Early in my career, I was a teacher. My life experiences have helped me to stay grounded and to consider the needs of multiple audiences, which my clients have considered an important asset.

I began my path toward becoming a writer when I filled the marketing/communications manager's role at a local youth shelter where I had been volunteering. I had intended to continue a career in education, but instead, I found I had a knack for communications. I particularly enjoyed telling clients’ stories and helping give people the opportunity to contribute to their communities. 

Since 2010, I have worked in both nonprofit development and corporate marketing and communications. I was most recently a marketing manager of creative services before I became an independent writer in 2014. I have formal training in design, and I play well across teams including agencies and independent contractors.

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I have a B.A. in English composition from the University of North Texas as well as an M.Ed. focusing in Art Education from the University of Houston.

Laura Schmidt, Independent Copywriter

​2014 - present

For the past three years, I have worked on a variety of assignments and campaigns, especially for clients in K-12 and higher education. I also volunteer with the Heroes program affiliated with the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Dallas as a content contributor.

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​Recent projects include:

• Speechwriting and script development for commencement ceremony event

• Strategic planning for regional digital marketing campaign​

• Public relations interviews and press releases

• Blog and social media strategy including editorial calendar

• Blogging and ghostwriting

• Email marketing review and editing

• Multi-page layout and editing projects, including catalogs and proposals

• Internal communications, especially employee initiatives and creative for volunteer projects

Marketing Manager - Creative Services | American College of Education | 2012-2014​

​American College of Education is a socially responsible online college that specializes in advanced degree programs for educators.

• Created and scheduled press releases for national distribution and collaborated with PR firms

• Designed e-mail marketing templates, including transition to responsive design, and managed all email marketing content using Silverpop

• Created content for social media properties including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest, and YouTube; Pinterest boards were responsible for primary increase in traffic to ace.edu website from 2013-2014

• Contributed to market research including focus groups and surveys for brand strategies

• Revised Web content for SEO, brand and compliance considerations

• Managed projects with advertising and design firms and independent contractors for social media, conversion optimization, digital photography, videography, design and copywriting as needed

• Created internal messaging guide

• Initiated transition to Adobe Connect platform for high quality webinar production

• Managed execution of print collateral including flyers, brochures, proposals and events materials

• Designed and updated Web elements including buttons, banners, PPC ads and more

• Created mock-ups for new microsites and website landing pages

Development Associate | Grapevine Relief and Community Exchange

​2011 - 2012

​GRACE is a nonprofit relief organization that serves families and individuals facing personal and financial hardship in the Northeast Tarrant County area.

• Created weekly HTML newsletter distributed through Constant Contact with over twenty percent open rate increase during tenure

• Managed SAGE FR-50 database with more than 20,000 constituents

• Created and implemented database maintenance standards including quarterly NCOA scrubs

• Trained and supervised development volunteers

• Wrote and produced donor acknowledgments and reports for all individual and corporate gifts

• Assembled and analyzed data for 2500+ active volunteers

• Supervised silent auction and created event collateral for GRACE Gala event at Irving Convention Center that raised more than $300,000 for the organization

• Solicited items for GRACE Drive Into the Night Golf Tournament

• Represented GRACE at community events including the American Bus Association convention at the Gaylord Texan, United Way speaking engagements, and Chamber of Commerce events in Northeast Tarrant County

University of Houston

​2007 - 2009

​Master of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, Art Education
I actually gained my formal understanding of statistics, qualitative and quantitative analysis, child development, and visual culture through this program, as well as a commitment to using my creative powers for good. I assisted Dr. Sheng Kuan Chung with editing a volume of peer reviewed journal articles on teaching East Asian art in the Western context, so I know just enough about chi to be dangerous. I can also make a mean crayon rubbing.

University of North Texas

​2002 - 2005

B.A. in English Composition, cum laude

​I earned a B.A. degree in English Composition with a minor in drawing and painting, and I also took several courses in graphic design and typography. I was the Layout and Design Editor for the North Texas Review, a student literary magazine primarily staffed by graduate students, and I was a Board of Regents Excellence Scholar from 2002-2005.

Writer for hire