Debra A. Miller, Ed.D, APR Fellow PRSA

**** *. ******* ****, ***** 2202, Oak Creek, WI 53154

262-***-**** ~ abgy0r@r.postjobfree.com

www.linkedin.com/in/damiller3000

Senior executive and public relations generalist with leadership experience in corporate, health care,

higher education, government and foundation communications. Counseled senior executives on policy

decisions, crisis management, reputation management and thought leadership strategies. Led

diverse multigenerational work teams in highly structured and non-structured environments. Proven

success in executive communications, strategic planning, creating public/private partnerships,

measurement, reputation management and brand recognition in Six Sigma environments.

Experienced in managing multi-million dollar projects and P&L departmental budgets up to $6MM.

State-of-the-art knowledge and experience with social media. An innovative fundraiser with

demonstrated success in leveraging communications strategies to achieve organizational, sales, fund

development, social responsibility, public affairs and diversity goals. Former National President of the

Public Relations Society of America.

Global Communication Strategists, LLC, Oak Creek, Wisconsin January 2011 to

Present

Strategic communications, public relations and research consulting firm.

Senior Communications Consultant: (2011- ) Provide variety of strategic planning, marketing

communications, research and public relations management services to clients in health care, higher

education and foundation leaders. Selected clients include: The Johnson Foundation at Wingspread,

Racine Community Action Agency, Greater Racine Collaborative for Healthy Birth Outcomes, The Killeen

Furtney Group, and The National Coalition of 100 Black Women.

Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, Wisconsin September 2008 to November 2010

Wisconsin’s largest integrated healthcare system with annual income of $3.7 billion and 30,000+ employees.

Vice President of Philanthropy: (2009 to 2010) Responsible for the planning, operation and

coordination of system-wide fund development. Reporting to President of the Foundation and Chief

Executive Officer, managed staff of 20 fund development professionals and a $6,000,000 budget.

Oversaw coordination of major gift solicitation, annual giving programs, capital campaigns, planned

giving, donor recognition and all related activities necessary to engender community support and

charitable giving.

Developed and implemented a system wide fund development plan. Result: Raised target amount

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of $9,300,000.

Launched “Building Healthier Communities Campaign” for site renovations and patient service

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improvements for 3 hospitals. Result: Exceeded target, with $500,000 in lead gifts.

Developed strategic partnerships with area businesses and the American Cancer Society to launch

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first campaign to support breast cancer awareness. Result: Raised over $100,000 and generated

significant media coverage.

Vice President, Corporate Affairs: (2008 to 2010) Reporting to Senior Vice President of Corporate

Affairs and Executive Vice President of the South Market Group, was responsible for providing the overall

strategic direction for the corporate affairs from South Milwaukee to Northern Illinois. With a team of 7

and a $2,500,000 budget, directed initiatives in internal and external communications; public relations;

reputation management; crisis management; marketing; community engagement, philanthropy and

donor communications; social responsibility; local advocacy and government relations. Served as

communications counsel for several system-wide enterprise committees, diversity leadership taskforce,

regional boards, 4 medical centers, 27 clinics and 12 retail pharmacies.

• Created and implemented system wide integrated marketing communications plan including

marketing and other areas. Result: Strengthened the image of Aurora; supported record profits and

growth in 2009.

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Improved selection of Aurora as trusted provider of choice. Result: Increased patient experience

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scores by 20%.

Implemented internal communications plan to educate caregivers on value of the system. Result:

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Enhanced system wide caregiver engagement, with 80% agreement of all staff.

Utilized and managed online tools and social media. Result: Established and maintained Aurora’s

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internet presence.

Authored and published internal and external publications. Result: Produced monthly online

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caregiver newsletter; and 3 issues of 4 color magazines for over 35,000 patients, donors and

caregivers.

Developed a dynamic plan focusing on key audiences through local news media. Result: Increased

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regional leadership engagement in community and government relations.

Rebranded Aurora’s image as a not-for-profit system. Result: Created new mission statement which

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was incorporated into all written materials across the entire system.

Created executive communications for regional leadership. Result: Enhanced Aurora’s presence in

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healthcare reform and positioned the system as a primary information source for quality healthcare.

Led team on crisis communications, labor disputes and other human resources issues. Result:

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Achieved positive resolution of labor disputes and other incidents.

Clark Atlanta University, Atlanta, Georgia September 2004 to October 2008

Largest private co-ed institution in the Atlanta University Center, with 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students

1,000 faculty and staff.

Senior Director of Marketing and Communications: Reporting to President and Vice President of

Institutional Advancement and University Relations, led staff of 4 professionals responsible for executive

and marketing communications, media relations, publications and website with a $650,000 budget.

Served as chief media spokesperson and communication advisor for the university’s senior leadership

team.

Created and implemented an integrated marketing communications plan for the university. Result:

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Increased undergraduate/graduate enrollment 25%; positive national media exposure 30%;

improved employee satisfaction by 15%; and fundraising 25%.

Established corporate partnerships with Delta Airlines, Turner Broadcasting (Peachtree TV) and the

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McDonald’s Corporation. Result: Secured $500,000 in major and in-kind gifts; university featured in

special higher education insert in the November 2005 edition of Delta SKY Magazine; attained

national visibility on Time Warner stations; instituted gift tuition voucher program for 110,000 Time

Warner employees; secured leadership appearances on three nationally syndicated television

programs; created two commercials that appeared daily on local stations and during the 2008 Super

Bowl; established scholarships and internships through McDonald’s.

Redesigned University website. Result: Increased “user friendly” aspects of employee intranet by

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35% and increased online alumni giving by 25%.

