Gerard Shields Email & Phone Number

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

Respond to media inquiries from national and regional reporters, researching FTA history, programs, policies and initiatives to provide thorough, timely and accurate information. Write speeches for the Administrator, Deputy Administrator and Executive Director for grant signings, industry conferences, university keynote addresses, and professional symposiums. Craft social media, research Providing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn posts on milestones achieved by the FTA and transit agencies across the nation. Research and write briefing papers, culling information from department subject matter experts for upcoming meetings and events. Includes creating a media landscape, listing stories of current events in arena.

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

Reorganized community relations plans for 30 Florida electrical grid rebuilding projects, including writing public engagement plans for each. Established a rapid response team, instituted 24/7 access to the company and quickly settled property owner disputes. Cited for thoroughly handling project challenges through timely and thoroughly reaching out to key project stakeholders.

Towson, Md

Restored department image following a national prison drug smuggling scandal, employing veteran news reporter experience to establish exceptional rapport with local, state and national media, pitching stories about positive department initiatives, programs and employees onto the front pages of The Washington Post and Baltimore Sun, culminating with a glowing Diane Sawyer 20/20 piece lauding the department's women's rehabilitation programs. Employee of the Year department communication winner.

Elevated the Washington status of the nation's seventh largest newspaper through exhaustive coverage of the federal government, exposing government shortfalls while assisting in national spot news coverage on incidents such as the Boston Marathon bombing.

Raised the national profile of the mayor of Baltimore, a city leading the nation in crime and addiction, culminating in a front page "Esquire" article naming him "America's Best Young Mayor" and leading to his election as Maryland Governor and eventual 2016 presidential candidate

Bachelor Of Arts, Journalism

Activities and Societies: The Daily CollegianServed as Opinion and Editorial Columnist for the nation’s top-ranked college newspaper.

Certification, Emergency/Disaster Response Communication

Trained to lead disaster and crisis media response

Knight Fellow, Govemment Finance

Analyzed government financial documents