Benjamin C. Kmetz

Denver, CO Cell: 510-***-**** Email: ac2pnr@r.postjobfree.com Portfolio: http://benkmetz.weebly.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/benkmetz

SUMMARY

Experienced communications manager and writer/editor with a focus on internal and employee communications, and change management. Professional manager and developer of communications plans and strategies, newsletters, training material, white papers, internal and external website content, executive blogs and speeches, and social media content. Additional expertise in executive communications, event planning, crisis communications, incident management, community relations, training, and research. Advanced skills in various software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint, Adobe InDesign, Final Cut Pro X.

SOFTWARE AND TECHNICAL SKILLS

Microsoft Office – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, SharePoint, PowerApps, and Flow

Apple – Pages, Numbers, Keynote, iMovie

Adobe – InDesign, Illustrator, Captivate, Photoshop, FrameMaker, Acrobat

Video Production – Filming and Editing Experience, including iMovie, Final Cut Pro X, and Premier Pro

Digital Photography and editing

Internet skills: HTML, SEO, Social Media, and Content Management

Intranet/Collaboration skills: SharePoint, Slack, Yammer, Microsoft Teams, Jive, and Chatter

EDUCATION & OTHER COURSEWORK

Saint John’s University, Collegeville, Minn., B.A., Psychology; Minor, Communications.

University of California, Berkeley (Extension), Copy Editing.

Easel Solutions, St. Paul, Minn., Advanced Adobe InDesign.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Senior Internal Communications Specialist (February 2017 – Current)

eBay, Inc., San Jose (Contract)

●Create a variety of communications for the intranet, email newsletters, company events, and associate onboarding.

●Develop, manage, execute, and track multiple simultaneous strategic communications campaigns.

●Gather complex information and reduce it to compelling, clean copy, graphic design, infographics, and video.

●Interview associates across the company and create multimedia stories about products, culture, and people.

●Manage projects and deliverables from concept through execution.

●Develop networks across eBay to build knowledge and ensure communications approaches and deliverables are relevant.

Senior Internal Communications Lead (February – July 2016)

Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose, Calif. (Contract)

●Designed, Implemented and oversaw initiative-level strategic internal communication plans to accomplish awareness, education, and adoption goals within an Agile software development environment.

●Assessed, engaged, and utilized organizational channels of communications to design and deploy internal communication campaigns across a complex organization.

●Developed core messaging to guide development of all project elements.

●Executed and monitored individual release-level communication plans within the overall project strategy.

●Produced communications collateral for a variety of purposes and audiences, including presentations, whitepapers, newsletters, videos, and intranet (Jive) sites.

Internal Communications and Technical Writer (November 2014 – November 2015)

Bank of the West, San Ramon, Calif.

●Developed and wrote weekly internal communications directed to all employees of more than 520 nationwide branches.

●Performed project management tasks related to internal communication efforts. Crafted all internal communications related to projects, provided project status to management, and established timelines and action steps to meet project timeframes.

●Provided communication consulting to business partners on internal communications. Analyzed and determined the most effective and creative method of communication.

●Developed and implemented strategy and design for an overhaul of the department Intranet (SharePoint) page.

●Researched, edited, wrote and updated branch operational procedures, manuals, and relevant tools.

Senior Internal Communications Specialist (April 2013 – October 2014)

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), San Francisco (Contract)

●Developed, designed, wrote, edited and managed the review, approval and production of key internal communications (e.g., newsletters, quarterly review messages, intranet articles, video productions, executive leadership messages, website content) to support department-wide strategic priorities.

●Wrote quarterly executive level communications and provided strategic communications support for Senior Executives.

●Monitored progress and success of internal communications through metrics and benchmarking.

●Researched, interviewed, and wrote articles for the company intranet.

●Managed, edited, wrote, and performed all layout and design work for quarterly newsletters.

●Produced, interviewed, filmed and edited internal videos featuring field employees.

●Managed the development of an online (intranet) version of the internal newsletter, performed all technical posting of all articles, and provided guidance on intranet design and strategy decisions.

●Developed materials for large-group employee and executive leadership meetings.

Public Relations / Marketing Project Manager (March 2012 – October 2012)

Patelco Credit Union, Pleasanton, Calif. (Contract)

●Developed, managed and executed marketing and communications tactics for business development, sales, Automated Teller Machine strategy, investments and insurance division, financial advisors and branch network for a $3.7 billion credit union.

●Planned and executed public relations plans and community development initiatives.

●Managed multiple marketing programs simultaneously, from conception through execution, ensuring all elements are being created, produced, and delivered on time and within budget.

●Administered the $1 million marketing budget on a monthly basis to ensure adherence to fiscal and departmental goals.

●Developed and led two successful branch openings including conception, product development, contest management, grand opening, advertising, media relations, and community relations.

Independent Contractor (September 2011 – March 2012)

Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), San Francisco (Contract)

●Provided project management and assistance to the Energy Contract Management team.

●Responsible for research requests and reports; and database maintenance, updates, and data integrity.

Public Relations Representative (2006–10)

Pacific Service Credit Union, Walnut Creek, Calif.

●Managed external communications for a $1 billion financial services company. Developed and implemented annual public relations plans.

●Wrote and distributed more than 100 press releases related to new product and service announcements, new hires, new branch locations, event announcements, and charitable donations.

●Advised and trained senior executives and subject matter experts on public relations and communications directives. Provided counsel and created documents and speaking points on various subjects, including executive communications, governmental relations, media response plans, Q&A documents, call-center coordination, contingency plans, potential crisis communications issues.

●Assisted in managing the credit union’s charitable foundation. Expanded the reach of the foundation within the non-profit community, increased public awareness for the foundation and established an employee volunteer group.

Firmwide Communications Coordinator (2002–05)

Heller Ehrman LLP, San Francisco, Calif.

●Developed, implemented, and advised on communications strategies for an international corporate law firm with nearly 750 attorneys.

●Wrote and edited additional web content, articles, pitches, bios, blogs, training documents, reports.

Marketing Communications Coordinator (2000–01)

Crosby, Heafey, Roach & May P.C., Oakland, Calif.

●Directed internal and external communications strategy for a mid-sized corporate law firm with 250 attorneys.

References and Portfolio Available Upon Request

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