Katherine Spivey

About Katherine Spivey

Seasoned writer, editor, and communications leader with over 20 years of experience crafting polished information products and compelling narratives.• Experienced plain language leader who applies writing and editing principles to ensure users understand material. As former co-chair of Plain Language Action and Information Network (PLAIN), managed volunteers and interns, trained federal employees, and hosted summits and monthly meetings. • Draws on 14 years of experience with the General Services Administration (GSA) to skillfully plan, manage, and evaluate complex writing assignments and program operations. • Builds cross-agency relationships with executives, key stakeholders, and subject-matter experts, aligning messaging with program goals and reviewing written products for clarity, accuracy, and policy implications. • Deep knowledge of web standards and trends.• Expert in plain language editing and training.• Proven presentation/training skills.• Proven project and resource allocation management.

Experience

1. Senior Communications Specialist

   GSA

   Jan 2020 — Present · Washington, DC, US

   Manages GSA’s plain language program. Optimizes processes and workflows to improve productivity, program results, and writing quality throughout Office of Strategic Communications (OSC) and the agency. Coaches a team of writers and editors, and provides guidance on resource use and projects. • Plans high-level publications: Works with staff to prepare, review, and publish communications materials, serving as an effective manager, mentor, and team-builder. • Edits complex writing assignment with house/AP Style: Writes and edits approximately 25 communications materials per month, including web content, newsletters, social media, reports, press releases, playbooks, training materials, and emails. Reviews language for clarity, accuracy, concision, and policy implications. • Builds relationships and consults with management: Establishes and maintains collaborative relationships with management officials and GSA organizational representatives at all levels. Advises on problems or controversial issues that require refined communications strategies. • Interviews stakeholders and interprets policy: Translates technical jargon of all kinds into clear expressions for targeted audiences. • Manages priorities: Clarifies priorities for working on OSC documents and meeting tight deadlines.• Drafts public affairs products and performs quality checks: Reviews and rewrites public affairs products—including those for OSC’s COVID-19 special project—that clearly communicate organizational goals and policies to diverse audiences. • Trains, develops, and mentors staff: Leads GSA’s Plain Language Program Management Office. Over course of GSA tenure, has trained at least 750 staff. Develops content for mandatory course. • Supports strategic communications writing: Built plain language and writing quality awareness group of @20 employees to solve writing problems as a team. As co-lead of story bank editorial board project, clarifies criteria and refines process and workflows.

Education

• University of Mary Washington

  Bachelor's degree, English Language and Literature, General

• University of Mary Washington

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), English

  1982 — 1986

• University of Virginia

  M.A., English Literature

  1987 — 1989

• University of Virginia

  Master's degree, English Language and Literature, General

Skills

• Blogging
• Research
• Web Content Management
• Information Architecture
• Government
• Nonprofits
• Publications
• Twitter
• Web Project Management
• Facebook
• SEO
• Editing
• Non-Profits
• Strategic Communications
• Web Writing
• Social Networking
• Usability Testing
• Plain Language
• Content Writing
• Internal Communications
• Proofreading
• Web Content
• Web 2.0
• Cms
• Web Analytics
• New Media
• Google Analytics
• Content Strategy
• Public Speaking
• Hootsuite
• Social Media
• Content Development
• Content Management
• Newsletters