Kelsey Ryan Email & Phone Number

Brookfield, Il, Us

• Enhance Brookfield Zoo Chicago's reputation, increase awareness and solidify its position as a premier destination and leading authority in wildlife conservation, science and environmental education• Develop and execute comprehensive multi-year communications plans and strategies aligned with Brookfield Zoo Chicago's mission, goals and values, and provide strategic direction to the communications team• Oversee all aspects of public relations efforts, including media relations, crisis communication, editorial projects, photo and video, institutional positioning, and internal communication• Develop protocols and strategies for managing and mitigating crisis situations, supporting the SVP and ensuring timely, transparent communication• Supervise the development and publication of compelling content, including articles, newsletters, the zoo’s membership magazine and more; work closely with the marketing team on social media content and strategy, ensuring alignment with organizational messaging and branding• Direct the creation and distribution of visual assets, including photography and videography, to enhance storytelling and engagement across various channels• Develop and execute strategies to position the organization as a thought leader and authority in the industry, leveraging research, data and industry trends• Support organizational leaders in enhancing their visibility and thought leadership through strategic communication initiatives, including speeches, articles and public appearances• Oversee a team of five full-time employees and manage the organization’s resources and budget for communications functions

Chicago, Il, Us

• Develop and lead the storytelling and content strategy across earned media, social media, influencer relations, videography, web and email functions to drive revenue, create new opportunities for fundraising and bolster the Museum’s brand awareness, relevance and reputation• Increase earned media storytelling opportunities locally, regionally and nationally YOY, rebuilding lapsed media relationships and building new ones as applicable • Oversee executive communications for the Museum’s President and CEO, closely working with her assistant to manage public speaking opportunities • Support communications needs for the Museum’s Board of Trustees, including compiling and/or developing institutional progress data and narratives • Collaborate with external partners to plan promotional strategies for the development and launch of new exhibitions or initiatives, including for-profit corporate sponsors, exhibition developers, universities, non-profits, government agencies and more • Manage the Museum’s relationship with PR agencies and support content function leaders with management of additional contractors and freelancers• Support the AVP of Marketing with issues and crisis management• Manage the budget for PR and social media functions, and oversee a team of 5 full-time employees

Chicago, Il, Us

• Measurably increase the visibility of the University of Chicago’s quantum research and innovation portfolio on an international scale through earned media strategies• Build relationships with technology, science and business reporters, and develop media materials that make quantum physics and engineering research accessible and approachable to broad audiences• Work with nationally renowned research partners, including Argonne National Lab, to create content sharing processes, develop announcement strategies and seek thought leadership opportunities• Create reports in Meltwater and MailChimp to track earned media progress and industry discourse• Co-lead the development of a communications plan for quantum science to advance the university’s reputation as a global leader in the field and support student recruitment• Support university crisis preparedness via social media monitoring protocols• Contribute to communications efforts for institutional priorities and major announcements, such as press conference planning and media coordination for 2022 Nobel Prize announcements

Chicago, Il, Us

• Broaden and elevate Shedd Aquarium’s leadership and impact in aquatic conservation and science through multi-disciplinary communications approaches and storytelling• Lead cross-departmental planning and execution of a monthly email newsletter that exclusively delivers conservation-focused content to a new digital community, called “Surge”• Analyze data to evaluate the performance of "Surge" content and utilize insights to create new strategies for engaging and building the program's digital audience • Write magazine-style digital articles that make conservation topics relatable, especially to Millennial and Gen Z audiences, for Shedd's new "Surge" platform • Stand-up new institution-wide team to enable more seamless and aligned storytelling across communications vehicles, including media outreach, on-site events, social media and more• Continue to develop public relations strategies to secure high-impact media coverage that raises awareness of Shedd's conservation and science work

Chicago, Il, Us

• Develop and implement comprehensive communications strategies to advance Shedd’s mission, conservation goals and opportunities for collaboration and fundraising• Serve as lead science writer, developing press materials and content for Shedd’s website, e-newsletter, social media, videos, grant proposals, donor communications, and more• Leverage local, national and science/tech media relationships to secure high-impact media coverage that advances the aquarium’s reputation as a conservation and science organization• Work collaboratively with universities and other partners to develop press materials that promote joint initiatives and research findings published in peer-reviewed journals • Meet 100% of Shedd Aquarium staff and volunteers with conservation messaging annually, including developing content to be featured in Town Hall staff meetings• Serve on Internal Communications Steering Committee, Sustainability Advisory Team and Crisis Communications Team cross-departmental planning groups• Train scientists and building engineers through “Media Training” and Science Communications Workshop to build spokesperson skills that make their work accessible to broad audiences• Manage public relations interns and Science Communications Fellow term position• Plan social media influencer events to introduce influencers to conservation programsKey Impacts:+ Contributed to team that generated 5,400 media placements in 2019+ Secured 10 front-page stories in major news outlets about Shedd’s conservation and science efforts+ Leveraged communications strategies to increase science literacy in a foreign nation that led to a significant public outcry for environmental regulations, which then led to policy change

