Shannahoward.com

SHANNA LAURA HOWARD

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PROFILE:

• Skilled in both front and back-end Web development and design, with expert proficiency in most common software applications

• More than nine years of experience writing and editing for a variety of media, including magazines, newspapers, technical publications, and Web sites

• Editor for several major print and Web publications, including Texas Music Magazine, Citysearch.com, and Globopolis.com

• Print designer for magazines and newspapers, including the Austin American-Statesman and Experience Austin magazine

• Contributor to TheFrisky.com, The Prague Post, Texas Music Magazine, Citysearch.com, The Daily Texan, and other publications

• Portfolio available online

 

EXPERIENCE:

Community College Survey of Student Engagement (CCSSE) - Webmaster

Community College Leadership Program, Department of Educational Administration, College of Education, The University of Texas

July 2007 - Present

• Developing a Web site layout for a new initiative for fall 2007, Survey of Entering Student Engagement (SENSE)

• Maintain ccsse.org, which includes HTML, ColdFusion, SQL Server and SAS

• Edit and assist with quality assurance and editing

 

Texas Commission on Environmental Quality - Program Specialist III

State environmental agency, General Law Division, Office of Legal Services

April 2004 - July 2007; Austin, Texas

• Posted environmental rules onto Rules & Rulemaking Web site and maintained external and internal sites

• Created and launched eComments application (article from Houston Business Journal) and maintain the Rule and Non-Rule Tracking Application

• Converted almost 20 Web pages into a Content Management System three months before deadline

• Responsible for all database administration and upkeep for Regulation Development applications and creating new applications

• Proficient in ColdFusion, Dreamweaver, SQL, TOAD, and Oracle database management

• Responded to questions and comments from the public in a timely manner

• Set up and promoted a weekly list serve for internal and external customers

• Edited and processed documents for publication in the Texas Register

• Provided training to employees throughout the agency on the rules database and produced training materials and course work

• Twice nominated for Exceptional Customer Service for agency-wide Employee Recognition Program in April 2005/April 2006

• Promoted from Program Specialist I to Program Specialist II in April 2005; Promoted from Program Specialist II to Program Specialist III in March 2007

• Received a General Law Division employee recognition award in May 2005

• Award winner for the annual Deputy's Choice Award for the Office of Legal Services for 2006

 

Dell Inc. - Data Analyst/Technical Writer (Contract)

The world’s leading direct-sale computer vendor with $41 billion in revenue (2004)

May – Nov. 2003; Austin, Texas

• Developed extensive process efficiency and procedures for Worldwide Regulatory Investigations

• Authored, revised, edited, and formatted HTML code for Web-based support documentation

• Reduced costs and time to resolution more than 30%, completing over 100 documents ahead of schedule

• Responsible for quality control of technical documentation database and decision trees

 

Texas Legislative Council/Aus-Tex Printing and Mailing (Southwest Design Group) - Proofreader

State agency for legislative services/private printing company

May 2002 – May 2003; Austin, Texas

• Proofread pending legislation and pre-press documents and recommended changes to editors/customers

• Lead designer of in-house ads for Southwest Design Group

• Composed all press releases and official collateral for Southwest Design Group

 

Austin American-Statesman - Marketing Publications Coordinator (Special Sections Coordinator)

Daily newspaper, 2004 circulation: 177,926 daily/226,766 Sunday

March 2001 – Feb. 2002; Austin, Texas

• Primary contributor for marketing publications

• Performed essential writing, editing, design, and photography duties for weekly Homes and Residences sections, including a complete redesign of the front page

• Communicated and met with advertisers to develop marketing content

• Oversaw all editorial, production, and pre-press duties of the quarterly Experience Austin magazine

 

Globopolis.com - Online Editor

Network of local city guides to Central and Eastern Europe, in local languages as well as in English and German; Founded in 1999 with 6 million USD in investment capital; Declared bankruptcy in Jan. 2001; (internetnews.com article)

Aug. 2000 - Jan. 2001; Prague, Czech Republic

• Translated, edited, and revised writing and posted it online

• Worked with non-native English writers to correct common grammatical errors and improve writing

• Managed the Bratislava, Slovakia, site

• Coordinated with writers and translators

• Contributed text and photos to the Berlin, Germany, site

• Supervised sites for quality and updated database information

 

Texas Music Magazine & Texas Music Magazine Online - Associate Managing Editor

Quarterly, four-color music magazine

May 1999 - May 2000; Austin, Texas

• Joined staff as an editorial intern and was promoted to associate managing editor

• Contributed to the editorial mission of a start-up magazine

• Attended brainstorming sessions

• Helped to select covers and feature stories

• Participated in research, fact-checking, copy editing, and proofreading

• Wrote feature pieces and sidebars

• Updated and wrote for the Web site

 

Citysearch.com - Editorial Contributor

Jan. 1999 - May 2000; Austin, Texas

Network of online city guides

• Joined staff as an editorial intern for college credit and was promoted to an editorial contributor

• Wrote feature stories, reviews, profiles, and weekly newsletters

• Edited and copy edited content

• Maintained and updated Band Directory and updated events database

• Assisted editor-in-chief with site maintenance and management of writers during internal management transition phase

 

EDUCATION:

St. Edward’s University, Austin, TX

2003-2004

Partial Master of Arts: 4.0 GPA

The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX

Dec. 1999

Bachelor of Journalism: 3.5 GPA

May 2000

Bachelor of Arts, Czech

Fall 1999

Dean’s List, University Honors

 

PROFESSIONAL COURSEWORK:
2004 - 2007
Dreamweaver MX, Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), ColdFusion MX, SQL 7.0, HTML/XHTML, MS Word & Excel

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Please e-mail for references or copies of writing clips.

 

 

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