Craig Packer Email & Phone Number

Highly skilled and adept business development leader and chief corporate cat-herder with a demonstrated capacity to mobilize proposal development teams with positive energy, flexibility, deft and self-deprecating humor, and an unswerving commitment to the corporate win. Especially skilled at developing compelling corporate “sells” that clearly delineate why JBS constitutes the best value to potential clients. Oversee company-wide proposal development resource management, proposal content development, preliminary and final proposal production, and pipeline and proposal development data analytics.

In my 11 years with JBS International, crafted winning proposal text for key corporate targets across multiple operating divisions of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), other federal agencies, and state government. Most recently, led the development of two Food and Drug Administration (FDA) IDIQ proposals that resulted in Region 4 and Region 5 awards to JBS and oversee JBS's tobacco retailer inspection business line. Provide corporate oversight for inspection programs in Alaska, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Utah, and Wyoming. Led development of the $12 million Federal Office of Rural Health Policy (FORHP) Rural Communities Opioid Response Program (RCORP) – Evaluation proposal, which involved crafting a complex and strategic firewall to ensure evaluation integrity. Most recently, played a key role in winning the $35 million SAMHSA State Program Improvement TA contract. In 2021, developed the new JBS Proposal Content Management System (CMS), which organizes JBS proposal content in a strategic and thoughtful manner for proposal writers to leverage for future JBS bids. Conducted internal user testing to evaluate CMS utility and functionality prior to its launch. Serve as the corporate lead for training the future generation of technical proposal managers (TPMs) to ensure they possess the knowledge, skills, and leadership capacity they need to develop compliant proposals--and most importantly, win. Training a growing arsenal of new proposal writers to develop tight, compliant, and hard-hitting text that conforms to client specifications.

Played a key role in supporting strategically significant HHS contracts, including the SAMHSA Public Engagement Platform (formerly known as the SAMHSA Health Information Network) and its strategic plan. Conducted formative research and brainstormed creative concepts for a campaign focusing on the relationship between alcohol or drug use, risky sexual behavior, and HIV transmission that resulted in the "Text Message" campaign that yielded numerous industry awards and the follow on bilingual "After the Party" spot that earned an Emmy nomination. Performed a plain language rewrite of a computer-based tutorial for the the Department of Veterans Affairs on cybersecurity. For the NICHD, developed a comprehensive media plan for the release of the potentially controversial findings of the Pediatric Seizures Study. Served as Task lead and lead writer for the National Children's Study Design Workgroup. Wrote a comprehensive report on the health status of AAPI communities for the White House Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and conducted two high-profile rewrites for ODPHP--the second of which was done at Dr. Satcher's request. For HRSA, served as lead writer for The Companion Document on LGBT Health and drafted Sourcebooks for ORHP.

For SAMHSA’s Center for Mental Health Services (CMHS), wrote news releases, media advisories, opinion-editorials, speeches, brochures, articles, radio PSA scripts, and other products for the Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health campaign. Served as a lead author of Mental Health Care for People Living With or Affected by HIV/AIDS: A Practical Guide, a 200-page manual designed to assist national, state, and local programs as they establish, deliver, and evaluate mental health programs for people living with or affected by HIV/AIDS. Developed an information kit for the HIV/AIDS Mental Health Services Demonstration Program. For SAMHSA’s Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP), developed an array of collaterals for several CSAP campaigns, including Girl Power!; Reality Check; and Your Time, Their Future. Materials ranged from radio PSAs scripts, brochures, and information kits to booklets, speeches, and other products. Developed a series of HRSA fact sheets on women’s health, health care quality, health care provider education and training, HIV/AIDS, and other key program areas. Produced the HRSA Communications Manual, which outlined tips for developing agency communications materials, securing HHS approval for publications, and other important procedural issues. Created the HRSA Spokesperson Training Manual that provided guidance for interacting effectively with the media.

Directed a national, congressionally mandated clearinghouse—later known as the National Mental Health Information Center. Led the development of marketing collaterals. Oversaw the development of the clearinghouse Web site and directed the Web site marketing strategy. Worked closely with clearinghouse users to gather feedback and safeguard quality of service. Drafted more than 60 speeches per year for CMHS leadership, including key policy speeches at national meetings and conferences, during a period of extraordinary systems change. Coordinated with host organizations to ensure scripted remarks were appropriate for the event and audience. Responded to more than 300 annual media inquiries from national print, broadcast, and trade outlets. Coordinated interviews for senior CMHS officials. Provided ad hoc media training to the CMHS Director, as well as Mrs. Tipper Gore when she chaired a national conference on managed care and participated in a media roundtable. Directed proactive media outreach initiatives, such as the launch of the Caring for Every Child’s Mental Health campaign. Supervised the development and production of approximately 100 publications per year. Assisted CMHS program staff in successfully navigating the HHS publication planning and clearance process, achieving a 100 percent approval rate for clearance requests submitted. Served as the ghost writer for articles by the CMHS Director that were published in U.S Medicine and Psychiatric Times.

Served as managing editor of the agency’s biweekly newsletter, HRSA Highlights. Wrote original content, edited drafts, completed layout, and secured approvals. Functioned as the agency’s secondary media officer and spokesperson for high profile media outreach initiatives, such as the first-ever publication of the names of Health Education Assistance Loan defaulters in the Federal Register. Coordinated interviews with senior agency officials.

Managed HHS Radio, a daily, automated radio news feed. Responsibilities included supervising interns, writing scripts, and voicing stories. Maintained agency mailing lists of HHS communications personnel, key constituents, media outlets, and other target audiences.

B.A., Journalism

Graduate, Economics And Media Ethics