Digital news media innovator, editor, strategist and analyst

Experienced journalist and problem solver, driven by innovation and focused on digital strategy and management. Skilled in storytelling; optimization for audiences and search; newsletter, social media and website data analysis.

 

Media experience

 

Managing editor for digital

Times Union
Albany, New York / 2020-present

Oversee digital departments and digital transformation of the newsroom. Develop, execute and analyze strategies and products to engage users. Convert users to subscribers through content, initiatives and products. Increase newsroom digital awareness and competency. Launched and maintain a training program and weekly enterprisewide newsletter.

  • Digital subscriptions have increased 350%

  • Newsletter signups have increased 101%; click-throughs increased 50%

  • Unique users up 28%

  • Metrics for News new audiences cohort, 2021-2022

  • Table Stakes participant, American Press Institute, 2020-2021

 

Senior editor

The Virginian-Pilot
Norfolk, Virginia / 2015-2020

Oversaw digital, features and sports departments at The Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press, and news at Coast OBX. Led digital training initiatives. Created a storytelling lab with audio, video, product development, social media and email expertise. Established innovative partnerships. Deployed two CMS changes, creating documentation to support each.

  • Monthly unique users increased 43%

  • Annual page views increased 12%

  • Online Journalism Awards finalist, 2019

  • Table Stakes participant, Poynter Institute, 2017-2018

  • Virginian-Pilot Digital News Academy founder and instructor, 2017-2018

  • Local Media Association news innovator of the year, 2017

 

Online producer

St. Louis Public Radio
St. Louis / 2014-2015

Managed digital media for local talk shows “St. Louis on the Air” and “Cityscape.” Wrote stories for each segment and managed social media accounts, including live coverage of shows and special events.

 

Curator in chief

RealTime/STL
St. Louis / 2013-2014

Curated, evaluated, created and published news stories. Led a team of 12 curators: Responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and daily production.

 

Social media strategist

Infuz
St. Louis / 2012-2013

Curated, published and analyzed content for marketing clients.

 

Social media editor

St. Louis Post-Dispatch
St. Louis / 2006-2012

As social media editor (2010-2012), managed social media accounts and trained news staff to use social media.

As a multimedia producer (2008-2011), created in-depth research projects, interactive maps and data-driven projects for STLtoday.com using JavaScript, Flash, HTML and CSS.

As a page designer (2006-2011), designed the front page, news and business sections.

 

Expertise

Digital skills: Strategy for websites, newsletters, social media, apps and alerts / Data analysis / Project and product management / Search engine and social media optimization / Audience engagement and user advocacy / User experience and design / Marketing campaign creation and execution

Analog skills: Creative problem solving / Editing, headline writing and story coaching / Leadership and management / Vendor relationship management / Writing, reporting and research

 

Community & collaboration

 

Professional organizations

  • Local Media Foundation board member, 2019-present; chair, 2023

  • Journalism and Women Symposium member, 2020-present

  • Online News Association member, 2015-present

Teaching & mentoring

  • Hearst Newspaper mentor, 2021-present

  • Media Now instructor, 2014-2021

  • Trusting News coach and instructor, 2019-2020

  • Virginian-Pilot Journalism Workshop co-director, 2016-2019

  • Lindenwood University adjunct professor for social media strategies, 2012-2013

Conference speaker & instructor

  • Online News Association: 2019, 2018

  • Virginia Press Association: 2019

  • New York Publishers Association: 2019

  • Colorado Press Association: 2018, 2017

  • Local Media Association: 2018, 2017

 

Education

Master of professional studies in entrepreneurial technology
University of Maryland / College Park, Maryland / 2018

Bachelor of science in journalism
Northwest Missouri State University / Maryville, Missouri / 1999

Certifications
• Hearst Leadership Development Program / 2021
• Women in Leadership, ECornell / 2018