Imminent Disaster is Imminent

2011-2013

Director of Development - Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests

Primary fundraiser for SNAP: Major gifts solicitation, grant writer, donor steward, researcher and leader of strategic development initiatives. Wrote and designed email/hardcopy campaigns, grants and annual reports which increased individual giving by 115 percent in year one. Raised approximately $950,200 in year one. Wrote and designed monthly newsletter and organized distribution which improved sustaining gifts by 38 percent. Created promotional fliers, donor solicitation forms and SNAP information sheets for distribution at conferences , protests etc.

2013-2017

Senior staff writer - Windy City Media Group, LLC

Winner: 2015 Lisagor Award-Best In-Depth Reporting in a Community Newspaper. Winner: 2016 National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association Award- Excellence in News Writing (non daily) Finalist: 2016 Lisagor Award - Best In-Depth Reporting in a Community Newspaper and Best Editorial Writing. Finalist: 2017 Lisagor Award - Best In-Depth Reporting in a Community Newspaper. Multi-part investigative reports on issues including DCFS and juvenile justice, Chicago Police Department Burge torture cases, violence, imprisonment and unsolved murders of transgender community members and human rights abuses of LGBT detainees held in Immigration Customs Enforcement (ICE) facilities. Powerful arts and political features including the work of noted LGBTQ activists and advocacy groups. In-depth interviews with noted local, state and national politicians. Coverage of local, state, national and international events. Compelling breaking news consistently scooping Chicago dailies. All relevant research, interviews, photography and video completed individually. Expert use of data-journalism and social media for location of leads and sources.

2006-2011

Assistant Director of Development - Golden Apple Foundation

Primary organizer and fundraiser of the Golden Apple Awards: a $500,000 awards presentation and gala televised on WTTW Channel 11 in Chicago. Primary organizer and fundraiser of the Golden Apple Awards Central Illinois: a $300,000 awards presentation and gala televised on WILL TV in Champaign Illinois. Wrote and designed polished events brochures and mid/end-of-year direct mail appeals. Increased major donor numbers through prospect research and wealth screening. Created and implemented quality assurance guidelines working directly with vendors in assuring that needs and deadlines were met.

2001-2003

Film-critic and producer - WXIN FOX 59 (Tribune Broadcasting) and WXNT 1430 AM (CBS Radio)

WXIN FOX 59 Presented film reviews during Friday morning segments for WXIN Fox 59. All segments written and edited for on-air presentation. Pitched segment ideas and story leads to executive producer for outside broadcasts or specials. WXNT 1430 AM Wrote, produced and co-hosted hour-long program weekend program concentrating on film. Generated and researched segment ideas, developed content, edited soundbites and clips. Conducted live and pre-recorded interviews with local and national filmmakers and celebrities.

1997-2006

Director of Development and Public Relations - Theatre On The Square

Originated, wrote and successfully executed two year Capital Campaign for Theatre on the Square to purchase its location from the landlord. Raised over $69,000 per annum through the creation and execution of three annual fundraising events, including the 'Mass Hysteria' street party. Print, radio and television campaigns raised audience numbers at an average yearly rate of 39 percent Re-invented the theater’s brand image with an emphasis upon targeting new and younger audience demographics.

Freelancing

Feature reporter and theater critic for NUVO Newsweekly, Indianapolis. Published author: The Last Circle/BL Books 2013. Member National Lesbian and Gay Journalists Association. Member: Association of Fundraising Professionals. Skilled with all Microsoft Applications, datacatalogues, LexisNexis, Datahub, Freebase, Datacouch. Facebook, Linked In, Twitter, Periscope, Tumblr, Classmates, Instagram.

2017-Present

Contributing Writer - Tablet Magazine

Breaking news, features, political, arts and entertainment and investigative news affecting Midwest Jewish communities