Allison Abney Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Compose and implement comprehensive public and media relations campaign for organization, focusing on annual H Street Festival, recent awards and notable H Street NE Corridor achievements.
• Increase overall public and media profile of H Street Main Street by securing stories that focus on organization’s involvement in economic and community development projects and H Street Festival; emphasize leadership.
• Enhance visibility of H Street NE Corridor by monitoring current trends in local media coverage and pitching related stories that involve recent developments, businesses or residents of the area.
• Cultivate closer relationships between H Street Main Street and local press to ensure regular media inquiries, reliable mention of organization in stories involving the H Street NE Corridor and maximum coverage of.
• Serve as organization and H Street Festival’s point-of-contact for the media.
• Serve as chief communications adviser for organization’s executive director and leadership team.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Led the media relations department of IR+Media, LLC, a public relations firm that specializes in diversity and inclusion PR, setting strategy, supervising media assistants, assigning tasks, managing work product and.
• Managed client accounts, focusing on building clients’ brands and amplifying messaging with media placements. Special attention was given to press and public relations opportunities that elevated clients’ profile in a.
• Pitched and secured news coverage for clients on upcoming events, announcements and campaigns.
• Wrote communications plans for current and potential clients on topics such as developing their brand through grassroots and blog communications, social media, traditional earned and paid media and others.
• Wrote and placed op-eds and letters to the editor on topics such as upcoming openings of historical monuments and museums, cybersecurity, climate change, workforce development, end-of-life planning, pop culture and more.
• Taught clients and their surrogates how to develop communications materials such as letters to the editor, op-eds and press releases by developing training materials and document templates that could be easily amended.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Wrote and released press releases, op-eds and event advisories to the media; followed up to ensure coverage.
• Developed campaign platform in collaboration with candidate, and wrote website content, campaign materials, talking points, speeches and other materials.
• Planned and put on press conferences on topics of special concern to the candidate, including the need for better regulation of pop-up housing construction in Ward 4 and the entire District. Assisted in writing.
• Prepared candidate for press interviews, endorsement meetings, debates and other key events.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Advised candidate on selection of core issues for campaign and wrote campaign platform.
• Negotiated media buys with cable providers and network stations. Chose channels, days and times for placement of television ads after careful demographic analyses to ensure greatest reach to target audience.
• Closely monitored all news developments to immediately advise candidate and staff on appropriate messaging.
• Secured candidate interviews, press coverage and endorsement meetings, enhancing reputation of candidate.
• Wrote press releases, op-eds, content for mailers, e-newsletters, fundraising emails, handouts, newspaper and online ads, talking points and other campaign literature; instructed graphic designer on design and layout.
• Worked with political strategist to create scripts and concepts for television ads.

Washington, DC

• Developed and nurtured close relationships with reporters, editors and producers at national print, online and broadcast media outlets, including Washington Post, New York Times, USA Today, CNN, Fox News, NPR and others.
• Established and maintained good relationships with regional and local reporters for all offices organization has nationally: San Francisco, Sacramento and Los Angeles, CA; Portland, OR; New York, NY; Jersey City, NJ.
• Served as organization’s main contact for all press, as well as planned and coordinated all launches and media events.
• Responded quickly to media inquiries, stayed on top of all critical news and legislative developments related to small businesses and immediately implemented an effective rapid response strategy. Key issues for the.
• Wrote and distributed press releases, interview availabilities and official statements to media; followed up as needed to ensure maximum reach.
• Composed talking points, Q&A documents, fact sheets and other materials, as needed.

