Karen Richards Email & Phone Number

Monrovia, California, Us

As Internal Communications Manager, I support our people by aligning internal and executive messaging with the company's vision, mission and values. Through the creation and delivery of meaningful, helpful communications, I help build a deep sense of shared connection, nurturing and encouraging our mission-dedicated employees in their critical work with children and families.I lead internal communications outreach to elevate the voices of our employees, highlight client success stories and develop and embrace new avenues for robust communication throughout the organization. My work also focuses on designing, building and curating content for the companywide intranet site and working cross-functionally to manage communications initiatives from concept to completion.I'm dedicated to keeping the needs of our employees and the people they serve at the center of internal communications, along with living our company values of excellence, teamwork, honesty and compassion.Accomplishments:• Managed launch of new internal email platform for the company to enable measurement and insights into employee engagement• Developed and helped build new companywide SharePoint intranet site, as well as promotion campaign around launch and engagement• Offered dedicated internal communications support for: HR Team, DEI, Compliance, CEO, L&D, and Clinical - as a one-person department• Launched DEI monthly newsletter and took on lead implementation role for company's DEI internal communications and feedback, including championing cultural appreciation and employee stories• Supported communications around company All Hands meetings• Collaborated with external vendor to create and manage new Employee Recruitment Video

I help corporate and nonprofit clients achieve goals and manage change through effective communication, by offering a broad range of services from project management and planning to hands-on writing and editorial work.On the project management side, I work with staff and departments to assess business needs and develop targeted communication programs and campaigns. On the communications side, I provide writing, editing, and proofreading support for both internal and external initiatives.

I’m a writer of memoir, creative nonfiction, poetry, and fiction, as well as a corporate communications specialist. My creative nonfiction has appeared online at Brevity, Literary Mama, Grown & Flown, Sivana East, AndBloom, National Mental Health First Aid, Resilient Writers, and others. I also host a personal blog, the bitter & the sweet at karenrichardswriter.com. My storytelling focuses on weaving intimate, layered narratives about family life, motherhood, mental health, and spirituality. I have a degree in English literature from Holy Cross, creative writing graduate work at Wesleyan University, Mills College and UC Berkeley, and over 20 years in corporate communications as a working mother for a top Fortune 100 company. I’m also a member of the National Association of Memoir Writers, the Nonfiction Authors Association, the Women’s National Book Association and the San Diego Memoir Writers Association.

Pleasanton, Ca, Us

• Manage internal communications, including company initiatives/announcements, acquisitions, charitable giving, HR programs, and quarterly company magazine• Create, edit, and publish clear and compelling internal communications for company employees• Act as the trusted expert for engaging content to elevate the value of the company brand• Collaborate with Marketing, Design, and Digital teams to create strategic communications plans• Project manage communications campaigns to ensure effective, measurable results• Manage delivery of communications via Intranet site, emails, flyers, posters, talking points, and FAQs• Lead communications and administrative management of company’s Matching Gift Program• Send monthly updates via email newsletter to employees, as well as email with C-suite newsAccomplishments: Wrote, edited, and published quarterly glossy magazine for all company employees and retirees globally; revamped magazine design/content; wrote copy for external website; provided support at companywide events (health fairs and charity auctions); high level of communications/strategic guidance for Human Resources department (annual health benefits open enrollment and wellness events like walking challenges); helped set company’s overall internal strategy for communications across the US and Canada.

Hartford, Connecticut, Us

• Act as communications lead for projects supporting business goals• Write, edit, and deliver quality communications for digital, print, website content, email campaigns, newsletters, direct mail, flyers, and manuals• Consult with business as valued expert on communication strategies/methods (message, medium, cost)• Develop deep understanding of and relationships with assigned business areas• Translate complex situations into plain, easy-to-understand language• Play an active role in supporting transition from print to digital communications• Develop key messages for internal/external audiences around critical initiatives• Interface with Design team to creative impactful design pieces• Ensure all communications reflect company’s brand and values• Act as liaison between internal customers and quality/legal reviewers• Work with procurement/vendors to deliver cost-effective, timely communicationsAccomplishments: Provided high level of communications/strategic support for my business partner assignments, working on over 600 projects yearly. Completed key projects for organization, including newsletters (3x yearly to over 90,000 readers) and manual updates. Helped set strategy and create communications for major CA legislative bill. Showed flexibility, agility, and persistence in a changing environment while still meeting goals and deadlines.

Hartford, Connecticut, Us

• Act as communications project manager for key business initiatives• Develop and implement formal project plans and lead project team in defining/executing key tasks• Ensure team completes deliverables on time and within budget, and that projects deliver on objectives• Interface with business leads on project goals, progress, and successful completionAccomplishments: Acted as both newsletter editor-in-chief and project manager, covering distribution, strategy, content, and constituent focus. Supported content/communications for external website launch.

Hartford, Connecticut, Us

• Lead development and production of effective, timely, and useful written communications for physicians/hospitals/medical groups, supporting company’s goals of satisfaction/education/retention• Develop, write, edit, and distribute quarterly newsletter as primary resource for 65,000 physicians• Coordinate, print, and distribute 400 plus targeted direct mailings per year• Maintain external print shop/direct mail vendor relationships• Manage, coach, and mentor Communications AssistantAccomplishments: Enhanced newsletter program to improve quality/readability while reducing costs and using a local, minority-owned print shop, supporting company diversity initiatives. Streamlined direct mail program by negotiating with a single mail house, improving service, quality, and cost effectiveness. Cut newsletter costs by 50% through vendor selection/reviews. Developed/implemented employee training plan.

• Manage all marketing communications to external customers, brokers, and members for the 9 state west region serving 1.7 million health plan members• Coordinate all advertising/promotions (event sponsorship) activities for brand awareness and sales, acting as liaison with internal advertising team, external ad agency, and media buying firm• Manage ads and promotional events under regional budget• Direct media buying firm on priorities, and coordinate media plans for regional/national ad campaigns• Foster external relationships with potential promotions and advertising outlets for print/TV/radio• Write ad copy and collaborate on ad design and art• Help local markets’ promotional events with booth set up, materials, event hosting• Work closely with Public Relations team to capitalize on media exposure at special events• Lead proactively by developing marketing communications to help region achieve sales and growth goals• Give presentations to internal/external audiences on marketing projectsAccomplishments: Managed merger and acquisition communications for 2 major HMOs. Developed ad campaigns for 3 significant network expansions. Contributed to strategic multicultural marketing initiatives in the region. Implemented advertising/promotions strategy for women’s health initiative. Acted as regional liaison for joint sponsorships with the American Heart Association and California Transplant Donor Network.

• Draft booklet-certificates, contracts, and financial agreements for plan sponsor group insurance plans• Meet and consult with plan sponsors (customers) and brokers as a technical expert on benefits plans• Prioritize multiple objectives with case and project management demands• Use strong written/oral communication skills as primary tool for success in communicating with members, plan sponsors and brokersAccomplishments: Managed 2 large HMO accounts for contract administration serving 14,000 members statewide. Acted as internal team Office Automation Coordinator, solving computer trouble shooting issues and communicating to a team of 65. Created and launched internal team newsletter serving 150 readers.

Education record

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), English And Creative Writing

Graduate Courses In Creative Writing