I work with clients big, small and spanning the globe to outfit them with the perfect copy for their needs. Check out my featured projects below. And yes, my puppy Evie (snoozing above) is a nit-picky copy editor.
Smith College Business Network
Services: Branding; website, brochure and poster copy
About: In the spring of 2015, Smith College launched its first Business Network to connect alumnae in the business world. I teamed up with the shop at Transit Authority Figures to help brand the new network and create copy for a website, brochure and a string of posters. I also helped Smith whittle down ten profiles of successful alumnae to showcase on their website.
The Hampshire Council of Governments
Services: Branding; website copy
About: The Hampshire Council of Governments was seeking a suite of new websites for three initiatives: Hampshire Power; Community Choice Aggregation; and Buy-a-Brick, a fundraising campaign to help restore Northampton’s Historic Courthouse. The first two websites required considerable brainstorming and planning on how to message wonky energy-related issues to the public. I worked alongside local designer Zoe Pappenheimer to develop a brand identity and talking points that can be used in communications going forward.
The Brooks School
Services: Viewbook
About: The Brooks School in North Andover, MA, wanted to shake things up with their new viewbook. I teamed up with designer Lilly Pereira to create something truly innovative: a viewbook chock full of stories. This approach lets the students and faculty speak on behalf of Brooks, giving the prospective student and their families a “fly on the wall” feeling as they consider if Brooks is right for them. Chock full of rich imagery and bright quotes, Brooks shines through without the hard sell.
Five Star Building Corporation
Services: Brand identity; website sell sheets and brochure copy; video scripts
About: As Five Star’s reputation grew as a leading, multi-million dollar construction company in New England, they needed a polished website that reflected their image. I worked closely with Five Star’s president to present a sophisticated brand that helps the company stand above its competitors. Using this brand strategy and messaging, I created sell sheets and targeted brochures that can appeal to potential health care, commercial and industrial clients. And rather than use the same, tired construction industry lingo, I crafted copy that points to the heart of Five Star’s passion for the work they do. Finally, I worked with local videographer Chris Thibault to develop two promotional videos for Five Star, of which I wrote the scripts and story boards.
Emma Willard’s Signature Magazine
Services: Managing Editor
About: Churning out two issues of Emma Willard’s alumni magazine each year became too time-consuming for Emma’s busy director of communications. Given my strong background writing for alumni publications, they hired me as the managing editor in a consulting capacity. I help shape the editorial direction of each issue and manage, write, assign and edit the three features included in each issue. I also hire photographers and artists and work within Emma’s editorial budget.
VisitHampshireCounty.com
Services: Website copy
About: Hampshire County in Western Massachusetts is a special place. The tourism website had to be equally special. I teamed up with the folks at Transit Authority Figures to craft a compelling site for visitors and residents to enjoy. We created and built on a unique brand identity, using humor, wit and charm to entice folks to visit “The Other Side of Massachusetts.”
Northfield Mount Hermon
Services: Feature writing
About: NMH tapped me to write a feature article about the school’s first female student from Afghanistan. The article was the cover story for the issue that won a gold CASE award in 2014. Since then, I’ve written about an alumni who works in Iraq with refugees, and I went into the heart of the school’s kitchen to understand how they feed all 900 students every day.
The Association of Boarding Schools (TABS)
Services: Ideation, Strategy and Copywriting
About: TABS was looking to shake up and condense their marketing materials. In 2013, I flew to Asheville, NC, to help their team strategize a new direction for their NowBoarding prep school promotional magazine. TABS was looking for a clever, funny tone that would appeal to kids and parents alike. I then took our strategy and wrote the copy for the 26-page magazine, working closely with the communications director and graphic designer. The magazine is sent to boarding schools all over the country.
Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst
Services: Website Copy and Branding
About: The Isenberg School of Management launched a new website in 2012 to promote Isenberg Online, the School’s online MBA and undergraduate programs. I helped Isenberg hone their “Your MBA, Your Way” identity, worked alongside the design team at Zoe Design Works, and wrote new copy for over 100 web pages.
Testimonial: “Megan is quick to understand the needs of a company and showcase their strengths through language that is effective and engaging. She begins by making sure she understands who her client is and what their needs are so that she can provide them with language that communicates their brand and resonates with their target audience.” – Zoe Pappenheimer, Zoe Design Works
CommunicateHealth
Services: Interviewing, Video Production, Scriptwriting
About: CommunicateHealth hired me to produce a series of documentary-style videos showcasing real people offering real solutions to health and safety issues – from lead poisoning to asthma. I screened the participants, scouted locations, conducted the interviews, worked alongside a small film crew, and contributed to post-production and scriptwriting. The videos will live at HealthyHomes.gov, a website for the Centers fro Disease Control and HUD.
Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee
Services: Branding, Copywriting
About: The Wild & Scenic Westfield River Committee was seeking a new brand identity and new, exciting promotional materials. Partnering with a graphic designer, I embarked on a brand audit that guided the Committee to a fresh identity and used a storytelling approach to generate lively copy for materials, which included an annual report, posters, postcards and a brochure.
Access Strategies Fund
Services: Ghostwriting, Website Copy
About: Sometimes leaders have big ideas to share but don’t have the time to sit down and write. That’s where I come in. I listen to your ideas, capture your voice, and churn out the op-eds, columns, articles and reports for you. For Access Strategies Fund, I worked with the director to help her articulate her quarterly “Executive Director’s Corner.”
Miller Family Dermatology
Services: Brochure, Postcard and Website Copy
About: When Dr. Arlo Miller opened his private dermatology practice in Issaquah, Washington, he asked me to introduce him to his new neighbors through friendly, accessible and confident marketing materials and website copy.
Free Press
Services: Media Minutes Podcast Production, Blog Writing
About: Using media expertise and fierce interviewing skills, I co-produced a weekly radio podcast for the national non-profit group Free Press. The podcast showcased stories about media ownership and media policy to listeners across the country, and was aired on dozens of radio stations. I also wrote blog posts about media analysis for Free Press websites.
Testimonial: “Megan’s writing is always a breath of fresh air. She’s fast, efficient and effective. I can always count on Megan to deliver the finished product on time, and the outcome is always better than I ever thought it could be. It’s a pleasure to work with her.” – Stevie Converse, Project Manager for Free Press
Deerfield Academy
Services: Feature Article for Alumni Magazine
About: In the fall of 2012, Deerfield Academy introduced two new programs to foster community among both parents and students on campus. I explained the programs in a feature article for the Deerfield Magazine.
The Williston Northampton School
Services: Feature Article for Alumni Magazine
About: As the Williston Northampton School approached its 40th anniversary of co-education, the communications director asked me to investigate the legacy of two merged schools for a cover story for the spring 2012 Bulletin magazine.
Testimonial: “Megan has produced terrific, thoughtful work. She is bright, insightful, and personable, and those qualities have made everyone she’s interviewed on behalf of the school comfortable and much more willing to share. Megan is a very fine writer, and we have been thrilled with the articles she’s written for Williston. I must say that I am particularly grateful for her ability to produce work that requires very little editing and that is always on time. It’s a gift to be able to rely on Megan and not be concerned about the quality of the work she is producing—I know it will always be exceptional. I have enjoyed working with her and look forward to continuing to do so.” – Traci Wolfe, communications director for Williston Northampton
