About us

We are the largest independent group of career authors and certified career development specialists in the nation and remain committed to providing the top quality services that will contribute to your success. Because we have carefully selected the most qualified and experienced consultants, we can guarantee your satisfaction.

Our service providers are authorities on job search tools, and each is a leader in the careers industry. All are active members of Career Masters Institute and at least one other professional association. All are committed to ongoing education to stay abreast of the latest career trends and techniques, and to a strict code of ethics designed to ensure your confidentiality and complete satisfaction. All of our writers and coaches have earned two or more of these credentials/certifications:

The combined knowledge and more than 300 years of collective experience of this team - and our ability to improve quality by collaborating with each other - makes what we offer unique.

Read our bios, take a look at our samples for senior executives, samples for career professionals and testimonials , and then contact us to discuss your specific career needs.

Debbie Ellis, MRW, CPRW, Executive Director & President, Phoenix Career Group (Texas)

Debbie is an award-winning, Master Resume Writer and an active member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers (PARW), Career Masters Institute (CMI), and the Professional Resume Writers and Research Association (PRWRA). She serves as a Resume Expert for The Ladders, Netshare, Direct Employers, Construction Executives, Executive Careers, and Career Folios, and is a member of PARW's International Certification Board described by PARW's Executive Director, Frank Fox, as "The best of the best writers in the world." Debbie's work has been included in more than a dozen nationally published "how to" books. With over 20 years of experience in Human Resource Development, she has assisted hundreds of clients ranging from top International Business Executives and Professionals to Students and entry-level candidates to create marketing documents that get immediate results... Now she'd like to put her team to work for YOU!

Executive Advisory Board Members

Martin Yate, CPC and New York Times Best-Selling Author (Georgia)

William Arruda, Reach Founder, Director (Paris, NY)

Dubbed the 'Personal Branding Guru', William combines 20 years of international corporate branding expertise with his passion for people. The founder and Director of Reach, the world's leading Personal Brand Coaching Process, William has appeared on BBC TV, the Discovery Channel and Radio America. He has written for and contributed to numerous publications including the Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, New York Newsday, Trends (Belgium), Training and Development, Metro (UK) and Strategies (France). He also writes for the American Marketing Association, the Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK) and PR News, and he's a Senior Contributor to MarketingProfs. William's corporate clients include JP Morgan, IBM, Disney, Microsoft, Adobe and Warner Bros. He is the author of the upcoming personal branding book, Bulletproof Your Career. A member of the International Coach Federation, William holds a Master's Degree in Education and speaks regularly to audiences around the globe.

Susan Britton Whitcomb, CCMC, CCM, NCRW, CPRW (California)

President of Career Masters Institute, Susan is distinguished by her long career providing executives and career-minded professionals with resume and coaching services. She is the author of Resume Magic and Interview Magic (both Jist Works publications), and is co-author of eResumes: How To Write, Design & Deliver Your Resume Online. A sought-after writer, trainer, and international careers industry expert, Susan has delivered presentations on career coaching, career management, and resume writing at industry conferences and on television and radio broadcasts. She has served as Monster.com's Job Shadow career writer, and contributed articles and information to U.S. News & World Report, CBS Marketwatch.com, National Business Employment Weekly, and other nationally-syndicated publications.

Member Provider Roster

Robert Bronstein, Resume Distribution Expert (Pennsylvania)

Since 1990, Bob has specialized in career information and direct mail campaign design and execution and is one of the premier providers in the United States. Concurrently, he is serving as the Director of Field Operations for several marketing research firms. Early in his career, he worked on national consumer brands in Marketing with Grey Advertising (Downy Fabric Softener) and in Sales Management with a food brokerage (Purina Dog Chow, Minute Maid Orange Juice, Sara Lee Desserts).

Bob earned an M.B.A. in Marketing from the Wharton Graduate Division of the University of Pennsylvania following an A.B. in Sociology from Harvard University. Also to his credit, Bob developed and taught a Presentation Skills Seminar while a Staff Consultant for Temple University's Center for the Study of Psychoeducational Processes, the unit that deals with adult learning.

Martin Buckland, MRW, CPRW, JCTC, CEIP, CJST (Ontario, Canada)

Martin is the Phoenix Career Group's international expert. For more than 10 years, he has provided effective resumes and job search support, earning him a reputation as a career authority across North America - in particular the Greater Toronto and Golden Horseshoe area. Specializing in Senior Executives, Martin has developed partnerships with many premier Executive Search and Outplacement Firms in Toronto and is a frequent speaker at professional conferences. He honed his interviewing skills in his native England, during his career in law enforcement. Martin's personal interview method helps him to develop winning resumes for clients relocating to or working in Canada. An active member of many industry associations, he orchestrated in 2000 the first international conventions for the Professional Association of Resume Writers and the Career Masters Institute. Martin's work was recognized in Cover Letter Magic, and he's now co-authoring a health care resume book, Career RX.

Jack Chapman, M.A., Vocational Guidance (Illinois)

Jack is the author of what's come to be known as the bible of salary negotiation, Negotiating Your Salary: How to Make $1000 a Minute. He is a nationally known career advisor and speaker in the field of career development. Since 1981, he has personally coached over two thousand individuals. Through his books, tapes, group work, and training of many other career advisors, he has helped countless people from every walk of life land the jobs, salaries, and raises they've wanted. He is cofounder and past president of the Professional Career Counselors and Consultants Network (now merged with the Chicago chapter of the International Association of Career Management Professionals, the IACMP). Jack earned his master's degree in vocational guidance at Northeastern Illinois University, and taught on the faculty at Chicago's Columbia College, where he pioneered a career-development curriculum. Jack has also appeared on network television to represent career counselors.

