JOSEPH F. DONZELLI II

**** ****** ***** *** / ****** Acres, FL 33971

Home: 239-***-**** / Cell: 239-***-**** / E-mail: aceg20@r.postjobfree.com / LinkedIn (http://tinyurl.com/oo7cz56)

CAREER SUMMARY

Senior-Level Executive Who Builds Successful Teams and Relationships / Servant-Leader Who Motivates Team Members to Meet and Exceed Goals / Expertise in Written Communications / Excel in High-Pressure Situations / Communications Strategist Who Protects Organizational Reputation Through Carefully Constructed Messages / Passionate About Storytelling and Reputation Building to Fully Support Organizational Vision and Mission / Skilled at Building Effective, Productive Working Relationships with Media, Stakeholders, Community Members, Senior Management and Staff / Achieved Significant Results in Increasing Effective Communication Practices and Procedures

Selected Core Competencies

- Demonstrated Expertise in Senior Management Consultations

- Expert Skill Level in Preparing, Developing and Implementing Strategic Communication Plans

- Demonstrated Leadership in Damage Control, Crisis Communication and Reputation Management

- Proven Spokesperson Responsibilities (Print & Broadcast) - Excellent Interview Skills, Including Live Broadcasts

- Highly Experienced in Preparing Highly-Effective Communication Materials (Facts Sheets, Public Presentations, Media Releases, Speeches/Talking Points, Guest Editorials, Brochures/Flyers, Website Management, Media Packages, etc.)

- Demonstrated Skill in Various Computer Software (Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Publisher, Excel, Filemaker Pro, Adobe InDesign, Final Cut Pro, iMovie and More)

- Excellent Oral and Written Communication Skills (Trained in Associated Press Writing Style)

- Excellent Analytical Skills – Able to Take Complex Problems and Break Them Down Into Understandable Components

- Demonstrated Skill In Video Production (Shoot, Edit Video and Write Scripts for Video Features)

WORK EXPERIENCE

Associate Director, Public Affairs

10/2013 – Present Nova Southeastern University Fort Lauderdale, FL

- Develop and write news and feature stories, media alerts, op-eds, calendar announcements, internal messages, advertorials, speeches and public service announcements for the media and various publications

- Work with internal clients to pitch and place newsworthy stories, press releases and media alerts to local, regional, national and international media (including Guest Editorials/Op-Eds)

- Oversee strategic gathering of information from University news "beats" and write stories for NSU magazine, Annual report, advertorials, e-bulletins, internal newsletters, etc. as assigned

- Address news inquires from media and other sources and provide NSU subject matter experts to media

- Perform editorial functions as needed for various marketing, print, online, magazines, Annual Report, etc.

- Advise marketing directors, deans and other university administrators regarding public relations issues

- Utilize integrated marketing approach in all work (i.e. public relations, marketing and advertising)

- Spearheaded creation of Departmental Twitter account; main staff member monitoring, Tweeting, interacting with account followers and target-messaging with local, state, national and international media outlets

- Work with staff to maximize all social media communication tools (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) including direct messaging stakeholders and media outlets, cross-functional communication and interaction with followers, etc.

- Assist with maintaining media databases, including online Subject Matter Expert List

- Actively participate in business, community and professional organizations to promote NSU

- Research and provide information for various online and publication surveys in which NSU should be listed, as well as enter them for awards programs

- Provide support with the production of NSU brochures and marketing pieces such as President's PowerPoint, NSU Campus map, NSU Fact Book, NSU points in history and NSU's general history

- Assist in coordinating special events to include groundbreakings, dedications, sponsored dinners, commencement ceremonies and community-wide events

Chief Communications Officer

1/2013 – 6/2013 The Clerk & Comptroller, Palm Beach County West Palm Beach, FL

- Planned, coordinated and directed internal/external communications and dissemination of information about the Clerk & Comptroller’s Office and its programs to employees, the public and the media

- Served as Clerk & Comptroller’s spokesperson in providing information to the public

- Participated in strategic planning and development initiatives with the Clerk & Comptroller and executive staff

- Anticipated, advised and recommended strategies to the Clerk & Comptroller and Executive Committee on impact of office decisions and initiatives on employees and external stakeholders

- Directed media relations activities for the office (print, Web, broadcast, social media)

- Directed planning, scheduling and coordination and production of all office publications, printed materials and standard Clerk & Comptroller forms, Clerk & Comptroller’s internal and external Websites and publication of periodic newsletters

- Conducted, coordinated and/or provided oversight for special projects, programs, and activities involving public events or employee information as assigned

Director, Communications & Printing Services

11/2005 – 12/2012 The School Board of Lee County, FL Fort Myers, FL

COMMUNICATIONS:

- Successfully served as the Public Information Officer for Florida's 9th-largest and the nation’s 40th-largest school district - responsible for the entire range of communications activities, including crisis communication

- Supervised a staff of five, developing and managing a total departmental budget of approximately $550,000

- Provided advice and counsel to senior managers and other administrators concerning public relations techniques, community relations & public relations aspects of the District's activities

- Conducted various media relations training workshops using various instructional techniques – including mock interviews – to effectively prepare senior managers and administrators for media interaction

- Successfully prepared and organized press conferences, including those involving various outside agencies (Fl. Governor's and Lt. Governor's office, local and State Health Departments, employee unions, Sheriff's Department, etc.)

