Kaplan Financial (formerly Dearborn Financial)                                                         2004–2008

The Managing Editor reports to the Chief Learning Officer of Product Development. Kaplan Financial is the largest provider of online courseware and print training materials for the financial services industry worldwide The Managing Editor works closely with senior management, product management, the director of production, director of product design, the creative director, and all product line directors to publish annually over 400 different titles, totaling $1.7M yearly budget.

      Responsibilities including:

§      Managed the Editorial Services department including cost center budget, hiring, training, scheduling, and all aspects of personnel supervision, performance evaluations, and terminations for both internal and external staff

§       Established and continuously improved print and electronic workflows and processes for all products—resulted in average of 50% reduction in cycle time.

§   Ensured implementation of consistent editorial style, voice, and branding guidelines across all Kaplan Financial products; created and maintain Kaplan Financial Style Guide, now in its third edition

§   Created standardized Word XML schema to support all Kaplan Financial products; rolled out new XML workflow and processes to all stakeholders; conducted training of all staff

§      Created and implemented cross-functional InCopy workflow

§      Led cross-organizational product development integration team to integrate all editorial processes and standards for four Kaplan umbrella companies

§    Served on cross-organizational team that researched, analyzed, and selected digital asset management (DAM) system appropriate for company (implementation begun July 2008)

§        Served on virtual classroom product development team, creating first Kaplan Financial virtual classroom, our fastest growing product line, now including twelve courses

§        Maintained and managed editorial catalog of all Kaplan Financial products (4,000+) from release dates through termination

§       Established and maintain defect management process for Kaplan Financial products

§    Created and maintained Knowledge Center database of KF documentation and processes database of KF documentation and processes

§         Evaluated readability levels for all Kaplan Financial products; created reading benchmarks

§     Delivered presentations to senior management, internal and external sales and customer service, and instructors on new departmental strategies, processes, and programs on new departmental strategies, processes, and programs

Lead Editor

Learning Point Associates                                                                                              2001–2004

The Lead Editor reported to the Senior Director of Production in this nonprofit, educational research and development association specializing in improving teaching and learning in schools across the country. Managed editing department within production unit comprising both electronic and print production; liaised between leadership, management, content, editorial, and production teams.

      Responsibilities included:

§      Edited, copyedited, and proofed all educational print and Web content

§    Established and maintained department work processes and QA standards

§   Created and maintained editorial calendar, project managed all publishing projects, print and digital

§      Coordinated between content specialists, editing department, and production team

§   Made editorial assignments and scheduling

§   Supervised all internal and external editing staff, including hiring, firing, training, staff performance reviews, and timesheets

§     Negotiated with and managed external staffing agencies

§     Developed, implemented, and maintained company style manual based on APA style

Technical Writer/Editor

Comdisco, Inc.                                                                                                              2000–2001

Market Insight

     The technical writer reported to Executive Vice President of IT Solutions. Posted content to the business-to-business information technology Website of this multinational corporation; served as liaison between C-level executives, marketing, and the Website development team; supervised content providers, both internal and external; created and managed the editorial calendar across different business verticals.

        Responsibilities included:

§   Created content from the inception of original ideas to the writing of the first draft, editing, copy editing, proofing, coding, and finally to the live posting 

§   Managed global content teams; production and translation processes which resulted in a functional, efficient, and dynamic Website

§   Mentored top company IT sales team and C-level executives in developing Web content

§   Developed and implemented Website style guide creating Website language consistency

§   Enforced corporate communications policies and editorial guidelines

§  Coordinated publishing activities between editorial and IS teams thereby cutting coding time and ensuring accuracy

§  Developed processes and timelines for content creation and publishing which defined business processes thus keeping budget costs down and increasing efficiency

§  Researched content for accuracy and corporate style

§  Established and maintained editorial calendar providing order and regular updates to Website