Mary Ann Chick Whiteside

Information architect online & off

Location: Greater Detroit Area
Industry: Information Services

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Mary Ann Chick Whiteside's Overview

Current

Varies at Girl Scouts
Professional freelancer at MCW Flint

Past

Social media administrator at Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan
Interactive media manager at The Flint Journal (mlive.com)
Trainer at Girl Scouts of Fair Winds Council

Director at Genesee Free-Net
Regional Editor at The Flint Journal
Suburban editor at The Flint Journal
Metro Desk assistant at The Flint Journal
Community Producer/Host at WFBE
Director, event producer at Flint Bluegrass and Folk Arts Festival
Metro copy editor at The Flint Journal

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Education

Michigan State University
Churchill High School
University of Michigan-Flint

Recommendations

4 people have recommended Mary Ann

Connections

326 connections

Websites

Multimedia journalist, creating online resources since 1994, passionate about using the right technology to communicate; skilled at recognizing trends and starting plans, programs and projects for news institutions, non-profit organizations, and small businesses.

Traditional news organization experiences in newsroom (editing, writing, computer-assisted journalism, mapping, news and advertising delivered via phone, fax, email and web) and marketing department (research, database marketing, mapping, promotion, search engine optimization, sales support and training) expanded with community involvement.

Interested in short-term opportunities to get you on the web, Also available for editing and writing; site and software testing and speeches or workshops on using the Internet (Web, email, social media, trends); Telling Your Story, Creating/Finding Community.

Specialties

• produced radio show, festivals and special events;
• spearheaded strategic, business and communication plans;
• developed and delivered training on using computers at work and in classroom, managing and coaching people and offering successful programs;
• tested software and web sites for user interface, search engine optimization;.
• prepublication reviewer of books and research on building community, using computers and transforming today's classroom

Varies

Girl Scouts

Nonprofit; 201-500 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry

1994 – Present (18 years)

Professional freelancer

MCW Flint

1992 – Present (20 years)

I am on a buyout-funded sabbatical - exploring journalism's challenges of the future of news, building community, storytelling and Internet magic.

The right brain is getting a workout with exploration of fiber, glass, wire and beads - hands-on and via the computer.

Front and center is my daughter's battle against breast cancer.

I continue several journalism and online projects, including maintaining several web sites, ghost blogging and organizing programs.

I am teaching Girl Scout classes and administering the international WAGGGS-L listserv (Internet mailing list).

I am evaluating computer programs, editing books and websites and matching grants to non-profits.

I am leading workshops for journalists, including coaching writers, connecting with readers online, using the Internet and your computer on your beat, unlock the mysteries of data with mapping and other tools, and using sound effectively.

And I blog, Facebook, Twitter, FriendFeed and use other web sites and tools to stay current.

Social media administrator

Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan

Nonprofit; 51-200 employees; Nonprofit Organization Management industry

2009 – 2010 (1 year)

Interactive media manager

The Flint Journal (mlive.com)

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry

October 1994 – May 2008 (13 years 8 months)

Directed online operations of newspaper, including advertising and editorial operations in partnership with state/national affiliate; plus marketing sites for nine newspapers and four events.

Trainer

Girl Scouts of Fair Winds Council

1991 – 2008 (17 years)

After developing a gopher site and then a web site for the local Girl Scout organization I designed and led a series of classes for staff and volunteer adults on using the Internet effectively to communicate and meet program requirements. I expanded the offerings to girls, including hosting international online chats and exchanges and badge workshops.

As a certified Girl Scout trainer, I now help adults learn more about the Girl Scout program. Roles include class trainer, developing specialty trainings, updating home study classes and preliminary work for online, interactive instruction.

In addition, I created multimedia presentations tracing the development of one of the council's camps.

Director

Genesee Free-Net

1994 – 2001 (7 years)

The Genesee Free-Net is a community-based computer network offering free and low-cost access to the Internet.
- Developed campaign to raise $100,000 from 1,000 people
- Orchestrated efforts to put non-profits online
- Taught workshops on online skills, created web pages
- Developed first editions of community links

Regional Editor

The Flint Journal

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry

1989 – 1994 (5 years)

- Directed suburban bureau operation, production of weekly People section.

- Launched first electronic archive for newspaper

- Developed newsroom training program

- Organized annual journalism workshop for minority high school students

.. Produced community events on behalf of newspaper

Suburban editor

The Flint Journal

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry

October 1986 – February 1989 (2 years 5 months)

- Direct coverage for 96 governmental units outside the city of Flint in an eight-county region

- Supervise 14 staff reporters, 32 free-lancers.

- Designed local news pages, edited local copy and wrote headlines from 1986-88

Metro Desk assistant

The Flint Journal

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry

October 1982 – October 1986 (4 years 1 month)

- Produce 24 special sections annually, weekly People section, daily local news pages

Community Producer/Host

WFBE

1979 – 1986 (7 years)

I moved quickly from from guest host to main producer and host of Just Country, a weekly radio show of recordings and live performances. The show highlighted a blend of country music, ranging from traditional roots to modern, often organized by theme. Duties included selecting, introducing and playing recordings; interviewing performers; and organizing live performances.As main producer, I coordinated schedule of as many as four hosts. Show ranged from one hour to three days.

Director, event producer

Flint Bluegrass and Folk Arts Festival

1978 – 1986 (8 years)

A one-day celebration of music reflecting the heritage of many transplants in Flint, Michigan, grew to an annual three-day music-craft-dance celebration and yearlong education program and concert schedule funded by grants, corporate sponsorships, donations and gate revenue.

One of my favorite activities was developing and hosting a grant-funded 3-day conference for organizers of traditional music events in Michigan.

I attended the first festival, co-hosted the live broadcasting of the second festival and rapidly moved into bigger roles that included managing volunteers, fund-raising, grant-writing, hiring musicians and organizing festivals, concerts, dances, workshops, races, music competitions, and specialty events for local governments and businesses (including Six Flags AutoWorld.)

Metro copy editor

The Flint Journal

Privately Held; 201-500 employees; Newspapers industry

September 1978 – October 1982 (4 years 2 months)

Edit local content, write headlines and design pages for Local News and Features department

Michigan State University

1972 – 1977

Activities and Societies: Editor of State News, a broadsheet newspaper that averaged 20 pages in its Monday-Friday editions. Worked at pizza shop, can factory, book store and did free-lance writing and editing to pay the bills during college.

Churchill High School

University of Michigan-Flint

Websites:

Interests:

future of news, using technology effectively to communicate, leadership, community, Girl Scouts and development of confident & courageous girls and women, quilting, beading,

Groups and Associations:

Girl Scouts of the USA, Society of Professional Journalists, Online News Association, Investigative Reporters and Editors, Leadership Genesee; Greater Flint Arts Council, Wheatland Music Organization, National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Past involvement: Newspaper Association of America New Media Federation, American Press Institute alumni, Coaching Writers Association, Flint Bluegrass Festival, Mother Maybelle Carter Society, Flint Festivals Inc., Flint Downtown Development Authority, Genesee County Sesquicentennial