Résumé — Maureen Spurr

EXPERIENCE

SPURR EDITORIAL SERVICES

FREELANCE MAGAZINE, ADVERTISING AND WEBSITE WRITING

Proofreader

Secret Fort – Ad Agency, Chicago, IL USA – Proofreading Advertising

Podium Entertainment – Audio Book Publisher, El Segundo, CA, USA – Proofreading eBooks

ARTICLE WRITING/ADVERTISING

Screen Magazine

Arabian Horse Times

Arabian Horse Express

Horseplay

Insider Travel

California Horsetrader

Fields Automotive

PIVOT POINT INTERNATIONAL, INC., Chicago, IL 2001-2024

$43 million global hair and beauty educational content publisher.

Senior Editorial Manager

Managed editorial team through development and production of educational programs for the cosmetology, esthetics, barbering and nail industries.
Oversaw writing and editing of programs through multiple media such as textbooks, study guides, teacher support materials, DVDs, and online learning systems
Worked extensively with content developers, SMEs and graphic designers from concept to completion
Managed workflow, develop and forecast timelines and assigned resources, managed reprints and corrections systems
Created first company style guide documenting standardized language use for consistency across all published materials; document editorial systems and procedures

JACKSON SOFTWARE
Glencoe, IL
Educational computer software and applications developer catering to educators, schools and districts.

Educational Software Sales Associate

Sold educational software to educators, schools and districts
Performed all aspects of inside sales, including lead generation, account service and customer relations
Coordinated software trainings, wrote and edited PR releases and attended trade shows

GOSS COMMUNICATIONS/ARABIAN HORSE EXPRESS
Kenilworth, IL
Publisher of equine newspaper.

Managing Editor

Led the relaunch of a magazine, including creating a new look and feel, generating new circulation and distribution channels, performing all editorial functions, ad sales and subscriptions

Oversaw and coordinated all phases of national monthly four-color tabloid newspaper with a circulation of approximately 5,000–10,000 per month
Wrote and edited all editorial content and developed editorial calendar
Interviewed industry leaders for feature stories
Conducted ad sales and developed promotions
Managed subscribers, advertisers, freelancers and vendors
Attended and reported on national horse show competitions

ASSOCIATED PUBLICATIONS
Chicago, IL
Publisher of national women’s hair and beauty newsstand magazines.

Assistant Editor

Assisted in editorial and production capacities for three national newsstand magazines: Complete Woman, Sophisticate’s Hairstyle Guide and Sophisticate’s Black Hair (total circulation 250,000)
Wrote a high volume of stories in a fast-paced, deadline-oriented environment, conducted interviews and organized photo shoots with celebrities
Proofed manuscripts, layouts, bluelines, color proofs and four-color film; obtained photography and releases

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts, University of California at San Diego, San Diego, CA
Major: English & Writing

STYLE GUIDES
The Associated Press Stylebook
Chicago Manual of Style

ORGANIZATIONS & INTERESTS

PR & Publicity Board Member on Chicago Screenwriters Network, 2000-2007
Toastmasters International
Dale Carnegie coaching
Team collaboration, systems and procedure improvement
Paws & Claws Chicago Cat Rescue Volunteer
Refugee Community Connection, Chicago, Volunteer
Andersonville-Edgewater Neighbors Meetup Group Founder, 2012–2025