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Deborah A. Knox
P.O. Box 1041
Boulder, CO 80306
(303) 587-5598
deborahknox1@yahoo.com


OBJECTIVE

Freelance editing, writing, research, or consulting position. Opportunity for international clients (especially French) and overseas assignments a plus!

SUMMARY

Dynamic, accomplished professional with ten years’ experience in crafting coherent, concise, and compelling text. An eye for detail, an ear for rhythm, a nose for a good story. Expertise in, but not limited to, the topics of natural health, personal and spiritual growth, psychology, environmental sustainability, business, science, math, travel, French culture, and art history. Extensive professional and academic involvement in qualitative and quantitative research and analysis. With an MBA from Stanford University and management consulting experience, solid background in marketing strategy and competitive analysis. Well-developed interpersonal and communication skills.


EXPERIENCE

1994–Present
Freelance Editor, Proofreader, Writer
Mill Valley, CA/Boulder, CO

Examples of Projects:
* Copywriting and copyediting website content, email flyers, ads, and catalog text for leading meditation and yoga retreat center.
* Developmental editing, copyediting, and rewriting for a firm that provides written summaries of business conference and webinar content.
* Developmental editing manuscript on educational innovation and school choice.
* Coaching graduate school applicants on writing application essays.
*Copyedited content for technical course on networking.
* Revamped and copyedited website content and marketing materials for a firm that consults to human resources departments.
* Copyedited math content for educational media company.
* Composed article on meditation for the newsletter Perfect Health, a Chopra Center publication.
* Composed an article on yoga and Ayurveda for the Kripalu Center for Yoga & Wellness.
* Revised position papers on the United States' role in Kashmir and the revivification of the process of Ijtihad in the Islamic tradition.
* Rewrote manuscript related transpersonal psychology.
* Copyedited a dissertation proposal regarding transpersonal psychology.
* Copyedited Help! I Owe Back Taxes, a how-to manual for delinquent taxpayers, and Media Training A-Z, a guide with tips for working with the media.
* Revitalized and copyedited brochures for several natural health practitioners.
* Copyedited, copywrote, and proofread conference guides, ad copy, website content, and business plans for WholeLife Expositions + Conferences, a national producer of trade shows related to holistic living.
* Proofread classified listings for HeartDance magazine, a regional monthly focused on alternative healing modalities, personal and spiritual growth, and community-building events.

Research Associate
Jim Collins
Stanford, CA/Boulder, CO

2002–2003: Assisted the New York Times best-selling author of Good to Great in his latest study regarding the creation of successful, sustainable organizations in turbulent, rapidly changing environments. Pinpointed key data sources, examined the mechanics of the initial public offering process, analyzed corporate financial performance, assessed industry turbulence, and managed other researchers.

1990: Spearheaded gathering of financial data and company histories for the eighteen companies featured in Jim Collins’s management hit, Built to Last. Profiled Marriott International, Inc., and The Walt Disney Company, identifying key events, practices, decisions, and management teams that contributed to the success of these companies.

1990–1992
Management Consultant
Arthur D. Little, Inc.
San Francisco, CA

Examples of Engagements:
* For a $1 billion hotel industry leader, conducted a system-wide pricing study. Performed live pricing tests in pilot hotels and assessed incremental revenue gains, assessed trade and customer attitudes toward industry pricing practices, improved competitive monitoring processes and reservations agents’ sales techniques, evaluated performance of volume-based contracts, and developed approaches for analyzing market segment profitability and booking patterns.

* For a financially troubled cruise line, developed a survival strategy. Determined future market penetration and potential revenues, recommended product improvements based on trade and customer interviews, evaluated marketing effectiveness, and pinpointed cost-saving opportunities.

* For a major electronics manufacturer, conducted the market assessment for a new display technology that the client was seeking to commercialize worldwide. Identified potential applications, projected market sizes, profiled competitive products and their companies’ positions, and determined distribution channel structures by country and application.

* On an ongoing basis, edited and proofread managers’ correspondence, proposals, reports, and presentations.

1985–1988
Vice-President for a hotel representative firm
Scott Calder International, Inc.
New York, NY

* Managed operations for a firm handling North American marketing and reservations for 120 independently owned and operated luxury hotels in Europe and the Caribbean. Hired, trained, and supervised staff; handled customer service issues; and streamlined sales processes.

* Solicited new client hotels and participated in automation of reservations process for those signing up for our services.

* Assisted president in design and execution of client marketing plans, which included trade and consumer print advertising, direct mail campaigns, PR, collateral development, trade show representation, and sales force support. Proofread all outgoing documents.

1984–1985
Actuarial Analyst for an employee benefits consulting firm
Kwasha Lipton
Fort Lee, NJ

Obtained and prepared client data for actuarial valuation, calculated individuals’ pension and Social Security benefits, and modeled future pension payout scenarios for client companies.


EDUCATION

1988–1990
MBA
Stanford Graduate School of Business
Stanford, CA

Emphases in marketing, entrepreneurship, and international business.

1980–1984
BA, magna cum laude, French Language and Civilization
Princeton University
Princeton, NJ

* Awarded Le prix du cercle français for best departmental thesis.
* Selected participant in the Princeton-in-France Summer Work Abroad program.
* Additional concentration in math and physics.


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

* Proficient in The Chicago Manual of Style, acquainted with AP and MLA styles.
* Skilled in Word, Excel, and FileMaker; familiar with Quark and PowerPoint.
* Adept in French; familiar with Spanish; have traveled throughout Europe, the Caribbean, and Asia.