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