COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTIVE

 Strategic Communications ~ Project Management ~ Public Relations

Decisive, action-oriented and results-focused professional with more than 10 years experience in journalism and communications, with the last three focused on project management and strategic communications. Proven ability to communicate with individuals of diverse backgrounds, and easily relates to and interfaces with senior executives and elected officials. Driven by high-pressure environments, new challenges and a desire to be successful in all endeavors. Effective manager throughout all levels of the organizational structure.

BUSINESS SKILLS

Strategic Communications / Government Relations

• Work closely with senior executives and elected officials on various written communications and public relations strategies
• Research and write speeches, editorials and other policy statements for senior executives and elected officials
• Create presentations, policy papers and appropriate data for key stakeholders

Project Management / Contract Management

• Employ business and management principles in contract negotiation, oversight and budget management
• Utilize strong analytical and problem-solving abilities in effective decision making

Public Relations / Media

• Create, launch and manage comprehensive community relations, public outreach and informational programs
• Provide excellent written communication and editing support
• Research and develop newspaper stories, website content, press releases, multi-media components, internal communications newsletters
• Utilize extensive newsroom experience to develop and pitch stories to news media
• Working knowledge of social media strategies

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

February 2011 — Present

• Manage external and internal communications for a 3,400-person agency.
• Direct communications and marketing strategies involving the media, stakeholder organizations, general public and other governmental agencies.
• Provide thoughtful, comprehensive communications counsel to the agency's leadership team and the Executive Office of the Governor.
• Oversee the agency's Environmental Education and Sustainable Initiatives programs.

November 2007 — February 2011

• Manage five-person written communications team charged with internal communications for 8,000-person workforce, correspondence for elected officials, project management and research, talking points development and photography.
• Serve as lead speechwriter and project manager for mayor’s office.
• Developed and implemented first-ever, educational budget initiative which includes a website, citizen workshops and other communications initiatives. 
• Manage $2 million public relations contract for the City of Jacksonville’s ash clean-up program.

• Write speeches, opinion editorials, letters to the editor and other strategic communications for Mayor’s Office.
• Wrote award-winning newspaper editorial series for the mayor’s anti-crime initiative
• Project manager for written communications team.

May 2001 — November 2007

• Covered the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq from navy aircraft carriers stationed in the Arabian and Mediterranean Seas. Won a statewide award for coverage of the war in Iraq.
• Reported on national defense policy and its impact on major military installations in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia in a post-911 environment.
• Covered the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in a year-long series on the rebuilding of a small town in coastal Mississippi.
• Told award-winning stories reflecting the community through breaking news reporting, profiles, trend pieces and feature stories, with an emphasis on narrative writing.

August 1998 — May 2001

• Responsible for daily operation of the award-winning independent student newspaper at Auburn University and about 50 reporters and editors.
• Plainsman recognized by the Associated Collegiate Press with a Pacemaker in 2001, student journalism’s highest honor.

EDUCATION

AWARDS/COMMUNITY

• Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals, MarCom Awards – Gold Award for newspaper editorial campaign for The Jacksonville Journey initiative, 2008
• Florida Society of Newspaper Editors, FSNE Awards — Second place for Feature Writing, 2006
• Society of Professional Journalists, Sunshine State Awards — Third place for International/War/National Security reporting, 2004
• The Florida Times-Union newsroom citations — Year-end citation for Reporting, 2007; Year-end citation for Multimedia, 2005; Numerous monthly citations for Quality and Tightness of Writing
• Auburn University Journalism Department Alumni Advisory Council — Member since Fall 2005