MARIA BELLOS FISHER
maria@mariabellosfisher.com
www.mariabellosfisher.com
SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS: A bright, articulate writer who possesses excellent wordsmithing skills and never misses a deadline; an ambitious professional with excellent interpersonal and organizational skills.
EXPERIENCE
2004 to present Maria Bellos Fisher Chesapeake Beach MD/ Seattle, WA/ Shady Side, MD
Freelance Writer & Editor
Founded freelance writing and editing business in October 2004. Transitioned to full-time freelance in July 2010. Research, write, edit and sell magazine articles, news stories and essays. Regular contributor to What’s Up Annapolis magazine and Bay Weekly while in Maryland. Presently contributing to ParentMap magazine (Seattle metro region), The Costco Connection and Bellevue Downtown (Bellevue, Washington). Developed successful blog featuring personal essays Sept. 2009 (www.mariabellosfisher.com/blog). Develop marketing plans, generate ideas, and sell work to magazines, newspapers and local publications. Edited technical documents and participated in developing style guide for a government contractor. Edited proposals in English and Spanish for a consulting firm specializing in electric utilities and telecommunications.
2004 to 2010 Lockheed Martin MSD, Inc. Washington, DC
Deputy Project Manager
Performed project management functions documentation for systems integration department at the Internal Revenue Service. Promoted to Quality Assurance Specialist after six months. Promoted again seven months later to lead a team of two translators and one programmer. Promoted one year later to Deputy Project Manager. Served as recruiter for project. Monitored workflow, project schedules, hours budget and contractors’ interaction with client. Wrote marketing materials, created graphic designs, wrote and composed presentations. Wrote computer program application manuals, maintained application overviews, requirements documents and technical documents describing code structure using XML and Word. Trained staff on documentation and project management tools. Subcontracted for MSD for three months until hired permanently in Dec. 2004.
2003 to 2004 CTGi, Inc. Washington, DC
Corporate Communications Specialist & Technical Writer
Contractor for the Veterans Administration in Veterans Health Administration Chief Business Office. Translated project tasks into meaningful concepts by developing web content, fact sheets, Frequently Asked Questions documents, technical manuals, PowerPoint presentations, meeting communications and other documents as needed. Communications were disseminated to broad audience including information security officers, doctors, administrators and workers in VA health facilities. Built team evaluation website. Technical writing assignments included integrating requirements from four separate directives into a comprehensive cyber security manual.
2001-2003 Breakthrough Technologies Institute/Fuel Cells 2000 Washington, DC
Director of Research
Promoted the development of advanced technologies such as fuel cells through outreach, media and networking. Analyzed and tracked legislation. Reported political information to state and local officials. Conducted extensive research on advanced technologies and innovative environmentally friendly energy solutions. Lobbied Congress on energy issues. Organized press events, conferences, congressional briefings. Developed media plan for Fuel Cells 2000 program. Answered press inquiries. Created and maintained websites. Designed slide presentations. Wrote papers and articles, compiled industry news. Wrote fundraising proposals and budgets.
1999-2001 Energy Argus, Inc. (Formerly Fieldston) Washington, DC
Editor (1999-2001)
Promoted to permanent editor of AIR Daily and Clean Air Compliance Review after serving as interim editor for both clean air newsletters. Managed one editor, one staff writer and three freelancers, trained staff, assigned and edited stories and compiled daily and biweekly copy. Reported and wrote stories. AIR Daily circulation improved 30 percent under my leadership.
Reporter (1999)
Wrote and researched stories on air pollution issues for AIR Daily and Clean Air Compliance Review, daily and biweekly newsletters. Wrote weekly column on commodity market. Designed pages and determined story placement.
Early Experience
1998-1999 Inside Washington Publishers Washington, DC
Associate Editor: Reported, wrote and edited news stories about advanced vehicle technology.
1995-1998 Gannett Suburban Newspapers (now the Journal-News) White Plains, NY
Editorial Assistant: Wrote and researched stories, briefs and more than 1,200 obituaries.
EDUCATION
1991, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL: B.A., Psychology, GPA 3.3
1990, Westchester Community College, Valhalla, NY: A.A., Liberal Arts and Social Sciences, GPA 3.6
LANGUAGES
Spanish — written and spoken, conversational Greek
COMPUTER SKILLS
Word, WordPerfect, Epic Editor, PageMaker, Dreamweaver, Adobe Acrobat, MS Photo Editor, Excel, MS Project, Visio, PowerPoint, Lotus 123