Publishing-related experience

Online Content Editor Wiley Publishing, Inc.

February 2007–present

I am part of the team of four content editors that uses currently published materials to create new online content for Wiley Publishing's main Web sites. Content includes full-length articles, e-mail tips that are sent to subscribers, answering general feedback for customers, and answering unique factual questions that are posted on the site. The online team is also responsible for other various online projects as they arise.

Contributing author Upscale Living

2005–2006

Contributed three articles in 2005/06 for Upscale Living, a small-distribution magazine in suburban Boston that caters to high-class tastes.

Copy Editor Wiley Publishing, Inc.

July 2004–February 2007

My responsibilities in this position on the For Dummies technical publishing team include line editing, figure coordination, fact checking, and all manner of organizational and multi-tasking skills as I simultaneously maintain the workflows of the various book elements of five to eight separate books in different stages of the publishing process. I have also expanded my VBA programming skills to include macro programming in Microsoft Word.

Proofreader/Quality Control Technician Wiley Publishing, Inc.

October 2000–July 2004

In addition to honing my skills as a proofreader, I gained advanced knowledge of Excel formulae and macro programming in VBA, knowledge that I used to create tools for myself and for the whole QC team. Because Wiley Composition Services uses Macs, I have become equally proficient on both Mac and Windows operating systems.

Proofreader/Copy Editor (freelance) Demography

May 2002–Present

I continually copy edit and/or proofread various technical, jargon-filled articles (approximately six per issue) for Demography, the quarterly journal of the Population Association of America. I have also taken on copy editing responsibilities, as of the November 2005 issue.

Proofreader/Quality Control Technician Howard W Sams/eCatalogs

December 1999–October 2000

I was originally hired to proofread catalogue entries against hard copies. Toward the end of my stint at this now defunct company, I was put to work in data entry, entering catalogue information into a proprietary database, which greatly increased both my speed and accuracy with the keyboard number pad and my tolerance and disdain for excruciatingly repetitive and uninteresting work.

Bookseller B. Dalton Booksellers

July 1998–May 1999

I was responsible for all of the basic bookstore needs — assisting customers, stocking shelves, running the cash register, checking in shipments, etc. — at the B. Dalton store in the Chesterfield Mall, Chesterfield, Missouri.

Music-related experience

In 1993, I received a fine arts scholarship from the Center Grove chapter of Psi Iota Xi, a professional philanthropic sorority. I also received the Harold Ensele Young Artist scholarship from the Ball State University School of Music, where I promptly enrolled.

At Ball State University, I studied clarinet with Dr. Caroline Hartig (now at the University of Michigan). I performed regularly with the Ball State Wind Ensemble (principle clarinetist for four of eight semesters) and the Ball State Symphony Orchestra (principle clarinetist for three of three semesters). I was also hired for a semester by the Muncie Symphony Orchestra to be one-fifth of the MSO Student Woodwind Quintet, an educational outreach group that visits local elementary schools throughout the year. (My first successful musical arrangement was played by this group.) I also substituted in the Muncie Symphony Orchestra and the Marion Symphony Orchestra. In addition to clarinet, I also studied a smattering of alto saxophone and piano, the latter of which I have played since I was seven years old. I graduated cum laude in 1997 with a Bachelor of Music degree. I minored in philosophy.

After graduation, I went to work as a clarinet repairman for Musicians’ Repair Service, Inc. (now called Musicians' Repair and Sales) in downtown Indianapolis. I also, for a short time, had three clarinet students of my own — before I married and left for St. Louis. In St. Louis, between June 1998 and December 1999, I played with, respectively, the Compton Heights Concert Band (local volunteers giving two free outdoor concerts every week throughout the summer), the St. Louis Symphony School of Music Adult Concert Band (short audition required; I was principal clarinetist), and the newly formed St. Louis Wind Ensemble (by invitation only; a real top-notch semi-professional group).

After returning to Indianapolis and growing a family, I now enjoy playing in the Indiana Wind Symphony. I have been a member of the IWS board of directors since 2005.

Other experience

In September 2006, I was elected as President of the Board of Directors of the Indiana Wind Symphony. My responsibilities include facilitating board meetings, chairing the Fundraising Committee, and participating in the Board Development committee, as well as representing the band if and when the need arises (it hasn't yet).

Various skills

Through my publishing experience at Wiley, the Mac OS has become commonplace to me, adding to the knowledge I already had of Windows systems. I am proficient in PowerPoint, QuarkXPress, and Lotus Notes and advanced in Word and Excel. Within my QC position at Wiley, I taught myself a great deal about both creating Excel formulas and programming VBA macros and was recognized for my creation of workflow, tracking, and quality control tools that are still used today. I quickly became the "go-to guy" for Excel questions. My move into the editorial arena gave me the opportunity to expand my programming skills to macro programming in Word as well.

Professionally, some of my strong points are a logical mind, non-linear thinking, creative problem-solving, the ability to focus, and organizational skills. Personally, my strongest characteristic is an eagerness to learn new things, to expand myself. I believe these characteristics are perfect for a copy editor because I will attempt to absorb information as I read, so clarity of text becomes as important as grammar and syntax when I edit.

References are, of course, available for the asking.