After 17 years in the corporate world, Jess Shulman was ready for a change. Her experience with business writing and editing prompted her to join Editors Canada in 2013 and—after serious study—to tackle the challenging certification exams. Emerging as a certified professional editor (CPE), Jess volunteered as a session host at the first international conference of editors and joined the certification steering committee in 2015. Her confidence buoyed, Jess began her own freelance business in 2016 and hasn’t looked back.
As a volunteer, Jess has been an exam marker and a “test shepherd” overseeing the creation of the Proofreading exam. Now co-chair of the CSC, Jess is helping to “rethink” the certification program “to find ways that we can make it run more efficiently, attract more candidates and modernize it.”
In her freelance work, Jess says, “I like to keep my options way open.” She happily edits, at all levels, everything from corporate documents to textbooks to novels by indie authors. She also enjoys writing web copy, social media posts, marketing materials and reports for corporate clients.
Beyond editing, Jess keeps busy with her family, yoga, hiking, travel, and singing and playing mandolin in a band. “It’s really just for fun,” she says, “but we do one or two gigs a year as charity fundraisers.” Fitting volunteer work with Editors Canada into her active life can be a challenge, but Jess “blocks out time for it to make sure things get done.” Anne Brennan, director of publications for Editors Canada, sums up Jess’s attitude of commitment succinctly: As a mother, singer, CPE and “very capable committee member,” Jess, she affirms, “is amazing.”
The featured volunteer recognizes the contributions of our dedicated people who keep Editors Canada going. Volunteers are the backbone of the association, and we are grateful for the many members and affiliates who answer the call when help is needed.
Want to make a difference in your association? Find out more about volunteering for Editors Canada.
~S. Robin Larin