Washington, DC

• Advised candidate on selection of focus issues for campaign and develop and implement aggressive media strategies.
• Developed consistent messaging for target areas, such as housing affordability, education, public safety and job creation, as well as other issues likely to arise during campaign.
• Assisted campaign in proactively managing key media relationships to develop and enhance reputation of candidate and his policy proposals.
• Wrote talking points, answer candidate questionnaires and prepare candidate for interviews, debates and official events.
• Helped candidate form swift responses to breaking news developments and urgent media opportunities.
• Composed press releases, statements, media advisories on important developments and chosen issues, like candidate’s plan for a Jobs Trust Fund, platform for enhancing the District’s education system and strategies for.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Established and maintained relationships with reporters from the Washington Post, Washington Times, Washington Examiner, Associated Press, other community and local newspapers, blogs and local news stations.
• Served as the office contact for all media, planning and directing press events and media availabilities, responding to inquires and interview requests from media outlets, monitoring reporters’ stories and pitching.
• Acted as the spokeswoman for the Chairman, answering reporters’ questions on the record.
• Wrote and distributed press releases, statements, and media advisories on topics such as Council initiatives, the Chairman’s events, partnerships with the Executive and notable legislation such as the Raising the.
• Wrote talking points for newspaper and broadcast interviews and draft speeches for delivery at events, press conferences and media availabilities.
• Wrote opinion editorials and responses to articles and editorials to be published in newspapers and on blogs.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Set up communications and press shop for the newly elected Congresswoman, which included building the website, creating social media accounts, establishing media contacts and making and organizing press databases.
• Acted as the liaison to reporters and media outlets; coordinated press events and interviews, pitched article and interview ideas for increased visibility and name recognition.
• Served as the office’s only press person, establishing and maintaining relationships with reporters/producers at media outlets such as the Birmingham News, CNN, the Washington Post and the New York Times.
• Wrote speeches and talking points for interviews and events.
• Wrote and posted press releases/statements on topics such as health care reform, the State of the Union Address, the debt ceiling and grant awards.
• Managed national media attention during the April 2011 tornadoes that devastated Alabama.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Monitored, reported, and made recommendations on Healthcare/Medicare/Medicaid, Food and Drug Administration, Animal/Agriculture and Social Service developments impacting the Congresswoman's legislative agenda.
• Wrote press releases/media advisories on notable achievements/congressional developments such as the China currency manipulation legislation, the Josh Miller HEARTS Act, the Cash for Clunkers legislation and the.
• Researched and wrote speeches/talking points on topics such as durable medical equipment, sudden cardiac arrest syndrome, federal regulations on the importation of foreign manufactured drugs, Medicare solvency and.
• Assisted in the maintenance of the Congresswoman's achievements in Congressional update database.
• Wrote letters to constituents on topics such as the Affordable Care Act, Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, retiree-only health insurance plans, breast and ovarian cancer research, women’s health, prescription drug coverage.
• Met with various organizations/constituents such as Second Harvest Food Banks, the American Medical Association, the National Association of Community Health Centers, local manufacturers, and local hospitals about.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

• Researched and tracked the development of Medicare and Wall Street Reform legislation and analyzed implications for clients.
• Acted as a go-between for Congressional staff and clients.
• Assisted Harold Ford, President, in fostering relationships between clients and legislators.

Greater Memphis Area

• Led the Zoo’s community communications efforts by organizing Zoo participation in community activities, and coordinating special events at the Zoo.
• Wrote 15 articles for and acted as editor for the Zoo’s 16-page bi-monthly member’s publication, Exzooberance, which has a 30,000 member household circulation.
• Administered the Zoo’s primary email address, managed customer relations responses, assisted in managing the Zoo’s website, and participated in the management of social media outlets, helping to increase the Zoo’s.
• Designed, managed and administered a photo contest for the Zoo’s 2011 calendar, effectively driving Zoo attendance and restocking the Zoo’s photo library. Collected, organized, and judged over 1,800 entries from the.
• Built presentation documents such as the process outline for the creation of a 20-year facilities master plan for the Zoo’s Board of Directors and gave speeches to community groups on Zoo conservation initiatives.
• Managed the donation of over 700 Zoo tickets to community organizations and re-wrote the ticket donation policy.

Master'S Degree, Conflict Resolution

Master'S Degree, International And Intercultural Communication

Bachelor'S Degree, Journalism