Leffler Professional Writing Services
RESUME AND QUALIFICATIONS
SUMMARY
Newsletter editor, web copy writer, online publicist, technical writer and computer expert. Versatile, accurate and efficient.
- Strengthened Customer Relationships and drove sales by editing a regular e-newsletter for an entertainment company.
- Increased sales by giving the 600+ sales representatives high-quality customer order sheets in Microsoft Excel. These 80 spreadsheets drew product names and prices from an existing database, preventing re-typing.
- Obtained free publicity by writing press releases and press kits that resulted in five significant newspaper/magazine articles in six months.
- Increased efficiency of sales force by training them on the company's sales and inventory management software using live classroom training, telephone support, videotapes, help files and software manuals.
- Enhanced the Internet presence of a large non-profit by creating or customizing two local websites that obtained good search-engine rankings.
SKILLS
- Writing and editing in all genres, including technical writing, grant writing, magazine articles, scriptwriting, journalism, literary journalism, photojournalism, fiction, poetry, book writing, advertising, website content, newsletters
- Marketing and publicity
- Research
- Teaching
- Project coordination
- Problem-solving
- Photography
COMPUTER SKILLS
Operating Systems: Windows, Macintosh, DOS, UNIX
Office Software: Microsoft Office - MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, Access
Page Layout/Help: Adobe FrameMaker, Doc-To-Help, RoboHelp, QuarkXPress, Adobe InDesign
Document Production: Adobe Acrobat Professional
Databases: FileMaker Pro, Microsoft Access, Dbase
Programming: Microsoft Excel macros, BASIC, Pascal
Internet: HTML, Macromedia Dreamweaver, website design and website maintenance, Internet research, browsers
Graphics: Adobe PhotoShop, CorelDraw, CorelPaint, Macromedia FireWorks, MS Paint, MS Photo Editor
EXPERIENCE
Director of Communications, Maharishi Academy of Total Knowledge—High School for Leadership boarding school for boys grades 9-12, Antrim, New Hampshire (November 2007 - present)
- Developed online student recruiting campaign: links, listings, social networking, articles.
- Created direct mail pieces, letters, brochures, and emails of all types.
- Maintained and promoted website for the only boarding school for boys in America where everyone practices the Transcendental Meditation program.
- Implemented contact management system and trained employees.
- Managed media relations.
- Wrote bi-weekly column on academy and related subjects for Lokvani.com
- Liaised between school administration and: supporters, potential students, educational consultants, junior and senior boarding schools.
- Assisted Development/Director office with funding opportunities.
Writer and Editor, Leffler Professional Writing Services, self-employed, Fairfield, Iowa; Austin, Texas; Wappingers Falls, New York (1995 - present)
- Edited newsletters, books, sales manuals, brochures and website text.
- Updated a manual for a complex commercial software product.
- Wrote a monthly newsletter on eco-friendly shopping (6 issues).
- Created websites, including www.DavidLeffler.com www.InvincibleMilitary.org www.newslettergal.com
- Wrote 15 published articles.
Assistant to the Directors / Press Agent, Global Country of World Peace, Weston, Connecticut (June 2005 - September 2006)
- Assisted in marketing a scientifically-proven meditation program.
- Managed media relations, resulting in 5 newspaper/magazine articles.
- Produced state-wide website and customized county-wide website.
- Created direct mail pieces, letters, and course handouts.
Technical Writer, Technical Support Person, Trainer and Software Tester, Books Are Fun Ltd., Fairfield, Iowa (July 1995 - October 2000)
- Wrote extensive software user documentation, including on-line help, four large manuals and numerous smaller documents.
- Wrote a monthly newsletter on technology, Hi-Tech Rep, for five years.
- Provided technical support for hundreds of users of custom sales and inventory management software.
- Created The Rep Power Tools, a set of 80 Excel spreadsheets with macros.
- Trained users on software in-house and at conferences.
- Produced training videos.
- Tested new software releases and assisted with software development.
Technical Support, HR Soft Corporation, Fairfield, Iowa (June 1994 - July 1995)
- Provided telephone technical support for three complex DOS/Windows business applications for use in Human Resource and Succession Planning.
- Trained clients on-site.
- Established on-line bulletin board service for customer support.
- Updated software documentation for new releases.
Technical Support, Nutridata Software Corporation, Wappingers Falls, New York (February 1993 - June 1994)
- Provided technical support for 2 software products on 3 operating systems.
- Created interactive software demos that had an 80% conversion rate.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts in Professional Writing, Maharishi University of Management, Fairfield, Iowa, USA, 1998. Studied
and excelled in numerous genres, including Technical Writing, Magazine
Writing, Scriptwriting, Journalism, Photojournalism, Fiction, Poetry,
Feature Writing, Book Writing, Advertising and Website Design.
Bachelor of Independent Studies, specializing in Computers and Learning, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 1990. Studied education, psychology, and educational technology. Thesis: "Critical Thinking and Hypertext in the Secondary School System." Researched topic, created software, tested software usability.
AWARDS
Outstanding Student Award in the Master of Arts in Professional
Writing Track II Program, Maharishi University of Management, 1998.
Outstanding Contribution Award, Books Are Fun Ltd. Received for taking a lead role in implementing the SIMON Point-of-Sale System, 1998.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
For a more complete list, click Publications.
"Certified Organic-The Best Choice Today for a Better Tomorrow," Everybody's News, September 1997, pages 5-6 (2 pages, 1 sidebar).
"Click to Crop Contaminated Corn Consumption" in The Fairfield Weekly Reader, Thursday, November 16 - Wednesday, November 29, 2000. Volume 9, Number 43. In print and on-line at http://www.leeleffler.com/action/index.html
"Genetically Engineered Harvest: Do Consumers Have the Right to Know What's in Their Food?," The Iowa Source, October, 1997, page 29-31 (3 pages). In print and on-line at http://www.leeleffler.com/iasourcegmo.html
"Healthy Eating for the Holidays," Everybody's News, December 1997, page 6 (1/2 page).
"Organic Cotton: Good for You, Good for the Earth," Everybody's News, October 1997, page 4-5 (1 page).
"Savoring Sushi: What Other Small Town in America Has 3 Restaurants Selling Sushi?" In Fairfield supplement to The Iowa Source, March 1998, page F1 (1 page). In print and on-line at http://fairfield.freehosting.net/98mar/sushi.html
"Your Food is Genetically Altered," IndZine (California), July 1997, page 54-56 (2 pages). In print and on-line at http://www.leeleffler.com/indzine.html
Lee Leffler, "The Newsletter Gal" |
