Suzy Beggin Craft
815-541-0897 (Call or Text)
Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com
My Job Search
I am looking for a full-time job in or near Stockton, Illinois. My experience is in administrative services, marketing, writing and event planning. I am extremely well organized and detail oriented. As my experience shows, I have held many different positions and I enjoy learning new things.
Experience
July 2011 until Present
Operations Assistant / Bookkeeper
Explorers World Travel (Tour Operators); Elizabeth, IL
I work for a safari guide, working behind the scenes to keep the tours organized. I started working one day a week and am currently working 22 hours each week.
- Make hotel, camp, charter flight, meals and safari guide reservations.
- Maintain calendar of Accounts Payable due dates.
- Maintain multi-sheet Excel workbook of hotel/camp rates.
- Check, Double-Check and Triple-Check tours.
- Update website with new tour information (ewtravel.com).
2000 until Present
Yarn Shop Owner
Suzy the Shepherdess (Self-Employed); Stockton, IL
I sell 100% wool yarn at historic events, yarn shows and online, all from my own sheep raised on my small farm using 19th century farming methods. In 2023 I sold my farm and moved the sheep to a friend's farm, so I no longer tend to the sheep daily, but I still sell their wool. All of my sales are online or out of my tent at shows and events (there is no brick and mortar store).
- Design and maintain personal website promoting my sheep and yarn (SuzytheShepherdess.com).
- Design and maintain Etsy page (suzytheshepherdess.etsy.com).
- Design labels and packaging for yarn, pattern kits and knit goods.
- Write knitting patterns for 19th century garments.
- Design and send newsletter to promote new products and upcoming events.
- Process credit card payments.
- Ship orders.
- Customer service. Personal contact with every online order.
- Organize show schedule and attend shows.
- Put up tent and display products.
- Maintain all company records.
- Pay sales tax and business registrations in Illinois and Wisconsin.
- Feed, water and provide veterinary care for 20 to 40 sheep (2000 to 2023).
2004 until Present
Event Organizer
Stephenson County Fiber Art Fair; Cedarville, IL
A volunteer position I've held for over 20 years, I am the lead organizer of a one-day vendor show for fiber artists (spinners, weavers, knitters, etc.). The event has 20 vendors, multiple workshops, and attracts 200 to 250 visitors from Illinois, Iowa and Wisconsin each year.
- Maintain database of vendors and potential vendors. Send information packets to vendors by mail and email.
- Maintain database of visitors and potential visitors.
- Schedule workshops, update instructors on workshop tickets sold.
- Design and update website (scfiberartfair.com).
- Design and update online workshop registration (scfiberartfair.square.site)
- Write promotional updates; send promotional updates by email and on Facebook.
- Design annual promotional brochure.
- Correspond with Illinois Department of Revenue to ensure all vendors have proper tax paperwork.
- Organize volunteers.
- Hire helpers.
- Design online Facebook Blast in 2020, consisting of 75 posts set to post every two to four minutes throughout the day (the in-person event was cancelled due to Covid).
- Handle any problems that may come up during the event day.
July 2011 to October 2017
Database Operator / Blog Writer / Yarn Monkey
Fiber Wild! (Yarn Shop); Galena, IL
I started working one day a week in the shop plus a few hours a week from home doing database work and writing the weekly blog. After one year I stopped working at the shop but continued working two to six hours each week from home.
- Gather yarn for shipments (running from the first floor shop to the fourth floor yarn storage room), assemble yarn kits, ship orders (a.k.a "Yarn Monkey").
- Import Excel spreadsheets into Campaigner e-mail marketing website.
- Write weekly yarn blog.
- Update calendar of workshops on Visit Galena (tourism) website.
April 2004 to July 2011
Administrative Assistant
Willett, Hofmann & Associates, Inc. (Consulting Engineers & Land Surveyors); Freeport, IL
Gastel & Associates, P.C.; Freeport, IL
I started working for Gastel & Associates, a small engineering firm of eight employees, then continued when the firm was purchased and became the Freeport branch of Willett, Hofmann & Associates, a larger firm of approximately 50 employees.
- Process payroll information, distribute payroll, and maintain database of employee billable hours, vacation and sick time for eight employees.
- Calculate proper payment of all payroll taxes and make timely deposits, including federal, Illinois and Wisconsin taxes.
- Calculate unemployment taxes and make timely deposits.
- Create invoices for both lump sum and time & expense jobs. Make deposits when payments are received. Maintain payment log and follow-up on late payers.
- Maintain log of accounts payable. Pay bills timely.
- Design client-specific Statement of Qualifications (SOQ).
- Assist engineers writing grant applications.
- Create job-specific bid documents and specifications.
- Research land ownership at county courthouse.
- Submit monthly DBE reports for government jobs.
- Balance checking account and maintain checkbook balance.
- Prepare monthly retirement savings report and submit with payment to investment firm.
- Serve as point of contact for business insurance. Submit Certificate of Insurance to clients when requested.
- Coordinate all employee outings and other company activities.
- Maintain company website.
- Type, file, answer four-line telephone system, greet visiting clients, maintain office supply cabinet and other general office duties.
July 1998 to April 2004
Executive Director
Stephenson County Historical Society Museum; Freeport, IL
The Stephenson County Historical Society Museum consists of a historic home built in 1857, a log cabin, a one room school house, and a farm & industrial museum.
- Plan programming, special events and exhibits. Arrange for traveling exhibits. Schedule tours for private groups and school groups. Train volunteers to serve as tour guides.
- Research exhibits to ensure accuracy.
- Write grant proposals and apply for funding. When grants are awarded, prepare necessary paperwork, progress reports and final reports.
- Present off-site programs promoting the Historical Society to clubs and organizations.
- Write Newsletter.
- Update Historical Society’s website.
- Work cooperatively with the media. Actively seek positive publicity for the Historical Society.
- Serve as a representative of the Board of Directors on various community committees and programs.
- Prepare an annual budget. Keep records of all Historical Society income and expenses.
- Prepare payroll and pay all associated payroll taxes.
- File work requests for general maintenance.
- Type, file, answer telephone, return correspondence, and other general administrative duties and miscellaneous items.
July 1995 to August 2000
Owner
Pack ‘N’ Post (Packing and Shipping Store); Freeport, IL
For five years I owned and managed a packing and shipping store.
- Maintain all company records.
- Plan advertising schedule. Design print advertisements and proof all copy.
- Maintain daily Accounts Receivable and Accounts Payable records.
- Prepare all invoices. Pay all payables.
- Order office supplies and re-sale inventory.
- Professionally package customers’ items.
- Hire, train and supervise support staff.
July 1992 to June 1995
Office Manager
Laramore, Douglass and Popham (Consulting Engineers); Chicago, IL
I started as an administrative assistant and after two years was promoted to office manager. Performed general office duties.
Suzy Beggin Craft
815-541-0897 ~ Suzy@SuzyBeggin.com
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