mary christopher

Career Experience 

Freelance Writer, Mohawk Valley In Good Health, Fox News website, The Federal Reserve Bank, The Mohawk Valley Business Journal, The Observer-Dispatch, 2004 – Present

• Wrote a variety of news and feature stories on topics ranging from business and health issues, profiles and feature stories for various online and print publications.
• Took photos for online and print publication.
• Solicited advertising for Mohawk Valley In Good Health.
• Created newsletters for The Federal Reserve Bank, Oriskany, NY. Responsible for researching, gathering and organizing information, interviewed employees and company executives, wrote and designed newsletters.

Graduate Team Lead, Thesis Project, SUNY Institute of Technology, Utica, NY, Spring 2013

• Led a graduate project with a team of three students that included writing, designing and updating a website and blog for a Bhutanese-Nepali refugee group starting a Hindu Society in Utica.
• Facilitated the transition from graduate student operation to Hindu Society operation by instructing the group leader on English composition and grammar and training to maintain the website and blog. 

Reporter, The Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, 1998 – 2003

• Wrote in-depth, research driven stories, such as the impact of the September 11 terrorist attacks on young people, nursing home inspections, operations of computer chip fabrication plants and the benefits and detriments of having overlapping governments in one town.
• Covered major events including the Boilermaker Road Race, local September 11 coverage and Woodstock ’99.
• Wrote feature stories that included profiles, reviews columns and offbeat articles.
• Covered town and school board meetings in designated areas and a variety of breaking news stories.
• Edited and selected stories for the Sunday Lifestyles section.

Adjunct Instructor, English 102, Utica School of Commerce, 2003

• Instructed a class of 12 students on English grammar, writing skills and business communication.
• Guided a research project and educated students on APA documentation.