Public Relations and Communications counsel to businesses in pharmaceutical, biotechnology, life sciences, retail and non-profit industries. Projects have included writing and editing content for businesses to publish on digital platforms, creating editorial calendars for content and relevant social media cross promotion, developing strategic outreach and advocacy plans, designing social media strategies and plans, pitching stories, developing specific media contact plans for specialized issues/news, expanding relationships with trade and general media on behalf of clients, and providing general internal and external communications support.

Responsible for external communications, including the development and implementation of media relations plans. Created strategies to increase promotion of thought leadership in relevant trade publications and general media, working to unify stories and messages across multiple social media platforms and content hubs including national and trade placements. Responsibilities include management of vendor/agency relations. Counsel senior and mid-level executives on external messaging and presentations to customers, business partners and internal associates, in order to help create a consistent voice across business units. Content includes merger and acquisition information, issues analysis and messaging, crisis communications and change management.Development of corporate website content and information architecture that helped to bring diverse business units under one banner as a step to a more integrated view to current and potential customers, as well as prospective associates. Collaborate with marketing leads at business units to create external communications plans that reinforce their business objectives, including securing speaker engagements at industry conferences, presentation development and bylined article placement.Align communications programs to help stakeholders embrace change with acquisitions and divestitures, supporting the business strategy. Develop materials supporting communication plans.Collaborate with government affairs and marketing teams to develop strategic plans around current policies and issues, including grass-roots advocacy campaigns.Past responsibilities include internal communications, strategy for diversity and inclusion communications; and content and maintenance of corporate intranet.

Responsible for media relations for diverse business units in a Fortune 30 healthcare supply chain company, including trade and general media placements. Reported in to SVP, Corporate Communications & Investor Relations. Hosted several trade media as company-driven national meeting and exposition for retail customers, in order to publicly promote new solutions and services. Identifying and training thought leaders for public interviews and speaking engagements, selected to drive business objectives.Worked with marketing agency to develop and implement cross-country media campaign for business spokesperson who shared story of achieving incredible personal goals while living with a chronic condition. The campaign included significant print and television placements, which helped to promote awareness for independent community pharmacy. Collaborated with third-party health organizations on cross-promotion, and provided media training and weekly logistical support for the spokesperson.Additional responsibilities during my tenure included: website development, internal communications, intranet development, change management communications for corporate-wide transformation and strategy for diversity and inclusion communications.

Prepared and edited organizational publications for internal and external audiences for local non-profit agency providing services for abused and neglected children and their families. All materials were created in support of development efforts.Developed content and design for agency's internet site, ensuring that key messages hit essential points with a varied audience, including families, volunteers, donors and local community.Assisted with implementation of organization-wide health and wellness program.

Contract position - filling in for leave. Responsible for media relations. During this time, I worked with agencies to help develop and start campaign for local community pharmacies as a health-related spokesperson traveled the country to promote wellness and living with chronic conditions like diabetes ("Living Without Limits" - Iron Andy Holder). Helped develop a tool kit for pharmacies to promote business with local media.Worked with marketing team on trade show for hospital pharmacies, assisting with video case statements for use at national show and pitching trade media on related stories.

Managed special events for Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo, including Annual 5K Run/Walk and anniversary celebrations. Management included consumer promotions, working with volunteer committees and business sponsors, event logistics and budget. Responsible for local promotion and marketing of House events; designed to raise funds and increase community awareness of the "home-away-from-home" for families of sick and injured children. Worked with executive director and board members on projects designed to increase the House occupancy, which included public relations and outreach to neighboring county hospitals and physician practices for awareness.Served as a staff member on Board Committees including Communications, Development/Fund Raising and Events.

Organized and managed logistics and sponsorship for large scale fund-raising events for non-profit agency serving individuals with disabilities; including Jumbogate (largest tailgate party for Buffalo Bills away football game), Heritage-Oak Golf Classic, Louis J. Billittier Memorial Run and 50th anniversary events. Position included marketing and media relations for events, and liaison for celebrity appearances with agency and local media.

Freelance reporter and photographer covering local beats, including government and school board. Wrote features for annual election coverage and candidate profiles.