I am a formidable strategy partner who expertly guides organizations to own their futures. With expertise in strategic crisis communications, I assist agencies and their leaders in effectively communicating during critical events, as well as before the incidents even happen. I design customized communications plans to capitalize on the strong foundation of trust and transparency to mitigate problems and capture successful outcomes.I provide fresh perspectives in long-range strategies, public relations, and contingency planning. Within a business setting, I offer structured, logically sequenced activities that benefit the leadership team, the employees, the customers and ultimately, the organization’s future.AREAS OF STRATEGIC EXPERTISE:Public Relations Strategy Media RelationsCrisis CommunicationsPublic Policy DevelopmentOrganizational EffectivenessStrategic Planning & ExecutionQuality Improvement InitiativesTransition Management I have served as Community Communications Commander for numerous response incidents including:• Various natural disasters (tropical storms, hurricanes, etc) 2015-present;• National Football League professional sporting events 2015-present;• Jacksonville Landing Active Shooter Response 2018;• COVID-19 Pandemic Response in coordination with federal partners 2020; • Local and state protest incidents for criminal justice reform 2020;• Republican National Convention to support the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the US Secret Service mission 2020.Within this role, I have successfully advised command staff/leadership of public perception and potential challenges to craft effective statements regarding mitigation and response efforts. I have drafted countless communication plans based in plain language for all impacted audiences. Additionally, I have served as liaison to all participating stakeholders.After more than two decades of working on successful teams and developing effective strategies, I learned that I excel in approaching complex scenarios with a positive and pragmatic outlook woven into authentic story-telling.AKA/Common misspellings: Marlo Zarko, Marla Zarka, Marla Zarko