SUZANNA K.

LOURIE
259 W.12
th
St. Apt. 2C New York, NY 10014. US: (1) 802-578-4864
suzanna.lourie@gmail.com. www.suzannalourie.com

EDUCATION

Sept. 2007 - May 2011 SKIDMORE COLLEGE, Saratoga Springs, NY
Bachelor of Arts in Intercultural Communications, Magna Cum Laude GPA 3.67

May Dec. 2010 BOSTON UNIVERSITY SYDNEY PROGRAM, Sydney, Australia
Study Abroad: Travel Writing Summer Program & Fall Semester 2010, GPA 3.91

HONORS AND AWARDS
Magna Cum Laude, Periclean Honor Society, Four years Skidmore College
Deans List, Thoroughbred Society (student athletes w/GPA over 3.67) 08, 09,
W.I.E Symposium 10: Named one of Americans Next Inspiration: 50 Young
Champions for Women, recipient of the New York ARC 2011 1
st
place Media
Award for Best Human Interest Piece. 2011-2012 New York State Associated
Press Association 2
nd
Place: Depth Reporting for Sept. 11 Remembrance. Local
Media Association Awards 2011: Honorable Mention, Best Feature Series for A
Day in the Life, and Honorable Mention, Best Feature Series for Same Sex
Marriage in New York.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jan. 2013 Present Various Online & Print Travel Publications
Web & Print Content Writer/Editor
Responsibilities: Write and edit freelance content for various online and print
publications. Write and edit SEO-specific blog posts and content for travel sites;
write and design content for print magazines and tourist guidebooks (mainly
tailored to Costa Rica & Central America). Further assist in establishing the
brands voice by setting up social media platforms, establishing brand tone,
writing initial posts and training staff as necessary.

Dec. 2012 Present Various Individual or Company Websites
Website Copywriter
Responsibilities: Specialize in writing detailed web copy for a variety of
clients. To date, I have written the websites and established the social media for
four major luxury real estate clients three of the most expensive private homes
in Costa Rica and one of the most exciting large-scale projects on the Pacific
Coast (see, Las Mareas). I am frequently hired to write vacation rental home
descriptions for companies who rent properties on sites such as VRBO or
HomeAway. Outside of real estate, I also write web content at personal request
including a current project for a world-renowned artist and designer.

May 2012 Present The Tico Times, San Jose, Costa Rica
Contributing Writer
Responsibilities: Write feature stories and take professional-quality
photographs on a freelance basis for the leading English language newspaper in
Costa Rica. Topics include: travel, real estate, politics, community, tourism and
environmental issues.

March 2014 May 2014 Costa Rica: The Complete Guide: Eco Adventures in Paradise by James Kaiser
Contributor/Editor of the Second Edition
Responsibilities: Commissioned by author James Kaiser to update the second
edition of his 495-page guidebook, Costa Rica: The Complete Guide: Eco Adventures
in Paradise. Organized, planned and executed each leg of a two-month journey
across Costa Rica. In each of at least 30 towns visited, I gathered up-to date
information for the book including (but definitely not limited to): restaurant facts
(verifying description, quality, prices, locations, etc), tour offerings, tour prices,
current bus schedules, rates and routes as well as reviewing hotels along the
way. Coordinated all hotel, restaurant and tour visits on my own, collected
information in both English and Spanish. Responsible for trip planning, fact
gathering, writing new sections as necessary and sending a 100-pg. final
document with all edits and new information organized following the layout of
the book for the author to easily send to his publisher.

Sept. 2012 March 2014 Las Mareas de Tamarindo, Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Communications Director/Head of Digital Content
Responsibilities: Wrote web content and performed daily website maintenance
using the companys CMS. Regularly created blog posts and managed all related
social media platforms. Wrote, designed and sent out monthly e-newsletters.
In charge of coordinating and writing the content for all print and online
promotional materials. Interacted with potential buyers and rental clients in
charge of sending follow up correspondence and aiding the purchasing process.
Worked in public relations with the local, national and international real estate
community. Coordinated professional photo shoots, promotional videos and all
marketing related tasks. In charge of managing and booking vacation rentals
using Escapia Property Management Software by HomeAway.

Jan. 2012 Sept. 2012 TIDE Academy, Tamarindo, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
English & Government Teacher
Responsibilities: Taught English, World History and U.S. Government to
middle and high school students at a U.S. accredited private school in Costa Rica.
Developed curriculum plans and lessons for each semester. Specialized in online
promotion managing the schools Facebook page, website and newsletter.

Jan. 2011 Jan. 2012 The Saratogian, Saratoga Springs, NY
Business & Education Reporter
Responsibilities: Reported in the field on local stories and current events
specializing in the business and education daily beats. Wrote feature stories,
interviewed subjects, researched and corresponded with school district
authorities, local officials, legislators and other organizations. Maintained the
Saratogians business In-the-Biz daily online blog and wrote a weekly Monday
business column in print. Came up with the idea of a Weekend Roundup with
Suzanna K. Lourie online column, which features a print exclusive of whats
happening each weekend with a corresponding video in which I summarize the
column and then edit, cut and post online each week. Shoot digital video clips to
go with stories and edit on Final Cut Pro. Manage Saratogian social media,
Twitter and Facebook feeds.

2009 May 2011 Her Campus Magazine, Online, USA
Contributing Writer & VP of the Skidmore Chapter
Responsibilities: Wrote weekly stories on a variety of topics for college-aged
female readers. Topics include: Health, Beauty, Travel, Current Events, Campus
Events, Nutrition, Fashion and Politics. Marketed the Her Campus brand and
articles through Facebook and various social media outlets.

Oct. 2010 Jan. 2011 Time Out Sydney, Sydney, Australia
Editorial & Publishing Intern/Staff Writer
Responsibilities: Interviewed Australian and international artists, created event
listings and descriptions, wrote film, concert and album reviews, wrote articles
for various sections of the magazine including: Around Town, Music, Comedy,
Food & Drink, Clubs, Film, Kids and Comedy.

SKILLS Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Adobe Photoshop CS3, PC & Mac, Final Cut
Pro, Spanish, AP Style Journalism, CMS, Digital Photography (Canon 6D), Social
media: Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Hootsuite and Blogger.

ACTIVITIES Skidmore College Varsity Swimming, Boston College Waterpolo, Skidmore
Democrats, Skidmore News

INTERESTS: Traveling, journalism, promotion, art, writing, video, photography, nonfiction,
reading, hiking, scuba diving, international affairs, swimming, running and
yoga.