited feature articles for the alumni publication.
My journalism graduate project involved creating the content (text and graphics) for an original 56-page glossy music magazine called Echo Immortalis; creating a website, business plan, and a marketing plan; building a network of contributors to provide a library of editorial content; securing advertisers, vendors, and subscribers; writing and editing content; designing the layout using Adobe Creative Suite; managing freelance writers, models, photographers, and a printing consultant to produce the high quality publication; and publishing and distributing the magazine. I later released two additional issues of the magazine, which I supported through a grassroots fundraising campaign.
The following are samples of my published magazine articles.
Angie’s List magazine:
Feature: “Steampunking: Transforming Historic Homes into Modern Marvels,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Boston Contractors Converting Vehicles from Diesel to Cooking Oil,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Contractor Maintains Home for Troubled Teens,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Don’t be a Victim, Defend Against Identity Theft,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Evicting Furry Intruders,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Transforming Your Backyard into an Outdoor Oasis,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Finding the Best Childcare Provider for Your Family,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Cooking Up Confidence: Personal Chefs Offer Private Lessons,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Saving the Fir Tree, ” Angie’s List
Feature: “Customizing the Kitchen,” Angie’s List
Feature: “Battle of the Bats,” Angie’s List
News: “Cleaning Tips to Keep the Flu Bug Away,” Angie’s List Health
News: “Tree-Killing Bug Invades Boston,” Angie’s List
News: “Columbus Initiative Aimed at Reducing Basement Flooding,” Angie’s List
News: “Blouse Dry-Cleaning Bill Raises Woman’s Ire,” Angie’s List
News: “Jury Indicts Plumber,” Angie’s List
News: “Best Contractors of Cincinnati, Ohio,” Angie’s List
News: “Best Contractors of Columbus, Ohio,” Angie’s List
News: “Best Contractors of Denver, Colorado,” Angie’s List
News: “Best Contractors of Northeast Ohio,” Angie’s List
News: “Worst Contractors of Cincinnati, Ohio,” Angie’s List
News: “Worst Contractors of Columbus, Ohio,” Angie’s List
News: “Worst Contractors of Denver, Colorado,” Angie’s List
News: “Worst Contractors of Northeast Ohio,” Angie’s List
Global Cosmetic Industry (GCI) magazine:
Cover Story: “Skin Care Thinks Small to Deliver Big,” GCI
Cover Story: “Innovation through Collaboration (Borba/Tarte Team Up),” GCI
Cover Story: “The Future of Beauty,” GCI
Cover Story: “Nutricosmetics: Eat and Drink Your Skin Care,” GCI
Feature: “Pet Care: Bath and Body,” GCI
Feature: “Professional Cosmetics Go High Def,” GCI
Feature: “Derm Devices: Taking Antiaging in Hand,” GCI
Feature: “Midwest Beauty Brands,” GCI
Feature: “Up from the Dentist’s Chair,” GCI
Feature: “Meet the Press: Beauty Editors Speak Out,” GCI
Feature: “Wine Grapes Propel Personal Care Industry,” GCI
Feature: “The Perfect Marriage: Collaboration in Color Cosmetics,” GCI
Profile: “Aveda’s Tim Kapsner,” GCI
Profile: “Bond No. 9’s Laurice Rahmé,” GCI
News: “GO! What’s New and What’s Next: Home O2 Devices and Red Wine Grape Antioxidants,” GCI
News: “GCI Reports from HBA Global Fragrance Business Expo in New York,” GCI
News: “Ulta Beauty Rises Above U.S. Economic Hardship,” GCI
GX magazine:
Profile: “A Mom’s Deployment,” GXonline.com
Skin Inc. magazine:
Feature: “Derm Devices: Specialty Skin Care Innovations,” Skin Inc.
Indianapolis Monthly magazine
Feature: “The View from the Top: 2009 Dream Home,” Indianapolis Monthly
Journey magazine:
Feature: “Jammer Drivers: Historic Red Buses Cruise Montana’s Glacier Park,” Journey
News: “Couples Mark Special Occasions on the Road,” Journey
News: “Club Travelers Win Awards in Belize,” Journey
News: “Hilton Head, South Carolina Fly/Drive,” Journey
Aspire: The Concrete Bridge Magazine:
Feature: “Concrete Bridge Preservation in South Bend, Indiana,” Aspire
Ball State Alumnus magazine:
Feature: “Tracing Family Roots”: A Hoosier’s Glimpse into Geneaology, Ball State Alumnus
Feature: “Mapping with Melody: Music from the Human Genome Project,” Ball State Alumnus
Echo Immortalis magazine
Self-published 56-page glossy, color publication
For more information: Click here
Highlights:
Profile: “Coraline: Visualizing a Film for Neil Gaiman,” Echo Immortalis magazine
The Art of Storytelling by Leslie I. Benson 
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