Benjamin Skoch Email and Phone Number

Delivered strategic communications counsel for Microsoft client accounts, including the Office of the Executive Vice President, Microsoft Artificial Intelligence and Research Group (Harry Shum), the Office of the Chief Research and Strategy Officer (Craig Mundie), Microsoft Quantum Computing/Station Q, Microsoft Environmental Sustainability, FUSE Labs, the Unlimited Potential Group, and Microsoft Unlimited Potential. Crafted and edited written content for executives and clients, including major speeches, blog and LinkedIn posts, narratives and messaging, press releases, talking points, briefing materials, web content, and other internal and external communications. Drove programmatic storytelling efforts and narrative development, including placement of stories in top-tier media outlets such as the New York Times, The Economist, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED, and MIT Technology Review. Provided ongoing strategic counsel for crises and competitive business issues. Owned the development and execution of digital storytelling strategies, including social media strategy planning and execution, website planning, support, and content creation, multimedia, video, and blog development, and virtual pressroom content and design. Supported logistics, PR, and multimedia for a wide variety of major international Microsoft-driven public and private events, including Government Leaders Forums and the Imagine Cup. Collaborated with and assisted in the management of vendors and contractors within account budget limits.

Wrote major external and internal speeches as well as other official correspondence for Cook County Assessor James M. Houlihan. Supported Director of Communications with necessary media relations duties, including press lists, media contacts, media research and archiving, and special event support. Wrote and edited the Office’s monthly newsletter. Wrote key communications content for various internal and external audiences, including advocacy alerts, press releases, letters to the editor, op-eds, cover letters and memos. Authored special communications, including the Annual Report, departmental manuals and FAQ’s, and talking points. Worked with the news media to obtain placements of positive CCAO-related stories in local and state media. Worked with departments across the Office to ensure that website content was current, accurate and informative. Collaborated with other members of the Communications Department to develop and implement communications tactics and strategies for news events, complex issues and crises. Provided creative input to improve existing communications vehicles and to develop new communications vehicles.

Assisted with marketing, public relations, and organizational office responsibilities. Created press archive of all Talking Heads and David Byrne-related press, 1977-1990. Developed Latin Radio database. Assisted with various projects and archival duties.