Stephen is a communications professional with ten-plus years of experience managing and executing media relations activities, marketing and advertising campaigns, community relations and coalition building efforts and special events for clients in a variety of industries.She currently works as a freelance communications contractor in Birmingham, Ala., with special interest in writing projects and public relations activities. She is also opening a Board & Brush franchise studio in Vestavia Hills, where she lives with her husband and two daughters. From 2014 to 2017, Stephen served as a public relations specialist for the University of Alabama at Birmingham. In her position at UAB, Stephen was a part of a team that is charged with communicating the university's stories with external audiences, including the news media. Stephen was responsible for proactive and reactive media relations activities for the Collat School of Business, the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Engineering. She also assisted in media relations and crisis communications activities for UAB Hospital. A native of Birmingham, Ala., Stephen graduated from Auburn University with a bachelor’s degree in public relations in 2007 after completing an internship with McNeely Pigott & Fox Public Relations in Nashville, Tenn. MP&F, one of the largest and most successful independent public relations agencies in the Southeast, provides full-service communications and marketing support to a diversified client mix at the local, regional and national levels. Stephen joined MP&F immediately following graduation and worked her way up from the entry level position to an account executive during her five-plus years with the firm. Specialties: Stephen’s industry experience includes media relations, grassroots and educational campaigns, event coordination, and writing and marketing for clients in the corporate, technology, health care, nonprofit, environmental, hospitality and government sectors.