STRATEGIC COLLABORATION • Work with, Dean's, faculty and staff to plan and execute strategic communications projects and deliverables including internal/external facing communications. Provide trustworthy communications counsel.• Provide thought leadership and work in partnership with departments and faculty to provide media training and bullet-proof public speaking counsel to manage and enhance reputation expertise.• Monitor and stay abreast of policies and legislative actions in higher education.CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS• Active member of Incident Management Team responsible for crisis communications, media response, internal and external messaging, and development of talking points and written communications.• Engage with emergency response using digital tools including LiveSafe and Nixle to deliver critical and time sensitive information.• Direct the public information and social media communications response team to effectively manage the cross-coordination and execution of messages.MEDIA AND PUBLIC RELATIONS• Work proactively with digital and traditional media to pitch and secure coverage of Saint Mary’s issues, programs and events. Promote identified faculty and pitch them as experts in their respective fields to be called upon for interviews and expert commentary.• Research and develop content for press releases and news advisories using web tools (Cision, Meltwater) for media distribution, metrics and analytics.• Proficient with web tools including Salli to post articles, news and updates.EDITORIAL LEADERSHIP• Editor of Saint Mary’s College Magazine, a 44-page publication with vast distribution to alumni, donors, partners and stakeholders, students, families, faculty and staff.• Storytelling expertise: write original feature stories and articles and manage the editorial content and direction of each issue. Pen articles for the weekly digital newsletter (Bulletin) and website.• Oversee freelance writers, photographers, and production designers.

DYNAMIC COMMUNICATIONS EXECUTION• Spearhead strategic internal and external communications, crisis communications, branding, executive communications, change communications, social media, stakeholder and partnership engagement, publication and editorial development, and social responsibility initiatives for nonprofit, public agency and corporate clients.

RELATIONSHIP ACUMEN• Led a high-performing national risk communications team engaged in “boots on the ground” media and community outreach to inform ethnic and economically diverse communities about crisis resilience strategies.BRANDING & MESSAGING• Conceptualized and customized messaging unique to diverse regions and communities to heighten the visibility of FEMA as a community partner and diffuse their stereotype as a hierarchical government agency.RISK COMMUNICATIONS ENGAGEMENT• Coached and inspired stakeholders, business, and community partners by integrating communications and media training to unify risk and resilience messaging, resulting in highly improved collaboration of internal staff and external partners across multiple regions.REPUTATION MANAGEMENT• Coached senior leadership in message delivery and compelling storytelling techniques to build their personal persona and position them as strong leaders and subject matter experts.

TRANSFORMATION• Transformed the Communications Department into a results-driven, high producing and reenergized operation resulting in newly attained national and international media visibility in Asia and Africa.REBRANDING• Guided SFTS through a rebranding effort to more effectively align with the college’s mission of social justice and human rights, resulting in expanding growth of a demographically diverse student population and reinventing the mission statement and strategic plan to proudly embrace cultural and ethnic diversity and LGBTQ students, faculty and staff.EDITING (CHIMES MAGAZINE)• Achieved notable success as Editor-in-Chief of the award-winning Chimes Magazine. Published biannually, the 64-page printed and online publication was given high praise and first place recognition at the international PC(USA) Conference.RESEARCH/FOCUS GROUPS• Conducted strategic market research in targeted cities throughout the United States including focus groups, online surveys and phone interviews as part of the highly successful institutional rebranding campaign. AWARDS• PC(USA) Award for Publication Excellence “Chimes Magazine”

PUBLIC AFFAIRS• Partnered with legislative teams to draft successful legislation on issues including tobacco control, air quality, and funding allocation for lung health research.PARTNERSHIP DEVELOPMENT• Garnered media sponsorship with Captivate, a rich media protocol that captured the attention of elevator riders in 42 of San Francisco’s largest commercial buildings, resulting in a 25% increase in the number of registrants for the Lung Association’s signature event. CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS• Designed and executed messaging and public information regarding the H1N1 flu pandemic, resulting in an upsurge of Californian’s receiving the H1N1 serum and effectively limiting the spread of the flu outbreak.MEDIA ENGAGEMENT• Executed statewide media campaigns for annual State of the Air and State of Tobacco reports, resulting in municipalities passing local ordinances to help improve air quality in support of public health. AWARDS• CLAS National Recognition of Excellence for video series produced entitled: “Living with COPD” funded by Kaiser Permanente.

MEMBERSHIP ENGAGEMENT• Managed external communications targeting more than 140,000 healthcare workers/members, successfully garnering their active engagement in promoting healthcare worker rights and supporting public policy initiatives.IN-HOUSE AGENCY DIRECTION• Directed a vibrant team of 15 in-house reporters, editors, webmasters, designers, videographers, digital marketing and social media staff, serving as the “agency of record” for all communications, advertising and outreach.CHANGE COMMUNICATIONS• Provided crucial change/crisis communications leadership during a highly publicized merger, gaining prominence as the largest healthcare union west of the Mississippi and the second largest in the nation.VISIONEERING• Led the naming and visual branding of the newly merged union, establishing a new trend in nomenclature for unions.AWARDS• Awarded Best Radio Ad by the International Labor Communications Association.

MEDIA & INFLUENCER RELATIONS• Established relationships with key industry analysts, bloggers, media influencers and reporters to successfully increase visibility for B2B and B2C clients.C SUITE COUNSEL & TRAINING• Provided impactful communications strategy, social responsibility and media counsel for corporate, government and nonprofit clients, advising CEOs and executive leadership.STRATEGIC PLAN DEVELOPMENT• Created strategy and launched numerous social responsibility and cause marketing initiatives for tech companies in Silicon Valley and consumer clients nationwide, raising their visibility as a solid corporate neighbor with a drive for business and a heart for community.PHILANTHROPY & OUTREACH• Negotiated a key partnership between Safeway Corporation and Major League Baseball to launch a six-figure prostate cancer awareness campaign.

MULTICULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS• Directed, created and launched campaigns in multiple languages with genuine respect and understanding of the ethnic and cultural nuances of the various communities reached.TARGETED CLIENTELE• In addition to large international and national clients, the agency was committed to providing in-kind and low fee marketing communications, media and fundraising support for small nonprofits working on issues of social justice and human rights. SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY/PHILANTHROPHY• Coached and inspired clients to develop and execute a corporate giving and staff community service volunteer program.

NATIONAL & GLOBAL VISIBILITY• Achieved exposure in major media markets in U.S., Europe and Asia.INSTITUTIONAL ADVANCEMENT COMMUNICATIONS• Partnered with Institutional Advancement Department to engage existing donors, acquire new corporate and community donors, and extend the organizational brand to key stakeholders, funders and advocacy groups.ADVOCACY OUTREACH• Led communications, policy and public outreach campaigns on issues including environmental justice, human rights, clean air and water, endangered species protections, clear cutting, sea level rise and green policy initiatives.