Jon Kaplan

Jon Kaplan Email and Phone Number

Director of Public Relations @ Chicago, IL, US
Chicago, IL, US
Jon Kaplan's Location
Chicago, Illinois, United States, United States
Jon Kaplan's Contact Details
About Jon Kaplan

Strategic communications leader and Emmy Award-winning storyteller with more than 10 years of experience in public relations, media relations, content development, and crisis communication. Proven track record in creating and executing communication strategies that enhance brand visibility and stakeholder engagement in diverse industries. Strong collaborator with advanced writing, editing and project management abilities, capable of leading and mentoring cross-functional teams to drive impactful results.Public Relations Director | Storytelling | Media RelationsEmail: jon.w.kaplan@gmail.comSpecializes in PR, communications, and media relations, with a proven track record of building relationships, mentoring teams and securing media placements that drive business growth. Aligns communication efforts with organizational goals, managing multiple projects under tight deadlines while fostering strong media and stakeholder relationships.Oversees content development across diverse platforms, ensuring consistent, high-quality messaging. Leverages advanced writing, editing, and proofreading skills to deliver compelling, well-crafted content that resonates with target audiences.CORE COMPETENCIES:• Strategic Communication Planning • Media Relations• Storytelling • Content Development • Crisis Communication• Project Management• Advanced Writing and Editing • Brand Management• Collaboration & Cross-Functional Leadership• Relationship BuildingCAREER HIGHLIGHTS:– Created the communications strategy for McCormick Place West, securing international media coverage and driving $1.2 billion in trade show business before the facility opened.– Drove an 80% increase in media coverage for a health care company, securing top-tier placements in The New York Times, Business Insider and major television outlets, including ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC.– Led PR strategies and large-scale events for Chicago Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary, gaining national media attention and boosting annual attendance by 23%.– Oversaw communications teams for world-renowned organizations, startups, non-profits, and high-growth companies, consistently driving strategic initiatives that produce measurable results.– Leveraged strong media relationships as former president of the Publicity Club of Chicago and a former journalist, to deliver significant media coverage and enhance brand visibility for clients across diverse industries.Please contact me at jon.w.kaplan@gmail.com for PR, communications, media relations, and storytelling opportunities.

