MISSION The Mission of the Maine House Republican Communications Office is to advance Maine and the House Republican Caucus (HRC) by helping its Members and staff gather, consider and fully discuss all ideas; to increase public engagement; to foster confidence; and to build goodwill with an admired, respected and effective HRC.The Director of Communications plays a lead role in developing and disseminating the key messages of the HRC, provides strategic communications advice and support to leadership and members.DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIESThe Director of Communications has three main responsibilities: media relations, communications planning and strategic message coordination.Working under the direction of the Leader and in conjunction with the Assistant, caucus membership and staff, the Director develops and delivers messages on behalf of Maine House Republicans.Specifically, the Communications Director:• Develops and directs the communications plan for the Leader;• Writes, edits, and distributes media statements on an on-going basis;• Organizes and schedules press conferences, press availability, and interviews;• Writes and edits speeches, opinion pieces, talking points, newsletters and othermaterials;• Serves as the primary media contact for the Leader and HRC, manages routine questions from the media, initiates articles about HRC activities and legislative proposals, and maintains productive relationships with reporters and news organizations;• Helps maintain the HRC’s social media presence;• Provides strategic communication advice and coordination in a fast-paced political environment

Director of Communications, Public Information Officer and Spokesman for the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), Maine's largest natural resource agency. Part of the senior staff and leadership at the DACF. Worked closely with its Commissioner and all employees to create and maintain public understanding of and support for departmental programs, priorities and professionals throughout Maine and beyond. Developed and disseminated all official agency announcements and materials; oversaw all strategic communications planning and implementation, including department budgetary initiatives; and managed all DACF web content, publications and social media communications. Served as the point of contact for all DACF-related media inquiries.

COSDA is an affiliate and and supporting partner of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) that is composed of communications officers of each state’s department of agriculture.

Advised the Governor on health, welfare, insurance and professional licensing policy matters, including: Maine Department of Health and Human Services, Maine Bureau of Professional & Financial Services's Bureau of Insurance, and the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Performed other policy-related duties as assigned. This was an interim position.Acting Senior Policy Advisor - January 2018, assisted Governor’s Office with Marine Resource, Inland Fisheries & Wildlife, Environmental Protection, Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry matters until new Senior Policy Advisor could start.

Provided Senators and Senate Leadership with legislative policy support and assistance communicating with the public and constituents. Responsibilities included: briefings, white papers, memos, bill summaries, talking points, press releases, opinion columns and advice on legislative strategy. I worked collaboratively with Senators and co-workers on legislation and constituents matters. I also served as the Partisan StaffAssistant to both the Senate and House Majority Offices on matters concerning gubernatorial nominations.In 2009, I was part of a team that developed a two-year legislative/strategic communications plan (Common Sense Solutions) designed to achieve a pro-reform majority, then helped Senators implement it. From 2010-2012, I helped the new majority enact major reforms based on commitments made to Maine citizens.

Community-based, nonprofit transportation service for Seniors and Visually-impaired Adults operating in 14 communities in the greater-Portland area. Supervised all aspects of this 24 hour-a-day, seven-days-a-week service, including operations, human resources, marketing, public relations, volunteer recruitment, information systems, finance, and budget ($300,000+). Responsibilities also included: Board of Directors development and relations, fundraising initiatives, customer relations, business and community relations, vehicle donation/trade programs, and affiliate relations with ITNAmerica the first national, nonprofit transportation network for America's aging population.

Executive Director of a statewide nonprofit organization whose mission was to promote brain injury awareness, prevention, education and advocacy. The organization achieved its goals with a small staff, volunteers, and an annual budget of $347,000.

Program Director for a nationally recognized center for the provision of training, consultation, and technical assistance in the areas of assistive technology, specialized software, web accessibility, and universal design in education. The center promoted the use of technology to enable all individuals to lead full and independent lives. Responsibilities included: Programmatic and development activities to attract foundation, state, federal, corporate, and philanthropic monies to support initiatives that served individuals with disabilities. Provided planning, research, and written proposals, then technical assistance, in the form of project design project/program implementation.

Development Department Part of a six-member development team responsible for attracting financial resources and support for a 113-year old boys and girls group home with a $10 Million budget. The 2,450-acre central Maine campus included a High School, Middle School, Natural History Museum, extensive public Trail System, Maine Wildlife Preserve, and Working Farm. Responsibilities included: The acquisition of funding from foundation, state, federal, corporate, and philanthropic sources for the support of At-Risk Youth. Provided planning, research, and written proposals, then technical assistance, in the form of project design project/program implementation, and reporting in the following areas: Education, Housing, Technology, Natural Environment, Service Learning, At-Risk Youth, Water Resources, Natural History, Ending Hunger, and Community Service.

Secured over $4.341 Million in federal and foundation assistance. Responsibilities: planning, implementing and aggressively pursuing funding opportunities through grant applications; providing expertise, research and technical assistance in the preparation of comprehensive economic and community development studies; and providing assistance on economic development and community development projects and city administered federal programs.Nationally recognized projects:LEWISTON ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY Designed and implemented a five-month community strategic planning process that included input and participation from over 2,000 citizens, a twenty-nine-member Steering Committee, five project design committees and 65 organizations. Editor in Chief and Primary Writer of Lewiston's 300 page, two volume application for designation as a federal Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community (EZ/EC). Lewiston was designated New England's first rural federal Enterprise Community (EC) in 1999, and formed a nonprofit corporation, Empower Lewiston, to received $2.5 million over a 10-year period to implement it's Strategic Plan. As the federal EC contact and Empower Lewiston Project Leader, I provided technical assistance for the tasks associated with forming the nonprofit corporation, and the signing a memorandum of agreement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Empower Lewiston went on to receive/leverage over $65 Million in financial support to revitalize some of Maine's poorest neighborhoods. BATES MILL COMMUNITY ECONOMIC REDEVELOPMENT INITIATIVE Wrote and submitted successful applications for EPA assistance, including an EPA National Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot. Served as Director for the two-year Pilot which produced a Phase II Environmental Assessment, Cleanup Action Plan, and funding Assistance Strategy Document for the Bates Mill Project. EPA assistance for this project while I was Director totaled $1.4 million.

Responsible for overseeing a congressional office serving four counties. Responsibilities included: representing Congressman at events; monitoring and updating Member on district and local issues; overseeing and providing constituent casework, services, correspondence and requests; and acting as a liaison with federal, district and local agencies. As the Federal Grants & Aid Coordinator, oversaw and coordinated all district requests for federal financial assistance in the form of grants and aid.

Maintained solo practice while providing legal advice and referral service on the Legal Services for the Elderly (LSE) Hotline to individuals age 60 and over. Practice focused primarily on elder law issues, including social security, Medicare, Medicaid, age discrimination, landlord-tenant, consumer protection, estate planning, probate and election law. After leaving LSE, I served on the Board of Directors and as Treasurer.

Committees: Banking & Insurance, Audit & Program Review, Legal Affairs, Education Nominee/Candidate for the office of Maine State Treasurer in 1994