I am an experienced writer and editor with more than fifteen years of demonstrated history helping clients meet their goals through the written word. Skilled in editing, writing, content marketing, editorial strategy, social media, and internal communications, I excel at developing clear, audience-focused content.
I co-founded River Horse Communications to bring highly-valued experience in journalism, publishing, and public affairs to businesses across the country. We collaborate with our clients to help them develop messaging and editorial strategies and create high-quality content that is tailored to their audiences and publishing platforms. Our clients include media companies, government and public sector consultants, trade associations, and educational institutions.
Subjects
My topic areas of expertise include travel, personal finance, retirement, financial aid, higher education, human resources, health insurance, labor/unions, human resources, and state, federal, local, and international government.
Skills
Book Credits
Beer, Brats, and Cheese: A Wisconsin Road Trip
Role: Author
Publisher: University of Wisconsin Press
Historic Documents (2008–present)
Role: Volume editor and lead author
Publisher: CQ Press/SAGE
Role: Author
Publisher: Atlantic Publishing Group
As author, unless indicated otherwise.
In 2022, Heather Kerrigan undertook a twenty-six-hundred-mile road trip crisscrossing the Badger State, seeking the hidden gems that locals frequent. She visited Wisconsin’s best restaurants, creameries, breweries, butcher shops, and cheesemongers. In Beer, Brats, and Cheese, Kerrigan highlights the innovative flavors and unexpected delights found in these spots, while revealing why these three foods enjoy a place of honor in the state’s culinary culture. Great beer isn’t made only in Milwaukee, Sheboygan doesn’t have a lock on the best bratwurst, and excellent cheeses don’t just come from Monroe County. In fact, there are towns large and small, from the far north to the Illinois border, from Door County to the Mississippi River, that produce amazing culinary experiences.
Whether you’re planning a turn-by-turn day trip or simply looking for a great place to eat or drink nearby, this guide has you covered.
A Great Lakes paradise, Wisconsin has a penchant for cheese as strong as its affinity for beer and bratwurst – the three pillars of the state diet. It’s hard to go anywhere in the Badger State without being a stone’s throw from one of these delicacies, and a road trip is the perfect way to sample the best of what Wisconsin has to offer.
You’re never far from a live performance, art gallery or public art installation in Akron, Ohio. Over the past decade, this Great Lakes city – home to artists like Devo and the Black Keys – has transformed from a rundown former industrial town into a vibrant hub for artists of all kinds (and a wallet-friendly tourist paradise).
If you’re looking for a way to break free of the tourists milling about downtown Philadelphia, check out Queen Village. This walkable maze of narrow streets in South Philly is home to eclectic shops, cozy local restaurants, eye-catching architecture and, of course, historic sites.
Published annually since 1972, the Historic Documents series has made primary source research easy by presenting excerpts from documents on the important events of each year for the United States and the World. Each volume pairs 60 to 70 original background narratives with well over 100 documents to chronicle the major events of the year, from official reports and surveys to speeches from leaders and opinion makers, to court cases, legislation, testimony, and much more. Historic Documents is renowned for the well-written and informative background, history, and context it provides for each document. Organized chronologically, each volume covers the same wide range of topics: business, the economy and labor; energy, environment, science, technology, and transportation; government and politics; health and social services; international affairs; national security and terrorism; and rights and justice.
The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in millions of lost jobs. In turn, many Americans struggled to keep up with rent. Faced with the threat of a massive wave of evictions, the federal government stepped in to halt certain evictions for nonpayment of rent. These protections kept millions of Americans housed and likely prevented further spread of COVID-19. Some states and localities imposed their own moratoriums. However, many evictions still took place as landlords, hit with their own financial challenges, utilized techniques allowable under the law to remove tenants. The temporary eviction protections also did little to help heavily indebted tenants owing back rent, which led economists and housing experts to warn about a possible eviction tsunami once the moratoriums end. The crisis has raised broader questions about the lack of affordable housing in the United States and how policymakers should confront these challenges.
One in six American adults has student loan debt, and collectively they owe nearly $1.5 trillion in federal and private loans. While legislators and presidential candidates debate how to address the burgeoning debt load, some colleges are getting personal by offering one-on-one financial aid conversations from the moment a student enrolls—or even earlier.
The retirement market is huge. According to the Investment Company Institute, more than $2.25 Trillion is invested in 401(K) plans by more than 45 million Americans, building wealth for individuals who hope to retire early and enjoy their old age. Understanding and maneuvering through the complex world of 401(K) plans though, can be quite difficult, often requiring professional help, or resulting in lost funds. For anyone who has ever wondered what it would take to turn those slowly growing 401(K) plans into exploding retirement accounts that will allow you to quit your job early, there are things you can do. This complete, up-to-date guide on the 401(K) plan market has made it easier than ever to sort through your finances and start pulling out the necessary bits and pieces of information that you need to truly capitalize on your retirement.
While open faculty positions pose big challenges for colleges trying to maintain (core) business as usual, staff-level employee shortages are a huge headache on some campuses. After all, problems with building basics like plumbing and HVAC systems typically require immediate attention.
