Consultant & Freelance Writer/Photographer (10/2016 – present)
Curricula writer, Grant writer, Facilitator, Trainer, Travel Writer

• DeSoto Magazine

• Jackson Free Press

• Mississippi Free Press

• Volunteer Mississippi

• Mississippi Alliance of Nonprofits and Philanthropy

• Mississippi Opera

• Born Free of Mississippi

Pyramids Overlook Inn — Cairo, Egypt (9/2016 – present)
Co-owner

• In conjunction with Treasures of Egypt Tours, LLC, co-own small Inn on Giza Plateau in Egypt

• Arrange and coordinate tours and trips for Inn guests (under the auspices of tour company)

• Create and maintain website for Inn; social media and PR

• Legal and financial aspects of both Inn and tour company

Volunteer Greater Jackson (9/2016 – 10/2017)
Consultant, Online Manager

• Assist local nonprofits to create online profiles on GiveGab

• In-person technical assistance with GiveGab profiles, volunteer matching, volunteer hours login

• Reporting and statistics for state volunteer center network

• Presentations and trainings on GiveGab

Mississippi Arts Commission – Whole Schools Initiative (6/2015 – 6/2019)
Program Assistant

• In a consulting capacity, coordinate contracts, files, and logistics of the 33 participant schools

• Assist with grant writing, publicity, program planning, budgeting

• Assist with conferences and events (including a large, multi-day event each summer); registration, speaker liaison, setup/breakdown, venue and food/beverage logistics

Crossroads Film Society (10/2010 – 6/2021)
Coordinator, Annual Crossroads Film Festival

• In a consulting capacity, coordinate the overall process of an annual film festival for 3,000 attendees: with committee, accept, collect, and choose films; coordinate committees and volunteers; communicate with filmmakers and film agencies; assist with media and public relations, including the PR committee

• Assist with financials; write proposals and manage grants given to the Festival

• Update website, blogs, and assist with social media updates

• Manage and organize the Crossroads Film Festival office

• Communicate with the Crossroads Film Society board

• Coordinate Crossroads Film Society memberships

Treasures of Egypt Tours, LLC — Jackson, MS (6/2009 – present)
Owner/President

• Travel company specializing in customized small group tours to the land of the Pharaohs

• Marketing, PR, and branding (all internal and external communications), materials creation, financials, logistics, product sales, in-country travel services

• Handle financials (Quickbooks), annual report, bookkeeping

• Update website (www.TreasuresOfEgyptTours.com), blog, social media

Mississippi Boychoir, Inc. (5/2013 – 7/2015)
Administrative Director

• Recruit and retain Boychoir members; maintain member records and communicate with Boychoir membership

• Manage and maintain office, coordinate board meetings, regular rehearsals, logistics for Camp, concerts, choir trips

• Maintain financial information, pay bills, prepare budget (Quickbooks); grant proposals, reports, grant payments

• Create and maintain website (www.mississippiboychoir.org), coordinate and implement overall marketing strategy

Mississippi Early Childhood Association (MsECA) (10/2011 – 2/2013)
Office Manager

• Maintain member records and communicate with MsECA membership

• Manage and organize the MsECA office; maintain financial information, pay bills, prepare budget (Quickbooks)

• Maintain website and social media presence; assist with media and public relations, including the PR committee

• Coordinate annual conference for 700 and “mini-conferences” for 150; including committees and volunteers

Mississippi Case Management Consortium (MCMC) (8/2008 – 10/2010)
Director of Public Relations & Training

• Public relations: strategic, coordinated internal and external communication,branding for the continuation (Phase II) of a $25 million+ FEMA grant

• Media relations: assure accurate and timely dissemination of press releases and other pertinent information

• Adopt-A-Katrina-Family Program: match volunteer labor with sponsors to rehab homes of Katrina survivors

• Create and organize events and large-scale conferences for case managers (Gulfport and Jackson)

Antonelli College at Jackson, MS (9/2007 – 12/2012)
Adjunct Instructor

• Curriculum creation and management

• Creation of custom classroom lectures (Intro to Massage) and practical lessons (Deep Tissue, Swedish massage, Shiatsu)

• Instruct classes in clinical massage and associated knowledge (Pathology, Kinesiology, Mississippi Law)

• Supervise student clinic

• Supervise student field trips

Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS) — Jackson, MS  (1/1998 – 5/2009) (now called Volunteer Mississippi)
Director, Communication & Training

• Public and media relations: strategic, coordinated internal and external communication, branding; assure continuity of communications messages, implement crisis communications plan; maintain website; write, edit, and publish quarterly newsletter, annual report, etc.

