Debra L. Kirkby
16607 Hilliard Road
Lakewood, Ohio 44107
216-221-0670
[email protected]
Professional
Experience
1999 to Present—Kirkby Editorial Services, Lakewood, Ohio
President—Services include substantive editing, copyediting, and proofreading of book manuscripts for book production services and publishers located around the world. KES also offers its clients marketing communications assistance, including brochure copy and product identity development services.
1994 to 2009—Keithley Instruments, Inc., Solon, Ohio
Senior Marketing Communications Writer/Editor—Duties entail extensive interaction with marketers, engineers, and others to develop and edit a wide range of publications, including feature articles, product brochures, catalogs, data sheets, web pages, reference books, and other promotional materials. Responsible for proofreading all printed materials for style, accuracy, and consistency before publication. Topics include electronic test and measurement instrumentation and techniques, parametric (semiconductor) testing, and data acquisition hardware and software.
1989 to 1994—McKinney Advertising and Public Relations, Cleveland, Ohio
Technical Writer/Editor—Responsibilities included project development, writing, and editing for agency's technical and consumer clients. Writing assignments covered a wide range of subjects, including construction equipment and materials, custom home furnishings, data acquisition hardware and software, electronic test and measurement instrumentation, metallurgy, precision air conditioning, refractories, and uninterruptible power supplies. Researched, wrote and placed feature articles, application notes, case histories, tutorials, etc. Worked closely with clients' engineering staffs and customers to develop brochures, video presentations, product news releases, newsletters, etc.
1985 to 1989—The Urda Company, Akron, Ohio
Advertising and Public Relations Writer—Tasks included copywriting for agency's advertising and public relations clients. Extensive involvement in creative development and planning of campaigns and programs. While the majority of the agency's clients were in the automotive aftermarket industry, I also developed projects for unrelated markets, including hotels and medical partnerships. In addition to developing copy for ads, brochures, newsletters, and press releases, my work included writing and supervising production of multimedia presentations.
1982 to 1985—Farragher Marketing Services, Canfield, Ohio
Account Supervisor and Copywriter—Duties required extensive client and media contact to develop and place feature articles in industrial publications. Was responsible for all promotional activities and projects related to agency's largest account. Experience included researching, writing, editing, and producing newsletters for a wide range of clients, photographic supervision, feature writing, organizing press conferences, market research, media relations, ghost-writing/editing technical/executive textbooks, etc.
1980 to 1982—Freelance
Copywriting and Technical Editing—Short-term assignments with advertising and public relations firms on a variety of high-tech projects.