Carmen Perrone
Somerset,New Jersey
Summary
Writer, researcher, and strategist with a strong academic background and practical experience in education, small business operations, and vintage commerce. I’m careful about how systems and language work in real life, and I tend to document, organize, and clarify until things are easier for other people to use and understand.
Entrepreneurial content and operations generalist with experience starting and running small businesses, supporting day-to-day decisions, and using AI tools to save time on research, documentation, and content. I’m steady under pressure, willing to do unglamorous work, and focused on making processes and communication a little cleaner and more reliable over time.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder and Operator
Casa De Peso
New Jersey
08.2022 - Current
- Founded and operate an independent vintage fashion brand where writing, visual storytelling, and AI-assisted content drive sales across eBay, social, and local events.
- Source, authenticate, and value pieces through hands-on inspection and historical research, then translate findings into collector-focused listings and campaigns.
- Write product narratives emphasizing era, construction, cultural context, and collector significance to build trust and perceived value.
- Grew Casa de Peso’s Instagram to ~1.6k followers in one year (hobby level) by consistently posting curated inventory, behind-the-scenes process, and styling content.
- Use AI tools for photo and video production (cleanup, layout, short-form edits) to produce listing and social content quickly at near-studio quality.
- Build repeatable systems for sourcing, listing, pricing, and promotion that support consistent performance across online channels and in-person events.
- Maintain a distinct editorial brand voice rooted in accuracy and credibility rather than hype, while cultivating long-term relationships with key clients and high-end buyers.
- Manage end-to-end operations, including inventory systems, pricing strategy, negotiation, customer communication, and multi-channel selling.
Second-In-Command - Quality Control – Sales
Stelton Lumber Co
Piscataway, NJ
06.2023 - 02.2026
- Progressed from yard hand and delivery driver to de facto second-in-command within ~18 months, overseeing day-to-day operations of an 85-year-old lumber business.
- Led retail flow, vendor purchasing, inventory control, and quality assurance, replacing ad hoc habits with standardized processes that sharply reduced order and fulfillment errors.
- Turned a disorganized legacy operation into a trackable system by introducing research, cataloging, delegation, and workflow tracking, bringing error rates down to a small fraction of their original level.
- Directed staffing, scheduling, training, and performance with enough authority and trust that the yard ran smoothly even when ownership was off-site.
- Built streamlined quote-to-fulfillment workflows and used AI-assisted documentation to capture institutional knowledge in clear handbooks for the first time.
- Served as the primary communication bridge between customers, vendors (including international partners in Mexico), and internal teams, using AI tools where helpful to support translation, clarity, and logistics.
- Translated technical product requirements into plain-language recommendations for customers while enforcing safety protocols and compliance, contributing to a safer, more predictable work environment.
Freelance Writer
Self-Employed
New Jersey
02.2019 - 12.2021
- Provided freelance writing services to nonprofits and private clients, producing email campaigns, e-blasts, taglines, and core marketing language built to perform, not just sound polished.
- After analyzing the existing work history statements for the role of a Writer with a self-employed focus, the following six high-value responsibilities were identified as missing:
- Engaging with clients to understand their specific content needs and preferences.
- Reviewing all written material for clarity, grammar, and adherence to brand voice before publication.
- Demonstrated range across persuasive, narrative, and research-driven formats including personal and academic essays.
- Known for cutting to the real point quickly, calibrating tone to audience, and delivering language that feels human while staying strategically disciplined.
Private Tutor – Writing, Argument, and Academic Support
Self-Employed
New Jersey
01.2011 - 12.2020
- Provided one-on-one undergraduate tutoring in essay writing, thesis development, and revision strategy.
- Supported high-stakes writing (personal statements/applications) and time-sensitive communication coaching (emails, clarity).
- Diagnosed barriers to expression; taught structure and argument under pressure; adapted instruction to varied learning styles.
- Strengthened emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication; expanded subject range, including calculus concept support.
- Used tailored learning resources to improve outcomes; coached motivation and academic follow-through.
- Used positive reinforcement, repetition, and review to help students master challenging material.
Teaching Assistant
Rutgers University
New Brunswick, NJ
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Graded essays, exams, and projects with rigorous written feedback focused on argument, evidence, structure, and style.
- Supported revision work and conceptual clarity through targeted notes and student assistance.
- Provided research and editorial support for Professor Urban's labor history work.
- Offered interpretive feedback for Professor Rockland's writing with attention to clarity and intellectual integrity.
Education
Pre-Medical Certificate -
Thomas Jefferson University
Philadelphia, PA04-2020
Bachelor of Arts - American Studies (Minor Philosophy)
Rutgers, State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ05-2016
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts (Social Science Focus)
Raritan Valley Community College
Branchburg Township, NJ12-2013
Skills
- Persuasive Writing
- Editorial Writing
- Business/Operational Writing
- Brand Voice
- Short and long-form writing
- Voice development
- Emotive Storytelling
- Tone development
- Audience analysis
- Message architecture
- SEO Optimization
- Market Research
- Academic Research
- Video Editing
- Email Campaigns
- Strategic thinking
- Team leadership
- Negotiation
- Goal setting
- Trends analysis
LANGUAGES
English - Native
Spanish - Advanced
Interests
- Golf
- Vintage Fashion
- AI Tech
- Modern US History
- Nature & wildlife
- Cryptocurrency
- Cars
- Road Trips
Timeline
Second-In-Command - Quality Control – Sales
Stelton Lumber Co
06.2023 - 02.2026
Founder and Operator
Casa De Peso
08.2022 - Current
Freelance Writer
Self-Employed
02.2019 - 12.2021
Teaching Assistant
Rutgers University
01.2016 - 01.2017
Private Tutor – Writing, Argument, and Academic Support
Self-Employed
01.2011 - 12.2020
Pre-Medical Certificate -
Thomas Jefferson University
Bachelor of Arts - American Studies (Minor Philosophy)
Rutgers, State University of New Jersey
Associate of Arts - Liberal Arts (Social Science Focus)
Raritan Valley Community College
KEY ACHIEVEMENTS
Henry Rutgers Scholar Award: Received the highest academic honor at Rutgers University for the writing and research that went into my thesis, as well as my presentation of research at the Aresty Research Symposium.