• Assist with grants management (foundation, federal, state grants)

• Chair committee and coordinate annual “Reinventing Mississippi: The Conference for Nonprofits and Volunteers”

• Publicize, coordinate, and collect data on national days of service

…To Your Health! Therapeutic Massage Associates — Jackson, MS (11/1999 – 12/2012)
Owner/Operator

• Therapeutic Massage outcall service (also includes massage parties, bridal showers, gift certificates)

• Chair massages for corporate and charitable events

Virginia College School of Massage — Jackson, MS  (6/2003 – 3/2006)
Adjunct Instructor

• Create curricula and classroom lectures

• Deliver lectures and lead hands-on classes  

• Clinical massage instruction

• Supervise student field trips and student massage clinic (open to the public)

Mississippi Center for Nonprofits, Jackson, MS (9/1993 – 12/1997)
Program Coordinator

• Member relations: creation of seminar/workshop schedules, cost saving programs, member incentives

• Editor, layout and design, and primary writer for the 501 News quarterly newsletter

• Committee member: “United Way Conference for Nonprofits”

von Petersdorff-Campen Family — Munich, Germany (8/1992 – 8/1993)
AuPair

• Provided child care for and taught English to three children; became fluent in German, traveled and learned the German culture firsthand

Education

Certification in Volunteer Management (CVA)

• Year-long process of reading and research, peer-reviewed acceptance of my two-part written portfolio, and successful passage of a written exam (certification valid 2008-2023, renews every 5 years)

Mississippi School of Therapeutic Massage — Jackson, MS

• 700+ hour Certificate of Completion (October 1999)

University of Arkansas — Fayetteville, AR

• Bachelor of Arts, German (May 1992)

• Prior undergraduate study at Millsaps College, Mississippi State University, and University of New Mexico (“German-only” summer school)

Interests

• Spiritual and energetic experiences (just published first book of spiritual experiences for the everyday person)

• Reading, writing and editing

• Music

• International travel and travel writing

• Creating publications of all kinds (brochures, business cards, newsletters, websites)

• Cooking and baking

• Photography

Professional Associations / Leadership Experience

• Travel Writer’s University (formerly Great Escapes Publishing) (2021 - present)

• International Food Wine and Travel Writer’s Association (IFWTWA) (2021 - present)

• International Travel Writers and Photographers Association (ITWPA) (2018-2021)

• American Writers and Artists, Inc. (AWAI) (2015-2019)

• Recipient, Hometown Hero Award from Visit Jackson (Jackson, MS convention and visitor’s bureau) (2016, 2018)

• Recipient, Volunteer Mississippi’s GIVE Award (Governor’s Initiative for Volunteer Excellence) (2017)

• Presenter, “Corporate Volunteerism” at PMI (Project Managers International) Professional Management Day (2017)

• DOVIA (Directors Of Volunteers In Agencies) – past president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer (1998 - present)

• CVA credential, Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (2008 - present)

• Board member, Millsaps College Arts & Lecture Series (2011-2014, 2019 - present)

• National Association of Professional Women (NAPW) (2009-2012)

• National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage and Bodywork (two terms: 2007-2012)

  • Executive Committee (2009-2010)

  • Treasurer (2009-2010)

  • Liaison to Leadership Development Committee

  • Chair of Advanced Certifications Task Force (2009-2010)

  • Chair of Recertification Task Force

  • Liaison to Exam Committee

• Leadership Jackson (Mississippi) Class of 2001-2002

• Planning committee co-chair: “Reinventing Mississippi: Conference for Nonprofits & Volunteers” (2005-2009)

• Licensed Massage Therapist #88 (Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy, 1998-2012)

• Certified Instructor of Massage (Mississippi State Board of Massage Therapy, 2009-2012)

• Metro Jackson Corporate Volunteer Council (2001-2005)

• Association of Volunteer Administrators (2001-2005)

• American Massage Therapy Association, Mississippi Chapter (1999-2007)

• ERMI (Emergency Response Massage International) volunteer and member (2005-2010)

• Women in Networks (WIN) – member (2003-2005)

• Planning committee for annual volunteerism conference: “Investing in Mississippi’s Future” (1998-2004)

• Planning committee for annual Mississippi Management Seminar for Nonprofits (1993-2003)

• New Generation Training Program (NGTP) (1996)

Charitable Affiliations

• Board Member, Millsaps Arts & Lecture Series

• Volunteer, 2 Mississippi Museums (Museum of Mississippi History, Civil Rights Museum)

• Volunteer, Mississippi Museum of Natural Science

• Donor, Heifer International (www.heifer.org)

• Volunteer, Radio Reading Service of Mississippi (recording material for broadcast to a sight-impaired audience)

• Junior Achievement of Mississippi Consultant

• Volunteer massage therapist:

  • massages to residents of Born Free of Mississippi (substance abuse shelter)

  • chair massages to patrons of Ronald McDonald House charities

  • sports massage for cyclists in annual Race for the Cure (MS fundraiser)

• Volunteer, City of Jackson and State of Mississippi for major art and cultural exhibitions:

  • Palaces of St. Petersburg

  • Splendors of Versailles

  • Majesty of Spain

  • Glory of Baroque Dresden

  • International Association of Ballet Competition (IABC)
    

References

Mrs. Marsha Meeks Kelly, Volunteer (contact Marsha)

Mrs. Elizabeth Coleman, CVA Volunteer (contact Elizabeth)