Susan M. Ayers
I retired from the federal government in March 2008 after 24 years of service. My federal career began in the U.S. District Court Clerk’s Office in 1983 where I was employed for seven years and concluded with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs where I was employed from 1990 until 2008.
During the last nine years of my career, I served as Loan Servicing Officer at the Roanoke Regional Loan Center. As Loan Servicing Officer, I supervised team leaders and technical staff who performed loan servicing activities on VA-guaranteed loans secured by properties in Virginia, West Virginia, District of Columbia, Maryland, and Kentucky.
As a Subject Matter Expert (SME), one of my projects as Loan Servicing Officer was authoring a 96-page Reference Guide for the technical staff. The Reference Guide was recognized nationwide as a “Best Practice” and was utilized by Central Office and all nine Regional Loan Centers throughout the country. I developed award programs, wrote Performance Standards, prepared various training aids and conducted numerous training sessions for technical staff, supervisors, realtors, housing counselors, authored Management Bulletins, Systematic Analyses, White Papers, and responded to Congressional inquiries both verbally and in writing.
Other responsibilities and special projects included proofreading technical and detailed training materials and correspondence, auditing other Regional Loan Centers, serving on various task forces, moderating focus groups, serving as Chairperson of the Regional Office’s Award Committee, teaching “Diversity in the Workplace” classes to Regional Office employees, and serving on the EEO Committee.
Writing has been one of my passions for as far back as I can remember. I worked on both the Yearbook Staff and Newspaper Staff in high school and college and served as Editor for both publications while in college.
Chapter 2
Now that I am in Chapter 2 of my life, I am a freelance writer based in Roanoke, VA.
As a freelance writer, I have written numerous articles covering a broad range of subjects that have been published in various print media and online including Valley Business FRONT, The Roanoke Star-Sentinel, The Roanoke Times So Salem, Vinton Voice and Citimagazine.
With 24 years of experience in business writing, I also have the skill sets that are critical for technical writing including feature articles in publications and magazines to include trade magazines, re-writes and edits, proofreading, authoring professional correspondence including white papers, press releases, product reviews, and biographies.
Formal Education
- Virginia Press Women’s Conference April 24, 2010
- Roanoke Regional Writer’s Conference January 22-23, 2010
- Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a Concentration in Accounting from Liberty University; Graduated Summa Cum Laude.
- Associate Degree in Business Administration/Management from National Business College, now known as National College of Technology. As a student at National, I edited both the College Newspaper and Yearbook, was named to Who’s Who in American College Students, and maintained a GPA of 4.0. I was awarded The E.M. Coulter Management Award at graduation.
- Associate Degree in Business Administration/Accounting from National Business College, now known as National College of Technology. I graduated with Highest Honors.
Awards/Recognition
Virginia Press Women’s 2010 Communications Award Winner in Government/Politics and Reviews Categories
Successfully Streamlined Processes and Implemented Total Case Management, resulting in Roanoke Regional Loan Center being ranked number one out of all nine regional loan centers in the country; Recognized as a Best Practice Nationwide 2001
Authored 96-Page Loan Service Representative Reference Guide; Recognized Nationwide as a Best Practice in 2002 and 2003
Developed Awards Program; Recognized Nationwide as a Best Practice in 2004
Developed a Second Awards Program; Recognized Nationwide as a Best Practice in 2005
Community/Organizational Involvement
- Active Member – Arts Council of the Blue Ridge
- Active Member – Emerging Artists
- Active Member – Virginia Press Women
- Active Member – National Federation of Press Women