Public Affairs Professional

Jennifer White Gradnigo

571-***-**** * ********.*****.********@*****.***

Issues Management * Strategic Communications * Public Affairs * Community Outreach

Coalition Building * Government Relations * Materials and Message Development

Traditional and Social Media Relations * Event Planning

Experience: U.S. Senator Kay R. Hagan, North Carolina

Military Liaison from June - December 2014

Established and maintained communication channels to the Senator for the seven military

installations in NC, along with Reserve and National Guard units.

Delivered outreach to NC business owners and provided them with the resources to conduct business

with the government.

Served as the regional liaison to Harnett, Hoke and Cumberland Counties.

Served as a constituent services representative for active duty, National Guard and Reserve service

members, along with military spouses and constituents wishing to join the military.

Graphite Connections, LLC

CEO from August 2009 - June 2014

Led between 3-4 committees and provided issues advocacy for the Corn Refiners Association.

Initiated the Sustainability Committee to ensure reasonable and appropriate programs are in place to

meet customer needs and timeframes.

Led a public affairs brainstorming session which led to Navy Federal Credit Union’s strategic

marketing campaign with Spartan Race.

Conducted media training for the American Association of Airport Executives.

Managed media relations and developed messaging for clients of the marketing communications firm,

Thomas Wright Partners, from 2009-2011. Brought Medicomp Systems, Inc. to the firm as a new

client.

Edited and wrote case studies for Robbins Gioia, a program management company.

Porter Novelli Public Affairs, Washington, DC

Vice President from July 2007- August 2009

Led the development and implementation of national integrated communication programs for the

Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Navy Federal Credit Union, Propane Education and

Research Council, the United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation, and Medicomp Systems, Inc.

Secured print and broadcast media coverage for clients on local and national levels, including

placements with Fox News, ABC News Now, The New York Times, The Washington Post, among

others.

Consistently brought in new business ideas and was a lead writer of proposals for military, non -profit

and corporate organizations.

Commended for client relations and networking skills by superiors and peers.

Corn Refiners Association, Washington, DC

Senior Director, Regulatory and Technical Affairs; Secretary to the Board of Directors from 2001-2007

Director of Technical Affairs from 1997-2001

Developed and advocated association positions to Federal agencies and Congress on regulatory and

legislative proposals, to include those on environmental, health and safety, food safety, transportation

and bioterrorism.

Led and participated in numerous industry coalitions. Used communications, networking, and

consensus building skills to persuade divergent interests to unite on advocacy positions. Educated

government and industry officials on these positions.

Led collaboration with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Clean Air Act initiatives and

the premier Department of Energy/EPA Energy Star program.

Coordinated analytical methods development, the compilation of industry-specific technical

information and the development of food safety information papers.

United States Army Reserve

Public Affairs Officer, Retired

February 1986 – May 2006

Commanded a 20-person Mobile Public Affairs Detachment from 2003-2006.

Deployed to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2004-2005.

Earned the Bronze Star for exemplary performance as Detachment Commander and as the Deputy

Director of the Combined Press Information Center in Baghdad, Iraq.

Deputy Commanding General rated unit among the best deployed during mobilization.

Deputy Group Commander stated unit had the highest esprit de corps he had observed in 20 years of

Army service, along with unparalleled soldier and family readiness.

Directed the daily operations for a staff of 65 individuals that included U.S. and Coalition military

personnel and Iraqi civilian employees.

Operated frequent press conferences for U.S., Coalition and Iraqi dignitaries.

Facilitated both Western and Arabic media by answering queries, scheduling interviews with senior

officials and coordinating media trips.

Managed the training of over 230 public affairs officers in various Iraqi Ministries.

Coordinated development of the public affairs training plan for the Iraqi Army.

Assisted the Iraqi National Assembly public affairs staff with media facilitation.

Produced a weekly internal Iraq-wide military newsletter.

American Chemistry Council, Arlington, VA

Manager, Distribution Programs from 1995-1997; Administrative Assistant from 1993-1995

Staff Assistant from 1992-1993

Developed operational and strategic plans to sustain the Transportation Community Awareness and

Emergency Response (TRANSCAER) inter-industry initiative.

Recruited and trained industry representatives for the national, regional and state TRANSCAER

programs.

Administered the TRANSCAER budget to ensure expenditures were consistent with the ten

sponsoring associations’ objectives.

Managed the implementation of the Responsible Care Distribution Code for association member and

partner companies, to include the simultaneous rewrite of seven protocols.

Education: Master of Science in Technology Management

Focus: Environmental and Hazardous Waste Management

University of Maryland University College (1999)

Bachelor of Arts in International Relations

Michigan State University, James Madison College (1990)

Minor: Spanish; Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars

Training: U.S. Army Public Affairs Reserve Officer Course (2002)

U.S. Army Combined Arms Services Staff School (1999)

U.S. Army Civil Affairs Officer Advanced Course (1995)

U.S. Army Military Intelligence Officer Basic Course (1991)

Anderson Creek Club Women’s Club - Publicist and Scholarship Committee (prepared scholarship

Activities:

candidates for regional awards; 2014 candidate won regional award)

Child Strong Foundation Co-Founder [pending 501(c)(3) application approval]

Leadership Fayetteville Class of 2013-2014 (Fayetteville Regional Chamber of Commerce)

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