- Conducted workshops at several state (Florida School Board's Association, Florida School Board Attorney's Association) and national (National School Public Relations Association) conferences

- Continually worked to create & maintain effective working relationships with local, state & national media outlets

- Demonstrated excellent writing skills, preparing numerous written & broadcast materials (press releases & media information guides; annual reports, communication plans, speeches/talking points for District officials)

- Oversaw all official public information requests of the District – created a database to better track information requests (nearly 500 requests for public records per year)

- Developed Website video section – iConnected – writing scripts, shooting and editing video for packages & working with District's TV99 Cable Channel to adapt existing video packages for the Web

- Spearheaded the creation of the District's Guidelines for Use of Social Media for Employees – received national acclaim

- Created District's Twitter account – worked to expand reach of communication efforts, interacting with followers and direct-messaging to local, state and national media

- Directly improved and enhanced several internal communication vehicles, including the Intranet, to support and increase effective dissemination of information

PRINTING SERVICES:

- Successfully served as supervisor of District's internal print shop – responsible for production of numerous school and District-based publications

- Supervised a staff of 13 and managed a departmental budget of approximately $1 million

- Responsible for ordering and monitoring of inventory, lease agreements, etc. of all printing resources and equipment (i.e. paper, high-speed copiers/printers, computers and software, etc.)

- Worked closely with schools and departments to meet their printing needs (forms, yearbooks, flyers, posters, etc.)

- Oversaw the District's internal "pony mail" distribution office, responsible for daily deliveries of mail and supplies to approximately 200 locations

Specialist, Communications & Media Relations

10/1997-11/2005 The School Board of Broward County, FL Fort Lauderdale, FL

- Public Information Officer responsible for internal/external communication for nation's sixth-largest school district – Broward County, Florida's single largest employer (30,000+ employees)

- Filled role of District spokesperson when appropriate

- Provided advice & counsel to District staff concerning public relations techniques

- Assisted department director in supervising staff of seven employees

- Prepared & organized media briefings/press conferences

- Conducted "How to Work With the Media" training seminars for administrators & Senior Level managers

- Developed & implemented the District's "Media Relations Made Easy" process

- Developed & implemented NetTV, the District's award-winning Web-based video feature (first district to implement Web video) – also shot & edited video for NetTV

- Responsible for planning several high-profile District events (Teacher of the Year, Principal of the Year)

Assistant Reporter (4/97-10/97); Editorial Assistant II (8/93-4/97)

8/1993-10/1997 South Florida Sun-Sentinel Newspaper Fort Lauderdale, FL

- Job description formally changed (4/97) to properly reflect duties performed

- Primary beat was education in Broward County, FL – included public, private & parochial schools

- Filled General Assignment reporter role as assigned

- Wrote investigative, daily news & feature stories with a local, state & national perspective

- Freelanced for Sun-Sentinel's Sports Department – coverage included high school athletics, professional basketball & other events as assigned

EDUCATION

- Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL – Bachelor's Degree in Communications

- Broward Community College, Coconut Creek, FL – Associate's Degree in Communications

- St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale, FL – High School Diploma

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

- MGT-100: New WMD Incident Management/Unified Command Concept

- MGT-313: Training for Crisis Communication

- Governor’s Hurricane Conference CP1: Basic Public Information Officer; CP2: Intermediate Crisis & Risk Communication; CP3: Social Media Basics for the Emergency Management Professional

- National Incident Management Training (NIMS):

o IS-00100.SC

o I-100 (for Schools)

o IS-00200a

o ICS-200

o ICS-400 (Advanced ICS & General Staff-Complex Incidents)

o IS-00700.a & IS-00800.b

AWARDS

- 2012 Website "A-" Grade by The Sunshine Review

- 2008 First Place Sunshine Medallion Award for Website by the Sunshine State School Public Relations Association

- 2007 Gold Winner for Annual Reports by Hermes Creative Awards

- 2007 Honorable Mention for Website by Hermes Creative Awards

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

- Sunshine State School Public Relations Association (SUNSPRA)

- National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA)

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