Writing Experience
Freelance writer with experience in both print and online publications. My work includes features, reviews, and personal essays on a wide range of topics. I excel at research. In blogging work I have used Wordpress and Movable Type. For e-newsletters I have used MailChimp.
Alcoholic Beverages
- “Beer Goblins” - Beer Dorks - October 8, 2008
- “Distilled Waters Run Deep” - Gapers Block - May 8, 2009
- “Clip That Grass, Then Raise a Glass” - Beer Dorks - July 23, 2008
- “Regional Distilleries Shine at WhiskyFest” - Gapers Block - April 3, 2009
- “Tough Competition at Great American Beer Festival” - October 16, 2008
- “Water, Water Everywhere, So Let’s All Have a Drink” - Beer Dorks - June 26, 2008
- “Wine and Dine” - Gapers Block - October 2, 2009
Books
- Book Review: The Book of Vice: Very Naughty Things (And How to Do Them) - Chicago Life Magazine - Fall 2008
- Coudal Partners’ Field-Tested Books: Your Field Tests: Prep - June 2008
Business
- “Alcoa” - Pieces Zine - August 2009
- KriderPublishingServices - July 2009-present.
- Write 1-4 page company profiles in English, using German source materials.
Consumer Goods
- “How Slow Cookers Work” - HowStuffWorks.com - December 1, 2009
Cosmetics
- “Do You Really Need a Different Moisturizer for Your Eyes?” - HowStuffWorks.com - January 4, 2010
- “How Mattifying Lotions Work” - HowStuffWorks.com - December 16, 2009
Entertainment
- “How Scrabble Works” - HowStuffWorks.com - March 23, 2010
Essays
- “Common Sense: At Full Incapacity” - Newcity - June 30, 2009
- “Five Miles from History” - The Chicago Reporter - tcrBlog - December 10, 2008
Film
- DVD review of “Suzi Quatro: Leather Forever” - Pieces Zine - October 2009
- Film review of “The Baader-Meinhof Complex” - Films42.com - September 9, 2009
- “Tribute to Larry Gelbart” - Films42.com - November 2, 2009
Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages
- “Beverage Finds at the NRA Show” - Gapers Block - May 26, 2009
- “Food Finds from the NRA Show” - Gapers Block - May 26, 2009
- “Snack Me” - Gapers Block - May 28, 2009
- “When the Chips Are Down” - Gapers Block - January 16, 2009
Marketing
- East 10th Street Civic Association, Indianapolis, IN - 2009-present
- Write and publish bi-monthly marketing e-newsletter
- Update website
Personal Finance
- “How Federal Financial Aid Organizations Work” - HowStuffWorks.com - March 22, 2010
Travel
- “Beer: English for Beer” - Not For Tourists - June 6, 2008
- “Chicago - ‘The City That Works’” - Schools and Agents - April 17, 2009
- “Drinking Guide to Chicago” - Not For Tourists - May 4, 2007
- Kitchen of Dreams” - Not For Tourists - October 31, 2008
- “The Little Man” - Not For Tourists - March 4, 2008
- Not For Tourists-Chicago - Chicago City Editor for Website - 2007-2009.
- Contributed 90+ “On Our Radar” web pieces highlighting interesting hangouts and events in Chicago.
- Edited, fact checked, and updated “Parks” section of 2009 book.
- Edited, fact checked, and updated “Parks,” “Nightlife,” and “Shopping” sections of 2010 book.
- Thomas Riggs & Company - January 2009 - Writer for Cities project contracted by Gale (Cengage) Publishing.
- Contributed 13 - 800-1000 word essays on small cities around the country. Project involved both research and writing essays on a tight timeframe.
- “Vancouver - A Gem on the Pacific Ocean” - Schools and Agents - July 29, 2009
Research Experience
Researcher with over ten years of experience in providing quick turnaround research results in a variety of industries.
The Boston Consulting Group, Chicago & Munich - 1997-2008
Lead Researcher, Packaged Goods - Consumer & Retail Practice Area
- Conducted third-party research requests in food, beverage, and personal care industries on tight deadlines for global case teams.
- Researched requests and communicated findings in multiple languages, primarily in English and German.
- Compiled daily newsletters on packaged goods companies and industries.
- Part of research team for the following books:
- Trading Up: The New American Luxury by Michael J. Silverstein and Neil Fiske, with John Butman. Published 2003, updated 2004 by Penguin Group.
- Treasure Hunt: Inside the Mind of the New Consumer by Michael J. Silverstein and John Butman. Published 2006 by Penguin Group.
- Payback: Reaping the Rewards of Innovation by James P. Andrew, Harold L. Sirkin, and John Butman. Published 2007 by Harvard Business School Press.
- Research tools used include: Ad$pender, Alacra, Datamonitor, Dialog, DNB, Euromonitor, Factiva, Genios, Hoovers, IRI, Lexis-Nexis, Markus, Orbis, Productscan, Research Bank Web.
Triangle Strategy Group, Raleigh, NC - 2010
- Freelance research project around consumer purchasing involvement and pricing.
Education
Master of Library and Information Science - Dominican University - 1997
Bachelor of Arts in English and German - Ball State University - 1994
