Manage media relations strategies, including both proactive PR campaigns and reactive opportunities, for various business units within Travelers U.S. operations as well as all international businesses. Closely collaborate with marketing and internal communications teams on all aspects of business lines and operations managed to ensure unified activation and presence in markets. Manage relationships and coordinate work with mutliple external agencies to activate and execute proactive media strategies. Lead media training sessions for employees who are tapped to be public spokespeople for Travelers and represent the brand externally.

Strategically created entire global communications function for international financial services company. Was tasked to lead development and implementation of various aspects of communications both internally and externally. Part of change management team providing input and executing on both internal and external communications through two corporate acquisitions.Manage and lead cross-group projects and functions, which requires direct management of workflow pipeline; overseeing teams of employees and consultants; meeting strategic deadlines; and ensuring key deliverables that reflect positively on company.External Communications: As a team of one, developed and implemented strategies that increased company’s media coverage globally by more than 4,000%. Built and maintain strong relationships with key media across targeted trade and consumer press within company’s global geographic footprint. Launched company’s social media presence. Helped hire and manage relationship with contracted consultant to implement social media strategy. Provided thought leadership and change management recommendations to executive management through two acquisitions of company. Member of team that promoted and communicated acquisitions to key external clients and media. Oversaw multiple marketing functions, including managing marketing budget, industry trade event sponsorships, advertising, and hosting of company-sponsored webinars and teleconferences.Internal Communications: Work with executive-level management on key global messaging and improving internal business processes. Developed company’s official employee media and communications guidelines and procedures, working closely with legal and compliance departments. Developed and jointly run internal training and skills programs. Work closely with HR to share notifications and updates with employees. Work with publishing and design to develop internal communications. Have been member of hiring team for multiple positions.

Co-authored weekly column, providing unique analysis and research for professional and general audience. Worked closely with team of reporters and editors covering some of the biggest financial news stories of the time, including European sovereign debt crisis. Leveraged strong communication skills to develop reliable, trusted news sources in order to break news, winning multiple internal companywide awards in the process. Sought and created new opportunities for team and myself by analyzing missing elements from market and pitching relevant senior management on projects, such as the creation of the Wall Street Journal Dollar Index.

Creator of The Wall Street Journal Dollar Index (found on WSJ.com; ticker BUXX)

Covered largest business news story of the past century as a financial services and markets reporter for the world’s largest newsgathering organization. Developed strong relationships with external, industry sources to break news in competitive news environment where deadlines and success were measured in minutes and seconds. Balanced working on extremely tight deadlines covering breaking news while still completing longer term, enterprise assignments.Developed intricate knowledge of how to read and understand financial statements and documents. Was relied upon as the go-to member of AP’s Business Department for breaking down complex parts of the financial market to make them easy to understand for consumer audience and fit within AP’s guidelines and style.

Created content for subscription-based, consumer website. Pitched ideas and formats for content to match style of product and drive clicks and consumption of material.

Increasing responsibilities throughout work at Royal Media Group. Was in charge of day-to-day operations of key industry trade publication within company’s portfolio. Work included liaising with senior editors on content for publication; managing oversight of layout and design with in-house design team; reporting and writing nearly all articles for each issue; gathering regular data for inclusion in publication; developing sources to break news while also creating enterprise content for industry-specific audience. Identified opportunity to expand our reach and offerings by launching series of podcasts for the industry. Pitched idea for podcasts to ownership; received approval; developed program; and managed small group of employees in content development and production.Worked as part of a team hosting industry trade conferences across the U.S. Responsibilities included identifying key topics within industry to cover at events; sourcing and inviting industry leaders to participate; developing marketing materials; and moderating panel discussions at events.

Pitched, developed and wrote news articles for major consumer news website (at the time known as CBS Marketwatch). Worked with news editor on both quick, breaking news and longer, enterprise pieces, seamlessly multitasking between them at the same time. Articles written included material that led the entire website’s weekend coverage.

Pitched, developed and created unique content in both Southampton, NY-area and Washington, DC for nightly news show on local NPR-affiliated radio station. Worked closely with head of news department to identify content of general interest and localize it for listeners in station’s audience range.

Pitched, produced, edited, directed and voiced television news packages and radio stories in Washington, DC for ABC television affiliate and news radio station in Fargo, ND. Created content relevant to target audience while working closely with senior producers and news director.