Mark Swart Email & Phone Number

Columbia, Sc, Us

Leads agency communications in support of the CHE's regulatory mission as well as our strategic efforts to increase post-secondary higher education attainment rates across the state. Develops multichannel communications plans to promote agency activities and initiatives in a consistent and synchronized manner across all mediums and channels. Leads agency media relations and website management, oversees all CHE social media platforms, and develops other communications products as required. I work closely with agency leadership and staff to ensure all communications are accurate, timely and relevant while also supporting the agencies brand and reputation with stakeholders and the general public.

Columbia, South Carolina Metropolitan Area

Agency lead for opioid-related communications in support of the CDC Overdose Data to Action initiative. Developed inter-agency partnership to provide $1M in advertising funding the state's opioid misuse and prevention campaign. Planned DHEC opioid prevention video series, responded to media inquires and requests, developed opioid-related press releases which received coverage in media markets across the state, and collaborated with outside partners from the local to federal level to facilitate opioid response strategies and programs across South Carolina.

Tacoma, Wa

Media relations manager for a regional, not-for-profit healthcare system consisting of eight hospitals, more than 150 clinics, multiple care lines and 16,000+ team members. As a member of an integrated marketing and communications team, I worked closely with executives and business unit leaders to develop and implement communications plans, proactively telling the organization’s story through media engagements, releases and our own internal and external online and social media platforms. Key Contributions:• Developed enduring messaging and talking points to strengthen organization’s reputation with the public, stakeholders, media and civic leaders• Rapidly developed issue-based communications guidance to diffuse sensitive topics• Spokesperson to media; identified positive stories and developed timely media opportunities while mitigating potentially negative stories • Contributed to the development and deployment of the organization's multi-channel reputation strategy• Member of the system's Hospital Incident Command team during response to the Amtrak 501 derailment, ensured accurate responses while protecting patient privacy• Authored brand journalism content and business news releases for external and internal audiences

Joint Base Lewis Mcchord, Wa

Oversaw external and internal communications initiatives for the senior command on an installation with a population of 115,000 in the nation’s 14th largest media market. I advise executive leaders on all aspects of communications, develop and implement plans and strategies, personally managed high-visibility media engagements, and oversaw assignments as well as professional development for more than 50 communications professionals.Key Contributions:• Crafted executive-level messaging and talking points for multiple successful media and civic leader engagements in local and international venues• Conducted consequence mitigation with media to add context to potentially negative stories• Project manager for all aspects of high-profile bilateral press conferences with Japanese and Chinese military participants as well as Secretary of Defense and Undersecretary of the Army visits• Revamped internal communications processes and content development to enhance storytelling resonance and grow social media content reach by 25 percent in one year• Synchronized internal and external communications efforts across the largest joint base in the military• Oversaw award-winning digital communications campaign for high-profile bilateral military exercise in Japan• Lead communications planner for support to state and federal agencies for potential tsunami/earthquake event response in Washington

Fort Shafter, Hi

Led communications efforts for a 5,000 person regional-level Army logistics organization with an audience of more than 10,000 in Hawaii and across the Pacific theater. Advised organizational leaders on strategies for media and stakeholder relations and developed campaigns to inform and educate stakeholders on unit capabilities. Led eight-person team in development of written, online, video and social media content.• Developed organizational messaging nested with theater strategic communications goals• Developed message map to allow leaders to easily visualize the relation between messaging and unit operational efforts• Increased focus on social media, leading to growth of more than 300 percent in followings• Excelled in real-world crisis situations, developing communications guidance and media training products for tsunami relief missions in the Philippines• Project lead for all high-profile media events, promoting the organizational brand to domestic audiences of millions through national-level media and television productions• Researched and spearheaded website transition to a centrally-hosted platform, increasing productivity and eliminating need for specialized training

Suffolk, Va

As a member of the Joint PA Support Element, I worked in essentially a hybrid job that provided rapid response for crisis communications situations worldwide while also providing communications training to senior leaders as well as communications sections during pre-deployment exercises. As part of a rapid deployment (72 hours or less) team I provided public affairs and communications support in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations around the world. This included strategic communications planning, training, crisis communications, imagery acquisition and facilitation of live video interviews through a satellite video transmission system, which I was also responsible for setting up and maintaining. I worked in coordination with sister services and other federal and international governmental agencies.• Provided content acquisition and live video support to U.S. forces in 2010 Pakistan flood relief mission• Deployed to Japan for crisis communication planning in support of potential evacuations of U.S. personnel in the aftermath of the 2011 tsunami • Deployed to New Jersey as part of government response in relief operations for Hurricane Irene in 2011• PA trainer during combat pre-deployment exercises for multiple three-star commands• Provided communications training to executive-level leaders as part of Department of Defense-level leadership trainingPersonal training included USAID Joint Humanitarian Operations Course, Joint Enabling Capabilities Command Planner Course, Basic Facilitation Course, FEMA Defense Support to Civil Authorities course (Phase 1), and Center for Excellence - Disaster Response and Humanitarian Assistance: Humanitarian Assistance Response Training.

