CAREER DEVELOPMENT PROFESSIONAL

Certified Professional Resume Writer ~ Credentialed Career Master ~ Certified Job & Career Transition Coach ~ Certified Job Search Coach


Innovative, talented and results-focused Career Development professional with 10+ years experience in resume writing, job placement, assessment, training and coaching, and program development. Extensive marketing and business development background in the
career development field. Experienced working with diverse populations including:

College Placement … Executives & Professionals … Military Transition (TAP) … Women in Transition … School to Work …. Career Change … Welfare to Work
… Outplacement … Entrepreneurial Venture Start-Up.

	2001 Four-time Resume Award Winner – Professional Resume Writing and Research Association: - 1st: Most Creative Resume; Best Resume Format; 2nd: Best Functional Resume; Best Resume Content
	Most Visually Distinctive Resume Award – Professional Association of Resume Writers – 1997
	Annual Graduate Employment Recognition Award – Herzing Colleges – for graduate placement of 94-98% placement within 90 days – 1996 & 1997
	Partners in Change Award - When Entering New Directions (WENDI) - 2001

	“Increasing Publicity With Free Media Publicity” and “Advanced Interviewing Workshop” – Professional Resume Writing and Research Association, Annual Conference, Atlanta, GA - 2002
	“RX for Interview Coaching” - Career Masters Institute, Annual Conference, San Diego, CA – 2002
	“Teach Your Clients to be Sesquipedalians…The Art of Interviewing” – National Resume Writers’ Association, Annual Conference, Chicago, IL – 1998
	Presenter for numerous events and organizations. Of merit: … Miami Herald Job Fair … Webster University … WENDI … Professional Placement Network … Military TAP … America’s Promise.

A COMPETITIVE EDGE CAREER SERVICE - 1993 to Present
Formerly AT Resume dba Sears Resume Service

Executive Director / Resume Writer & Career Coach
Joined AT Resume to manage the Brevard County, Florida-based Sears Resume Service. Provided resume writing, career coaching and business writing services to a diverse clientele. Assumed ownership in 1995 when AT Resume closed all contract locations throughout the US.

Marketing & Public Relations

	Created and self-marketed “The Art of Interviewing” and “Edge Interviewing Manual”, succeeding in sales and distribution to five countries including college / tech career centers, military transition offices and private career service companies.
	Established and leveraged community, business and media contacts through professional affiliations to build a thriving, six-figure business.
	Marketed expertise to become a quoted industry expert in several national newspapers and websites as well as a speaker at national conferences and job fairs.
	Negotiated a guest column with Florida Today newspaper, writing career articles.
	Collaborated with local business college to create a series of career seminars while utilizing radio, television and newspaper advertising provided by the college.
	Managed all public relations and media efforts for the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association as their Vice President of Public Relations.
	Contributed to nine resume and cover letter compendiums by JIST and Impact.

Coaching, Training & Assessment

	Developed and provided numerous seminars, workshops and individual coaching programs to assist clients in their transitions. Emphasized job search, interviewing and entrepreneurial ventures.
	Administered assessments such as the Holland Self-Directed Search and Career Research and Testing Card Sort. Merged methodology from True Colors, Multiple Intelligences and Psychogeometrics.
	Created and led Success Teams based on the model introduced by Barbara Sher in Teamworks.

Job Placement / Outplacement

	Bid, won and managed transition assistance programs, most notably, with Gooding’s Supermarkets, to provide transition support to employees from four closing stores within the county.
	Created job search and interview materials as listed in publications section.
	Forged relationships with local employment agencies, headhunters, temporary services, AARP, WENDI, PPN, psychiatrists and financial advisors to provide a cross-reference of resources to clients.
	Performed targeted career and employment opportunity research for clients.

HERZING COLLEGE - 1993 to Present
Formerly Business Training Institute

Career Planning Instructor / Program Consultant (1997-Present)
Director of Career Planning & Professional Development (1993-1997)
Recruited to Business Training Institute to take over and transition career planning and placement department to accommodate changing structure and difficult client base (federally-funded welfare and downsized manufacturing).

Program Management

	Restructured 15 hour course to meet requirements of a 16-week semester program.
	Created new course units in Customer Service, Teamwork, Assessment, Self Esteem and Goal Setting.
	Rewrote all existing course units for Resume Writing, Job Search, Interviewing, Applications and Image.
	Established a community advisory committee to guide Herzing in creating programs for students to improve their acceptance by area employers.

Marketing & Job Placement

	Represented college at job fairs to recruit students and potential employers.
	Handled all job recruitment efforts, matching graduates to meet placement goals.
	Networked extensively throughout the community to garner job leads and donations for clothes closet.
	Researched, developed and managed emerging job placement program for professional students (MCSE, MCSD and other technical). Still the only career planning instructor for this population.

Coaching & Training

	Transitioned course from lecture-style to an integrated learning environment based on 4-MAT model. Increased student retention and performance levels immensely.
	Taught all subjects in career planning and professional development program, receiving consistent ratings of 100% for presentation, motivation and knowledge.
	Introduced speakers and fieldtrips to curriculum to enhance student experience.
	Counseled students individually on career decisions, overcoming handicaps, ageism, felonies, incarceration and other potential liabilities.

Previous resume writing and desktop publishing experience – 1990 to 1992

	Credits, MA – Human Resources & Training – Webster University, FL
	Credits, MA – Mental Health Counseling – University of Central Florida, FL
	BA - Creative & Technical Writing (English) – University of Central Florida, FL

	Author, "The Art of Interviewing" Program
	Contributor, "America's Top Resumes for America's Top Jobs"
	Contributor, "Professional Resumes for Executives, Managers, and Other Administrators"
	Contributor, "Professional Resumes for Tax and Accounting Occupations"
	Contributor, "Professional Resumes for Accounting, Tax, Finance and Law" "Resume Winners from the Pros"
	Contributor, "Cover Letter Magic"
	Contributor, "Gallery of Best Resumes", 2nd Edition
	Contributor, "Expert Resumes for Computer and Web Jobs"
	Contributor, "Expert Resumes for Educators and Teachers"
	Monthly Employment Guest Columnist, The Florida Today Newspaper – 2 years

	VP of Public Relations - Professional Resume Writing & Research Association – 2001-Present
	Resume Judge – Professional Resume Writing & Research Association – 2002
	Advisory Board Member – When Entering New Directions – 1999-Present
	Consultant / Board Member – Employment Advisory Board, Herzing College – 1998-Present
	Board Member & Southern US Representative – National Resume Writers’ Association – 1997-1999
	Membership Committee – South Brevard Society of HR Management - 1997
	Founding Advisory Board Member – Women Off to Work (WOW) Program, Women’s Center - 1996
	Member - Career Masters Institute (CMI) – 1999-Present
	International Association of Career Management Professionals – 2001-Present
	Association for Job Search Training – 1994-1996 & 1999-Present