Celeste Viger Email & Phone Number

South Portland, Maine

• Recruit and interview prospective members for premier national teacher corps which attracts tens of thousands of applicants annually.
• Provide feedback to Teach for America on how to improve the application process, including input on future interview design and content.

• Built and established an infrastructure for successful launch of independent campaign for governor.Recruited and hired staff, secured office space, implemented office systems.
• Served as sole ambassador of the candidate for initial three months of the campaign.
• Recruited and organized campaign staff, volunteers and donors.
• Executed events to provide the candidate with maximum exposure to electorate and targeted media
• Counseled candidate on strategic communications, public policy and political strategy.
• Represented the candidate in his stead at a variety of public events

• Served as primary liaison between the Congressman and Maine’s business community.
• Coordinated and recommended federal appropriations for Maine.
• Worked with public and private entities to identify top potential funding sources and craft proposals to best position them to obtain federal funding.
• Represented the Congressman before the Maine Legislature, state and municipal governmental entities.
• Focused on key policy areas of small business, energy and transportation.
• Worked as part of communications team in crafting speeches, press releases and creating media opportunities for the Congressman.

• Responsible for lobbying, public & media relations and marketing for Maine’s largest behavioral health non-profit
• Established and maintained effective relationships with key elected and appointed officials, service providers and the media regarding the status of services to the agency’s client base.
• Recouped $10 million in funding owed to the agency by the State of Maine/Department of Health and Human Services.
• Wrote press releases, guest op-eds, white papers and other communications as necessary.

• Directed statewide corporate community relations functions as part of Public Policy, External Affairs & Corporate Communications Division.
• Served as member of senior management team reporting directly to company president.
• Represented company to internal and external constituencies to communicate goals and strategic direction in seeking to increase customer loyalty and employee morale.
• Interacted with media to ensure widespread coverage of Verizon as strong corporate citizen.
• Developed and maintained annual Verizon-Maine Foundation budget of $1.5m.
• Cultivated strategic partnerships with key non-profit organizations annually.

• Directed $750,000+ fund-raising effort for gubernatorial campaign.
• Planned and executed 50+ fundraising events statewide.
• Cultivated 6,000 new donors over six-month period.
• Maintained database of 18,000+ donors.
• Prepared campaign finance reports.
• Supervised and trained volunteer committee of 30.

Certificate Of Corporate Community Relations

M.A., Public Policy & Management

B.A., English