Hello!

I’m Damon, a stay-at-home Dad and a former web journalist. I’m transitioning to a new career in the areas of technical writing, editing, web production, and content management. I’m prepared to work remotely from my home office, but I’m also interested in on-site work north of San Diego in Oceanside, Carlsbad, and Vista.

Despite a budding technical writing and web development career in Silicon Valley, I moved to Chicago in 2001 to attend graduate school at Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism. Afterward, I spent 10 years as a newspaper web editor:

Recently, I earned a certificate in technical communication through the UC Berkeley extension program, which upgraded and sharpened my researching, writing, and editing skills. I miss teamwork and managing content. Not long ago, I excelled at finding, teaching, and managing people. I developed training programs for newsroom reporters, photographers, and editors. I was proficient in HTML, CSS, Photoshop, Aperture, and a half-dozen content management systems. Moreover, I possess amateur photography skills, and I’ve edited thousands of photos.

I live in Oceanside, CA, with my wife and two kids. A decade ago, I left journalism not only to serve my growing family but also to manage our real estate investments. My foundation is strong, and my generative drive is healthy.

The Argus newspaper was ever-present in my family’s kitchen during the 1980s, and I delivered that daily to 60 of my neighbors’ porches before sun break. For two years, I reported for my high school newspaper: The Smoke Signal. As a journalism student at San Francisco State in the ‘90s, I helped create the college newspaper’s first web presence: Golden Gate Xpress.

Currently, I’m looking to volunteer with an organization such as Meals on Wheels or the California Shore & Beach Preservation Group. Furthermore, I’ve resumed networking with Northwestern’s Medill alumni association.

Photography

I fell in love with the art when I was a newspaper delivery boy. Subsequently, I produced thousands of website photos during my journalism career. Eventually, I stepped behind the lens.

Storytelling with Data

I recently discovered the joy of storytelling with data, thanks to Cole Nussbaumer Knaflic, Giorgia Lupi, and Stefanie Posavec. Check out my resume as a hand-drawn data visualization.