SUSAN FLANSBURG

Susan comes by writing honestly: Her parents were both reporters. She got her own start in a newsroom, writing and producing the news. She has also worked in marketing and advertising, and has served in a variety of communications roles for many businesses and nonprofit organizations.

She has also continued to pursue education from the best in the field, taking classes and attending conferences in such fields as donor-centric fundraising communications, social media strategy and, always, writing.

Storytelling is at the heart of Susan’s approach to communications and marketing, because:

*Stories pull readers in, engaging them with your mission;

*Stories are remembered, shared, valued;

*Stories change minds and hearts!

Whether writing organizational histories or brochures, websites or fundraising communications, Susan’s storytelling has won accolades and awards.

Most important, it has built loyalty and community, won new customers and followers, earned support for important causes.

For more samples, contact Susan at seflans1@gmail.com.

ALAN SIVELL

Alan’s first paid writing job was working on the Hartford Courant’s obituary page. It was a great place to learn what’s really important!

After earning his B.A. in English from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, and his M.A. in journalism from the University of Iowa, Alan has worked in print, radio, pubic relations and television, where he won several A.P. awards for his reporting.

For many years, Alan wrote a column of media criticism that appeared first in the Leader/Argus/Dispatch (Media 101) and then the Quad City Times. More recently, he wrote and delivered the morning news for WOC-AM, and wrote and produced a documentary on Isabel and John Bloom.

He continues to do voice work and coaches business execs and area leaders on speech preparation and delivery and media relations.

He currently writes an online column for the website Let’s Move Quad Cities. 

In addition, Alan has served as a communications professor at St. Ambrose University for 30 years, focusing on writing, editing, critical consumption of the media, and public speaking.