In my role as Global Communications Leader at Gensler I developed and executed targeted global communications campaigns with a focus on our larger global projects including Shanghai Tower, the Gensler Research Program, and our Creative Media practice, including VR, AR, and Mixed Reality technologies. I worked closely with the C-suite on executive visibility and firm message development. Successes at Gensler included establishing and growing the firm’s social media presence across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, global communications planning and outreach for Gensler’s Workplace Surveys, leading the eight-year global communications strategy - from construction through opening - of Shanghai Tower and securing extensive coverage for the firm's evolving creative media practice area, establishing the firm as an industry leader.

I founded the communications team at Diversified Media Design at a tipping point in the communications world. Many organizations (early adopters excluded) were just tuning into the brand building power of the internet and considering how to develop and leverage their digital presence. I worked closely with DMD's robust advertising and branding teams to create strategic communications programs that were integrated across marketing and PR, and also across the digital and print landscapes.Sounds ridiculously quaint in 2024, doesn't it? But in the mid aughts we were working in what felt like the Wild West. It was an invaluable learning experience that grounded me in the basics: crafting a digital presence, framing up a site, coding, shooting product for the web, developing a blog. My takeaways then and now: doesn't matter what medium you're working in. Always know your audience, where and how they consume their information, and develop meaningful, targeted content just for them. DMD's roster of clients across arts, culture, and design included museums like the Guggenheim, Asia Society, large contract interiors firms including Hunter Douglas Contract and Shaw Contract, interior design firms, and to-the-trade textile and home goods companies. Uniformly they wanted counsel on "being on the internet". I had the opportunity to advise on, create, and implement integrated communications campaigns for Hunter Douglas and Shaw that included website and blog development, marketing collateral, and online and print media relations.

Moving from a small boutique agency with a luxury goods focus to DeVries provided me the opportunity to work with Fortune 100 organizations including 3M and Procter & Gamble on a range of consumer products and pharamceuticals including Post-it Notes, Oil of Olay, and Intrinsa. Specifically, working on the Intrinsa pharmaceutical account as the drug went through the FDA approvals process was an exercise in reputation management of the highest order. As one of the first drugs to treat FSD (female sexual dysfunction) to reach the FDA Advisory Committee Intrinsa was a lightning rod for controversy. We developed a national campaign to drive understanding and positive awareness of the drug and its efficacy including development of relationships with third party allies, doctors and scientists, and drug trial patients, media training, and highly targeted media relations. Intrinsa garnered over 1 billion global press impressions in the year leading up to its FDA hearing and although a controversial drug, I secured high profile placements including the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN and NPR that were overwhelmingly positive in tone. Aside from Intrinsa my work at DeVries included the creation of national press events and roll outs for 3M's first product extension of Post it Notes in 25 years, and the creation and execution of celebrity partnerships to promote the launch of 3M's O-Cel-O kitchen goods line.

After completing my grad studies, traveling the world and living in Australia for several years I joined boutique luxury goods firm Nike Communications in New York City. Under the tutelage of president Nina Kaminer I developed core PR skills that were then and are now critical to my success as a content developer and media relations professional: know your audience better then they know themselves, know your media inside and out before you pick up the phone/email/tweet, always write a damn smart pitch, and provide excellent client service. I spent two years at Nike pitching my tail off and honing my media skills for clients including Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, Moet & Chandon, Montblanc, Johnny Walker, Casa Lapostolle wines, and more. I still remember my first hit for a luxury fashion brand on CNN's 'For Your Money' - I'm pretty sure I was more excited than my client. Other hits in key outlets including the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Economist, Architectural Digest, and more followed over the next two years.