Karen Spicer Email & Phone Number

Ellicott City

Public Information Office (PIO), County Executive• Coordinate logistics and draft messages and talking points for media announcements, events and campaigns (including regular public meetings hosted by the County Executive)• Research, draft and produce County Executive recognition correspondence, proclamations and certificates (nearly 300 requests annually)• Collaborate with graphic and visual media staff to fulfill multi-media needs (i.e. posters, evites, flyers, handouts)• Review and edit department messages and facilitate County Executive participation in events• Represent Public Information Office on county Emergency Management Operations Group (EMOG)• Staff Joint Information Center and Call Center during Emergency Operation Center activation and exercises (including two Ellicott City floods, several snow storms and other disasters)• Manage internal events and campaigns including Bring Your Child to Work Day and United Way• Arrange social media and website content including Executive and emergency messages• Respond to constituent inquiries via website emails and information office phone calls• Facilitate requests under the Maryland Public Information Act (backup support)

Mt. Airy, Md

Quality, local breeder of labrador retreivers for more than 20 years involving animal care and facility maintenance, as well as coordination and education of customers with new puppies.

Maryland

MD-Licensed Property and Casualty Insurance Agent• Auto, homeowners, and other property and casualty insurance subject expert• Customer education of insurance needs and operationsContinuing Education Instructor• Development of MD-approved continuing education classes for licensed insurance agents • Delivering course instruction to agents in fulfillment of MD-licensed continuing education requirements

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Work with small businesses to advance communication quality and effectiveness through written, online and promotional materials either as a la carte items or full scale communication campaigns

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Media Relations • Advised strategic responses to 300+ annual reactive media requests and proactive media campaigns (i.e. disaster preparedness, health care reform and regulatory activities)• Coordinated logistics and coverage of media events (i.e. insurance company successful rehabilitation and health reform and CareFirst BCBS public hearings )Publication Production• Managed and approved development and production aspects 80+ consumer publications on insurance topics (i.e. health, auto, title and commercial insurance)• Directed procurement, budget ($150,000 annually) and workflow of graphic design / print vendors• Originated and approved varying employee (275+) newslettersWeb Content Management / Social Media• Developed and posted content (10 – 30 edits weekly) and led 1 to 2 IT professionals• Analyzed web needs of business units for internal and external sites (i.e. launching online employee handbook and communicating regulatory procedures to licensed entities• Implemented and planned site enhancements to increase and streamline usage of interactive business activities• Visualized initial stages of social media plan within state standardsCrisis Management • Directed agency communications for internal emergency operations and agency response to external natural disasters and emergencies• Support state emergency operations during federally-regulated emergency exercises and other disaster-responsesInternal/External • Offered strategic collaboration/represention with agency executives, other state-agency and legislative staff, Governor’s Press Office and industry representatives to support communications objectives• Supervised annual average 300 document requests under public information law• Spearheaded successful agency campaigns and activities (i.e. Maryland Charity Campaign, employee Morale Committee activities and Service Recognition)• Controlled scheduling, staffing and budget for community outreach activities

Baltimore, Maryland Area

Employee Communications, Newsletter Editor• Managed internal editorial calendar and led development of other graphic elements.• Transitioned weekly print publication to daily intranet “Newsroom” and home page updates.• Enhanced quality of 4-page, tabloid-size, two-color publication through efficient design, approval, print production and distribution processes to more than 6,000 employees in more than 20 locations resulting in professional award recognition, cost savings and readership satisfaction.Media Relations, Corporate Communications• Delivered proactive news releases and reactive media statements along with monitoring coverage.• Succeeded in supporting higher-level management for six months during supervisor’s absence.• Shaped media campaign for corporate sponsorship of Maryland Senior Olympics with positive internal and external coverage of activities.

Bs (Cum Laude), Mass Communications

Activities and Societies: Public Relations Student Society of AmericaProvost Scholar, Deans List, Golden Key National Honor Society member

Certificate, Strategic Public Relations And Integrated Communications

Ms, Communications Management

Coursework