About me
Anna Marie is the Chicago-based author of the book, We Are Eagles: Inspiring Stories of Immigrant Women Who Took Bold Steps in Life Through Literacy, available on Amazon.com, BarnesAndNoble.com, Target.com and others. She is also an award-winning writer who has interviewed a variety of people, from Fortune 500 CEOs to a President of the United States. She has written for print and online publications nationwide, including U.S. News & World Report, the American Bar Association's ABA Journal, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald as well as for the Illinois Attorney General's Office and the U.S. Department of Energy's Argonne National Laboratory.
She can bring home your content or story to your readers and customers by going beyond just the surface. Her interviews get to the heart of the subject in a professional and efficient way. Need a quick turnaround? It's done. She will also help you take that message to your readers, wherever they get their information.
Languages
- English - Native
Talent you might be interested in
Richard Kirshenbaum
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
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Tamara Ingram
Former Chairman
Wunderman Thompson
Bruno-Georges David
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Communication Sans Frontières
Joe Sciarrotta
USA CCO
Ogilvy & Mather, Chicago
Mark Lund
President McCann Worldgroup UK and Europe
McCann Worldgroup UK
Positions
W2 part-time, remote employee assigned to write articles and other content under contract for Argonne National Laboratory, one of the premier national laboratories under the U.S. Department of Energy.
Book-writing business that brings a story home to readers. See more at https://amkukectomczyk.com/book
Bylined stories published in U.S. News & World Report, ABA Journal, Argonne Today, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, BusinessWeek Chicago, Prepared Foods magazine, Chicago Bride Magazine, among others. See my professional portfolio: https://authory.com/AnnaMarieKukec
W2 part-time, remote employee assigned to write articles and other content under contract for Argonne National Laboratory, one of the premier national laboratories under the U.S. Department of Energy.
Daily Herald Media Group, Senior Writer
Arlington Heights, Illinois
United States
March 2003 - July 2017 (14 years 4 months)
Broke stories for DailyHerald.com, Daily Herald and Daily Herald Business Ledger; also picked up in the Chicago Sun-Times with a content-sharing agreement. Stories included Illinois Metropolitan Investment Fund lost $50 million of taxpayer money; Jewel-Osco scans driver’s licenses for liquor sales; Sears threatened to move its headquarters out of Hoffman Estates; Motorola Solutions brought back manufacturing to Schaumburg; among others.
Promoted stories on social media to interact with readers and to promote online products.
Interviewed CEOs and other top executives included Dick Portillo of Portillo’s Restaurants, Bob Mariano of Mariano’s, Greg Brown of Motorola Solutions, John Venhuizen of Ace Hardware Corp., Mike Foley of Zurich North American Commercial, Paul La Schiazza of AT&T Illinois, among others.
Wrote cover stories for the Daily Herald Business Ledger and arranged photos, sidebars and other elements.
Part of the reporting team that won a Lisagor Award from Chicago Headline Club for best business story about the controversial minimum wage.
Wrote and coordinated the "The Dream Foreclosed" series, which won first place in public service from the Illinois Associated Press Editors Association, the Chicago Journalists Association's Sarah Brown Boyden Award in public service, first place from National Federation of Press Women, first place in the Illinois Woman's Press Association, and meritorious achievement from the Chicago Bar Association Herman Kogan Awards. Also part of the team for "Our Uncertain Times," about the impact of the recession that earned third place in the 2009 Illinois Associated Press Editors Association Excellence.
"Ownership roller-coaster leaves future uncertain for Scale-Tronix workers" story won first place for best business/financial/consumer story in the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association competition.
Occasional guest on ABC7-TV, WBBM Radio and WGN Radio.
Promoted stories on social media to interact with readers and to promote online products.
Interviewed CEOs and other top executives included Dick Portillo of Portillo’s Restaurants, Bob Mariano of Mariano’s, Greg Brown of Motorola Solutions, John Venhuizen of Ace Hardware Corp., Mike Foley of Zurich North American Commercial, Paul La Schiazza of AT&T Illinois, among others.
Wrote cover stories for the Daily Herald Business Ledger and arranged photos, sidebars and other elements.
Part of the reporting team that won a Lisagor Award from Chicago Headline Club for best business story about the controversial minimum wage.
Wrote and coordinated the "The Dream Foreclosed" series, which won first place in public service from the Illinois Associated Press Editors Association, the Chicago Journalists Association's Sarah Brown Boyden Award in public service, first place from National Federation of Press Women, first place in the Illinois Woman's Press Association, and meritorious achievement from the Chicago Bar Association Herman Kogan Awards. Also part of the team for "Our Uncertain Times," about the impact of the recession that earned third place in the 2009 Illinois Associated Press Editors Association Excellence.
"Ownership roller-coaster leaves future uncertain for Scale-Tronix workers" story won first place for best business/financial/consumer story in the Northern Illinois Newspaper Association competition.
Occasional guest on ABC7-TV, WBBM Radio and WGN Radio.
Daily Herald, Senior Writer
Arlington Heights, Illinois
United States
July 2000 - October 2002 (2 years 3 months)
Coverage focused on small and large Chicago suburban companies in the Fortune 500. Often beat the major metros and wire services.
Interviewed CEOs, top level officials and experts.
Created and wrote the weekly e-Buzz column about local Web sites and tech companies.
Coordinated the BusinessTech section and filled in for business editor when needed.
Interviewed CEOs, top level officials and experts.
Created and wrote the weekly e-Buzz column about local Web sites and tech companies.
Coordinated the BusinessTech section and filled in for business editor when needed.
American Bar Association, Bar Leader Magazine Reporter
United States
October 1995 - July 2000 (4 years 9 months)
Reported on national legal issues; federal and state court cases; financial practices; association management; non-profit trends and issues.
Created beats covering government lawyers and technology's impact on the practice of law.
Developed national network of sources, including lawyers, judges and bar association executives nationwide.
Created beats covering government lawyers and technology's impact on the practice of law.
Developed national network of sources, including lawyers, judges and bar association executives nationwide.
Illinois Attorney General's Office, Public Information Officer, Speech Writer
United States
May 1989 - October 1995 (6 years 5 months)
Served as a spokeswoman for the attorney general on TV, radio and in print for three different administrations, both Democrat and Republican. Worked closely with the attorney general, his cabinet and other top lawyers.
Wrote speeches, talking points and press releases on environmental, consumer, criminal and civil appeal cases. Many cases drew worldwide media attention, including the execution of mass murderer John Wayne Gacy.
Helped to develop media strategies, to coordinate press conferences and to arrange press interviews for officials.
Translated complex lawsuits, state laws and regulations into understandable language for journalists and the public. Also learned extensively about law, negotiation, government and politics.
Coordinated a statewide environmental newsletter, Earthwatch.
Wrote speeches, talking points and press releases on environmental, consumer, criminal and civil appeal cases. Many cases drew worldwide media attention, including the execution of mass murderer John Wayne Gacy.
Helped to develop media strategies, to coordinate press conferences and to arrange press interviews for officials.
Translated complex lawsuits, state laws and regulations into understandable language for journalists and the public. Also learned extensively about law, negotiation, government and politics.
Coordinated a statewide environmental newsletter, Earthwatch.