Darrell W. Gurney, CPC, JCTC, RScP, CCMC (California)

Darrell is a certified career coach and has been a professional recruiter for over 20 years. He has coached and supported thousands of job-seeking professionals at all levels through profitable career transitions. A Summa Cum Laude graduate of the University of Texas with degrees in Finance and International Business, Darrell spent his early career with Arthur Young (Ernst & Young) in London. Consulting with a career-coaching firm at the age of 24, he utilized the backdoor job search method to meet with 7 CFOs of the top Hollywood entertainment studios and landed an international financial position with MGM/United Artists Pictures. Affiliated with hundreds of coaches and recruiters worldwide, Darrell is based in Los Angeles. His client list includes professionals from Microsoft, America Online, Hunt-Wesson, and American Express. Through his online advice column, media interviews, public speaking and coaching, Darrell's purpose is to empower individuals to reap the most from their life's work.

In addition to his book, Headhunters Revealed! Career Secrets for Choosing and Using Professional Recruiters, Darrell writes free-lance career articles with materials and mentions appearing on the Wall Street Journal's CareerJournal.com, Business Week Online, MSN Careers, CareerBuilder.com and Wall Street Journal Radio. He leads a monthly workshop for the Los Angeles Learning Annex, and is the Los Angeles facilitator for executive networking meetings sponsored by 6FigureJobs.com. In his next book, due out in 2007, Darrell explores the opportunities and challenges of mid-life career transitions.

Joanne Kowlowitz, CFRW (Nevada)

One of Phoenix Career Group's senior consultants to executive clients, Joanne Kowlowitz is a 25-year veteran of the careers industry with nearly 18 years' experience working exclusively with senior executives. Joanne has earned a stellar reputation as a strategy expert — for both resume writing and executive job-search management. Joanne is a sought-after presenter of workshops on resume writing and job-search techniques, and her resume work has been published in several nationally distributed books. Among her other industry specialties, in 2003, Joanne earned her credential as a Certified Federal Resume Writer, and is qualified and experienced to prepare federal resumes, KSAs and other federal job-search materials.

Lorie Lebert, CCMC, IJCTC, CPRW (Michigan)

Seasoned writer and coach, Lorie has been recognized as a leader in the careers industry for achieving excellence in resume writing, job search coaching, career transition, and executive career management. Her resumes and cover letters have been featured in more than twenty national publications. Implementing a consultative approach, Lorie’s clients often refer to her as their own CEO (Chief Encouragement Officer). An active member of the Career Management Alliance, Lorie continues to update her knowledge, skill, and certifications; providing consistent, and world-class service and leadership to PCG clients. With a broad experience base earned over more than 17 years in practice, Lorie writes across all functions and industries with a focus on senior management. Proud to abide by the Professional Code of Business Ethics and the “Golden Rule”, Lorie has helped thousands to attain job and career satisfaction.

Jan Melnik, MRW, CPRW, CCM (Connecticut)

Jan has worked with executives, senior-level managers, and professionals throughout the United States for 23 years providing career management, job search coaching, and resume writing services. She has authored five books, including How to Start a Home-based Resume Business, and is quoted frequently on matters related to careers and job search in such publications as Business Investor's Daily, Entrepreneur, Los Angeles Times, USA Today, Country Living, and Woman's Day. She has been featured in books by Paul and Sarah Edwards, Jay Conrad Levinson, Kimberly Stansell, Jay Block, Louise Kursmark, and Wendy Enelow and her work has been published in Sales and Marketing Resumes for $100,000 Jobs, Expert Resumes for Managers and Executives, America's Top Resumes for America's Top Jobs, 101 More Best Resumes, Expert Resumes for Education Professionals, Expert Resumes for Computer & Web Professionals, and 101 Best Cover Letters. Jan speaks regularly as the career expert on MoneyWatch, a nationally syndicated radio program, addresses industry professionals at conferences nationwide, has appeared on several television talk shows, and periodically hosts one of America Online's business forums.

Don Orlando, MBA, CPRW, JCTC, CCM, CCMC (Alabama)

Don Orlando is among the South's leading career coaches and is one of the region's first Certified Professional Resume Writers, Certified Job and Career Transition Coaches, and Credentialed Career Masters. He holds an MBA from Auburn. He serves as the personal career coach for people from all walks of life. Most of his clients are mid- to very senior professionals in nearly every profession. Practitioners in the field of career coaching and resume writing seek him out as a paid mentor. Additionally, Don helps employers attract and retain employees in key positions. Don writes, researches, and teaches actively in the field. He is frequently a featured speaker at industry conferences, and has presented workshops for organizations such as AMERICORPS/VISTA, The Institute of Internal Auditors, The American Association of Military Comptrollers, and the Alabama Bar Association. His work has been selected to appear in twelve nationally published collections of the best resumes and cover letters in America. Don's articles have appeared in Success Magazine," "AviationCareer.net," "The Spotlight", Career Masters Institute Professional Article Series, and the Career Planning and Adult Development Journal.

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