As the Communications Officer at Montgomery Area Food Bank, I authored and implemented proactive communication plans, talking points, and a new brand style guide. I managed a mix of social media, a dual-audience website, the production of video spots, media releases and advisories, quarterly newsletters, and program-specific print collateral in support of special events. Drawing upon event protocol experience, I planned, administered, and successfully marketed Grand Opening/Ribbon Cutting ceremonies. Drawing upon relationships established with Congressional, Gubernatorial, and Mayoral offices, secured consistent governmental participation and support. Originally hired as Grant Writer, incorporated newly authored Communication Plan (ComPlan) talking points within grant proposals. Also, infused media outreach to consistently secure "earned media," emphasizing grant awardees’ shared core values and mission objectives. These same grant-driven, newsworthy events were then featured within social media, newsletters, and annual reports.

As Public Affairs Officer for a healthcare system serving more than 140,000 Veterans in two Medical Centers and five Community Based Outpatient Clinics, I managed a diverse and proactive Public Affairs Program. I served as spokesperson, representing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and Central Alabama Veterans Health Care System (CAVHCS), interacting with stakeholders ranging from members of Congress, and state and municipal leadership to Veteran Service Organizations, media, individual Veterans, and internal staff. Through continuous engagement and consistent development of credible relationships within both internal and external communities, I was able to communicate targeted, timely messaging, which promoted a better understanding of VA capabilities, services, and programs. As a result, public opinion of, and confidence in the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, and especially CAVHCS - improved steadily. Responsible for the development, coordination, implementation, and maintenance of public information and community relations programs that were designed to promote understanding, confidence, and goodwill between the system's Medical Centers and Community Based Outpatient Clinics, surrounding communities,Veteran groups, individuals, and volunteers who are interested in and affected by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA). I also represented the Director, participating in public, civic or social events to improve the perception of the system as a valued part of the medical profession, government, and community. I worked with staff and service chiefs to identify ongoing information needs and developed electronic and print collateral for staff, patients, volunteers, and others who contributed to the healthcare system's effectiveness and responsiveness. Coordinated special communication projects, while constantly developing and updating relevant talking points under the direction of the health care system's director.

Effectively established and maintained proactive communication and relationships between DoD and local, national, international, US and specialty media, based on Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense / Public Affairs OASD (PA) goals of communicating DoD's messages and programs to intended audiences. Maintained working relationships with DoD decision makers; OASD (PA) Action Officers (AO) in account areas of responsibility; coordinated media interviews; and proactively secured local, national, international, US and specialty media outreach opportunities to promote DoD goals of communicating programs and policies. Coordinated work through OASD (PA) Media Outreach Director. Maintained working relationships with Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense (Public Affairs), OASD (PA) and , AOs, senior / key officials, counterparts in Public Liaison, Media Support, DoD PAOs, and other Federal Agencies to effectively facilitate, coordinate, develop and execute media outreach programs and plans using local, national, international, US and specialty media. Spearheaded all scheduling of decision maker interviews during the 5th Annual, September 11th Pentagon Radio Day. Successfully administered the origin and development of the 'Hero of the Week," radio segment. Hero of the Week featured decorated veterans of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom in radio interviews on more than 2,000 stations nationwide.

Deployed as Public Affairs Officer, Fleet Hospital Three (FH3) in direct support of Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. As a late personnel assignment, I developed and executed a robust Public Affairs program. Within six weeks, this program featured abilities to support a media mix capable of communicating command information to both internal and external audiences.From procurement of camera and computer equipment and establishing an internal information conduit via a new web presence, which included family ombudsmen interaction to shooting digital video, still imagery and authoring releases in support of operational in-theater Public Affairs Guidance (PAG), the program was an unqualified success. While deployed I shaped and authored command talking points and educated staff about PA concerns ranging from digital imagery responsibilities, in-theater PAG, and internal audience information discipline.I managed all media embeds, queries, and interviews of patients and staff. I ensured internal audience connectivity by authoring weekly "Letters" from the Commanding Officer. I also marketed externally via a new FH3 web page/link on www.navy.mil, while processing everything through in-theater chains of command, as well as the Bureau of Navy Medicine and U.S. Central Command. Digital imagery, video, and press releases received worldwide external media coverage, as well as utilization by the Chief, Bureau of Navy Medicine, Chief of Naval Information (CHINFO) and substantial inclusion in the CHINFO/Navy League book entitled, "Our Navy-Marine Corps Team: Defending Freedom."

Directly responsible for day-to-day Public Affairs Program operations in support of Commander, U.S. Sixth Fleet (COMSIXTHFLT) and all assets within the Sixth Fleet Area of Responsibility. This scope ranged from scheduling and securing digital still and video imagery and the development and marketing of print and video stories to both internal and external audiences to the development of talking points and administering to aspects inherent with the diplomacy of an active engagement program. Prior to September 11th diplomacy of engagement and protocol responsibilities included port calls, military staff meetings and dignitary and state calls to countries throughout the Mediterranean and Black Sea regions as well as portions of Northern Europe. After September 11th, the COMSIXTHFLT mission became far more operational in the prosecution of the Global War on Terror in the Mediterranean. This shift included a more robust US naval presence - which in turn required far more direct coordination - as well as the inclusion of Maritime Interdiction Operations (MIO) by all Sixth Fleet assets, including the command ship with the embarked Admiral and staff. In support of this shift ensured all PA staff became Surface Warfare Qualified and were utilized in direct support of MIO training.

Developed and successfully implemented a new, regionalized business model, which provided all requisite training in support of transitioning five separate Fleet Activities Yokosuka Public Affairs Offices into a single Regionalized Media Center.This regionalization featured the advent of a nightly newscast and the transfer of the base-wide newspaper from being supported by Moral Welfare and Recreation (MWR), non-appropriated funds, to a bilingual, Commercial Enterprise – which saved more than $500,000 in its first year.The previous individual Public Affairs entities were comprised of a mix of Japanese and American civilian personnel, who were required to leave their comfort zone of taking an occasional photo and writing a supporting cutline. For most - English was a second language. This transformation required them to learn electronic news gathering techniques, basic journalism, broadcast journalism and digital videography and photography.I personally developed and directly administered their new professional development program. I served as the Media Director, which translated to filling the positions of news anchor, story editor, author of the nightly news script and editorial producer.Our first nightly newscast was on the air within 45 days. "Yokosuka Report" earned three separate Chief of Naval Information (CHINFO) Merit Awards in the first year of production, and was recognized as the Best Local Newscast in the Navy the following year.Utilizing a continuously evolving awareness of host-country sensitivities; I wrote and edited a new Command Video Presentation, which was recorded in both English and Japanese. I also administered the advent of a cooperative City of Yokosuka/CFAY Base Historical Tour, which was made available to visiting Japanese citizenry.