Lucy Vernasco Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

United States

Currently, I have the pleasure of providing strategic communications consulting to public affairs firm CLYDE, NAESCO (National Association of Energy Service Companies), clean energy PR firm Tigercomm, a social impact start-up in stealth mode, and a government-led technology and innovation conference. As a strategic communications and creative consultant, I’ve built and executed communications and media relations plans, written effective blog, web, and social media copy, managed editorial calendars and social media accounts, worked directly with high-profile principals, and built and strengthened relationships with the nation’s top energy, climate, and finance reporters. My previous clients include Fortune 100 health care companies, the United States Department of Energy, Melinda French Gates’s Pivotal Ventures, an innovative NY-based venture capital firm, advertising agencies, an acquired early-stage startup, and corporate social good teams.A graduate from Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, I am a trained reporter and multimedia producer. My editorial work has appeared in Outside Magazine, Motherboard, The Daily Beast, Bitch Media, Grid Magazine, Bust Magazine and Technical.ly.

Washington Dc-Baltimore Area

As a Senior Media Relations Consultant to LPO, I drove the office's public relations and press engagement strategies by building media relations and strategic communications plans, messaging, and Q&A materials, responding to incoming media inquiries, pro-active pitching to top tier media outlets and placing embargoed stories, planning and executing media roundtables and reporter outreach, building and strengthening relationships with energy, financial, and climate reporters, advising and staffing LPO Director Jigar Shah in media engagements and events, and working alongside other LPO divisions toward shared goals. My media relations efforts helped drive recognition and brand awareness of the office, culminating with Time naming Director Jigar Shah as one of its 100 Most Influential People of 2024. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Loan Programs Office (LPO) provides debt financing for large-scale, innovative energy infrastructure and advanced automotive manufacturing projects in the United States. LPO provides a bridge to bankability for decarbonization technologies to cross the final milestones to commercialization. We're deploying clean energy at scale.

Seattle, Washington, United States

Pivotal Ventures is an investment and incubation company created by Melinda French Gates. We partner with organizations and individuals who share our urgency for social progress in the United States.I led Pivotal’s social media strategy. My role included project management, writing copy and internal briefs, editorial calendar planning and management, ensuring brand guidelines are incorporated into content, supporting programmatic initiatives and collaborating with partners, directing external vendors, developing digital campaigns and managing social media accounts, and presenting ideas and analysis to internal stakeholders.

Seattle, Washington, United States

I worked for Pivotal as a freelance independent consultant focusing on digital communications. I supported the launch and sustain phase of a major campaign for the organization focused on gender equality. I coordinated with internal and external teams, wrote and edited copy, and provided creative feedback to an agency.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As Senator Wyden's Digital Director, I managed the Senator's social media channels and wrote rapid-response posts, produced and edited graphics and multimedia content, managed relationships with outside groups and organizations and worked with staff in DC and Oregon. As part of my duties, I completed a website redesign project by project managing and coordinating with our outside web vendor and internal staff. Through digital strategy and communications, I helped Senator Wyden win the 2018 Congressional Management Foundation'sDemocracy Award for Innovation.I advised Senator Wyden on elevating his policies, messages and goals on digital platforms and promote the Oregon Way. My work involved staffing and filming/photographing the Senator on trips throughout the state. In November 2018, I moved into an advisor role based in Portland, OR to produce video and multimedia content and expand outreach.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

As Democratic Staff Digital Director, my responsibilities included graphic design, social media management, content creation, podcast and video editing/production, website re-design and developing digital strategy to communicate messaging and research from economic reports to industries, congressional offices and working Americans. Winner of Best Video by a Committee in the Senate Democrats Digital Contest

Portland, Oregon Area

As Digital Director for Wyden for Senate, I managed campaign digital communications and online outreach to generate offline action.

