Aaron Heckmann
Forest Lake,MN
Summary
A 2023 graduate of Bethel University who is obtaining a law enforcement certificate from Century College after earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in December. An organized, detail-oriented and strong communicator with writing and customer service experience and a drive to exceed expectations.
Overview
4
4
years of professional experience
Work History
Sports Editor
Forest Lake Times
07.2022 - 08.2023
- Reported on Forest Lake's 30 or so high school sports teams in news pieces, weekly recaps and features on deadline with eye-catching headlines. Interviewed coaches, players and other relevant individuals to enhance stories.
- Managed contacts and created relationships with coaches and other individuals in the community to improve reporting.
- Determined appropriate sports page budgets and layouts to guide word count parameters and optimize use of images while minimizing advertisements to maximize impact and appeal within allotted space.
- Took photos at sporting events and utilized Adobe Photoshop software to make the sports section more visually appealing.
- Implemented strategies for online and print publication to optimize sports coverage and created content schedules.
- Analyzed competitor publications in order to determine what strategies might be beneficial for increasing readership numbers.
Crew Member (Summers Only)
Culvers
05.2019 - 08.2022
- Worked at all positions in the front of the store, having been one of the first faces customers saw and heard from when they entered the restaurant.
- Provided excellent customer service to maintain a positive atmosphere for guests.
- Performed cashier duties such as taking guests' orders, collecting payments and providing change, as well as delivered orders to the dining room.
- Took orders in the drive through with professionalism, accuracy and quickness to provide customers a positive and fast experience.
- Learned new positions to help in case backup was needed in a certain area.
- Educated customers on menu items, product ingredients and nutritional values.
- Cleaned bathrooms, swept floors, wiped tables and emptied trash bins.
- Completed opening and closing tasks such as setting up workstations, cleaning surfaces and restocking supplies.
Groundskeeper
Abella Weddings and Events
05.2022 - 05.2022
- Helped maintain venue's pristine condition outside by watering flowers, collecting trash and picking weeds, among other tasks.
- Cleaned and organized main buildings by sweeping, washing windows and putting things in its appropriate place, among other duties.
- Mowed outdoor spaces, trimmed grass and raked.
- Helped set up and tear down some weddings.
- Checked venue inventory on a weekly basis.
- Performed other miscellaneous tasks as assigned by my supervisor.
Education
Law Enforcement Certificate - (Started Spring 2024)
Century College
No Degree - (2021-22)
Palm Beach Atlantic University
No Degree - (PSEO, 2019-21)
University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Bethel University
12.2023
High School Diploma -
Centennial High School
06.2021
Skills
- Writing
- Fact-checking
- Interviewing
- Attention to detail
- Organization
- Communication
Volunteer / Honors / Activities
- Minnesota Wild writer for The Hockey News (June 2023-present); Member of the Professional Hockey Writers Association's Minnesota Chapter.
- Volunteered at Lakes Free Church in the nursery in summers of 2021 and 2022.
- Invited by PBAU's journalism department to attend the Palm Beach Civic Association's Annual Award Breakfast in February 2022.
- Graduated from Centennial High School in 2021 with honors and two years worth of college credits from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul through PSEO.
- Wrote for my high school newspaper and PBAU's online publication. Attended Associated Collegiate Press Conference at the University of Minnesota in 2022.
Timeline
Sports Editor
Forest Lake Times
07.2022 - 08.2023
Groundskeeper
Abella Weddings and Events
05.2022 - 05.2022
Crew Member (Summers Only)
Culvers
05.2019 - 08.2022
Law Enforcement Certificate - (Started Spring 2024)
Century College
No Degree - (2021-22)
Palm Beach Atlantic University
No Degree - (PSEO, 2019-21)
University of Northwestern - St. Paul
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism
Bethel University
High School Diploma -
Centennial High School