My CV

Kathleen Ann Harmon Kuhl

Objective

Employment as a reporter, writer or editor, content creator, or as a communicator for an educational institution, a non-profit or a governmental agency or department. Seeking a role that hearkens back to my newspaper reporting days with its immediacy and pulse. I am ready to collaborate and lead in creating meaningful, timely, strategic, compelling content and deal with both internal and external communications.

 Skills

  • Interviewing people live, on camera

  • Proofreading – Highly Proficient (indeed.com test result)

  • Written Communication – Expert (indeed.com test result)

  • Photography/design

  • Social media and email blasts

  • Apps and software: Microsoft and Google suites (and some Apple apps), Mailchimp emails and surveys, several photo editing softwares, canva for creating social media, posters and presentations; WordPress and Squarespace for web-building and design, Climpchamp for video editing

  • Secondary and primary research

Education

Master’s in Strategic Communication, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, May 2024. GPA: 4.07.

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wis., 1991. Cum laude.

Award

2021 Finalist, Frontier Co-op Case Competition sponsored by UI Tippie College of Business, in the “Company Culture and Sustainability” category. For this organics company, my team offered solutions to reduce turnover, train managers and create a vibrant culture during/after COVID-19.  

The University of Iowa logo with crest of the Old Capitol building in Iowa City
Marquette University blue and gold logo with image of crest of Marquette Hall's steeple

Experience

February 2025 to present: Marketing & Administrative Manager, Muscatine County Area Habitat for Humanity

Create excitement around the activities of this local Habitat chapter with our social media, website, press releases to traditional media in our area, coordinating appearances of board members public gatherings, coordinate awareness- and fund-raisers in cooperation with the Habitat committees and board (such as display boards, electronic quiz games, and “sales” of items such 2x4s that go in the structures we build so the donor can write messages on them). Get event flyers to many posting sites including electronic billboards in our area. Maintain contact will board members and allies. Create whole fundraising events ranging from a beer-tasting to a Christmas tour of churches. Writing, speaking, photography. Also serve as office manager: filing papers, paying bills, mailing donation solicitations and thank you notes, taking notes at board meetings.

February 2022 to June 2025: Marketing & PR Coordinator, Musser Public Library, Muscatine, Iowa

Built regularity into the library’s communication channels by scheduling social media assets and creating a monthly newsletter. Promote library events and initiatives with news releases, maintain contact with local and regional media. Choose slate of guests for and serve as substitute host on library’s live TV show, “Libraries Alive!” Maintain website: www.musserpubliclibrary.org

2017-2018: Editor, Muscatine Magazine

Tasks for this quarterly distributed to 12,000 business and residential locations included assigning and editing content; selling advertisements; writing stories; taking photos; and providing input on design. Owner of Facebook pages for Muscatine Magazine and the former Grow Muscatine. Tasks were part of Communications Specialist role at Greater Muscatine Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

2005 to present: Freelance writer and photographer

Quad Cities Regional Business Journal, Davenport, Iowa; Corridor Business Journal, North Liberty, Iowa; The Index, West Liberty, Iowa;  The Advocate News, Wilton-Durant, Iowa; Muscatine Magazine and the Grow Muscatine website, Muscatine, Iowa; Our Iowa Magazine, Ames, Iowa; The Quad-Cities Magazine  and The Quad-City Times, Davenport, Iowa.

1997-2002: Communications Specialist, John Deere Parts Distribution, Milan, Ill.

Helped management craft messages for workforce. Weekly newsletter tasks included editing, writing, working with North American network of volunteer writers and photographers, taking photos and designing pages. Created PowerPoint news presentations for break rooms and helped convert newsletter to HTML for JD Parts Distribution intranet.

1991-1996: Full-time writing, editing and photography tasks at The Quad-City Times, Davenport and Clinton, Iowa; The Iowa City Press-Citizen, Iowa City, Iowa; The Daily Guide, Waynesville, Mo. (as newspaper editor).; The Constitution, Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.; The New Catholic Explorer, Diocese of Joliet, Ill.

Volunteer Work

March 2022 to present, Friends of Musser Public Library: Helped rebuild MPL’s Friends organization with survey, starting and maintaining website, brainstorming fundraisers and gatherings. Maintain website https://friendsofmusserlibrary.org

·Nov. 2022 to present, Muscatine Schools Orchestra Booster Board of Directors: Set up and promoted online fundraising merchandise sales, assist with floral gift sales and handing out programs before concerts.

Jan. 2024 to present, Muscatine County Habitat for Humanity Marketing Committee: Help plan and do behind-the-scenes work on fundraisers and awareness-raisers for the local chapter of this international organization.

2017-2020: Publicity chair, Muscatine Symphony Orchestra Association Volunteer coordinator of publicity and advertising in print and broadcast media for symphony concerts and events. Maintained webpage muscatinesymphony.org