RESUME
Career
summary
Communications strategist with 20 years’ experience in developing high-impact messaging and crafting award-winning content. Expertise includes developing multi-faceted campaigns to advance issues, build grassroots support and manage organizational reputation. A team builder who enjoys mentoring and developing staff, and is experienced in leading small but nimble teams. Years of experience at such organizations as the American Society of Civil Engineers, the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy, the Children’s Hospital Association, Columbia Gas and NiSource.
Professional​
experience​
NiSource Corporate
Internal Communications Manager
2023 - Present
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Manages internal communications for Fortune 1000 energy company with utilities in six states and 12,000 employees and contractors
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Collaborates with internal business partners and content experts in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion; supply chain and procurement; continuous improvement; and data and analytics to advance business goals and objectives
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Develops and implements communications strategies in support of business and enterprise-wide initiatives
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Develops communications on behalf of senior executives
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Provides support for virtual and in-person meetings to include presentation development and facilitation
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Ensures consistent review and approval process of materials with all communication functions to ensure, establish and adhere to corporate style and branding guidelines
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Columbia Gas of Virginia, a NiSource Company
Communications Manager
2021 - 2023
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Manages internal and external communications for a state-wide utility company with 490 employees and 290,000 customers
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Manages state crisis communication plan and participates in proactive and reactive crisis management efforts for local community events in person and on social media
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Serves as a public information officer
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Coordinates with state communications director on media relations efforts
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Supports initiatives that drive relationships with key state audiences and will focus on enhancing the relationship with customers, employees, industry groups and community influencers
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Supports NiSource-level strategies for advancing shared media, reputation and issues management across assigned state
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Ensures legal and regulatory compliance
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SPARK Strategic Ideas
Public Relations Manager
2020 - 2021
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Provided communications counsel to clients in the retail, manufacturing and commercial real estate industries
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Developed and implemented communications strategies on behalf of SPARK clients and the agency
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Cultivated and maintained network of close relationships with local, regional and national media partners
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Generated creative promotional ideas and unique story opportunities in a proactive manner
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Provided media training to clients and company spokespersons
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Participated in new business research, proposals and pitches
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Elation Consulting
Founder & Principal
​2017 - 2021
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Secured clients in health care, continuing education, small business and banking
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Provided strategic communications direction to a health care leadership association regarded as the leading credentialing organization for health care management and leadership
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Managed communications regarding the acquisition of a specialty publishing company
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Developed digital media strategy for trade associations and small businesses
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Placed stories with association and health care trade publications
Children's Hospital Association
Manager (Associate Director), Public Relations
​2006 - 2018
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Established the CHA’s first online grassroots community of over 10,000 advocates
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Developed and implemented CHA’s first social media presence drawing more than 35,000 followers across six accounts
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Generated record-breaking media coverage for annual advocacy fly-in resulting in more than 600 million media impressions
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Managed public relations program including awareness campaigns, crisis communications, media relations and digital media strategy for trade association of 220 children’s hospitals
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Collaborated with senior leadership to develop and implement external communications plans that strategically positioned CHA and children's hospitals as leaders in health care
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Developed communications strategy and media outreach on events and key issues including annual patient advocacy day, Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance Program, workforce shortages, pediatric research and other industry issues
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Provided public relations and crisis communications counsel to member hospitals
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Built relationships with media contacts, securing news stories and opinion placements with top-tier media including Stat, Wall Street Journal, NPR, Kaiser Health News, Associated Press, the National Journal, USA Today, ABC News and CNN
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Directed social media strategy to include messaging, audience segmentation, engagement and metrics analysis
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Managed staff and external consultants in media relations and digital outreach activities
American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
Director, Communications
​2004 - 2006
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Established AACP’s first media relations office yielding coverage in Time and NPR
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Developed pilot community health program in conjunction with Univision to showcase Pharm.D. students as health care providers​
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Directed member-facing and external communications, and marketing initiatives affecting pharmacy education, practice and health care
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Served as managing editor of AACP News, a trade publication for U.S. pharmacy schools and staff
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Developed and executed AACP’s brand marketing campaign
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Prepared spokespeople and practiced leaders for media interviews by creating key messages and talking points, and providing media training
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Managed marketing for all AACP member programs, products and services including meetings, publication sales and individual membership
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American Society of Civil Engineers
Senior Manager, External Relations
1998 - 2004
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Led the communications strategy for the development and release of the Sept. 11 study into the collapse of the World Trade Center and Pentagon, resulting in extensive media coverage in the New York Times, PBS Frontline and the Wall Street Journal
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Managed the development and promotion of traveling exhibit, Me, Myself & Infrastructure, to commemorate ASCE 150th Anniversary
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Provided direction for public relations program including, strategic communications, crisis communications, media relations and public affairs for professional trade organization representing 133,000 civil engineers
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Developed communications strategy and media outreach to raise awareness for key issues including infrastructure security and investment; transportation infrastructure; and drinking water and wastewater infrastructure
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Managed communications and sponsor relations for educational outreach programs including annual collegiate event, the National Concrete Canoe Competition and PBS series Zoom and Building BigTM
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Developed and managed communications strategy for infrastructure investment awareness campaigns, the 2003 Progress Report for America’s Infrastructure and the 2001 Report Card for America’s Infrastructure
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Managed ASCE’s State Public Affairs Grant program, a meritorious grant program for notable government relations and public relations grassroots programs
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Administered the Excellence in Journalism Award program, a national awards program honoring print journalists that have authored articles on the contributions of civil engineers or issues of importance to them
Skills
Communications Strategy
Message Development
Social Media & Digital Strategy
Media Relations
Internal Communications
Public Affairs
Advocacy Development
Campaign Leadership
Publication Oversight
Internal Communications
Crisis Communications
Storyteller
Membership Growth
Team Building
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Language
Spanish
Education
American University
Master of Arts, Public Communications
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University of Maryland, College Park
Bachelor of Arts, English Literature
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George Mason University
Master of Education Candidate
Nova Community College
Linguistics and Applied Grammar Courses
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