Bios
Liz Ivaniw Jones
Liz is an accomplished writer experienced in both print and speech media. She began her career on Capitol Hill as a legislative assistant to Members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
From the private sector, Liz brings a strong background in media advertising based on academic understanding and practical application of consumer cognitions and perceptions on behavioral trends.
Liz has produced marketing publications for the Department of Defense keyed to the ‘soft side’ of the military’s infrastructure—community and family support services. As an editor, she compiled comprehensive business reports analyzing performance of the military’s revenue-generating, commercial activities. Her editorial work can also be found among the annual reports of Fortune 500 companies.
In addition to preparing keynote addresses for leading corporate executives, Liz has been principal writer to members of the President’s Cabinet, for whom she drafted public policy speeches and high-profile addresses delivered at national and international venues.
Liz is a graduate of St. John’s University (NY) and earned a Masters Degree from The Catholic University of America. She is a founding partner of the National Writers Group, LLC.
Jim Moore
Jim has worked as a journalist, an editor, and author of both print and speech communications. He brings more than two decades of hard experience to his craft.
Jim’s broad-based background as a professional writer includes assignments as press secretary to leading Members of Congress, and speechwriter to both Cabinet officials and corporate leaders.
As a journalist, Jim’s work has been published in major national and international news outlets. He has served as editor-in-chief of a number of nationally prominent trade journals and magazines.
As a key staffer on Capitol Hill, Jim edited high-profile government reports and authored Congressional testimony, editorials, and media campaign material for Congressmen and Senators alike. And as a published author, Jim’s work in both fiction and non-fiction has made him the ‘go-to’ source for ghostwriting services and manuscript preparation.
Jim is a writer’s writer. From keynote speeches to Congressional reports to press interface, he is experienced and skilled in all the nuances of high-stakes communications.
Jim is a founding partner of the National Writers Group, LLC.
Robert S. Klear
Bob Klear is currently the Senior Advisor for Public Affairs at a major federal agency. He formerly served as a speechwriter for the Secretary and Deputy Secretary of a Cabinet-level department.
For more than a decade, Bob has conducted public speaking and presentation training at the group and individual level. He is practiced at executive and staff training designed to develop, enhance and expand every speaker's presentation skills. Bob's one-on-one coaching style encourages more effective presentations by showing reluctant speakers how to develop and employ a communication style that best suits their character. He expands his client's physical skills for optimal projection and connection with the audience. Bob's training helps convert nervous energy into positive expressive "electricity," and creates and utilizes effective visual media that instruct rather than distract. Instruction and coaching are offered in a variety of formats, from classroom, to group, to tailored, one-on-one executive coaching.
Bob also brings to the National Writers Group a valuable background in information systems planning and ADP systems management – when it comes to understanding the language of IT professionals, and translating techno-speak into English, Bob is up to the task. He is also a key executive in emergency preparedness, response, crisis, and risk communication. For companies needing just the right words to mitigate momentary, or long-term, crises, through printed, spoken, and/or electronic communication, Bob knows the language that can turn a crisis into an opportunity.
An Army combat veteran, Bob also holds bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Virginia and George Mason University.
Michael Kastre
A free-lance writer for over 25 years, Mike has written over 300 magazine and newspaper articles, columns, and speeches. His stories have appeared in such publications as The Washington Times, The Wall Street Journal's National Business Employment Weekly, Washington Technology, and Military Exchange magazine. Specializing in thorough and in-depth research and ghostwriting, his work has covered a broad and diverse range of topics—from business, technology, and careers to government and military affairs, food, lifestyles, and culture. He has also provided research and ghostwriting services to several major associations, including the Alexis de Tocqueville Institute. He is also the author of The Minority Career Guide, a career management book, published by Peterson's, Princeton, New Jersey. He is currently at work on a book about the Baby Boomer generation.
In addition, Mike has served as an adjunct faculty member for several area universities, teaching undergraduate courses in advanced research and writing, business, and communications. He also has worked extensively as a consultant to various Department of Defense agencies and organizations for over 30 years. His previous experience also includes working at The Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory where he was instrumental in building communications satellites, as well as a 4 year stint in the United States Coast Guard with tours in both the Arctic and Antarctic aboard an icebreaker.
He earned his BA in Business Management from Goddard College in Vermont and an MA in Business Management from Central Michigan University.
Karen Sulmonetti
Karen’s association with the National Writers Group brings magazine design and production skills unsurpassed in the industry. The creative director and owner of Sulmonetti Design and Timber Lane Studios, Karen received her fine arts training from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, and an undergraduate degree in Advertising Design from the University of Maryland.
Karen’s graphic design career has flourished in the publication design field, where she has led award-winning teams at newsstand, trade, and association magazines with more than 200,000 circulation. Backed by a Masters Degree in Business Marketing, Karen’s expertise extends into key strategic areas of the publishing field, to include marketing and branding.
Production is another of Karen’s strong assets; her hands-on, long-time experience with print companies, large and small, has provided her a ‘nuts and bolts’ understanding of print production techniques and requirements. Karen is well-versed in state-of-the-art publishing programs, including Adobe’s InDesign. From design, to layout, to the final press run, Karen is prepared to manage any concept-to-print project.
Karen’s resume includes positions as Director of Design and Production for the Society of Human Resource Management; Director of Design and Production for the American Society of Association Executives; Creative Director for Home Buyer Publications; and Art Director and Production Manager for Downey Communications.
Bill Woodbridge
Bill Woodbridge brings to the National Writers Group more than 20 years of experience as a top-level writer within the federal government's congressional and public affairs arena.
Bill has been a speechwriter for senior leadership at the Navy's largest shore command and an editor for congressionally-mandated reports and testimony. He has also been a writer and editor for technical reports on scientific research and a collaborator on annual reviews, newsletters, and various other documents.
During his career, Bill has served as senior editor for a report by the President's Commission on the Education of the Deaf, and he has written speeches that have been heard by national and international leaders involved with naval shipbuilding and ship weapons systems. Bill has been the lead editor for annual reviews for both the Navy and the Army. Bill's writing ranges from international defense issues to ship commissioning speeches to online newsletter articles to transition reports on federal programs prepared for national policymakers.
In his writing and editing, Bill specializes in translating the highly technical language of scientists and issue-area experts into documents that make this information accessible to the media and lay audiences through both the written word and visual display.
Everett Chasen
Everett A. (Ev) Chasen has been the Veterans Health Administration's Chief Communications Officer since November 2003. Ev has been with VA since 1987, as OPA Regional Director for Public Affairs in the New York area; Director of VA's Protocol Staff; Chief of Support Service for the Office of Administration; and Director of the Office of Media Relations. From 1998 to 2003, he was the principal speechwriter for Secretaries Togo West and Anthony Principi.
Before coming to VA, Ev spent thirteen years with the Army Corps of Engineers as a historian and Public Affairs Officer. He has published numerous articles on collectibles, gardening and home decorating, and is a contributing editor to Country Decorating and Country Collectibles magazines. Ev has a master's degree in American History from New York University, where he also received his B.A.
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