Experience

• 

  Kentucky kernel

  Sept 2001 - May 2005

  Staff writer to editor in chief

  • Managed the newsroom for a year as editor in chief• Also worked as the police beat reporter and news editor• Initiated and oversaw redesign of the newspaper• Took open records case against the University of Kentucky Police Department to the state attorney general and won• Involved in writing the newsroom ethics code• Completed several award-winning enterprise stories

• 

  The kentucky post

  May 2002 - Aug 2002

  News intern

  • Wrote breaking news and news features including local section fronts

• 

  Pilot media

  May 2003 - Aug 2003

  General assignment intern

  • Wrote news features including local section fronts and an A1 story• Worked with writing coaches and narrative writing team• Initiated and published summer-long enterprise story looking at the homeless in Virginia Beach

• 

  Cincinnati enquirer

  Dec 2003 - May 2005

  News intern/freelancer

  • Wrote breaking news and news features including localsection fronts and an A1 story

• 

  The detroit news

  May 2004 - Aug 2004

  Features intern

  • Wrote lifestyle and entertainment stories, which included feature page fronts, enterprise stories and an A1 story

• 

  Lexington herald-leader

  Dec 2004 - Jan 2005

  Intern

  • Wrote breaking news and news features

• 

  Margaret littman

  Sept 2005 - Apr 2006

  Personal assistant

  • Assisted in reporting, editing and archiving for Margaret Littman, a magazine journalist

• 

  The bakersfield californian

  Apr 2006 - Oct 2008

  Health reporter

  • Reported on local hospitals, health organizations, health policy and community issues for the news and features desks• One of the first reporters in the newsroom to shoot and edit video and audio • Started a health-focused blog, “The Pulse”• Completed several enterprise and A1 stories

• 

  The courier-journal

  Oct 2008 - Apr 2011

  Reporter

  • Wrote government, crime and general assignment stories about Bullitt County, the county south of Louisville• Started a blog, “Bullitt Beat,” which provided analysis of issues and access to public documents not provided elsewhere online• Shot video and photographs and helped develop readership via Twitter and Facebook• Completed several enterprise and A1 stories

• 

  Kyforward.com

  Apr 2011 - Aug 2011

  Reporter/assistant executive producer

  • Wrote general assignment stories, with focus on city government, the University of Kentucky and health• Edited stories and helped manage the newsroom

• 

  The courier-journal

  Aug 2011 - Oct 2013

  Reporter

  • Wrote government, crime, feature and general assignment stories about Oldham County and parts of Jefferson County.• Shot video and photos and engaged readers through professional Twitter and Facebook pages.• Completed several enterprise and A1 stories• Was part of a committee tasked with determining future direction of the newsroom• Spoke publicly to school, business and community groups about journalism.

• 

  Yelp

  Oct 2013 - now

  • Manages the nationwide Online Community Ambassadors program, which includes 21 OCAs covering 40 metros• Oversaw more than 150 OCA projects in 2023 focused on on-site engagement• Worked in collaboration with internal Culture team to develop on-site messaging in response to promotion of values-based holidays• Co-led efforts to create, disseminate and analyze an official survey of our Yelp Elite Squad members, turning results into actionable takeaways for the department• Helped develop guide for maximizing ROI from events, including how to target outreach to segments of event guests• Worked with our People team to expand the OCA development path• Served on committees focused on Yelp Elite Squad awareness, programming and promotion Show less • Manages the nationwide Online Community Ambassadors program, which includes 21 OCAs covering nearly 40 metros• Oversaw more than 80 OCA projects in 2022 focused on on-site engagement• Co-planned first-ever OCA Summit in San Francisco• Developed values statement to clarify purpose of Yelp Elite Squad, Yelp’s community of the most active and influential on-site• Awarded Yelp Community’s 2022 "Protect The Source" values award by management and peers for work making Yelp as useful and welcoming as possible• Created an internal metrics dashboard for OCA team to provide context and updates around metrics expectations Show less • Worked to grow the Yelp community — online and off. • Marketed Yelp through business and event partnerships, media spots, social media and other outreach efforts.• Planned regular events to get interesting local businesses, groups and brands in front of the most active and influential Yelpers. Have planned 250+ events, ranging from 15 to 900+ guests. And since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, I've planned 40+ virtual events. • Worked with businesses to help them use Yelp to their advantage.• Produced two weekly newsletters: the Louisville Local Yelp, which highlights local businesses and events, and the Louisville Lowdown, which is sent to the Yelp Louisville Elite Squad. • Managed a staff that included marketing assistants, interns and brand ambassadors. • Serves on a committee that gives feedback on changes and upgrades to the app and site.• Managed the @YelpLouisville social media, which has included producing Instagram Reels and filming multiple Instagram Live and Facebook Live videos with business owners. Has also gone live via @Yelp's Instagram (110k+ followers). • Served for two consecutive years on the committee that produces Yelp's Thank You Thursday initiative, which encourages people to show gratitude for local businesses via reviews each November. • Served on Yelp's National Partnerships Committee, which reaches out to national brands to find ways to work together.• Regularly wrote posts for the Yelp Blog (communityblog.yelp.com).• Helped plan the annual Yelp community manager summit at Yelp HQ in 2018. Show less

  • Regional Manager, Community

    Jul 2024 - now

  • Associate Regional Manager, Community

    Apr 2022 - Jul 2024

  • Senior Community/Marketing Director II at Yelp

    Jul 2021 - Apr 2022

  • Senior Community/Marketing Director

    Jul 2018 - Jul 2021

  • Community Director

    Jan 2017 - Jul 2018

  • Senior Community Manager

    Jul 2015 - Jan 2017

  • Community Manager

    Oct 2013 - Jul 2015