Education
Cristy graduated from the Louisiana State University
School of Journalism in 1989 with a Bachelor of
Arts degree in Journalism and minor in History.
She graduated from The Alliance Française
in Lyon, France with a Diplôme de Langue
Française in 1995.
Work Experience
Writing*Public Relations*Account Management
Cristy began her writing career at a leading Louisiana newspaper, the Baton Rouge Morning Advocate, where she wrote both hard news and feature articles for over five years. While writing for the paper, she also covered the Louisiana Legislature for a local television station and worked in public relations for United Way – organizing events and producing press releases and campaign material for their annual campaigns.
In 1990, she moved to Atlanta and began working for advertising agency Adair-Greene. She was responsible for the marketing material and administration of employee incentive programs for Coca-Cola USA, overseeing annual campaign launch and bottler relations while producing associated promotional material, instructional pieces and product catalogues.
She moved into the technology industry in 1991 working for Spectrum Data Systems of Atlanta - writing business-to-business pieces and marketing material promoting video conferencing equipment and environments, as well as press releases and corporate newsletters. She also provided marketing support to the sales staff. Before moving to Peachtree Software, she was acknowledged by Spectrum owner and president as Most Valuable Player.
At Peachtree Software, she wrote all marketing material pertaining to the company's Windows and Macintosh accounting software products – including direct mail pieces, press releases, advertising copy, spec sheets, brochures, instruction manuals, box copy and point of sale material. She also managed outside public relations, advertising and direct mail companies and conducted press tours to launch new products.
Cristy then moved to Lyon, France and began writing a newsletter for the American Group of the Lyon and Rhone-Alps Region, which was designed to keep temporary residents apprised of tax law changes, international services facilitating life abroad, security alerts, important differences between American and French educational structures as well as travel excursions available throughout France. She developed a first of its kind Expatriate relocation guide for a local Franco-American relocation agency responsible for corporate relocations. And she wrote updates and helped coordinate communication for the American Consulate during the 1996 G-7 Summit (currently the G-20) held in Lyon.
Upon returning to Atlanta, Cristy began writing for CARE International, producing newsletter content, PSAs, letters of appeal, speeches and background information on CARE programs. She and her family moved to Houston in 1998, where she continued to work for CARE International before beginning her freelance writing company.
As a freelance writer, Cristy has written content and provided research and editing services for large medical institutions, small orthopedic groups, energy companies and marketing companies representing a vast array of clients and industries. She currently works as a writer and marketing manager on a contract basis.
