Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

I have seven years of experience as business editor and writer. I have covered the custom home building and designing industry, forestry, security, web, business industry in Wisconsin's Fox Valley, and Madison, Wis. area housing industry.

I am also a part-time writing instructor at Madison College and Marian University.

Clips can be found at maureenalley.com

Work History

• Freelance
• Writer and Editor
• May 2010 to Present

• Provide freelance writing and editing for the following publications: Residential Design & Build, Security Dealer & Integrator, Wisconsin Trails, Insight, Experimental Aircraft Association.

• Madison Area Technical College
• Part-Time Instructor
• August 2010 to Present

• Teaching business writing courses.

• Marian University
• Adjunct Instructor
• Febuary 2010 to Present

• Taught Research and Argumentative Writing course for accelerated nursing program.

• Northside News
• Volunteer Copy Editor and Writer
• January 2010 to Present

• Edit content for accuracy and clarity. Wrote articles on the housing industry.

• ForResidentialPros.com
• Community Editor
• October 2011 to Present

• Manage all the social media accounts for ForResidentialPros.com and its properties: Qualified Remodeler, Residential Design + Build, and Kitchen & Bath Design News. Also write original online reporting.

• Residential Design + Build
• Editor
• September 2010 to October 2011

• Editor of custom home/residential architect and designer magazine.

• Website Magazine
• Managing Editor
• March 2009 to November 2009

• Manage all contributors, maintain production schedule and make sure articles meet deadlines. Write daily posts for the blog, write longer articles for e-newsletters. Prepare daily newsletters. Research, interview and write articles for print issues. Stay up-to-date on the latest news in the Web industry to guarantee editorial is timely. Fact-checking of all editorial. Work with sales staff to make sure ads are in-house and ready for publication.

• Residential Design + Build magazine
• Managing Editor
• March 2005 to March 2009

• Managed all editorial content during production of each issue, maintaining organization and keeping issues on schedule. Researched, interviewed and wrote three to four articles per issue. Researched and wrote copy for 60-plus products for each issue. Managed columnists and freelancers. Edited content for style and accuracy. Increased magazine's website impressions by 58% and unique visits by 55% using new search engine optimization practices. Prepared a layout of editorial content for the website manager to guarantee accurate live dates and easy access to content on the website for readers. Updated industry, corporate and market news online. Prepared and wrote online-only articles. Launched and managed LinkedIn group for magazine readers. Launched the magazine's blog as well as updated it with original, pertinent content. Prepared e-newsletters and e-blast. Created online surveys that are sent to readers for feedback. Represented magazine and sister magazine at industry events.

• Communication Logistics Inc.
• Copywriter/Proofreader
• July 2004 to January 2005

• Wrote copy for five hobby print magazines and their respective websites. Proofread all corporate material and client copy.

Education

• Roosevelt University
• MS, Journalism
• 2008 - 2010

• 4.0 GPA

• University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point
• BA, English, Writing
• 2001 - 2005