Ilene Stankiewicz is the wordsmith behind Beyond WordsBusiness Communications.  An honors graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan, Ilene received her BA in mass communications/journalism and psychology. A reporter and news editor at the student newspaper, her first magazine article was published in a major daily’s Sunday magazine while she was still in college. Later, she shared in the university’s Outstanding Journalism Graduate award.

Early in her career, Ilene spent time at a Detroit television station (NBC affiliate), wrote a.m. drive-time news for a news-talk Detroit radio station, was an associate editor for a specialty magazine and wrote training programs as a freelancer. She also wrote and produced a documentary for local cable TV.

Eventually, she became a technical writer at a luxury car plant. That led to a position in General Motors corporate public relations, where she had a very nice paycheck but felt like a misfit. Ilene returned to the adventures of a freelancer in 1988, launching Write Words, her writing and editing service. It soon became Beyond Words Business Communications, as she was often partnering with graphic designers and printers, and advising clients on much more than the words. She also freelanced for marketing, training and advertising agencies.

Ilene has received awards from the International Association of Business Communicators, Women In Communications, Inc., the Michigan Education Association and the Society of Professional Journalists.

In between those writing gigs, Ilene has nurtured her interest in natural health and metaphysics. She has training in hypnotherapy, several forms of energy work, muscle testing, introductory homeopathy and aromatherapy. She also likes organic gardening, art and photography.