For The Nature Conservancy (TNC)
These examples are also included the Public & Media Relations section of this site.
The Sustainable Rivers Program: painting a nationwide portrait from Dozens of individual stories
I wrote the copy and selected images for TNC’s page about its Sustainable Rivers Program, which is a partnership with the U.S. Army Corps to improve large river health by updating outflows from dams so they better mimic natural conditions. The page also features several videos I worked closely with a vendor to produce.
Electronic Monitoring in fisheries: Explaining complex subjects in simple, yet engaging ways
This TNC webpage about electronic monitoring for commercial fishing vessels well exemplifies my ability to explain complex concepts in easy-to-understand and compelling ways. I worked closely with a graphic designer to produce the illustrations on this page.
GroundwateR: should what’s out of sight be out of mind?
I wrote the copy and selected images for TNC’s webpage that focuses on groundwater (often in the form of aquifers). This piece was featured on the homepage of nature.org for five days and performed extremely well on social media.
launching a new TNC program: brightstorm focuses on one of water’s worst pollutants
Stormwater is the only source of water pollution in the U.S. that is increasing. This fact sheet I wrote explains the threat and what TNC is doing about it. (The Brightstorm website is under development.)
For Arkansas Parks & Tourism (ADPT)
When I started at ADPT, the state park system was on the cusp of celebrating its 75th anniversary. One of the first initiatives I took was to highlight the history of each of the state’s 52 state parks in ways that also promoted visitation. Between myself and the four travel writers I managed, we did so in less than one year, while also working feverishly to provide new content for Arkansas.com, which was in the midst of a major overhaul. Below are three of these stories I wrote. Also listed below are features about an incredibly talented Arkansas artist, a colorful fishing guide and the owner of a duck hunting lodge, the latter two of which represent big tourism draws for the Natural State.
This feature is about one of Arkansas’ most visited and unusual tourist attractions, Crater of Diamonds State Park. It’s the only place in the world where visitors can search for diamonds and keep those they find.
Queen Wilhelmina State Park is located in one of Arkansas’ most scenic settings and has a lodge, restaurant and hiking trails. It also sits along the Talimena National Scenic Byway.
This story is about one of my favorite museums in the Natural State—the Arkansas Museum of Natural Resources, which highlights a time in U.S. history when the Natural State led the nation in oil production.
Yes! The image above is not a photo, but a watercolor painting by Arkansas artist William McNamara. I had a chance to spend a day with this incredibly talented, down-to-earth and somewhat reclusive artist at his secluded home on the Buffalo River. This story about William and his art is one of the lengthier features I’ve written.
Fishing is big business in Arkansas. My brother and I spent a day fishing with a local legend when it comes to chasing big striped bass. This is the story I wrote and promoted following our action-packed day.
Duck hunting, too, is big business in Arkansas. In fact, it’s home to the “Duck Hunting Capital of the World,” Stuttgart. This is a feature I wrote to help promote Arkansas’ outdoor tourism industry.
My Early Writing
I worked as a journalist before the widespread use of the Internet, so most of the stories I wrote are not online. The same is true for the stories I either wrote or successfully pitched to media outlets for my clients when I owned a tourism consulting business. (Or, if these stories ever were online, they’ve since disappeared. Somewhere, I have a hardbound portfolio, but—after several moves—I can’t find it!)