Jo C. Email & Phone Number

Kansas City, Missouri

Responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating Corporate Communications programs and digital/social strategies with audiences of dairy farmers, boards, employees, and industry organizations (i.e. state governments, land grant universities, other checkoff associations, etc.) within the agricultural industry. Led the strategy and implemented changes for the company's WordPress-based website. Responsible for ongoing reporting of metrics and analysis of analytics that drove… Show more Responsible for developing, coordinating, implementing and evaluating Corporate Communications programs and digital/social strategies with audiences of dairy farmers, boards, employees, and industry organizations (i.e. state governments, land grant universities, other checkoff associations, etc.) within the agricultural industry. Led the strategy and implemented changes for the company's WordPress-based website. Responsible for ongoing reporting of metrics and analysis of analytics that drove the digital strategy on the website, social platforms and the organization's podcast. Served on the Crisis and Issues Team, delivered employee information resources, and provided support to the general communication needs of Midwest Dairy. Co-led Midwest Dairy's Employee Advisory Group committee which worked with company leadership and HR to improve and strengthen workplace culture. Show less

Assisted in strategy and development of content for agency clients, largely focused on agriculture. Oversaw content and day-to-day functionality of client's WordPress-based website and app. Assisted in a variety of special projects including the development of internal communications messaging focused on changed management, creating a pitch deck and marketing collateral for a new client and writing content for LinkedIn (an agency client). Working remotely, I helped advise team leadership on… Show more Assisted in strategy and development of content for agency clients, largely focused on agriculture. Oversaw content and day-to-day functionality of client's WordPress-based website and app. Assisted in a variety of special projects including the development of internal communications messaging focused on changed management, creating a pitch deck and marketing collateral for a new client and writing content for LinkedIn (an agency client). Working remotely, I helped advise team leadership on creating a better environment for remote employees, improving inclusion and helping strengthen participation from and for remote team members. Show less

Overland Park, Ks

Led team of experienced project managers, writers and social moderators in day-to-day oversight of company intranet, serving more than 300,000 corporate employees, dealers, contractors and third-party vendors. Responsible for development and implementation of content lifecycle for more than 14,000 pieces of content used daily to directly service customers. Led effort to reduce company content from nearly 60,000 pieces of documentation spread across three platforms to 14,000 on just one… Show more Led team of experienced project managers, writers and social moderators in day-to-day oversight of company intranet, serving more than 300,000 corporate employees, dealers, contractors and third-party vendors. Responsible for development and implementation of content lifecycle for more than 14,000 pieces of content used daily to directly service customers. Led effort to reduce company content from nearly 60,000 pieces of documentation spread across three platforms to 14,000 on just one platform. Assisted in all aspects of conversion to new Jive-based intranet including change management, communication, governance, training and strategy. Initiated company-wide implementation of a single style guide, and put guide into action by both rewriting of content and training others on writing in customer-speak tonality. Show less

Denver, Colorado

Served as Regional Communications Manager for McDonald's USA, overseeing communications for the Rocky Mountain Region which includes five states and more than 800 restaurants. In this role, I worked closely with Regional officers and leadership, as well as our Owner/Operators, to ensure messaging was consistent with the System platform. Daily duties included relationship-building, writing, editing and providing counsel on communication strategies and vehicles to executive leadership and… Show more Served as Regional Communications Manager for McDonald's USA, overseeing communications for the Rocky Mountain Region which includes five states and more than 800 restaurants. In this role, I worked closely with Regional officers and leadership, as well as our Owner/Operators, to ensure messaging was consistent with the System platform. Daily duties included relationship-building, writing, editing and providing counsel on communication strategies and vehicles to executive leadership and management. Worked closely with Executive Vice President/General Manager and Regional leadership to develop and drive strategic communications plans, shape messaging, leverage metrics to recommend strategies and implement tactics to support the System “Plan to Win.” Ensured alignment between National and Regional communications, and led internal communications efforts within the Region to drive business results, motivate and inform. Also acted as a liaison between Regional leadership and Owner/Operators. Wrote for a variety of platforms including speeches, senior leadership messages, business performance reviews, press releases, Q&As, key messages and other strategic messaging opportunities. Actively participated in the Regional Leadership Council and Senior Leadership Team. Show less

