c h o o k o o l o o n k s

experience

summary

A seasoned public speaker who has contributed essays and articles to several regional and national publications, and many online publications. Former editor and producer of AOL's lifestyle blogs by Weblogs Inc. Fourteen years photography experience shooting author portraits, editorial and commercial work, and travel photography.

public speaking

Appearance as part of a panel entitled "Using other Forms of Media -- Photography, Video, Audio, Art -- to Enhance your Website" along with Mom 2.0 Summit, February 18 - 20, 2010 at The Four Seasons Hotel in Houston, Texas.
Appearance as part of a panel entitled "Photography for the Web," along with Justin Hackworth and Amber Roussel at the Altitude Design Summit, January 21-23, 2010, at the Grand America Hotel in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Keynote speaker at Blogalicious '09, on "The Beauty of Different," October 9-11, 2009.
Appearance as part of the keynote panel at the Interactive Strategies '09 conference, where we discussed how the genders use social media differently, September 2009.
Appearance on BlogTalkRadio, as part of the PepsicoatBlogHer series on purposeful blogging, July 2009.
Appearance as part of the Community Keynote of BlogHer '09 in the beautiful city of Chicago, Illinois, reading Reflections on why the election of President Barack Obama affected me so deeply, July 2009.
Appearance as part of a panel, entitled "Women of Color and Marketing," along with the wonderful Heather Barmore, Stefania Butler, and Kelly Wickham, at BlogHer '09, July 2009.
Appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show, April 6, 2009, along with other well-known bloggers discussing "The Truth about Motherhood."
Interviewed by Russ Capper of The Businessmakers radio show, March 2009
Keynote speaker, Houston Interactive Media Association conference, March 4, 2009, along with Laura Mayes: Web 2.0 and marketing to women
Full-time cast member of Momversation.com, an online video show featuring popular parenting bloggers, February 2009 to present.
Keynote speaker, Mom 2.0 Conference, February 20, 2009, along with Guy Kawasaki about social media and marketing
Acted as Houston spokesperson for Quaker Oatmeal blogger launch of Start with Substance campaign, January 20, 2009 on four major networks (CBS, NBC, FOX and CW)
Appearance on Leo LaPorte's TWiT TV show "Jumping Monkeys with Megan Morrone," August 18, 2007
Panelist on How to Embrace the Social Media Culture, BlogHer Business 2007
Panelist on Identity and Obligation, BlogHer 2006
Panelist on Women In Leadership, University of Houston Bauer College of Business, Leadership & Ethics Week 2004.
Keynote speaker, Closing Luncheon & Awards Ceremony, University of Houston Bauer College of Business, Leadership & Ethics Week 2004

writing

Contributed several essays to the book Kirtsy Takes a Bow, published November 2009.
Blog post Love, Relationships & Men's shoes published in Good Housekeeping magazine (including photos, September 2009 issue).
Contributed to the US national magazine Wondertime (December 2008/January 2009 issue)
Contributed to regional magazines including Builder/Architect Magazine, and SHE Caribbean Magazine.
Publisher of the weekly series Through the Gadling Lens, providing photography tips and tricks to amateur travel photographers in the award-winning travel site, Gadling.com.
Edited, contributed and produced several of the Weblogs Inc. lifestyle blogs, including ParentDish, StyleDash and Gadling.
Founding contributor to Shutter Sisters blog.
Contributing Editor to BlogHer.

photography

Contributed several images to the book Kirtsy Takes a Bow, published November 2009.
In addition to portraiture and reportage photography, have contributed to regional magazines (including SHE Caribbean magazine, and Builder/Architect magazine).
Conceived, developed, created and produced the digital story for Houston Wellness Association, including contribution of photography.
Founding contributor to Shutter Sisters blog
Curator and author of LensHouston, a photoblog hosted by the Houston Chronicle and featuring the best amateur photography in Houston

exhibits

Two images were included as part of the 600 sq mi: Hidden Exhibit held at Xnihilo Gallery, Houston, Texas, October 9 - 31, 2009
My image Coral was included as a part of the God's Green Earth Exhibit, July 2 - August 28, 2009, L. Frank James Gallery, Roseville, California.
A showing of my project "The Ranch" was featured at Galleria Lazzara, in their annual photography exhibit, February 10 - March 8, 2009.
The image Unfurl was included as a part of the L'Abri Conference Art Exhibit at Valley Springs Presbyterian Church, California, on July 31 - August 3, 2008

digital storytelling

Created the digital story for the Houston Wellness Association's 2008 Wellness Symposium
Created the digital story 5 Ways to Begin to Recover from Hurricane Ike, for the Houston Wellness Association

awards

Chookooloonks blog named one of the 50 best parenting blogs by Babble.com in 2009, including ranking number 5 for blog design
Chookooloonks blog nominated Best Photography Blog in 2008 Bloggers' Choice Awards

Chookooloonks blog named in the 2006 book Blogosphere: Best of Blogs
Chookooloonks blog one of the Best Adoption Blogs on the Web by Adoptive Families Magazine, citing both photography and writing

digital desktop

Adobe photoshop, Apple desktop products, Microsoft Office Suite, all major blogging platforms.