Substitute a different verb in most cases. Poor writers often use the same word or variations of it several times in succession. This organization proved to be the strongest in the region, and became a leader among organized laborers. Contractions are allowed in fiction, informal writing, or when quoting. They usually aren't are not acceptable in formal writing.
Journalists frequently use that device to save space and cut down on words.
Formal writing should not include nouns as verbs. In other words, include the full name of the person when first introducing her in your paper. Subsequent references to the person usually do not require the first name unless you need to be clear because your paper includes more than one person with the same surname. Normally, after you first mention the full name of a person, refer to that person by his last name in the remainder of the paper. Brown was also a good writer.