Craig Samuelson Email & Phone Number

United States

Greater Omaha Area

Greater Omaha Area

Communication StrategyProvided communications consultation to senior leadershipLed strategic communication strategy for Office365 implementation across the DivisionLed communication strategies to ensure a smooth merger with CHI NebraskaImplemented innovative efforts to improve employee and leader communicationsCreated Editorial Board to bring together representatives from Communications, Public Relations, Marketing, Social Media and eHealth; coordinate communications across all internal and external platformsHelped managers (75 percent of all) and employees (60 percent of all) understand the transition of CHI Health out of Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Nebraska's network in a manner that defended the brand and helped drive business growthDeveloped PR/Communications monthly metrics reportTracked and monitored internal audience engagement with MyAlegent and MyCHIhealthManagementManages team of five Communications and PR professionals Fosterws professional growth of team membersSuccessfully mended significant issues between Communications and Marketing/eHealth teamsImproved the team's performance and general work satisfactionCreative DevelopmentIn partnership with eHealth, developed and launched a single intranet to support consistent and timely communicationsDeveloped and led creative promotional effort to introduce our team of pediatricians to our employeesLed effort to redesign the monthly employee enewsletterDeveloped Trauma Survivors event, launching in 2017OtherEffectively managed media inquiries and served as PR liaison during interviewsDesigned Sponsorship Request Scoring processDeveloped, edited and enhanced award-winning employee print newsletterCompleted Federal disaster training and participated in metro drillsServed on Spirit of Mission nomination review committeeLed department effort to sponsor a student nurse at Machame who has since graduated

Elkhorn, Ne

Communication StrategyCreated and implemented global strategic change management communication plansDeveloped and implemented a comprehensive internal communication strategy and Service Level AgreementManaged quarterly all-employee meetingsFormulated strategic rebrand initiative communication planDeveloped and implemented IBM collaborative tool set on intranetCreated integrated communications/corporate communication calendarManagementLead team of four internal communication professionalsManaged communications budgetCoordinated outside vendor support for collateralCreative DevelopmentWrote and edited executive communicationsDeveloped and produced company responses to analysts’ reports on ACI softwareCreated and managed Peer2Peer intranetCreated and served as editor for monthly Manager Toolkit newsletterWrote and edited copy for aciworldwide.comWrote and edited global HR-related and U.S. benefits open enrollment communicationsDeveloped and created executive video and podcastsWrote and edited product brochuresOtherMember of Employee Engagement CommitteeRecipient of ACI Award of Distinction (2012)Recipient of ACI Excellence Award (2012)

Greater Omaha Area

Media Relations - Conducted intense media relations campaigns for:FNBO Direct, a subsidiary of First National Bank of Omaha, the largest privately held bank in America. Awarded a PRSA Paper Anvil Award for Social MediaACI Worldwide, a leading provider of electronic payments software and services to major banks, retailers and processors around the worldLiveOffice, the leading provider of software-as-a-service e-mail archiving and Hosted Exchange 2007 solutionsProvidedStrategic media relations to achieve client goalsSuccessful story angles and approaches with online, print and broadcast mediaStrong relationships with key media contactsRelevant media to clients' interestsKnowledge of social media's role in public relations campaignsProgram Implementation - was responsible for effective program implementation on key accounts including:Managed budgetsCreated complex articles, coverage reports, pitches, press releases, talking points, well-positioned client memos and proposalsPresented rationale for program tactics on accounts and linked tactics to strategies and overall goalsManaged newly formed project team - oversaw project work of two junior staff members and one temp positionAccount Management - effectively managed accounts with a focus on meeting the client's current needs and a keen perception of future needsBuilt client confidence in program value and status with day-to-day contact with clientsOffered guidance on tactics, deadlines logistics and budgetsEnsured recommendations met client needsManaged "proactive pitch program" to ensure regular, timely coverage

Greater Omaha Area

Communication StrategyConsulted senior and middle management on communication needs, then researched, developed strategies, wrote and edited communicationsInitiated ongoing communication plans for Human Resources Management System software implementation, including online self-service functionalitiesCreative DevelopmentWrote, edited and designed layout of 401(k) retirement newslettersWrote, edited and designed layout of annual 401(k) Fund Performance Summary in coordination with external fund managers, internal treasury and internal legal departmentsWrote and edited Open Enrollment print and design intranet marketing materialsDesigned annual Open Enrollment employee survey and evaluate resultsResearched, wrote and edited weekly Employee Hub articles on the company intranetResearched, wrote and edited weekly Human Resources Community Page news articles on the company intranetDeveloped the structure of the Employee Hub page on the company intranetCreated monthly webzine, HR infoSource, for internal HR professionalsDeveloped and executed Pension Choice communication campaignManaged a customized 10,000 page internal online help systemPlanned and coordinated internal special eventsOtherAwarded a Paper Anvil Award of Excellence, Communications Programs, Internal (PRSA) for 2005 Consumer-Directed Health Plan initiativeAwarded a Paper Anvil Award of Merit, New Media (PRSA) for the Consumer-Directed Health Plan video for 2005 Consumer-Directed Health Plan initiativeAwarded inaugural People's Choice Award - Best Cafe Community (Employee Hub)Awarded inaugural Peer Choice Award - Best Cafe Community (Employee Hub)

Greater Omaha Area

Designed and constructed agency websiteWrote and edited agency marketing materials: media releases, newsletters, annual reports, brochures and postersRepresented Family Service on television and radio interviewsPresented at United Way functions, Heartland Conference on the Family, Salute to Families recognition gala and a variety of other fundraising eventsResearched and analyzed an internal media auditDeveloped therapist referral programPrepped therapists for media interviews

Master'S Degree, Strategic Communication Management

Mini Mba, Idea Design To Execution Accelerator

Bachelor’S Degree, Communications, Dean'S List

Activities and Societies: PRSSA