Stepheni Willis Email & Phone Number

Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States

- Supervise a communications office staff of five.- Identify opportunities and activities within the union to promote in order to gain media coverage.- Serve as chief media contact. - Manage all of union’s external communications and member publications. - Oversee the planning and executing of large-scale events. - Oversee the union’s social media efforts. - Draft press releases, talking points, speeches, op-ed pieces, etc. covering union issues and activities. - Serve as part of the local’s leadership team. - Manage and determine communications strategy surrounding the union’s public relations activities. - Serve as communications liaison with international union.

Lansing, Michigan, United States

- Oversee FBCM's efforts to raise awareness of the issue of food insecurity in Michigan.- Build relationships with strategic state and community partners.- Attend state and community events to provide presentations to groups to increase FBCM's visibility within the state.- Oversee the creation of high-quality content and production of printed and digital media.- Manage social media channels.- As part of the executive team, develop and implement marketing/communications strategy that highlights FBCM's work and promotes the brand among internal and external audiences.- Media relations.- Provide strategic guidance, editing, writing, and follow-up for competitive, high-quality grant proposals and reports.- Develop, implement, and improve internal systems and procedures for efficient grant writing, reporting, and management in collaboration with the executive team.- Develop and implement strategies for engaging businesses and corporations in support of FBCM's fundraising efforts.- Serve as project manager and creative thought partner for annual Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign, including, but not limited to, managing sponsor outreach, organizing events, and coordinating award presentations.- Manage donor and funder prospecting.

Lansing, Michigan

- Increase the visibility and credibility of the Michigan Works! Association and its Board of Directors.- Manage all aspects of communication for the Association.- Speechwriter for CEO and Board members.- Communications-related activities for Annual Conference, training and annual awards events.- Create and produce Association publications.- Draft and design annual report for Association.- Manage Association social media accounts.- Facilitator of Michigan Works! Communications Users Group.- Assist with advocacy activities for the Association.- Work with CEO and legislative consultants on state and federal advocacy efforts.- Coordinate, and script, advocacy panel discussions. - Identify public relations opportunities for mission-related activities.- Strategic development of public relations initiatives.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Served as the communications specialist, formulating and implementing internal and external communication strategy for the Talent Investment Agency.➢ Served as media spokesperson.➢ Speechwriter for Director and Department heads.➢ Assessed internal and external attitudes toward Agency and developed initiatives to enhance or improve perceptions.➢ Crafted messaging for internal newsletters and messages from the agency Director.➢ Coordinated, created and shared information about the Agency on social media.➢ Worked closely with the Governor's Office, legislature, and other state agencies and outside constituency groups.➢ Performed a variety of communications functions, including creating communications plan and strategies, basic promotion of TIA, writing news releases and media advisories, researching/drafting talking points/speeches, and determining website content.

East Lansing, Michigan

➢ Served as communications manager for MSU's Office of the Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education.➢ Created communications plans and strategies surrounding public relations activities within the APUE office.➢ Developed public relations and marketing plans and efforts for offices that report to APUE (Aerospace Studies, Educational Talent Search, Freshman Seminars, Gaining Early Awareness & Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP), Living & Learning Programs, Migrant Student Services, Military Science, MSU Neighborhoods, Office of Supportive Services, Resource Center for Persons with Disabilities (RCPD), Undergraduate Research, Undergraduate University Division, and Upward Bound).➢ Developed, implemented and maintain social media strategy and activities for APUE.➢ Developed newsletter for on campus distribution for APUE office and Student Success newsletter.➢ Worked with outside vendor to redesign APUE website and create brand new Freshman Seminars website.➢ Coordinated and conducted publicity for annual MSU Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum.➢ Performed a variety of communications functions, including basic promotion of APUE, writing news releases and media advisories, planning and conducting press conferences, arranging radio and television interviews, and determining website content.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Served as chief media spokesperson and public relations contact for company.➢ Acted as liaison with parent company (BCBSM) on behalf of the company regarding all communications matters.➢ Successfully dramatically increased Accident Fund’s media visibility.➢ Wrote Accident Fund Holdings’ annual report.➢ Planned and conducted grand opening press conference for new national headquarters – March 2011.➢ Developed, implemented and managed all external communications.➢ Developed, implemented and maintained the enterprise’s social media strategy and activities.➢ Working closely with the CEO, developed Accident Fund Holdings’ communication plans and materials for holding company strategy initiatives, annual plans, and other internal communications related to AFHI.➢ Wrote CEO’s quarterly letter to all enterprise employees.➢ Responsible for communications plans and strategies surrounding public relations activities on Accident Fund Holdings’ corporate contributions.➢ Performed a variety of communications functions, including basic promotion of Accident Fund, writing news releases and media advisories, planning and conducting press conferences, arranging radio and television interviews, and determining website content.➢ Successfully pitched and placed article about enterprise’s narcotics program on front page of Sunday edition of New York Times.

