Honored to lead a strategic communications function responsible for reputation, management, issues and crisis, public affairs, government and industry relations communications for USAA, one of world’s most respected brands serving the military community and their families. Passionate about protecting reputation, promoting the brand, and building engaged, inspired teams. More than 30 years of marketing and communications experience leading teams in financial services, B2B and consumer goods. My background includes extensive experience planning and developing strategic communications plans and campaigns, developing and leading high-performing teams responsible for a host of critical communications (ex/Bank, employee, PR, reputation, issues, crisis, public affairs, government and industry relations, regulatory relations and risk), advising and coaching at the CEO-, C-suite- and executive-level, writing for all audiences, helping business partners solve problems, defining brand strategy, positioning products, anticipating and managing reputation issues and crisis response. A problem solver at heart, I’ve designed many first-ever functions and tools at USAA including a crisis communications function, a patented crisis communications application, a best-in-class reputation management program, a communications playbook that’s been successfully used for divestitures and multiple significant events, a Social Issues Advisory Group and a “signal to noise” framework to distinguish critical events from typical “noise.” To continually deepen and share my experience and passion, I serve on the Board of Directors for the Issues Management Council, the Sam Antonio Food Bank Communications Committee and volunteer in my community and mentor professionals inside and outside of USAA.
Listed skills include Strategic Communications, Public Relations, Integrated Marketing, Strategic Planning, and 17 others.