Work Experience

Editor

November 2005 – present Slechta Communications, Inc., Kalona, IA

The Lone Tree Reporter (1,000 cir. Weekly), The Kalona News (2,500 cir. Weekly) and The Highland Review (Monthly)

Report on and write about community, education, government, cops and courts and church news throughout northern Washington County and southern Johnson County in Iowa.

Provide and edit photos

Edit stories from a staff of five reporters

Paginate and layout stories, photos, advertisements and other content

Reporter

January 2004 – August 2004 The Ottumwa Courier, Ottumwa, Iowa

General reporting with specific responsibility for county and courts

Use NewsEditPro and Adobe Photoshop

Reporter/Photographer

August 2003 – December 2003 The Douglas Budget, Douglas, Wyoming

Cover a variety of news assignments including hospital, city council, and sports

Photograph news, sports, community, and business events

Use Pagemaker and Adobe Photoshop in layout

Correspondent

November 2001 – August, 2003 The Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa

Cover Mid-Prairie School District, Clear Creek-Amana School District, and West Branch City Council

Contributing Author

August 1996-January 2002 Outside-In: African American History in Iowa

Researched and wrote chapter on the history of African American music and musicians in Iowa.

Published by the State Historical Society of Iowa in February 2002

Iowa Literary History Award, Public Library of Des Moines Foundation, 2002