Thornton, Colorado

Oversaw and directed communications team for dairy checkoff organization in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Responsible for developing and implementing communications strategies for four business units.Served on the Core Leadership and Crisis Management teams, providing communications support at critical times that involved issues or events that impacted dairy, dairy image and/or dairy farms and farmers. Managed $300k annual department budget and communications staff and contractors… Show more Oversaw and directed communications team for dairy checkoff organization in Colorado, Montana and Wyoming. Responsible for developing and implementing communications strategies for four business units.Served on the Core Leadership and Crisis Management teams, providing communications support at critical times that involved issues or events that impacted dairy, dairy image and/or dairy farms and farmers. Managed $300k annual department budget and communications staff and contractors contracted specializing in website development and hosting, online marketing, creative design, videography, photography and writing. Led communications and social media training for staff, funders and other agricultural business partners. Oversaw complete redevelopment of website to better serve consumers which included launching first company blog.While at Western Dairy, accomplished the following milestones:• Fully restructured communications within the organization which resulted in a 200 percent increase in annual impressions, a 250 percent increase in engagement on social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest and Instagram) and saved the company more than $50k annually in print and collateral costs.• Developed and implemented “Stand Up for Ag,” an effort to unify those in the agricultural industry and traditional ag supporters to speak with one voice and common messages to educate consumers at-large about modern-day farming.• Worked closely with national dairy checkoff, Dairy Management Inc. (DMI), and served on State/Regional Communications team, as a regional Social Media Trainer and also on both DMI’s Common Voice network and Farmer Activation Taskforce. Show less

Denver, Co & Phoenix, Az

Pitched story ideas to editors, conducted interviews and wrote articles for publications including Spotlight Magazine, Your Health Monthly, North Valley Magazine and SanTan Essential. Also provided public relations consultation and copywriting services to a variety of clients including The Sieb Company (luxury marketing firm), Marketing with a Flair and The Herberger Theater Center. Contracted duties included development of marketing and public relations programs, and overseeing and… Show more Pitched story ideas to editors, conducted interviews and wrote articles for publications including Spotlight Magazine, Your Health Monthly, North Valley Magazine and SanTan Essential. Also provided public relations consultation and copywriting services to a variety of clients including The Sieb Company (luxury marketing firm), Marketing with a Flair and The Herberger Theater Center. Contracted duties included development of marketing and public relations programs, and overseeing and coordinating public/media relations activities (development of target media lists, writing and distributing press releases/advisories, developing media relationships, pitching client news and managing media relations). In addition, developed new business proposals, RFP responses and wrote copy for web sites, print advertisements, brochures and client newsletters. Show less

Glendale, Az

Led a team of four full-time Realtors in listing and selling lender-owned properties. Responsibilities included the pre-marketing, marketing and closing of residential properties for a variety of lenders with the largest client being Fannie Mae. Regularly produced extensive market analysis reports as well as property comparative analysis reports for clients, averaging 150 reports per month. Oversaw a large monthly budget for property maintenance and management and was responsible for the… Show more Led a team of four full-time Realtors in listing and selling lender-owned properties. Responsibilities included the pre-marketing, marketing and closing of residential properties for a variety of lenders with the largest client being Fannie Mae. Regularly produced extensive market analysis reports as well as property comparative analysis reports for clients, averaging 150 reports per month. Oversaw a large monthly budget for property maintenance and management and was responsible for the recruitment, training and leadership for personal team of agents. Served as the point of contact for Fannie Mae, Countrywide, Bank of America and other clients, and handled all contract negotiations and vendor relations. Increased portfolio of REO clients from one lender with three listings in 2005 to 15 clients with 150 listings in 2009. Success rate in marketing and selling properties for clients exceeded 90 percent from 2005-2010. Achieved multi-million-dollar producer status as a part-time agent in 2007 and repeated achievement in 2008 and 2009. Expanded experience to property management in 2010 as part of The Metropolitan Group (in Aurora, CO) while also focusing on REO and private investor clients as a licensed agent in both Phoenix and Denver. Show less

