Author, Filmmaker

Published An American River (2012), an environmental memoir about growing up along the polluted lower stretch of New Jersey’s Passaic River.

Starred in, and helped produce American River (2021), feature-length documentary based on the 2012 book. (americanriver.film)

Currently at work on nonfiction book about aquifers and inner lives

Writer, Editor, Consultant, Boss

Editor-in-Chief and Publisher, Crosscut.com
January 2013-July 2015: Set editorial and development direction for Seattle’s only nonprofit digital news organization. Led small edit staff and large freelance stable in award-winning coverage of state and local politics, culture and technology. Redesigned web site to showcase streamlined, refocused editorial product. Diversified revenue portfolio with more emphasis on events and membership.

Editorial Consultant, Valve.com
January 2011-December 2012: Writing, editing, editorial consulting for computer game giant Valve Software, Inc. and other clients.

Executive Editor, Grist.org
January 2010-2011: Led team of ten writers, editors and designers who served up timely environmental news and analysis with humor and attitude. Drove shift in editorial emphasis, away from the “problem” of climate change and towards more solution-oriented, urban focus.

Editorial Consultant, Lee Enterprises, Inc.
September 2009-January 2010: Designed and delivered workshops to help newspaper and online staffers at Lee Enterprises properties more effectively use and integrate print and web products.

Programming Consultant, Revolution Health Group
May 2009-September 2009: Provided programming and organizational guidance for Revolution Health Group website.

Vice President of Programming, HealthTalk, Inc.
March 2004-August 2005: Reorganized and led 20-member team of editorial producers, audio and software engineers, designers, event coordinators and support staff that delivered live and pre-recorded patient education programs in a variety of in-person, web, and broadcast formats.

Freelance Writer
July 2001-March 2004: Essays, features, technical editing for Fulcrum Press, WGBH Interactive, AARP, MedicOne Foundation, HealthTalk.com, The Stranger, The Seattle Times and other companies and publications. Also contributed papers, articles, and signage to The American Naturalist, The Canadian Journal of Botany, Redbook, Woman’s Day, Family Life, Good Housekeeping, Outside, International Wildlife, Baseball Digest and the New York Aquarium’s penguin exhibit.

Senior Vice President of Programming and General Manager, OnHealth Network Company
August 1999-December 2000: Turned balkanized edit, design, technology, e-commerce and personalization teams into cohesive unit that made OnHealth the #1 health website for nine months running. As GM, helped manage transition after OnHealth’s purchase by WebMD.

Executive Producer, ABCNEWS.com
April 1998-July 1999: Led 75-member team in award-winning coverage of breaking news and the creation of interactive, multimedia features and special reports on Columbine shootings, Monica Lewinsky and Election ‘98.

Managing Producer, ABCNEWS.com
October 1996-April 1998: Editorial director for launch of ABCNEWS.com business, science, technology, travel, sports, entertainment, health and lifestyle channels. Led 25-member staff in interactive coverage of breaking news and features, including Mars Pathfinder mission and Dow 10K.

Founding News Editor, MrShowbiz.com
January 1995-October 1996: Developed news section the first on-line entertainment magazine.

Writer, Seattle Weekly
1986-91, 1992-94: Staff writer covering arts, medicine, health care reform, AIDS and women’s issues.

Contributing Editor, New York Woman Magazine
1991-92: Wrote first regular sports column in a women’s magazine.

Researcher, Reporter, Writer, Newsweek Magazine
1983-1986: Worked in science, sports, health, and education sections. Member of team that produced first Newsweek AIDS cover; helped coordinate 1984 Olympics coverage.

Researcher, Inside Sports Magazine
1981-82: Responsible for fact-checking monthly gambling and television columns, and other features.

Scientist

Researcher, Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
1979-81: Algae specialist on 11-member, EPA-funded research team that designed computer models to track carcinogens in stream systems.

Teaching Assistant, Bowling Green State University
1977-79: Introductory and advanced biology labs.

Research Assistant, Rockland Research Institute
1974-76: Research assistant on studies into effects of antidepressant drugs on sleep patterns of rats and human subjects.

Student

MS Aquatic Ecology Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio 1978

BS Biology Marymount College, Tarrytown, New York 1974