Dusty Joy Foundation (LiveLung) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization serving the lung cancer community. Our mission is advancing lung cancer education, early detection and compassion for people impacted by lung cancer. We host a network of educational patient groups both online and in person. We also provide resource bags, Hope Totes, to dozens of cancer centers where nurse navigators distribute them to newly diagnosed lung cancer patients. One of our programs is a grassroots campaign to raise lung cancer awareness. Everyone knows the #1 cause of lung cancer but few know the #2 cause of lung cancer so we also promote radon awareness and distribute free radon test kits in high-risk areas. We also serve the greater lung cancer community via a web portal for newly diagnosed patients and the nonprofits that support them.

• Strengthened and sustained relationships between donors and the Medical Center by managing and implementing donor relations activities; • Systems thinker, project manager and able writer with fundraising experience and team-building skills; • Collaborated with gift officers, information systems designers, alumni relations staff and finance staff to define stewardship communication and data management systems; • Combined proven methods with creative new ideas to develop best practices in gift stewardship.

Developed and implemented the media relations program for Wake Forest University’s Babcock Graduate School of Management. Worked with variety of local, regional and national media on behalf of the school’s dean, professors, academic institutions, student organizers and others to promote the university’s goals and objectives.* Pitched story ideas resulting in articles in the Washington Post, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Barron’s, Attaché and several others.* Collaborated with webmaster to develop school’s first online Press Room for media.* Incorporated advanced use of technology in media relations program through online media database, experts guide for journalists and electronic distribution of communications.* Coached and provided instrumental public relations support to start-ups at the Babcock Demon Incubator and Family Business Center members that resulted in targeted media hits.* Wrote and edited content for alumni magazine, web site and advertising.

While at this corporate law firm, the organization entered new markets through mergers and acquisitions and grew by nearly 300 percent. In addition to media relations and web master responsibilities, early duties included desktop publishing. * Created and implemented firm’s first comprehensive strategic media plan.* Delivered significant, measurable media and web results.* Coordinated statewide press conferences (Governor Hunt, tobacco settlement).* Coached senior management and attorneys in preparation for media interviews.* Supervised teams of outside web vendors during three generations of web site.* Collaborated with external teams on complex media campaign for firm’s technology spin-off.* Incorporated cutting-edge technology and processes on firm web site.* Attended professional conferences and developed relationships with journalists.* Managed day-to-day web content and news section of intranet.* Produced print advertisements via desktop publishing.

Assigned feature stories, conducted interviews and wrote articles. Collaborate on page layout.

Designed pages, wrote headlines and edited articles written by staff reporters and wire stories.

Focused on education, business, features and government in a six-county region as beat reporter. Served on Marketing Committee. Produced twice-weekly features section. Designed and edited special sections. Coached reporters and scheduled feature story assignments. Developed story ideas. Mentored contributing columnists and freelancers.