Drive workforce development strategic planning efforts while evaluating and maintaining a pipeline of innovation opportunities. Identify, build and manage strategic partnerships that advance organizational and innovation objectives. Construct and lead initiatives and pilot projects that have national, state, regional and county-level impact, with clear paths for long-term implementation. Develop and manage relationships with leaders in the corporate innovation, venture capital and entrepreneurial ecosystem. Define, align and implement an approach to incorporating Social Innovation principles into the organization's strategic initiatives to generate greater workforce development impact in rural and underserved communities. Champion and facilitate employee engagement in the innovation process. Assemble and lead internal cross-functional teams and external partner cooperatives to accomplish strategic and innovation goals. Research, analyze and recommend strategic and innovation priorities to senior leadership and Board of Directors.

Oversaw brand strategy, thought leadership, executive communications, internal communications, strategic messaging, marketing, social media, advertising, events, crisis communications, media relations and public relations for the North Central Texas workforce board. Co-Chaired Industry and Workforce Engagement strategic planning team that identified and created sector-based partnerships to build career pathways, develop training programs and support economic growth. Partnered with internal teams to support employer, education, community and economic development partner initiatives. Developed and implemented strategic communications plans; led brand and reputation management efforts; conducted market research and analysis; manage website content; wrote copy for annual report, news releases, media pitches, brochures and newsletter; formulated digital concepts and campaigns; produced marketing videos and other promotional materials. Managed a team of communications and graphic design professionals, as well as outside ad agencies and vendors.

Reputation and brand management consultancy that helps faith-based organizations and professionals define and elevate their character, content and communication. We build and implement strategic marketing, public relations and communications programs to support long-term business success. www.saltandlightenterprises.com

Grew the business and brand of this leading architecture firm through strategic marketing, new business development, thought leadership, advertising, community outreach, public relations and strategic alliances. I increased the firm’s proposal win rate from 24 percent to 42 percent in my first 12 months in the position.Created the firm’s first strategic marketing plan, including repositioning service offerings, expanding target segments, focusing messaging and implementing better processes for business development and customer relationship management.Designed, wrote content for and launched the firm’s new website; created the firm’s first digital newsletter and content calendar; pitched and placed firm news in industry publications.

Established the creative vision, voice, content and communication of the Stellar Women of Gospel Awards brand; worked with the founder, NYC radio icon Toya Beasley, to build awards show from the ground up.Managed day-to-day aspects of the awards event, including planning and budgeting; venue selection and catering; Honoree, VIP, artist and talent management; event production and set design; show concept, program flow and scripts; sponsorships, marketing communications and media relations; management of vendors, staff and volunteers.

Responsible for the planning and execution of the 2016 Capital City Black Film Festival. Created marketing strategy, fundraising plan and collateral that tripled sponsorship revenue to Festival.Built and promoted the Festival’s brand, developed strategic partnerships, managed VIP and talent relationships and negotiations, generated new revenue and increased ROI, secured sponsors, led fundraising and grant writing efforts.Authored website content, press releases, pitch letters and filmmaker communications. Established new industry partnerships and expanded the organization’s year-round presence. Managed Festival staff and volunteers.

Authored and implemented strategic marketing, brand, public relations, media relations and advertising plans for the Seminary. Served as spokesperson. Designed and produced the annual report as well as marketing collateral for recruiting, events and general branding. Managed agency, interns and department budget.Generated content, communications and appeals in support of development and fundraising efforts. Provided grant writing and donor research support. Created planning, feasibility study and marketing materials for the Seminary’s multimillion-dollar capital campaign. Managed global Alumni Relations efforts, including writing website content, producing the Alumni Newsletter, organizing the Alumni Reunion, and managing commencement and scholarship drive initiatives.

Developed and directed global corporate thought leadership programs, brand management efforts, messaging, content creation, advertising, corporate design and graphics standards, and corporate sponsorship and hospitality events. Advised executive leaders and management on public relations and brand strategies. Official corporate spokesperson. Managed advertising agency.Lead member of integration team that designed communications organizational structure, resources and processes prior to the $36 billion merger of Alcatel and Lucent. Created strategic global communications plans and messaging for new company launch. Directed global cross-functional employee team of 75 that created localized regional and business unit communications plans for launch.

Provided executive counsel and communications support to president of the $5 billion Lucent wireless business. Managed public relations department, budget and staff responsible for strategic communications planning, thought leadership, employee communications, media relations, industry analyst relations and events. Corporate representative and spokesperson on the CTIA communications / public policy subgroup.

Established corporate public relations department, processes and programs. Defined global communications policies and developed content for employee communications, corporate website and press office. Official corporate spokesperson. Managed public relations agency.Managed media relations and financial communications for sale of Ziff-Davis by Softbank. Developed executive messaging and talking points. Wrote and distributed earnings and other financial announcements. Developed and managed financial communications and corporate messaging for the initial public offering of ZDNet, a top-ranked website for news, information and entertainment. Determined brand positioning, strategic marketing and public relations launch plan for SmartPlanet, a social networking and learning website. Created programming lineup, marketing and brand promotion plans for ZDTV, a 24-hour cable show covering computing and the Internet.

Communications strategist and lead spokesperson regarding Department of Justice antitrust investigation against MasterCard. Wrote speeches, scripts, talking points and Q&A documents for executive leaders, and trained them for media interviews and broadcast appearances. Architect of strategic public relations and community outreach programs that successfully protected company’s reputation from organizations seeking to link it to gambling abuse and addiction. Directed all corporate messaging, media relations and financial communications. Developed and managed strategic broadcast and print media efforts in support of the global launch of Priceless advertising campaign. Partnered with member banks to communicate to consumers the benefits of MasterCard financial services and card benefits. Designed and implemented company’s first message tracking and analysis program. Program effectiveness and improvement in positive media coverage and message pick up won an industry award from a leading tracking and measurement company. Managed public relations agency.

Created and implemented strategic communications and media relations plans and materials for Bell Laboratories new business ventures. Collaborated with venture capital firms to spin off ventures into the marketplace. Received an IABC award for launch materials created for a biometric business.

Responsible for public relations, media relations and employee communications. Organized and managed annual global press days (East Berlin, Germany; Cannes, France; and Alameda, CA) for business, financial and trade press. Wrote and distributed press releases, company backgrounders, Q&A documents, employee newsletters and other material. Managed public relations staff and outside PR agency.