Lansing, Michigan

(asked by CEO to serve in this role on temporary assignment concurrently with Media & Public Relations Officer position)➢ Managed daily operations of Accident Fund Holdings’ Executive Office – supervised staff of two.➢ Served as chief of staff to Accident Fund Holdings’ CEO.➢ Ensured preparedness of CEO through activities such as analyzing information, developing materials and communications, and recommending appropriate action.➢ Coordinated the research and preparation of documents, presentations and meeting materials for CEO for all executive level meetings within enterprise and with parent company (BCBSM).➢ Ensured projects assigned to or delegated to direct reports of the CEO (Vice Presidents) are completed.➢ Communicated regularly with the executive leadership team to ensure organizational alignment and support.➢ Participated in development of annual departmental budget, monitor budget and identify budget discrepancies.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Served as chief media spokesperson for AARP Michigan.➢ Worked in collaboration with community agencies, non-profit organizations and the business community to develop and implement AARP’s presence in Michigan communities.➢ Worked with national AARP office staff to promote AARP’s strategic issues and priorities.➢ Communicated with national office issue experts to provide technical assistance and ensure the proper resources are available for staff and volunteers, including issue material, talking points, updates and briefing material.➢ Performed a variety of communications functions, including basic promotion of AARP, writing news releases, planning and conducting press conferences, setting up editorial board meetings, assisting with advocacy campaigns, arranging radio interviews, updating website content and making presentations at conferences.➢ Coordinated media buys with both print and electronic media on behalf of AARP Michigan.➢ Coordinated and maintained AARP Michigan’s social media efforts.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Identified opportunities and activities within the Michigan Department of Human Services (DHS) to promote in order to gain favorable media coverage, and served as media spokesperson for DHS.➢ Developed public relations campaigns around DHS initiatives.➢ Planned and conducted statewide press conferences and media roundtable discussions.➢ Set up editorial board meetings with major daily newspapers for DHS director.➢ Drafted news releases, talking points, fact sheets, op eds, media kits and other communications pieces.➢ Coordinated and conducted special events and media tours for DHS director.➢ Wrote speeches for DHS Director and other DHS staff and wrote articles for national publications.➢ Worked closely with other state public information officers and Governor’s communications staff to plan and conduct media events, and acted as primary liaison to Governor’s communications staff.➢ Supervised staff of two.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Supervised public relations department staff of four.➢ Served as chief media spokesperson for bureau.➢ Planned and executed large-scale events for bureau.➢ Appeared in television commercials for the bureau.➢ Drafted press releases, talking points, op-ed pieces, etc. covering bureau issues and activities.➢ Developed content for and coordinated media campaigns and press conferences.➢ Coordinated media tours and wrote speeches for lottery Commissioner.➢ Determined and drafted content for lottery’s website.➢ Wrote annual report for bureau.➢ Served as speaker/presenter at national lottery conferences.➢ Wrote articles for national lottery publications.➢ Participated in various statewide speaking engagements on behalf of bureau.➢ Created, wrote and designed bureau’s internal newsletter.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Met with lottery winners of over $50,000, presented them with prize checks and interviewed them for press release purposes, coordinated press conferences for multi-million dollar winners.➢ Drafted press releases covering bureau activities and served as media contact in Director’s absence.➢ Wrote articles for trade publications.➢ Scheduled press interviews and media tours for lottery Commissioner.➢ Tracked press coverage of bureau activities.➢ Developed Power Point presentations on lottery issues.➢ Answered questions about the bureau from Lottery players via telephone, mail and email.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Served as editor of the Michigan REALTOR® magazine and the REALTOR® Advocate newsletter.➢ Researched, wrote and edited articles for both publications (articles were on legislative issues).➢ Drafted press releases for association and served as media contact.➢ Drafted talking points and reports on legislative issues that affect REALTORS®.➢ Photographed various events for inclusion in both publications.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

➢ Wrote, edited and laid out one quarterly magazine and one monthly newsletter.➢ Drafted press releases and served as media contact.➢ Photographed various events for inclusion in both publications.➢ Drafted and designed a variety of communications materials.

East Lansing, Michigan

➢ Created brochures, advertisements and newsletters, drafted press releases and served as media contact.

Lansing, Michigan

➢ Proofread Michigan Compiled Laws, Public Acts, Michigan Register, Michigan Manual and Senate and House bills.