Managing Media Relations and Strategic Media Relations: Develops and implements media relations strategy; handles press inquiries. Relationship Building and Pitching Stories: Cultivates relationships with members of the media-particularly agricultural reporters-pitching stories about American Farmland Trust (AFT)'s research and projects.Cross-departmental Coordination: Works across internal departments, ensuring a well-coordinated, nationwide communications effort. Press Releases, Op-eds, Talking Points, and Press Kits: Writes press releases, op-eds, talking points, and FAQs, in addition to developing and maintaining AFT's press kit.Liaisoning and Subject Matter Experts: Liaises between the media and AFT subject matter experts, facilitating accurate communications that advance AFT mission. Metric Tracking, Metrics Reporting, and Process Optimization: Tracks and reports on communications metrics, adjusting processes when necessary to optimize media relations efforts.

Team Leadership, Agriculture, Supply Management, and Business Development: Supervised 6 staff, overseeing production practices, record keeping, supply management, business development, and organic system plans.Marketing, Communications Management, Web Design, Social Media Outreach, and Marketing Material Creation: Directed all marketing and communications activities, including website creation, social media outreach, marketing material development, and press communications. Budget Management: Monitored a $100K production budget, consistently achieving budgetary adherence. Infrastructure Planning, Infrastructure Management, Farm Equipment, Irrigation, and Greenhouse: Planned and managed the installation of farm infrastructure, including a packing and equipment barn, irrigation system, chicken yard, and greenhouses. Business Strategy, Agricultural Production, Strategy Implementation, and Channel Partners: Devised and implemented business development strategies, increasing farmers’ market channels from 1 to 7. Additionally, grew vegetable acreage from 1 to 12 acres over a 7-year period. Organic Farming, Organic Certification, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and Business Transition Planning: Transitioned farm from conventional to organic production in a 3-year process requiring understanding of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Organic Program rules and regulations.Brand Development: Created a brand known for quality and freshness across the District of Columbia, Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware.

Operations Management, Wholesale, Customer Service, and Communications: Directed 7 staff, supervising operations for 28 wholesale accounts, as well as all customer service, marketing, and communications activities. Relationship Building, Press Relations, and Spokesperson: Built relationships with local press, acting as company spokesperson and placing 3 feature articles. Market Analysis, Strategic Communications, Marketing Strategy, Direct Mail, and Press Releases: Analyzed USDA food buying behavior research, creating multiplatform communications/marketing strategies that incorporated email, social media, radio, direct mail, and press releases. Business Planning, Trusted Business Advisor, and Written Communication: Designed business plan for the company merger with Hometown Harvest, acquiring financial support from the bank and earning a reputation as a trusted business strategy and operations advisor. Revenue & Profit Growth and Account Management: Grew wholesale business 25% in 6 months through top-notch account management.Program Development, Program Implementation, and Winback: Crafted and implemented a customer win-back program, regaining 5% of customers lost.Video Production: Wrote and produced a company video that is still used on the company website and at company events. Customer Satisfaction: Developed and implemented new customer service practices, growing customer satisfaction to 94%.Communications Management, Marketing Management, and Sales Growth: Organized structure of the Communications and Marketing Department, resulting in timely communications to stakeholders and a 4% growth in online home delivery sales.

Consulting, Media Strategy, and Progress Tracking: Oversaw teams of 3–5 staff, developing multiplatform communication strategies, measuring the effectiveness of those strategies, and adjusting strategies as needed. Text Editing, Message Development, Presentations, Speech Writing, Collateral Materials Development, and Advertising: Wrote and edited communications content—message frameworks, presentations, speeches, letters/emails, collateral materials, advocacy advertisements, and press releases—for 5 major client accounts. Budgeting: Managed project budgets of over $100K, spending on platforms with the best anticipated return on investment. Needs Assessment: Assessed client needs, synthesizing complex business and industry concepts into relevant and compelling communications.

Project Management, Human Resources, and Business Interruption: Directed human resources, change management, and communications projects, which included managing project budgets over $240K and providing communications support for business interruptions. Change Management, Strategic Planning, and Client Relations: Designed change management and communication strategies, making recommendations to C-suite clients. Restructuring, Downsizing, and Executive Communications Support: For a Fortune 1000 company, completed a corporate restructuring and downsizing in under 6 months, which involved composing executive communications that boosted morale and informed employees of changes.

Senior Manager—Corporate Communications, MCI Telecommunications, Washington, DC, 1995–2000 Internal & External Communications, Corporate Communications, Copywriting, and Crisis Communications: Directed 4 staff in the copywriting and editing of all internal, external, and crisis communications. Budget Management: Managed a $3M budget, consistently achieving budgetary adherence. Merger & Acquisition Communication, Public Relations, and Organizational Outreach: Handled communications for the British Telecom and WorldCom mergers. This included directing the public relations, investor relations, and government affairs teams, as well as the communications teams for outreach to employees, customer, and partners. Video Production and Sales Support Tools: Produced a breakthrough sales support video, winning the Spirit of MCI award.Data Analysis: Analyzed employee satisfaction research, developing communications strategies that increased employee satisfaction to 95%. Multi-platform Campaigns and Collaborative Work: Collaborated with executives, developing and implementing multiplatform communications strategies and plans for 50,000 employees, as well as external audiences. Manager—Employee Recognition, MCI Telecommunications, Washington, DC, 1993–1995Associate—Business Sales Communication, MCI Telecommunications, Washington, DC, 1991–1993 Account Executive—Business Sales, MCI Telecommunications, Washington, DC, 1989–1991 Account Executive, Sprint Communications, Sacramento, CA, 1987–1989