Leslie Mladinich is a Bay Area-based freelance writer one local editor described as someone who could “write about anything under the sun.”
Leslie’s full-time newspaper career from 1996 to 2001 had her covering everything from biotechnology, health care and banking to education and local government.
In her freelance writing, starting in 1999, she’s written about interesting people and trends in emerging technology to fashion, food and wine.
In corporate communications, Leslie has been a project manager and marketing communications specialist, leading marketing efforts at Brown and Caldwell, ghostwriting for Hewlett Packard executives, writing and coordinating press kits for Blue Shield of California, writing nutrition news and brand editing for Kaiser Permanente and writing employee engagement articles for AAA of Northern California, Nevada and Utah.
A strong believer that knowledge is power, Leslie is also a former ESL (English As A Second Language) instructor and and a project writer whose work has included the Easy Voter Guide for the California League of Women Voters. She has been a Project Leader in ESL for a Federal Workforce Investment Act grant while she freelanced and volunteered at the Alameda Food Bank. She has recorded adventures and life lessons from her volunteer work in her Food Bank Blog. Her publicity, grant-writing and other outreach efforts include work for Public Good PR, Junior Achievement of Northern California,United States Masters Swimming and the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano.
Her ongoing writing education has included Pitch and Query Writing, Memoir Writing and Wine and Food Writing from Media Bistro. She has been a consultant for WriteCulture, teaching “Be Your Own Best Editor,” “Email RX: How To Get Faster Email Replies,” and “The Latest And Greatest in AP Style” to public relations employees at firms such as Highwire P.R., Grayling and Ogilvy and Mather.
Leslie is a contract marketer for Rodrigue Molyneaux Estate Winery and Vineyard, where she tells the story of a Livermore couple who founded the growing wine region’s 13th winery in 1998 by marrying French Bordeaux and Italian varietals. Find her wine blog at www.grapetales.com
She also consults for the Food Bank of Contra Costa Solano. Her writing of client case studies and facilitation of the Food Bank’s “Listening Circles” have helped with advocacy efforts on the national level and assisted the Food Bank in recruiting volunteers. Her latest freelance piece can be found at Walnut Creek’s Bedford Gallery describing The World of Frida exhibit.
Leslie has a B.A. in journalism and a M.A. in English. She lives in Walnut Creek, California with her husband and a 2-year-old Great Dane, Katie. Please contact her for any full- time, part-time or contract writing opportunities at leslie.mladinich@sonic.net.