Fort Campbell, Ky

Assisted in the development of Information Operations (IO) campaigns for the 101st Airborne Division during preparation for deployment to Afghanistan. Conducted media analysis and applied strategic communications fundamentals to enhance organizational credibility with multiple audiences through synchronization of messaging from all information-related capabilities to include IO, Public Affairs, Military Information Support to Operations (formerly Psychological Operations), Combat Camera and Civil Affairs.

Fort Campbell, Ky And Bagram, Afghanistan

Senior enlisted member of the 101st Airborne Division Public Affairs Office staff, overseeing all external and internal communication programs at an installation with a population of 80,000. Worked with journalists from AP, FOX, NBC, Reuters, the Washington Post, CNN and many others. Integral in communications planning and operations throughout 15-month deployment to Afghanistan, including crisis communications, media engagements, the embedded media program, and internal magazine and video production. Directly responsible for a team of eight with oversight of nearly 50 Public Affairs service members across Afghanistan. High-visibility projects included: - Project lead for NBC Nightly News with Brian Williams live broadcast from Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Managed all aspects of planning and facilitating the event, to include working with talent, identifying options for a suitable location, and providing access to military personnel for feature stories. - Communications lead for internal and external coverage of President George W. Bush visit to Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. Facilitated White House Press Pool during visit while planning and overseeing all aspects of military coverage for distribution to American Forces Network, social media and military owned-media platforms.

Fort Meade, Md

Assistant Army-level program manager at the Army Public Affairs Center, responsible for research, evaluation and selection of photo and video system components used by the entire Army Public Affairs force of more than 1,000 professionals. Educated Public Affairs leaders across the Army on equipment authorizations and the equipment acquisition process. Edited and contributed to development of the first “Army Public Affairs Handbook” and wrote training scenarios used during technical schools for Public Affairs professionals.

Fort Campbell, Ky

Served as Chief Public Affairs supervisor for the 101st Airborne Division during the invasion of Iraq. Managed the largest embedded media program in military history to date, assigning and tracking more than 70 media embedded across divisional units during combat. Responsible for all media releases during combat operations. Conducted extensive crisis communications, trained and led more than 20 communications personnel and oversaw newsletter, video and photo production. Reassigned while deployed to lead an eight-person unit and functioned as lead communications advisor to assistant division commander during redeployment operations.

Fort Campbell, Ky

Responsible for all aspects of production for the largest weekly newspaper in the Army, managing a staff of eight. Determined editorial voice, personally executed layout and design of news section, hired contract employees, and ensured paper met production schedule each week with no missed deadlines.

Fort Gordon, Ga

Led layout and design, news gathering and production with a staff of six. I also created and served as webmaster for the first "Signal Online" website and transitioned the paper from film to digital photography as well as fully converting the publication to digital desktop publishing. The Signal was named second overall in the broadsheet category of the Army-wide Keith L. Ware Journalism competition during my time as editor.

Fort Drum, Ny

Military editor of the award-winning tabloid-size weekly newspaper for Fort Drum, N.Y. Lead for layout and design, production and lead writer with a staff of four. Paper was named first overall in its category for the Department of Defense-level 1999 Thomas Jefferson military journalism competition. I was also selected as the 1999 U.S. Army Forces Command Journalist of the Year, winning individual categories in Feature writing and Graphics design.

Fort Drum, Ny

Served as lead journalist for the10th Mountain Division, a 10,000-person organization based at Fort Drum, N.Y. Wrote news stories, features and commentaries covering all aspects of military life to include training, breaking news, human-interest features and health and well-being. Deployed to Taszar, Hungary from February through October 1998 to cover peacekeeping operations across the Balkans, filing stories from Hungary, Croatia and Sarajevo. Edited and designed the bi-weekly American Endeavor magazine and supporting website, targeted to the service members serving Operation Joint Guard / Joint Forge in Hungary and Croatia.

Bachelor Of Science (Bs), Communication And Media Studies

Activities and Societies: Newspaper Section Editor, Concert Band, Jazz Band, Symphonic BandMajored in Media Studies (Print Journalism).

Sergeants Major Course

The USASMA Sergeants Major Course is a one-year resident course at Fort Bliss, TX. It is the pinnacle of enlisted leadership education.

Joint Information Operation Planners Course

The mission of the Joint Information Operations Planners Course (JIOPC) is to establish a common level of understanding for IO planners.

Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course

The Intermediate Public Affairs Specialist Course provides higher-level training of public affairs activities in a joint service.

Army Military Occupational Specialty 46Q (Print Journalist), Basic Public Affairs Specialist Course

Course of study includes: interact with command, community and media, prepare and release information to report news and command.

General Diploma

Activities and Societies: Band