Phoenix, Az

Planned and executed public/media relations strategies for agency clients in the health and wellness, hospitality, real estate, education and luxury products industries which included Toll Brothers, KB Home, DeVry University, Kronos Optimal Health, Linthicum Custom Builders, Lyle Anderson Companies, Newland Communities, Pointe South Mountain Resort and New Zealand-based Redwood Companies. Wrote all client press and marketing materials including web copy, blogs, email blasts and social media… Show more Planned and executed public/media relations strategies for agency clients in the health and wellness, hospitality, real estate, education and luxury products industries which included Toll Brothers, KB Home, DeVry University, Kronos Optimal Health, Linthicum Custom Builders, Lyle Anderson Companies, Newland Communities, Pointe South Mountain Resort and New Zealand-based Redwood Companies. Wrote all client press and marketing materials including web copy, blogs, email blasts and social media updates, and print items such as advertorials, brochures, press releases and newsletter articles. Researched and developed media lists, identified story angles and pitched client news to various print and broadcast media outlets to secure coverage. Planned and facilitated client special events. Event responsibilities included budgeting, identifying and hiring vendors as well as day-of-event management. Worked with agency executives to identify opportunities for new business and developed/conducted new business presentations. Managed all billing and invoicing and wrote monthly status reports and meeting agendas for assigned clients. Show less

Phoenix, Az

Responsible for marketing/communications project management on behalf of John C. Lincoln's North Mountain Hospital and Desert Mission community services including a food bank, senior services, community outreach programs and childcare facilities. Assessed marketing/communications needs of various assigned departments and made recommendations to meet specific goals. Served as editor/writer for company's bi-weekly employee newsletter. Planned internal special events in conjunction with… Show more Responsible for marketing/communications project management on behalf of John C. Lincoln's North Mountain Hospital and Desert Mission community services including a food bank, senior services, community outreach programs and childcare facilities. Assessed marketing/communications needs of various assigned departments and made recommendations to meet specific goals. Served as editor/writer for company's bi-weekly employee newsletter. Planned internal special events in conjunction with communication plans. Also wrote for the Network's various publications; assisted with media relations by responding to media calls and arranged interviews with physicians, patients and hospital personnel. Served in “off hours” media pager rotation to handle media inquiries and responded to major incidents, assisting in directing media and coordinating press conferences as needed. Show less

Phoenix, Arizona

Wrote and edited content for internal publications, distributed to more than 100,000 executives, employees and dealers. Planned story budgets; interviewed executives, department heads and various dealers and employees for stories; supervised photo sessions; and proofed final page layouts prior to printing. Wrote and researched content for U-Haul SuperGraphics web site.

Mesa, Az

Covered education beat for Mesa school district. Responsibilities included attendance at weekly board meetings as well as constant monitoring of the district's 72 schools and more than 75,000 students. Also worked weekend police beat. Majority of Tribune career was spent as a general assignment reporter covering breaking news and developing human interest articles. Worked closely with editors to develop in-depth packages and daily stories. Prior to covering education, served as a features… Show more Covered education beat for Mesa school district. Responsibilities included attendance at weekly board meetings as well as constant monitoring of the district's 72 schools and more than 75,000 students. Also worked weekend police beat. Majority of Tribune career was spent as a general assignment reporter covering breaking news and developing human interest articles. Worked closely with editors to develop in-depth packages and daily stories. Prior to covering education, served as a features reporter. Show less

Master Of Business Administration (M.B.A.), Organizational Leadership & Change Management

Earned my MBA with an emphasis in Organizational Leadership and Change Management.

Bachelor Of Arts, Journalism

Activities and Societies: Alpha Chi Omega, Society of Professional Journalists