Greater Philadelphia Area

In my role, I produced audio, video, written and social content to encourage voter registration, organizing and education on issues affecting Pennsylvanians. As Deputy Digital Director of storytelling, I traveled to diverse geographic areas of Pennsylvania, interviewed elected officials, delegates, local activists and supporters who give Pennsylvania its character. In addition, I delegated tasks and managed interns. While serving as the regional GOTV Director, I managed logistics for Get Out the Vote in Delaware County, which included recruiting and building relationships with staging location hosts. Trained organizers and volunteers. NGP VAN proficient.

San Francisco Bay Area

In my role, I curated and created blog and social content and worked on digital strategy for an political organization promoting clean energy and youth voter outreach. While based at the San Francisco Headquarters, I traveled to New Hampshire to produce content for the 2016 primary election.

Greater New York City Area

In this contract role at LinkedIn, I read and curated hundreds of member posts daily, promoted posts through different LinkedIn channels, worked with other LinkedIn editors at daily stand-ups to discuss news trends and editorial strategies and wrote content for LinkedIn Pulse and products.

Evanston, Il

Analyzed cases, read and assessed transcripts, investigated a murder case, interviewed subjects in the field, produced journalism from findings.

Assisted with research, created long form posts and created quick news posts for the health and science vertical.

Champaign, Illinois

Served as communicator between candidates, management, and engineers. Crafted engaging emails. Organized resumes, and scheduled interviews. Assisted at recruiting events. Followed entire recruiting process, from resume collection to onsite interview, and later meeting new employees

Portland, Oregon Area

Provided captivating content for Bitch Media's Tumblr and Instagram, produced engaging blog posts about media, technology, and feminism, and transcribed and assisted with podcast development.

Champaign, Il

Selected to become a member for university participation and character. As a committee member, I attended hearings on Fridays pertaining to violations on student conduct, viewed evidence, evaluated cases, interviewed witnesses, and decided whether students should be dismissed from UIUC

Women'S Resource Center

Explained rape prevention practices and survivor support to first year students with other facilitators in a written/discussion format

Beverly Hills, Ca

Wrote critical and informative blog posts for Feminist Majority Foundation blog, Feminist Campus blog, and Ms. Magazine blogReprinted on Bust Magazine's website Blog post promoted on Bitch Magazine, Feministing, and Mother Jones twitter accountOrganized campus visits to involve students in Feminist Majority Foundation organizationEvaluated and rewrote sections of the Girls Learn International Handbook for 2013-14 school year

Champaign, Il

Throughout the fall semester, I worked as an intern for UIUC's GWS department. In addition to planning an alumni series for the spring, I organized a Graduate School Application Panel and assisted with the fall open house. Spring semester I helped organize a committee to award students and staff.

Champaign, Il

Miniconsultant with a group of four other undergraduates assisting Mo Betta Music, a Champaign nonprofit organization, with problem solving. Throughout the semesters I attended leadership seminars and discussions.

Butler University

Reviewed pieces for the annual publication, organized readings for students, presented my own creative work at readings.

Indianapolis, In

As an intern I regularly wrote and researched information for health care and social media blogs. I also assisted with the coordination of the NFL Players Party for the 2012 Indianapolis Super Bowl

Evanston, Il

Brainstormed concepts, created presentations, and planned websites for major healthcarecorporations, such as Abbott Labs, and new companies. I proofread scientific documents for major health care corporations and developed a blog for the advertising agency.

Master Of Science (M.S.), Journalism

Social Justice Initiative Scholar. Reporting Concentration. Health and Science Subject Seminar. Medill Justice Project Investigative.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.) Creative Writing, Rhetoric And Composition/Writing Studies

Activities and Societies: Subcommittee on Student Conduct, Fighting Illini Triathlon, YWCA Women in Leadership, FYCARE (First Year Campus.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.) Creative Writing, Creative Writing

Activities and Societies: Manuscripts Literary Magazine, Demia Feminist Organization

High School Diploma, English Language And Literature/Letters, French, History

Activities and Societies: Peer Mediation, National Honor Society, CAT-TV, Drops of Ink School Newspaper, Junior Varsity Swim Team (4 Years)