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Manager Management

Location:
Milwaukee, WI, 53202
Posted:
August 13, 2010

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Resume:

WILLIAM D. ZAFEROS

abl028@r.postjobfree.com/abl028@r.postjobfree.com

**** *. ******* **.

Suite 1302

Milwaukee, WI 53202

Cell: 414-***-****

A seasoned public relations and public affairs professional with a diverse

background in journalism, media and public relations, government affairs,

political campaigns and advertising.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

ZAFEROS COMMUNICATIONS, LLC, (Milwaukee, WI) (February 2009-Present)

President and CEO - Responsible for day-to day operations of a start-up

public relations company formed in 2009. Clients include:

. Ron Dague for Circuit Court, Branch 15

. Jaramillo Staffing Services

. United Performing Arts Fund

. CastleROCK Commercial Construction, Inc.

. Susan G. Komen for the Cure - Milwaukee Chapter

. Jeremy Schwartz for Circuit Court

. Creative Constructors

. Hiebing Group

. The American People's Voice

. Waukesha County Technical College

NELSON SCHMIDT, Milwaukee, WI (June 2007-2009)

Public Relations Director -- Responsible for all media relations for Nelson

Schmidt, an advertising and public relations firm with billings of $70

million. Also served as primary media contact for its public relations

clients, including:

. Managed media relations; developed strategic plan for Digital

Healthcare, Wake Forest, NC

. Managed media relations for C.G. Schmidt Construction, Madison, WI

. Managed media relations for First Business Bank, Madison, WI

. Managed media relations; developed strategic plan for Naviscan, San

Diego, CA

. Managed media relations for ZBB Energy Corporation, Milwaukee

. Managed the successful Grant F. Langley for City Attorney campaign,

Milwaukee

PRIVATE PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MEDIA RELATIONS CONSULTANT, Milwaukee, WI

(August 2006-May, 2007)

. Worked as PR consultant on a project basis

. Worked for Bottom Line Communications on J.M. Brennan lawsuit

. Worked with Nelson Schmidt on SourcePoint name change

. Developed media relations planning for Digital Healthcare, Wake

Forest, NC

. Assisted in development of campaign plan for Phil Chavez for Municipal

Court.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY, MIDWEST DIVISION, Pewaukee, WI May 2004 - Aug.

2006

Manager of Media Relations, Wisconsin (Feb. 2006-Aug. 2006) Responsible

for all media relations and media strategy for the organization in

Wisconsin; retained following an organizational restructuring and

elimination of the Communications Department.

. Developed media strategy (including paid media) for Wisconsin media

markets.

. Assembled a new media relations team to execute Wisconsin media

strategy.

. Implemented a Return on Investment metric for media relations and

reported all media activity involving ACS and cancer news to senior

management.

. Respected media source for Wisconsin media on cancer-related

information.

Vice President of Communications (May 2004 - Feb. 2006) Directed all

external communications for the Midwest Division of ACS as well as

strategic direction of the Communications Department and its multi-state

staff. Responsibilities included:

. Management of four departments: Integrated Marketing; Promotions; Media

Relations; Community Relations.

. Management of staff of 20 dispersed over four states and budget of $1.5

million.

City of Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI

Jan. 2004 - May 2004

Communications Director, Office of Mayor Responsible for all external

communications from the Office of the Mayor, including:

. Speechwriting. Wrote all speeches and policy statements relating to the

Mayor's office and the City of Milwaukee.

. News Releases. Generated, wrote and distributed all news releases

relating to key issues in the City of Milwaukee.

. Media relations. Managed contacts with all media and all news generated

by the Mayor's office; also acted as chief spokesman for the mayor.

. Message development. Worked with policy director to create message for

legislative agenda.

Special Assistant to the Commissioner/Communications, Department Of City

Development (Jan. 2003-Jan. 2004) Responsible for all media relations and

contacts; writing and editing external and internal communications for

department, including news releases and other material as needed; assisted

commissioner on public policy issues and strategies; acted as primary

spokesman for the department; promoted economic development activities in

the city through external communications; wrote speeches and other

communications for commissioner and senior staff.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD (f/k/a Cobalt Corporation), Milwaukee, WI

Sept. 2000 - Jan. 2002

Manager of Corporate Communications Responsible for writing and editing all

external and internal communications for a publicly traded 1.2 million

member managed care company, including news releases, company newsletter,

brochures and investor relations materials; writing speeches and statements

for senior management; acting as company spokesman and primary media

contact; managing all media relations issues, including local, state,

national and trade news; coordinating company's annual shareholder's

meeting; writing and producing company's annual report to shareholders.

. Directed staff of five with departmental budget of approximately

$750,000.

. Wrote and managed production of the corporation's first award-winning

annual report.

. Created and executed plans for publicizing the company's name change;

plan included selection of new name, new logo and change of NYSE stock

name to CBZ.

. Executed successful internal and external communications plans regarding

corporate merger and subsequent corporate name change. Assisted in

creating new logo and corporate brand applications.

. Created company's first crisis communications plan.

. Created and executed internal and external communications plans for CEO

retirement and new management succession.

. Placed positive stories about the company in national, state and local

media.

TODD ROBERT MURPHY ADVERTISING/PUBLIC RELATIONS, Milwaukee, WI Sept.

1994 - Sept. 2000

Senior Account Executive, Responsible for managing public relations,

government affairs, political campaigns and advertising campaigns for a

diverse group of clients, including Osco Drug, The Polacheck Company,

Roundy's Inc., Charter Hospitals and The Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Acted

as media spokesman for numerous clients.

. Managed successful political campaigns for judicial and state Legislature

candidates.

. Managed successful public relations and governmental relations plans for

the Milwaukee Rescue Mission, the Wisconsin Institute for Torah Study,

Roundy's, Inc. and Osco Drug.

. Wrote and executed crisis communications plan for Charter Hospitals, Inc.

. Acted as executive director of In the Paint at One Two, a non-profit

midnight basketball league for inner-city youths on behalf of Roundy's

Inc.

OTHER EXPERIENCE

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR FOR A WISCONSIN STATE SENATOR

POLITICAL REPORTER, WILMINGTON NEWS JOURNAL, Wilmington, DE

AMERICAN POLITICAL SCIENCE ASSOCIATION CONGRESSIONAL FELLOW, Washington, DC

POLITICAL REPORTER, APPLETON POST-CRESCENT, Appleton, WI

REPORTER, MILWAUKEE JOURNAL, Milwaukee, WI

REPORTER, OSHKOSH NORTHWESTERN, Oshkosh, WI

EDUCATION Marquette University, Milwaukee, WI

M.A., Graduate School of Communications

University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI

B.A., Journalism and Political Science

University of Delaware, Newark, DE

Graduate School of Political Science

MEMBERSHIPS

Board of Directors, NAMI Milwaukee

Board of Directors, SER Jobs for Progress

Public Policy Forum

Rotary Club of Milwaukee

Milwaukee 7 Water Council



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