Katya Epstein
E-mail: k@videotron.ca


WORK EXPERIENCE

2006-
Freelance Editor and Proofreader

• clients include LOULOU magazine, Tommy Hilfiger

• hired freelance translators, writers, copy editors, fact-checkers and proofreaders
• trained and supervised editorial assistant
• oversaw translation (French to English), top-editing, fact-checking, copy-editing and proofreading of all files and maintenance of style guides
• prioritized task and files, ensured efficient production workflow
• wrote editorial guidelines
• parallel-read translations
• edited texts for clarity, accuracy, completeness, tone and correspondence with images
• worked closely with fellow editorial staff to find optimal solutions to editorial dilemmas

• clients included Spafax Canada, LOULOU magazine, Transcontinental, Strut magazine and Busted Tranny Productions
• proofread all of the English content for enRoute magazine, enRouteTV guide, and Pure Canada magazine, as well as other miscellaneous Spafax publications
• worked side-by-side with French proofreaders to make sure bilingualism was clear and consistent
• entered changes using QuarkXPress

• model for life drawing and painting classes at the Victoria College of Art, Camosun College, X Changes Gallery & Studios, Artspace, and for private classes

• copy-edited legal textbook and looseleaf manuscripts
• coordinated production of legal textbooks and looseleafs with authors, supervising editors, typesetters, and production manager
• researched and verified legal citations
• proofread

• proofread and copy-edited textbooks
• determined and ensured consistent style in collections of previously published articles
• scanned articles into computer using optical character recognition software
• wrote scanning section for editorial training manual
• input all changes
• wrote back cover copy
• acquired permissions

• copy-edited and typed medical-legal reports of psychiatric assessments, as well as correspondence and invoices
• filed
• filled in for receptionist when necessary

• edited University of Toronto student term papers
• proofread for Canadian Scholars' Press

• built, with team of 13, structures ranging from a small chapel to large commercial spaces
• performed all operations in shop procedure: printed and interpreted blueprints, layed out joints, checked others' layout, cut and finished timbers, assembled bents
• operated power drills, chain mortisers, portable and stationary routers, 7"-16" circular saws, tenon cutters, chain saws, stationary and portable band saws, chisels, rabbet planes, drawknives, spokeshaves, come-alongs, Super (framing) Square and other tools

• performed or oversaw repairs on 12-unit, 70-year old building
• did carpentry, mechanical and electrical maintenance and renovation, plus purchased new materials and appliances resulted in a significant improvement in the condition of the building
• enforced rent payment from roughly 20 tenants (included representing owner at Régie du logement)
• handled owner's finances (roughly $6000/month budget)
• negotiated leases

• tabulated data
• located, selected, copied, summarized and catalogued written materials

• prepared and served three meals a day for 2-6 people
• kept kitchen stocked and organized
• aided, accompanied, energized, motivated, and inspired an elderly, terminally ill man in his daily activities

• canvassed door-to-door; spoke with to 20-60 people per day
• promoted after first week, as a result of my upbeat attitude and its stimulating effect on office atmosphere, to Field Manager, in which role I trained, evaluated, motivated, and directed a crew of 5-10 canvassers, collected and tabulated their earnings at the end of each day, and handled about $1,000 per day in cash and cheques

• took care of 16-month old boy

• typed, photocopied, located, and filed documents

• created displays, photocopied documents
• travelled to Cree communities to do publicity

• delivered roughly 90 newspapers every day
• collected money from customers

• GPA: 3.74
• courses: Copyediting, Trade Publishing Overview, Print Production, Government Reports

• seminars covered: proofreading, copy- and substantive editing, bibliographies, indexing, permissions, magazine fact-checking, etc.

• additional courses: Civil Engineering prerequisites, History of Science

• operated a number of hand and power tools, including: hand, chop, and miter saws; chain mortiser; boring machine; slick; adze; axe; sharpening stone; mallet; hammer; roofing, combination, and quick squares

• learned basics of timber framing construction and design; built small cottage for client

• studied German while billeted with German family
• travelled in Czech Republic

• completed Act I of a screenplay

• participated in farm work, manual labour, outdoor activities, and the arts
• accepted into Vermont Music Festival choir, 1990 and 1991
• Captain of the women's cross-country running team, 1990-1991
• supervised early morning barn crew and dinner kitchen crew

• studied sculpture: wax, plaster, Bondo, stone, and found materials

• chaired meetings
• made funding decisions with a $300,000 budget
• hired and evaluated staff
• mediated contract negotiations between staff and other Q-PIRG Boards
• created publicity
• recruited volunteers
• oversaw projects and committees
• liaised between Board, projects, the McGill community, and the greater Montreal community
• consolidated, due to our dedication, determination and enthusiasm as a team, a young and unstable organization and transformed it into a recognized and respected establishment on campus

• The McGill Daily (student newspaper)
• Photography Society (won first prize in portrait category in 1994 contest)
• McGill Big Buddies Tutoring Club (tutored a 10-year old in French)
• Save James Bay Committee
• Choral Society
• McGill Outing Club
• Habitat for Humanity

• Macintosh OSX and Windows XP
• Microsoft Office 2000 (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint)
• QuarkXPress 6.0
• various word processing, web browsing, e-mail, search engine, scanning, FTP, photo editing, and virus software
• basic html

• Spring 2002: EAC National Conference (seminars included Web Editing, Educational Publishing, etc.)
• Summer 1999: TFG (Timber Framers Guild of North America) Engineering & Joint Design Workshop
• Summer 1998: TFG Steeple Building workshop
• Summer 1998: TFG Eastern Conference
• Summer 1996: TFG Rendez Vous: Dolly Copp pavilion (round log scribing)

• French (functionally bilingual)
• German & Italian (basic conversational)
• Japanese, Bambara, Modern Hebrew, Biblical Hebrew, and American Sign Language (basic)

• Fall 1999: spent two weeks in Milan, Italy
• Winter 1998-1999: travelled in Morocco and Mali (Africa) as assistant videographer
• Summer-Fall 1998: solo road trip around North America living in my truck
• Fall 1996: spent three weeks in Japan
• Summer 1993: travelled by train from London to Vienna (England, Belgium, Holland, Switzerland, Germany, Austria) to take part in UN Human Rights Conference
• Summer 1993: spent one week in Jerusalem
• Summer 1987: toured Europe by car: France, England, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, Italy