Rebranded University in all forms of media. Result: Distinguished the University among its peer

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group and enabled increased recruitment, media exposure and fundraising.

The Jackson Heath Group, Atlanta, Georgia September 2003 to September 2005

A full service advertising, public relations, marketing and communications firm focusing on Fortune 500 clients.

Senior Account Supervisor/Consultant: Reporting to President and CEO, managed a team of 5

account executives, managed a $750,000 budget and provided strategic counsel to the following clients:

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. - Developed and implemented a community engagement, issues management

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and diversity communication campaign. Result: Several area stores were built in communities

where the company faced opposition.

Cingular Wireless (AT&T) – Implemented an internal communications program. Result: Created

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intranet site for the corporate diversity function to improve recruitment of employees of color and to

enhance employee development.

Delta Airlines, Inc. – Initiated a diversity communications program for Human Resources and Supply

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Chain Management. Result: Produced a series of advertisements for external, national publications

to demonstrate corporate commitment to diversity.

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Preferred Medical Group (11 dialysis centers) – Created comprehensive integrated marketing

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communications plan. Result: Increased the patient census by 37% and contributed to the

successful sale of the company in 2005.

Bank of America Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina September 2001 to August 2003

Fortune 100 full service publicly-held financial institution with 200,000+ employees.

Vice President of Marketing and Communications: Reporting to Executive Vice President for

Marketing and Communications, responsible for the research and measurement function for corporate

communications. Provided research support for all the bank’s business lines as well as for the Bank of

America Foundation. Managed a $1,300,000 budget.

Conceived the first-ever Strategic Measurement program. Result: Quantified the effectiveness and

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impact of communications function, and achieved best practice metrics; positioned movement of

bank from #28 to #9 out of 100 companies on the 2002 and 2003 Delahaye Medialink Media

Reputation Index.

Created dashboards and metrics for departmental and individual performance plans. Result:

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Leveraged Six Sigma methodologies to improve communications processes for customers and

associates.

Collaborated with Human Resources on employee satisfaction surveys, benefits, program

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communications and publications. Result: Increased employee satisfaction to 80% and

communication effectiveness to 83%.

Sinickas Communications, Inc., Laguna Woods, California November 2000 to August 2001

A communications research firm with Fortune 500 clients.

Senior Consultant: Reporting to President and CEO, provided measurable research to support internal

and external communication plans to meet business objectives such as: communication audits,

executive interviews, focus groups, surveys, data analysis and preparation of final reports for

AstraZeneca, Shell Oil, Capital One Financial Services and Accenture.

University of Portland, Portland, Oregon May 1998 to August 2000

A private Roman Catholic University with 4,000 undergraduate and graduate students and 500 faculty and staff.

Director of Public Relations: Reporting to the President and Vice President for Institutional

Advancement, responsible for all communications, marketing, media relations and website. Served as

chief media spokesperson and communication advisor for the university’s senior leadership team.

Managed staff of 10 and a $500,000 budget.

Established external partnerships with Nike, Intel and Portland General Electric. Result: Raised

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$2,500,000 in major gifts and in-kind services which enabled the University to become a finalist site

for the 2000 Presidential debates.

Kicked off University’s first capital campaign. Result: Ultimately raised over $100,000,000 in 3

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years.

Rebranded University’s image through variety of internal and external media. Result: Increased

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student recruitment by 25% $2,000,000 in corporate partnerships.

Florida International University, North Miami, Florida August 1989 to May 1998

State University with over 44,000 students and 3000+ faculty and staff.

Special Assistant to the President, Assistant Dean and Associate Professor (Tenured) :

Reporting to President Mitch

Maidique (Ret.) in the areas of reputation management, diversity communications, branding, executive

communications and

crisis communication.

• Created and served as the Executive Editor/Writer of The Diversity Exchange, a quarterly magazine

on diversity and inclusion. Result: FIU was recognized by President Clinton for its diversity

initiatives, and the publication received two IABC Silver Quills.

• Served as the PR Department Chair, taught and developed graduate and undergraduate courses in

public relations, multicultural communications marketing, and communication research

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measurement. Created student advisement and customer service workshops. Result: 98% increase

in student satisfaction.

U.S. Census Bureau, Washington, DC August 1986 to July 1989

Census Awareness and Product Manager

Howard University, Washington, DC August 1983 to June 1986

Special Advisor to the President/Instructor

Federal Crop Insurance Corporation, Washington, DC March 1980 to August 1983

Assistant Director of Public Affairs

Prior to 1980: Held federal and municipal government positions in public affairs and communications.

Education and Certifications

Ed. D., Adult Education and Human Resources Development, Florida International University

M.A., Public Relations/Journalism, Ohio State University

B.A., Mass Media/Journalism, Hampton University

Postgraduate Studies in Marketing/Marketing Research, University of Maryland

Awards

PRSA 2006 Gold Anvil Recipient; PRSA 2006 D. Parke Gibson Award for advancing diversity and

multiculturalism in the profession; PRSA National Capital Chapter, Washington, DC: Hall of Fame

Inductee, 1999; International Association of Business Communicators: Silver Quill Award of

Excellence 1998; National Association of Market Developers, "Communicator of the Year," 1998.

Affiliations/Leadership

Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), President/CEO, 1997; PRSA Foundation (1991-

1998); Member (1977 to present), International Association of Business Communicators,

Washington, DC, Chapter President, 1987, Member (1984 to present); American Society for

Training and Development, Member, 1995 to present; Coalition of 100 Black Women, Member

1985 to present; Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Member (1973 to present).

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