Held responsibility for all external relations functions, including executive communications, government affairs, scientific affairs, public relations, and marketing communications on behalf of U.S. coffee industry at primary trade group.• Handled all editorial functions, e.g. speeches, scripts, columns, member bulletins, blog posts, and Web copy.• Managed association communications, including press relations, social media, and marketing communications.• Acted as industry spokesperson on category-wide issues, providing crisis management for member companies.• Addressed legislative and regulatory issues, including federal and state food safety mandates, trade and tariff issues, municipal regulatory initiatives, and international trade agreements. Managed policy development, drafted industry position papers to government agencies, and devised and delivered messaging to members and the press.• Led NCA’s Scientific Affairs function, including management of chief industry science committee, research analysis and communications, integration of regulatory constructs hinging on scientific data and measurement, and outreach to scientific organizations and government agencies.

Managed executive communications and public affairs program for world’s largest communications association.• Directed PRSA’s Advocacy program for the public relations industry, monitoring and managing regulatory, legislative, and professional issues, and developing and promoting positions to support industry success, integrity, best practices and the PRSA Code of Ethics. Issues addressed included anonymous Internet posting, pay-for-play journalism and blogging, FTC endorsement guidelines and FCC media ownership rules. • Held responsibility for speeches, presentations, op-eds, letters to the editor, executive blog posts, press releases, website development, message points and other officer communications, and all leadership interface with media.• Developed and managed Advocacy program strategic plan and organizational communications plans.• Engaged social media channels regularly for issues management, advocacy outreach, and organizational and professional protection and promotion.

Held responsibility for external relations functions, including executive communications, public relations, scientific affairs, government affairs, market research messaging and member communications on behalf of U.S. coffee industry at primary trade group.• Handled all editorial functions, e.g. speeches, scripts, columns, member bulletins, blog posts, and Web copy.• Managed association communications, including press relations, member communications and marketing messaging.• Frequently acted as industry spokesperson on category-wide issues, providing crisis management for member companies.• Supported President & CEO in addressing legislative and regulatory issues, including federal and state food safety mandates, trade and tariff issues, municipal regulatory initiatives, and international trade agreements. Also supported policy development, drafted industry position papers to government agencies, and devised and delivered messaging to members and the press.• Led NCA’s Scientific Affairs function, including management of chief industry science committee, research analysis and communications, integration of regulatory constructs hinging on scientific data and measurement, and outreach to scientific organizations and government agencies.

Directed all public relations/communications functions for City Council Member representing Lower Manhattan.• Created press function, establishing media contacts, setting editorial style, crafting stories from key initiatives and issues, and managing press relations and information dissemination.• Achieved recognition for CM Gerson by previously elusive press outlets, including The New York Times, Crain’s, major metropolitan dailies such as The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times, CNN, WCBS-TV, WNBC-TV, WABC-TV, Fox5, UPN9 and WB11.• Established CM Gerson with the press as the “other” elected city official qualified to speak on Lower Manhattan redevelopment and as the lone voice of downtown residents and small businesses, resulting in significantly increased media coverage on local, state and national levels.

Delivered communications counsel, strategic support and editorial services to IBM’s Chief Information Officer.• Managed and executed speechwriting for the CIO.• Drove content and took editorial lead on CIO’s business communications to Chairman’s Office.• Repositioned, rewrote and relaunched e-business@IBM, implementing new editorial and design directives across the site’s 1100 pages, and spearheaded and managed editorial content.• Launched, wrote and distributed monthly online newsletters.• Received employee recognition award for contribution to launch of IBM eServer brand.

Tendered comprehensive communications support as chief writer to the chair, president and other executives of the national professional association for Certified Public Accountants.• Launched, researched and wrote AICPA president’s monthly column in the 350,000-circulation Journal of Accountancy on CPA professional issues and AICPA initiatives.• Authored, managed and produced the AICPA annual report, holding primary responsibility.• Researched and wrote speeches, opinion pieces and features for AICPA chair, president, other executives.• Managed industry issues and developed official responses by AICPA Board, executives, governing bodies, committees and members.• Conducted nationwide Tax Day public relations campaign on behalf of 53 state CPA societies.

Managed several Corporate Group accounts, including Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co.; Commodity Exchange, Inc. (COMEX); Recruit USA; and Franciscan Health System.• Was selected by management over more senior staff to be interim, in-house communications director for the COMEX; directed all media relations and editorial functions and served as chief press spokesperson, working directly with the COMEX president.• Directed communications function on-site for Franciscan Health System, acting as company spokesperson, offering communications counsel, controlling media strategy and providing editorial support; successfully defused negative press coverage surrounding sensitive hospital closing.• Devised and implemented a new editorial and design approach for the MassMutual annual report, resulting in a radically different, award-winning product; also managed its $400,000 budget.• Developed comprehensive communications plan to retool MassMutual’s industry positioning and corporate messaging, and provided management with strategic counsel and editorial support. • Conceptualized and executed corporate and product positioning campaign for client concept of tech-ready office space, including press materials, direct mail, and corporate and product brochures.