Chicago, Il, Us

• Serve as the communications lead on all matters concerning conservation, research and sustainability • Develop thoughtful ideas to engage the Chicago area with research that occurs outside city boundaries, such as that in the Bahamas and Caribbean • Manage Twitter and Facebook channels dedicated to Shedd's Great Lakes conservation partnerships and programs• Coordinate proactive and reactive media interviews with Shedd's conservation, sustainability and research experts to continue to assert Shedd's scientific expertise. Independently secured four front-page news articles about Shedd research projects in the Chicago Tribune (2), the Miami Herald (1) and the Buffalo News (1)• Draft and distribute releases (news releases, photo releases, video releases, media advisories, calendar alerts) to both widespread Chicagoland news outlets and niche markets • Write blog posts on behalf of Shedd's experts to publish on Shedd's National Geographic "Voices" channel and Huffington Post expert channels • Monitor media coverage through a monitoring software program called Trendkite, producing reports for upper level management on a weekly, monthly, quarterly and year-end basis. Some reports are used to report out successes to sponsors involved in PR announcements. • Manage seasonal public relations interns.• Co-led an internal audit of sustainable practices around the aquarium, managing the relationship with a sustainability consulting firm.• Update Shedd’s website with new webpages for fact sheets and media materialsKey Impacts:+ Led the development of a public awareness campaign around plastic pollution, which was laterhonored with a Silver Trumpet Award at the Publicity Club of Chicago’s 2018 Golden Trumpet Awards

Dallas, Texas, Us

• Conduct digital communications and marketing strategies for two clients—McDonald's co-ops in Rockford, Ill. and Madison, Wis.—including writing and distributing press releases and story pitches• Lead social media strategy and execution for each co-op that aligns with nationwide McDonald's promotional campaigns and brand tone, including developing content for the launch of All Day Breakfast and new Chef Crafted sandwiches product line in Rockford test market• Plan and facilitate partnerships with local organizations or events—such as the IRONMAN Wisconsin triathlon—that build a local brand presence, bolster favorability and reach new target audience• Serve as spokesperson for the McDonald's brand in each client’s co-op; field LIVE radio and TV interviews independently during “media tours” for product launches • Communicate with clients during crisis scenarios, such as the malfunction of a HappyMeal toy in 2015, and prepare staff with official statements and responses to customers• Learn about and meet front-line staff in Madison and Rockford co-ops and develop a deeper understanding for each restaurant’s commitment to meeting the needs of its customers

Madison, Wi, Us

• Facilitate general member meetings for 75 members, as well as executive board meetings• General administration, registration and organization of the club• Create new digital strategy in conjunction with Digital Director to better fit member needsVisit: http://awcuwmadison.com

Madison, Wi, Us

• Initiate networking amongst members and communications professionals• Invite speakers to full-club, bi-monthly meetings• Plan two club networking trips to Chicago, IL and Boston, MA

Madison, Wisconsin, Us

• Utilize Google website analytics to develop a strategy to increase website traffic• Produce multimedia content, including the execution of video shooting, editing and promoting• Produce social media posts to promote WEI news and industry content• Assisted in the planning and execution of a 250-person event

Chicago, Il, Us

• Drafted pitches for news coverage and partnerships• Drafted media releases, including the news release for largest oranization-wide campaign of the summer, Shark Week (hosted by Discovery Channel)• Helped coordinate media requests from major media organizations such as CBS Sunday Morning

Madison, Wi, Us

• Research player and team statistics• Communicate with players and coaches• Write feature and news stories• Meet strict deadlines

Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, Us

• Worked as a part of a crew to produce a live sports broadcast• Directed, controlled cameras, placed graphics in Wirecast software program• Conducted on-screen interviews at the bottom of the 2nd inning in front of ~1,000 fans• Interviewed players off-screen for multimedia videos