Résumé of Kimberley O'Neil

Professional Experience

Award-winning Writer of travel guidebooks specializing in mountain travel in Asia and the USA (see Publications). (1994-present).

Afghanistan Ecotourism Manager for the Wildlife Conservation Society's Afghanistan Biodiversity Conservation Project, Wakhan District, Badakhshan Province, Afghanistan. (2006-2007)

Consultant on tourism for the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and Aga Khan Foundation-Afghanistan. Wakhan District, Badakhshan Afghanistan. (2005)

Consultant for the Snow Leopard Conservancy in northern Pakistan. (2003-04)

Consultant on ecotourism for IUCN-The World Conservation Union - Pakistan's Biodiversity Project. (1995)

Freelance Computer Trainer, Consultant, full-charge Bookkeeper, and Outside Sales Agent for a retail travel agency. Train individuals and small groups in word processing and spreadsheet use. Consult with small businesses about office systems, productivity and time management. (1992-93)

Operations Manager for a major adventure travel tour operator. Accountable for overall administration and management of tour programs in several Asian countries. Have strong product and industry knowledge and extensive experience designing, planning, selling, and operating various tours including trekking, mountaineering, mountain biking, hotel-based sightseeing trips, and camel and elephant safaris to: Pakistan, Nepal, India, Tibet, China, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Peru, Ecuador and Mexico. (1986-91)

Responsibilities and Expertise:

• Program Management
• Product Development
• Researched, scouted and created itineraries for publication in an annual catalog as well as for customized programs for private groups
• Prepared written copy for publication including catalog text, detailed itineraries and pre-trip information brochures
• Operations
• Managed logistics and coordinated communication between outfitters to run successful trips
• Interviewed and hired tour escorts
• Quality Control
• Managed field operations including reviewing food selection and menu planning, purchasing equipment, monitoring performance of field staff, revising itineraries as needed, and preparing first aid kits
• Financial Analysis
• Negotiated contracts with local outfitters, airlines, hotels and tour escorts
• Evaluated profitability and budgeted programs with more than $1 million annual gross revenue
• Sales & Customer Service
• Handled telephone sales to nationwide clientele discussing all aspects of adventure travel and offering a wide range of travel services
• Handled all client correspondence, billing, collections, hotel and airline reservations and documentation
• Office Skills
• Training and Supervision
• Set up and implemented in-house training programs for basic accounting skills, software aptitude and applications
• Trained and supervised colleagues and support staff
• Organizational Skills
• Displayed excellent time management skills
• Demonstrated initiative and keen eye for detail
• Created various in-house systems for accounting and task-oriented work

Senior Accounting Clerk at various firms. Handled wide range of responsibilities including: accounts payable, accounts receivable, bank statement reconciliation, budgeting, collections, cost accounting, credit management, general ledger analysis, internal auditing, payroll, union reports, and Workmen's Compensation claims. Designed financial statements and management reports. (1980-86)

Software Expertise includes word processing (MC Word, WordPerfect), spreadsheets (Excel, Quattro-Pro, Lotus 1-2-3), HTML, HomeSite and web page design, EndNote (bibliographies), QuickBooks Pro and Quicken, Adobe Photoshop, and databases (Paradox, dBase).

Education

College of Business Administration, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona.
Honor roll and Dean's List. (1978-83)

Certificate, Western College of Travel, Walnut Creek, California. (1985)

Grants & Awards

Shipton/Tilman Grant, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. for Afghanistan & Pakistan (2004); application excerpts and expedition report, or read it on W.L. Gore's Shipton/Tilman Adventure Diaries

Winner 2002 National Outdoor Book Award in the Outdoor Adventure Guidebook Category as co-author of Hiking in the Sierra Nevada; see Publications

Shipton/Tilman Grant, W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc. for Pakistan (2000); application excerpts and expedition report

Finalist 2000 Travelex Travel Writers' Award Guidebook of the Year as contributor to Hiking in the USA; see Publications

Publications

Books:

Sections in Books:

Consultancy Reports:

Other:

Photographic Publications

Kimberley O'Neil's images have appeared in corporate advertising, Men's Health magazine and have been published in these travel guidebooks by Lonely Planet Publications:

• Rocky Mountains (3rd ed., 2001)


• USA (1st ed., 1999)


• Rocky Mountain States (2nd ed., 1999)