• Extensive background in journalism, copywriting, editing, ghostwriting, and PR.
• Passionate about clear, consistent, message-driven communications and respecting deadlines.
• Proven ability to develop editorial and PR solutions to short-term needs and long-term goals.
• Experienced team leader and manager.
• Dedicated to bringing considerable past experience to bear on current communities and issues.
• Thrives in committed and fast-paced creative environment.

• journalism
• editing
• proofreading
• ghostwriting
• speechwriting
• media relations
• web content
• crisis management
• coaching/teaching

Editor and Writer — Sterling Meetinghouse News — 2014 – Present
Assign and manage feature stories, columns, articles, and photographs from a team of reporters and photographers for monthly publication. Write stories and editorial. Edit and format all press releases, community calendar and public service announcements, as well as submissions from local political boards and civil service departments. Maintain editorial content of company website and social media sites. As a small rural community, Sterling’s businesses and farms depend on public awareness of their offerings and challenges, for local support. I am dedicated to using my considerable experience in political public relations to keep the community informed about issues that affect residents and businesses.

Feature Writer, Reporter — Sterling Meetinghouse News — 2004 – 2014
Wrote feature stories, columns, and articles. Provided photography. Covered town board and committee meetings, and local politics.

Teacher/Coach — Sterling Recreation Department, Conant Public Library (Sterling, Ma.), Chocksett Middle School (Sterling, Ma.) — 2003 – Present
Teach/coach writers of all ages and experience levels in a variety of programs, including creative writing, poetry, and journal writing. Work with students to write and produce plays and publish chapbooks.

Owner/Chef—Chez Desiree Personal Chef and Custom Catering—1997 – 2001
Provided personal chef and boutique catering services to clients throughout New England. Operated kitchen and catering service for Monoosnock Country Club, Leominster, MA

Freelance/Contract Writer & Public Relations Consultant — 1987 – Present
Clients in U.S. and Canada include Women’s College Hospital, NOVA Petrochemicals, Calgary Opera, and Sprint for development of strategic plans, communications and public relations solutions that create competitive advantage. Projects include:

• ghostwriting medical book about nutritional immunology for a doctor at the World Health Organization
• writing book about catering and personal cheffing as careers for FabJob.com
• designing, writing, and managing production of annual review for a workplace health organization which enabled it to win a $5 million research grant
• communications support and media relations for “Women: A New Political Future” conference in Sarajevo, Bosnia, hosted by Hunt Alternatives, a Boston-based foundation
• creating public relations and media strategies to deflect negative press and public reaction to the planned layoffs of 1,200 workers at a Canadian hospital

Communications Director (contract) — 1998-1999
Ambassador Swanee Hunt, Director, Women and Public Policy Program, Harvard University and Head of Hunt Alternatives Foundation

• speechwriting, writing bylined articles, working with national and international media, and managing communications for the Women and Public Policy Program at Harvard University

Writer & Media Liaison (contract) — 1997-1998
Rainier Corporation, Princeton, Massachusetts

• bylined articles and press releases, and press relations for high-tech accounts

Manager, Speechwriting Unit (contract) — 1992-1993
Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology, Government of Ontario, Canada

• speechwriting and developing media kits, backgrounders, policy papers, legislative statements, and communications plans for politicians and senior civil servants, with the goal of attracting favorable media coverage for a wide variety of issues

Press Secretary to the Minister of Transportation (contract) — 1989-1991
Ministry of Transportation, Government of Ontario, Canada

Press Secretary to the Minister of Industry, Trade & Technology — 1991-1992
Ministry of Transportation, Government of Ontario, Canada

• speechwriting and editing speeches and legislative statements, acting as media liaison for senior cabinet ministers

Feature Writer, Columnist, Copy Editor, Proofreader (contract) — 1987-1989
Calgary Tonite, Calgary, Alberta

• ghostwriting daily column, and writing a series of articles on social issues, including teen prostitution, young offenders, family violence, and mental illness

Education

Hon. B.A., French and Russian, University of Toronto

Post-graduate courses, Clinical Psychology, University of Calgary

ARCT, Violin Performance & Pedagogy, Royal Conservatory of Music

Publication Credits

Child and Family, Journal of the California Alliance for the Mentally Ill, NOVA Now, Strad Magazine (UK), Calgary Herald, Calgary Tonite, omnivore, Sterling Meetinghouse News

Name:	Lex Thomas
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