Prof. Iván Cardona MS, MGC

** **** ***** **, *** 105, Stamford, CT 06905

787-***-****, ac8ihq@r.postjobfree.com

Public Relations & Marketing Manager

10+ years’ success leading public awareness for government, corporate, and non-profit organizations Repeated success guiding sizeable communications and public relations strategy development teams in the design, redesign, and launch of worldwide community outreach programs. Talent for leveraging new and existing business relationships to address public concerns. Expert presenter, negotiator, and businessperson; able to forge solid relationships with partners and build consensus across multiple organizational levels. Highlights of Expertise

• Corporate Communications

• Public Relations & Branding

• Counseling and Media Training

• Internal & External Communications

• Strategy planning & Implementation

• Crisis Management & Mitigation

• Remedy and Emergency Programs

• Relationship Management; Alliances

• Community Outreach Programs

• Media Management; Spokesperson

• Press Releases & Speech Writing

• Round Tables & Interviews

• Social Media & Online Campaigns

• International Media Relations

• Marketing & Advertising Strategy

• Brand Positioning & Awareness

• Market and Public Opinion Analysis

• Event Development & Promotions

• Strategic Promotional Campaigns

• Contract Development / Negotiations

• Government & Public Affairs

Experience

ALLIA-COM, Inc., San Juan, Puerto Rico

Provided executive-level leadership with full accountability for all corporate operations servicing a client list of over 35 high-profile clients in hospitality, entertainment, and government. PRESIDENT & CEO (January 2009 to PRESENT)

Responsible for the development and coordination of all communications, public relations, marketing and advertising strategies, products, and services. Counseled upper-management, directors, and staff on corporate communications, marketing, and sales strategies. Analyzed public opinion using technical measurements of corporate products and services to ensure desired results.

Transformation & rebranding of Empresas Santana (ES), one of the island largest business conglomerate, from a mayor airline supply and maintenance company, to a hospitality corporation, managers of some of the island’s largest hotel chains, among them: TRYP, FOUR POINTS BY SHERATON and WYNDHAM GARDEN. The strategic conversion and rebranding of Empresas Santana’s House of Brands from a PR, marketing, and branding perspective; a $80M company relaunch with immediate successful market positioning.

Instrumental in the revamping of Puerto Rico’s Corporation for the Supervision, Regulation and Insurance of Cooperatives and Credit Unions (COSSEC by its Spanish acronym), enabling the public corporation to make multiple record-breaking announcements over a five year period, including: 1 million members, $9 billion in active assets, $ 4.6 billion in loans, 5.8 in deposits and 2.5 billion in shares, reaffirming the strength on the economy and placing the cooperatives and credit unions as the fastest growing financial sector on the island.

Influential for the expansion of the Puerto Rico’s Minority Supplier Development Council (PRMSDC) affiliation from 250 certified minority suppliers to over 500 and the development of over $50M in new contracts between multi-national corporations and local minority businesses.

Lead the transformation strategy and revamping of INTERPHEX PUERTO RICO Life Science Innovation Week, one of the island’s best known corporate regional events for the development of life sciences, biopharma, and supply chain, attracting over 3K participants and securing an increase of 30% in attendance per year.

Coordinated more than 1,000 strategic presentations, product launches, and press conferences with press and industry leaders of more than 35 high profile corporations to ensure favorable branding, positioning and public opinion, as well as employee satisfaction.

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Iván Cardona Jr. Page 2

Puerto Rico Tourism Company, San Juan, Puerto Rico Highly successful tenure overseeing all communication programs for a public corporation responsible for stimulating, promoting, and regulating the development of Puerto Rico’s tourism industry. DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATION & PUBLIC AFFAIRS (November 2005 to December 2008) Directed corporate strategy development through effective public relations, promotions, and marketing execution. Cooperated local and international media and news organizations to attract new tourists from around the world.

Propelled Puerto Rico’s tourism through many successful campaigns, including the “Explore Beyond Our Shores” initiative which increased the island’s public exposure and publicity from $2M to $11M in three years while incurring no additional budgetary expenses.

Resolved public media demands and utilized pre-existing business infrastructure to rebrand the Puerto Rico Tourism Company (PRTC) and reposition the agency as a leader in the development of the island’s tourism throughout the east coast United States, gaining worldwide recognition including Travel and Leisure’s 33 Most Influential People in the Tourism Industry awarded to PRTC’s Executive Director, Terestella Gonzales Denton.

Instrumental in the acquisition of major airlines into the island’s tourism conglomerate, the construction of major5 star hotel chains which represented over 5,000 new rooms in the island’s inventory, and the development of new tourist industries which represented over 4,000 new jobs and economic wellbeing.

Attended over 5,000 media inquiries, addressed negative public perceptions with emergency programs and established short and long-term communication policies, supervising public relations strategies implemented by regional teams in 4 continents.

Puerto Rico Governor’s Office/La Fortaleza (Central Communications Office), San Juan, Puerto Rico Provided public relations and regional media strategies for the Office of the Governor of Puerto Rico. SENIOR COMMUNICATION ADVISOR (January 2005 to November 2005) Advised and counseled the Governor, high government officials, and government agencies on rising public issues and effective communication policies. Planned strategies aimed at improving Governor’s work and efficiency ratings.

Launched Communication and Public Relation’s strategies for some of the Island’s largest communication and media policies to tend crisis and maintain a positive image, among them: Navy bombing exercises on Vieques, the radiation of poverty thru the “Special Communities Program”, the quest to eliminate corruption in government and the deployment of the National Guard to engage criminality.

Liaised between the Governor’s Office and all communication departments within Puerto Rico’s government agencies, creating synergy of purpose between all communication and public relations strategies as a cohesive unit of public service.

In charge of developing, elaborating, and curating all communication and formal documents including speeches, announcements, and strategic statements to transmit related issues through the media. ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Adjunct Professor- Universidad de Sagrado Corazon (USC), San Juan, Puerto Rico Director of Marketing & Advertising - Department of Labor (Occupational Development Council), San Juan, Puerto Rico Communications Officer & Speech Writer- Various Corporations, San Juan, Puerto Rico Journalist – GO Magazine (Official Tourism Industry Magazine) Iván Cardona Jr. Page 3

Education & Credentials

Professional Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA) – Marketing & Branding – In progress FOX School of Business - TEMPLE University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Marketing Graduate Certificate (MGC) – Marketing Management Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Master of Science (MS) - Corporate Public Relations Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana

Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Advertising and Public Relations University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Professional Licenses & Accreditation:

Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) – License Number: R-980 Public Relation Society of America (PRSA) – State Department, San Juan, Puerto Rico

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