Marketing and Communications Professional

PUBLIC AFFAIRS, SALES AND MARKETING PROFESSIONAL

Brand Management · Social Media/Web Development · Media Training · Crisis Communication · Media Placement EDUCATION

University of Louisville, Louisville, KY May 2016

Master of Business Administration; Concentration-Healthcare Management

● Graduated with Honors

Loyola University New Orleans, New Orleans, LA

● Bachelor of Arts; History & Communications

MARKETING & PUBLIC AFFAIRS EXPERIENCE

Service Corporation Inc./Dignity Memorial, Louisville, KY 2018 - Present Family Service Counselor

● Coordinate all aspects of pre-planning cemetery and funeral arrangements for the one of the nation's largest providers of cemetery and funeral services

● Responsible for over $600,000 in sales on cemetery and funeral needs in 10 months

● Duties include arranging at-need and pre-need funeral services, procuring property location purchase and coordinating post-service needs in a high pressure and emotional environment

● Responsible for coordination of information between client, front office and maintenance divisions critical to providing families excellent service during an extremely difficult and emotional experience

● Extensive knowledge of CRS information and tracking systems Salesforce and HMIS Kentucky Society of CPAs, Louisville, KY 2017- 2018 Communications and Marketing Director

● Editor and publisher of KyCPA Journal, a magazine published five times a year and sent to nearly 5,000 CPAs across the state

● Publisher of monthly CPA Online and Business and Industry e-newsletter that targets CPAs throughout the entire Commonwealth of Kentucky on specific issues facing the CPA industry

● Social media posting upcoming conference and CPE opportunities

● Create and reviews marketing materials used in conference and CPE promotion

● Coordinate marketing efforts the KyCPA Educational Foundation University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 2012-17

National Media Outreach Coordinator/Communications Specialist April 2014 – August 2017

● Increased university brand by gaining national media attention for academic and research accomplishments, including placements in the Washington Post, San Francisco Chronicle and Chronicle of Higher Education

● Successfully placed numerous university faculty on national broadcast media outlets, such as CNN, MSNBC and Huffington Post Live as experts on a variety of hot-button topics

● Secured celebrity testimonials from Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts and George Stephanopoulos, Emmy Award-winner Billy Crystal and ESPN’s Chris Berman for special award ceremony honoring Muhammad Ali

● Responsible for gaining international media attention for researcher who led efforts to successfully design and produce a “bionic” hand for 8-year-old boy born without a fully developed right hand Acting Marketing Manager April 2013 – April 2014

● Edited “The President’s Report,” monthly external communication to local and state policy makers designed to highlight accomplishments of the university; won two Awards of Excellence at 2013 CASE Region III in Atlanta

● Served as Deputy Managing Editor for “University of Louisville: A Magazine for Alumni & Friends,” targeting 144,000 readers across the country; managed content and creative management as well as advertising and sponsorship opportunities; won the Grand Award at the 2014 CASE Kentucky conference.

● Redesigned “What’s Happening at UofL,” weekly e-newsletter that informed local and national media about upcoming events and stories of interest.

Interim Director of University Brand Marketing and Marketing Manager Sept. 2012 – April 2013

● Worked with high level university administrators to maintain the stellar UofL brand through the use of external media properties, including TV commercials, electronic communications, outdoor advertising and print properties.

● Collaborated with Senior Vice President of Communications and Market to identify and value university marketing assets for possible sponsorship opportunities from local and national businesses.

● Project manager for UofL’s contribution in “Health Kentucky,” a special advertising report focusing on medical research and providers in Kentucky. Responsibilities included content management, negotiating ad space purchases and publication design.

● Oversaw implementation of UofL brand awareness campaign, including creation and implementation of outdoor advertising, specially designed radio/TV spots and increased online presence. Loyola University New Orleans 2010-2012

Deputy Director of Public Affairs and External Relations

● Worked with public affairs and institutional advancement to develop and execute a successful internal and external media campaign, which gained extensive media coverage, including the Associated Press and other national news outlets.

● Social media liaison responsible for content management and paid marketing campaigns. Also managed website updates and development.

● Assisted in training senior-administration officials and faculty in best techniques used to communicate effectively with the media.

● Assisted in the development of Loyola’s Crisis Communications Manual, designed to establish communication lines and develop correct messaging during times of crisis. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids/Council for a Strong America 2008-2010 National Communications Director

● Developed national media strategy for prominent crime-fighting non-profit and three sibling organizations, produced more than 80 million media impressions

● Directed nationwide organization rollout press conference, receiving media exposure to over 40.3 million viewers

● Led redesign of company website and re-branding of company logo

● Helped institute user friendly content manager system that allowed webpage to be updated quickly

● Supervised publication of nationwide law enforcement newsletters (circulation 25,000 per) three times annually

● Created external products used for marketing and advertisement in local newspapers

● Prepared guests for media appearances; briefed on material, prepared for questions and addressed concerns U.S. House of Representatives-Congressmen Marsha Blackburn, J.D. Hayworth, and Ernest Istook 2005-2008 Communications Director

● Prepared talking points to be used for Congressional Record, floor speeches, and national media appearances

● Worked with Congressman and staff to prepare media strategies and materials in support of proposed health care legislation

● Conduct outreach to local and national media outlets including Washington Post, MSNBC, Fox News and local news

● Ghost wrote Op Eds and Letters to the Editor placed in local and national newspapers and publications

● Created and distributed district wide newsletter and weekly e-newsletters to families in district

● Facilitated redesign of congressional website to make it user friendly and include cutting-edge multimedia LC Media

2002-2005

Owner/Sole Proprietor

● Media consultant/campaign manager for several political campaigns in Louisiana and Wisconsin. Duties included: o Media Training/Preparation

o Paid and Earned Media Placement

o Marketing

o Fundraising

MEDIA EXPERIENCE

More than a decade of experience as an award winning investigative news reporter and sports anchor in New Orleans, Louisiana, and several markets in the Gulf South including CBS National News, NBC, CNN and Headline News

● WWL-TV, New Orleans, LA-Producer 1992-1994

● WDAM-TV, Hattiesburg, MS-Reporter/Anchor 1994-1996

● WABG-TV, Greenville, MS-Anchor/Reporter 1996-1998

● Headline News, Atlanta, GA-Freelance Reporter 1996-1998

● WWL 870 AM, New Orleans, LA-Reporter/Anchor 1998-2000

● CBS News, New York, NY-Freelance Reporter 1998-2000

● ABC Sports, New York, NY-Freelance Reporter 1998-2000

● WDSU-TV, New Orleans, NY-Anchor/Reporter 1999-2002

● NBC Sports, New York, NY-Freelance Producer 1999-2002 HONORS/AWARDS

● Recipient of UofL’s Vulcan Hart MBA Scholarship

● Honored multiple times by The Associated Press and New Orleans Press Club

● Award of Merit from the Public Relations Society of America

● Multiple Award of Excellence from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE)

● Executive Board Member Public Relations Society of America – New Orleans Chapter

● New Orleans Young Leadership Council

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