Resume

(940) 231-4900 · email Lynn · View Lynn’s LinkedIn page.

Communications professional with 26 years of experience in writing, editing, photography, web and social media. Customer-service professional with nine years of experience in phone, person-to-person and office.

Skills & Expertise

Feature writingDigital photographyAudio-visualCall center
Spot-news writingWordPressVolunteer trainingAppointment-setting
Editing (AP style) Content Management SystemsTechnical writingOffice skills
Social MediaDesktop publishing Event planningCustomer service/retail

Professional Experience

Holy Family Catholic Community | Orlando, Fla.

Liturgy Assistant/Religious Ed Assistant (2013-2018); Social Media Assistant/ Religious Education Assistant (2018-present)

Increased Facebook likes by 19 percent (Aug 2018-March 2020), launched Instagram; helped launch new WordPress website; invoiced and tracked attendance for 800-student religious-education department

  • Communications: Contributor in multiple departments: Flyers, website design, social media documentation, marketing
  • Registrar: Data entry and management for 800-student religious education department
  • Media/Technology: Train volunteers on audio, visual and presentation technology
  • AV Coordinator: Manage PowerPoint presider and lyric slides for Masses, Operate and set up sound and presentation systems for diocesan events, parish concerts and other events
  • Also have served as: liturgy committee secretary, ambassador, sacristan, funeral coordinator and money counter

Various publications

Freelance Writer/Photographer (2009-present)

Features, in-game updates via Twitter, website blogs, and print edition full game story for publications including: Orlando Sentinel; Florida Catholic (Miami, Orlando); The Lakeland Ledger and other publications.

Greenway Ford | Orlando, Fla.

Internet Sales Follow-up Assistant (2012-2013)

Direct follow-up with customers led to an average of 35 car sales per month, helping Greenway Ford achieve No. 1 Internet Sales Department in Florida (April 2013).

  • Answer customer inquiries with follow-up calls, live chat and emails providing product and pricing information about new and pre-owned vehicles and promotions.
  • Prepare, edit and format email templates for use by sales managers.
  • Support department directors with lead reassignments to assure prompt response.
  • Support sales managers in obtaining information needed for finance processing, presenting vehicles on test drives and delivering sold vehicles.

Walt Disney Parks and Resorts | Lake Buena Vista, Fla.

Merchandise Host (2011-2012)

Earned 54 Guest Service Fanatic citations; helped World of Disney improve guest-service management by double-digit percentage points 11 of 12 months; operated cash registers, sold promotional items and shipping; restocked merchandise; provided information to guests about in-store products and theme parks

Florida Catholic | Orlando, Fla.

Editorial Assistant (2008-2009)

Designed and edited stories and pages for four statewide editions

  • Writer, copy editor, photographer, designer and proofreader for a multiple edition statewide church newspaper.
  • Content provider for Web presence, including writing for and moderating Living Faith blog
  • Photo archiver and digital format conversion processor used in a photo history blog.

Tallahassee Democrat | Tallahassee, Fla.

Sports Copy Editor/Designer (1999-2008)

Served on universal copy desk, designing and editing section covers, inside pages and web for sports, news and business sections covering state government, two NCAA Division I universities and 20 area high schools

  • Managed sports section content with sports department and newsroom colleagues.
  • Planned photo assignments for upcoming stories.
  • Sought out responsibility and lead designs for special sections.
  • Designed information graphics used to illustrate key points of a story.
  • Frequently posted and troubleshot Web content using content management systems.
  • Supported other writers with research and coverage
  • Interacted with sources and readers.

Sherman Democrat/Herald Democrat | Sherman, Texas

Sports Writer (1994-1996); Assistant Sports Editor (1996-1999)

Helped merge two neighboring newspapers; helped manage a busy four-person sports department that covered 40 high schools, two universities and a junior college

  • Designed and edited daily sections, including creating information graphics and shooting photos for print and online stories and designed and compiled “Fan Page” Web site.
  • Planned future sections, including assigning photos.

 

Education

Bachelor of Arts (General Studies: Journalism, Management, Learning Technologies) | University of North Texas | Denton, Texas

Toastmasters International

Member of Vista Toastmasters, Celebration SpeakEasy, Windermere Toastmasters clubs

Members learn oral communication, presentation skills and leadership.

  • Achievements include: Leadership Excellence Certificate; Advanced Communicator Gold; Advanced Leader Bronze
  • District offices held: Area Director; Assistant Area Director; Division E contest master, District AV chair.
  • Club offices held: Sergeant-at-Arms, Vice President-Education, Vice President-Membership; President, Newsletter Editor.
  • Contest positions: Contest Chairman, Chief Judge, Contest Master.

 Programs of Proficiency

  • Text programs: Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access, Outlook)
  • Design/photo programs: Adobe Photoshop,InDesign, Quark Xpress, Freehand, PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator
  • Web programs: Adobe Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS; WordPress