Maya Smart

Richmond, VA USA
Contact

Professional Experience

I'm a Harvard- and Medill-trained journalist based in Richmond, Virginia, who writes about business, entrepreneurship and education for clients including CNNMoney.com, Black Enterprise, and several trade and custom publications. For recent assignments, I've chronicled the redesign of Wells Fargo's IRA web site, documented the latest in small business finance trends and profiled entrepreneurs who've redesigned their businesses to thrive in a tough economy. I have written hundreds of articles for newspapers, business publications and consumer magazines nationwide. My website is MayaSmart.com.

Expertise

Writer
7 Years
Reporter
7 Years

Specialty

Business (general)
7 Years
Education
4 Years
Entrepreneurship
7 Years

Industries


Magazine - Large Consumer/National magazines
7 Years
Magazine - Local/Regional magazines
7 Years
Magazine - Trade magazines/publications (B2B)
7 Years

Total Media Industry Experience

7 Years

Media Client List (# assignments last 2 yrs)

Barnes & Noble (6-10), Black Enterprise (6-10), CNNMoney.com (6-10), Black MBA Magazine (10+), Imagination Publishing (10+)

Other Work History

Online Reporter, Crain's Cleveland Business

Technical Skills

Photoshop, Quark, Final Cut Pro

Computer Skills

Word, Excel, OS 10, Windows XP, HTML

Equipment

Digital Camera (FujiFilm S5100) Laptop (MacBook Pro) Digital Voice Recorder (Olympus WS-500M) Video Camera (Panasonic HVX200 HD)

References

Stacy Cowley, Small Business Editor, CNNMoney.com Cyndee Miller, Senior Editor, PM Network Elaine Richardson, Editor, Black MBA Magazine Tennille Robinson, Small Business Editor, Black Enterprise

Awards

Ohio Excellence in Journalism Awards, Online General Reporting, Second Place (2007)

Associations

Society of American Business Editors and Writers National Association of Black Journalists Society of Professional Journalists

Showcase

Business

Minority Business Reporting
(BusinessJournalism.com 7/13/2009)
In-depth reporting on minority business and finance can help expose marauding executives, deceptive marketing and lax regulation
Rivals band together to boost business
(CNNMoney.com 9/2/2009)
To survive the recession, some business owners are turning to unusual partners: their competitors
Reporting Green
(BusinessJournalism.org 5/29/2009)
With major news organizations reporting on the "green" movement, business journalists must know how to cover the issues
Scaling Up
(Black MBA Magazine 5/1/2008)
Multi-unit franchising fuels black franchisee success
Resume Rehab
(Essence Magazine 8/1/2009)
Beat out hundreds of applicants with these four smart tune-ups
Step It Up
(Black Enterprise 10/1/2009)
Some say an entrepreneur zigs when others zag. This profile of a small business owner who bucked the mass production trend and catapulted her retail sales by selling custom handmade shoes is a good example.
State of the Economy Report
(PM Network 3/1/2010)
The signs of a recovery are there, but the pressure is still on project managers to deliver.
A Selective Solution
(Black Enterprise 3/1/2010)
Jane Carter has spent more than 20 years styling hair as a salon owner and instructor. But over the course of her tenure, the beauty industry veteran says she faced career uncertainty following a severe allergic reaction.
Zero to $100 Million
(CNNMoney.com 10/8/2009)
Finding new clients requires new skills. Here's how to expand beyond your comfort zones.
15 Smart Money Moves
(Heart & Soul Magazine 11/1/2009)
This year's job losses, housing crisis and credit crunch are wake-up calls for all of us to get our finances in order. Boost cash flow, pay off debt and shore up your retirement with these expert tips.
Looking Beyond Loans
(CNNMoney.com 9/24/2009)
Bank vaults have been slammed shut this year to small businesses, but entrepreneurs are pulling cash from other places to get their ventures off the ground.
Wellness Cure
(Forward Magazine 3/1/2008)
Cost-conscious metals companies are getting into the employee health business via an array of wellness programs. It's not clear, however, whether the cure is better than the illness.
Near Escape
(Virginia Business 3/1/2010)
Even though recession-weary executives may long for a lengthy, sun-kissed vacation in some tropical locale, the reality is that vacations aren't what they used to be. Corporate culture, business demands and new technologies have all conspired to make it hard to disconnect.
Soft Sell
(Edutopia 4/1/2010)
Too often, teachers dig deep into their own pockets to pay for classroom supplies and activities. But there's a better way: Ask for help from the people who care most about students - their moms and dads. Here's how,
Go With Your Gut
(Black Enterprise 11/1/2009)
In 1969, as the first black woman to earn an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, Lillian Lambert thought she was destined for a brilliant career advocating for social justice. But after a couple of deadend jobs with federally funded programs, Lambert felt she'd make more headway as a businessperson.
Letting Go
(Black Enterprise 1/1/2010)
When corporate downsizing resulted in a job change from manufacturing supervisor to security guard, Mary Parker didn't complain. Instead, she remained upbeat, embraced the new challenge, and quickly earned the moniker Officer Friendly in the building where she worked.
Hide and Seek
(Black Enterprise 12/1/2009)
"Cash is always king," says Robert L. Wallace. "If you have cash, it doesn't matter what is happening in the economy or in the industry, you'll still be able to weather the storm."

Education

Cooking Up a (Virtual) Laboratory
(Edutopia 5/1/2008)
Discovery Education Science delivers
View from the Top
(Edutopia 7/16/2008)
Middle school students follow a climber's journey up Mount Everest via satellite Internet while they engage in related activities in the classroom.

Home & Garden

French Highs
(Greenville Design 9/23/2006)
French influences and Upstate styling merge to beautiful effect in The Cliffs at Mountain Park
Built for Two
(Greenville Design 3/21/2007)
A couple selects handcrafted elegance and lavish accents for their grand finale

Profiles

Striking a Chord
(G, The Magazine of Greenville 5/1/2008)
A well-travelled blues musician reinvents himself as a front man and educator
Taking the High Road
(G, The Magazine of Greenville 7/1/2008)
Eleven-time Tour de France veteran George Hincapie prepares for the next stage of life

Consumer/Shopping

Worth Every Cent
(Black Enterprise 4/1/2006)
There's more to being a smart consumer than simply slashing your budget

General

MayaSmart.com
(4/16/2024)