Jon Kaplan's Current Company Details
SQ Marketing and Communications

Sq Marketing And Communications

Director of Public Relations
Chicago, IL, US
Jon Kaplan Work Experience Details
  • Sq Marketing And Communications
    Director Of Public Relations
    Sq Marketing And Communications
    Chicago, Il, Us
  • Chenmed
    Senior Manager, Public Relations (Remote Work From Chicago, Il)
    Chenmed Jun 2022 - Oct 2024
    Work Remotely For Miami, Fl-Based Health Care Provider.
    Preventive health care company with 2,000 employees, operating more than 130 primary care centers in 15 states.Managed and mentored corporate and field PR, storytelling, media relations, media training, thought leadership, crisis communications, video production, and community outreach activities for a leading high-growth, scale-up health care provider. Drove communication strategies in traditional and non-traditional media to enhance brand visibility and patient recruitment across markets.• Achieved a record increase of 80% in earned media coverage in 20 cities, resulting in a more than 5% increase in patient and clinician recruitment, by conceiving a communications strategy of events, storytelling, media pitches, media interviews, press releases, and building relationships that brought community engagement during local medical center openings in 2022 and 2023. • Achieved top-tier press results, including The New York Times, Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Charlotte Observer newspapers; Business Insider, Modern Healthcare and Healthcare Dive trade publications; major market and local ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX television stations; Chicago WBBM and WCPT radio stations.• Provided media training to clinicians and executives for media interviews and also coordinated live interview activities for satellite media tours and in-studio interviews, garnering nearly 250 broadcast hits and an audience of 35M.• Coordinated and collaborated in cross-functional marketing, culture, DEI, and internal communications initiatives to ensure PR, corporate newsroom and local event messages were consistent and integrated, resulting in company projects that won multiple Ragan, PR Daily, Hermes and Stevie Awards.NOTE: Left the company when corporate-wide downsizing led to the elimination of the PR department, including my position.
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  • Chicago Transit Authority
    Senior Public Relations Specialist And Executive Producer Of Digital Content
    Chicago Transit Authority Nov 2017 - Jun 2022
    Greater Chicago Area
    City of Chicago government agency overseeing the second largest bus and rail transit system in America.Serving in a role equivalent to a department manager, I mentored, built relationships and provided hands-on supervision of junior specialists in media relations, storytelling, executive speechwriting, content development, and video production for the City of Chicago’s transit agency. • Drove a growth in ridership of 5%, while building brand recognition and public trust increases of 8%, pre-pandemic, by conceiving and crafting public events and creating compelling brand videos, innovative social media and creative PR events.• Increased social media engagement by 10,000+ followers, by leveraging CTA anniversary milestones into engaging public events featuring rides on vintage CTA trains around the downtown "Loop" district, and also utilizing historic photos and interactive quizzes and facts in social media posts.• Steered a rebuild of system ridership by 10%, post-pandemic. by writing and producing engaging brand messaging and videos to rebuild trust in public transportation, using traditional and non-traditional media.
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  • Navy Pier
    Director Of Communications And Public Relations (Seasonal Contract Position)
    Navy Pier May 2016 - Nov 2016
    Chicago Metropolitan Area, Illinois, United States
    Iconic Chicago landmark and one of America’s top tourism and cultural destinations, welcoming nine million visitors annually.As Communications and PR Director, I led and managed the storytelling, corporate communications, media relations, and public engagement strategies for Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary. Managed the execution of communications initiatives and mentored a team to enhance brand visibility and drive attendance to celebrate the cultural and economic impact of the Pier.• Increased publicity and press coverage by 32% across news, business, travel, and lifestyle media for Navy Pier's Centennial Celebration, by leading the creation of a communications strategy, supervising an external PR agency and mentoring junior staff to execute that strategy.• Boosted Pier attendance by 23%, by producing eye-catching promotional videos and clever messaging on the Pier's social media channels.• Drove a 10% increase in social media engagement and Pier revenues, by using engaging social posts, videos, as well as live music and dance performances by local artists, to promote the Pier as a Chicago cultural destination, not merely a place for family recreation and rides.
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  • Kcet (Pbs), Los Angeles
    Producer/Writer (Seasonal Contract Position)
    Kcet (Pbs), Los Angeles Jan 2016 - May 2016
    Greater Los Angeles Area
    Southern California’s leading public broadcasting affiliate and creator of original news, cultural and public affairs programming for the region.Served as segment writer and producer, with a primary focus on health, science and environmental storytelling.• Increased station viewership and program ratings by 6%, by writing and producing critically-acclaimed news and public affairs segments.• Leveraged experience as a team leader, manager and project supervisor, while working under tight time frames and deadline pressures, to create informative, engaging, public affairs segments that won two Emmy Awards.
  • Fifth Third Bank
    Regional Manager Of Public Relations - Chicago And Northern Indiana
    Fifth Third Bank Sep 2014 - Nov 2015
    Greater Chicago Area
    Cincinnati-based financial institution expanding across America, including the Chicago and northwest Indiana region.PR Manager who developed and supervised regional strategic communications, media relations activities and brand-building storytelling targeting current and potential Chicago and northwest Indiana customers. • Grew the bank's brand recognition in the region by 14%, by developing memorable internal and external communications campaigns, creative videos, CSR programs, and other public events, including Fifth Third Bank’s “Honoring Our Veterans” campaign.• Achieved Fifth Third Bank's yearly regional earned media goals in just 9 months, by leveraging relationships built with regional media and utilizing an engaging media strategy.*NOTE: Left the company due to a Cincinnati corporate leadership change that led to the elimination of the Chicago regional PR department.
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  • Chitown Pr
    Founder And Principal Consultant
    Chitown Pr Mar 2013 - Sep 2014
    Chicago, Illinois, United States
    Self-owned PR consulting company focused on building communications and media relations strategies for non-profits.Consultant and project manager responsible for winning new business, developing strategic communications plans for clients and growing media relationships. Primary activities for clients: storytelling, writing/editing, executive speechwriting, thought leadership, content development, proactive media relations, media training, and executive coaching. Additional focus areas: issues management, brand management and event planning.• Increased media coverage, reputation growth and audience engagement by 10%-50% for diverse clients.• Achieved results for such clients as GreenMark (sustainability); Urban Village (social justice); Klarity (health care tech); United Methodist TV (social impact).• Earned media placements in top-tier media outlets, including ABC, CBS, NBC, and Fox television groups; Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
  • Safer Foundation
    Director Of Communications And Marketing
    Safer Foundation Feb 2012 - Mar 2013
    Chicago, Illinois
    Safer Foundation is one of the country's leading non-profit organizations, dedicated to providing re-entry services to ex-offenders, in the hopes of keeping them from returning to prison. Serving as director of communications and marketing for Safer Foundation, I helped design the marketing and communications strategy that would publicize the transformative work of this non-profit.• Developed, with executive team input, the agency’s marketing, PR, earned media, storytelling, and issue management strategies, leading to a 150% increase in positive media coverage and increased brand recognition in Chicago. • Conceived and executed legislative strategy and issues management initiatives, including the relationships built with community stakeholders and local media, to proactively advance advocacy issues, resulting in saving the 2012 state legislative funding for Safer Foundation's post-incarceration programs.• Ghost-wrote agency-authored articles, letters-to-the-editor and web content, gaining publication in major media outlets, including the Chicago Tribune and Chicago Sun-Times.
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  • Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (Mccormick Place, Navy Pier, Hyatt Regency Mccormick Place)
    Director Of Corporate Communications And Public Relations
    Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority (Mccormick Place, Navy Pier, Hyatt Regency Mccormick Place) Jul 2006 - Jan 2012
    Greater Chicago Area
    The Metropolitan Pier and Exposition Authority (MPEA) is a municipal corporation created by the Illinois General Assembly to oversee the McCormick Place Convention Center (the largest convention center in North America), several hotels, and, during this period, also operating Navy Pier (the leading tourist destination in the Midwest).Conceived, implemented and managed strategic communications plans, including global media relations, digital and project management strategies, and storytelling for external/internal audiences. • Led the creation and execution of a communications strategy for the opening of McCormick Place West, earning global press coverage that fueled the sales team to generate $1.2 billion in trade show bookings before the doors opened.• Developed all written materials (news releases, Op-Eds, etc.) to pitch national media, increasing press coverage by 17%.• Provided executive coaching and media training to the organization's executives, increasing media interviews by 21%.• Worked collaboratively with other agency leaders to craft MPEA’s employee recognition program, which led to a 50% increase in employee satisfaction ratings on internal surveys.• Crafted the agency's first-ever crisis communications plan, which protected the agency's reputation during business disruptions caused by the 2009 Recession. NOTE: Left the organization when a corporate management change led to the elimination of many department positions, including mine.
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Jon Kaplan Skills

Media Relations Public Relations Social Media Strategic Communications Corporate Communications Event Planning Publicity Social Media Marketing Fundraising Marketing Communications Crisis Communications Management Event Management Television Journalism Broadcast Journalism Editing Speech Writing Broadcast New Media Newsletters Leadership Video Production Strategic Planning Internal Communications Marketing Video Facebook Public Speaking Nonprofits Copy Editing Storytelling Entertainment Training Award Winning Writer Writing Integrated Marketing Media Social Networking News Writing Copywriting Media Counsel And Training Speechwriting Blogging Press Releases Advertising

Jon Kaplan Education Details

Frequently Asked Questions about Jon Kaplan

What company does Jon Kaplan work for?

Jon Kaplan works for Sq Marketing And Communications

What is Jon Kaplan's role at the current company?

Jon Kaplan's current role is Director of Public Relations.

What is Jon Kaplan's email address?

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What is Jon Kaplan's direct phone number?

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What schools did Jon Kaplan attend?

Jon Kaplan attended University Of Missouri-Columbia.

What are some of Jon Kaplan's interests?

Jon Kaplan has interest in The Hack Wilson Story, 2014, Playwright, 2009, Health, Publicity Club Of Chicago, Children, Hit Man, Education, Environment.

What skills is Jon Kaplan known for?

Jon Kaplan has skills like Media Relations, Public Relations, Social Media, Strategic Communications, Corporate Communications, Event Planning, Publicity, Social Media Marketing, Fundraising, Marketing Communications, Crisis Communications, Management.

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