Senior Communications Specialist

Emily Sharon Tyner

**** ****** **. ** *** #****, Washington, DC 20008 Cell: 843-***-**** *****.*****@*****.***

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

Extensive experience working with international, national, beltway, regional, and niche media outlets. Skills include crisis communications, legislative/governmental affairs issues, grassroots communications, media planning, developing communications strategies, and social media strategy.

EXPERIENCE

U.S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) Haiti Task Team

Washington, DC

Senior Communications and Outreach Specialist December 2014-Present

Senior Program Analyst May 2013-December 2014

Information and Press Officer December 2011-April 2013

• Draft news releases, speeches and blog posts. Manage USAID/Haiti Twitter account; one of the Agency’s most followed (21k+ followers).

• Pitch stories to journalists and speak to them on background. Write briefing memos and talking points to prepare USAID spokespeople for print and broadcast interviews, meetings with key stakeholders and congressional testimony.

• Collaborate with other USG agencies to develop strategic communications plans for earthquake anniversaries, hurricane preparedness, and other major events.

• Established relationships with partner organizations to better identify success stories, media pitches, and social media campaigns.

• Work closely with USAID legislative affairs on congressional issues, including: drafting congressional testimonies; prepping USAID leadership for congressional briefings and testimonies; responding to congressional inquiries; and coordinating with congressional staff on constituent affairs.

Ducks Unlimited

Washington, DC

March 2011-December 2011

Communications Manager–Governmental Affairs

• Created strategic communications plan and coordinated with national and regional communications staff to implement plan’s activities in an effort to reach national policy goals.

• Administered grassroots outreach plan to encourage activity from strong volunteer membership, including developing promotional materials and authoring a nationally distributed weekly conservation policy newsletter.

• Actively developed media relations with target reporters and opinion leaders; responsible for placement of stories in national, regional, and local print and broadcast. Spoke at Ducks Unlimited media camps and events to brief target reports on key legislative issues.

• Responded to requests for media and interviews; wrote and coordinated distribution of press releases, letters to the editor, and other materials.

The Office of Congressman J. Gresham Barrett (SC-03)

Washington, DC

February 2009-December 2010

Communications Director and Press Secretary

• Served as Congressman Barrett’s official spokesperson to the media.

• Managed communications and media operations, including the creation and implementation of long-term and short-term media and constituent communication strategies.

• Responsible for writing Congressman Barrett’s statements, press releases, social media, and speeches as well as created constituent mailers, newsletters and emails.

• Worked with national, beltway, and regional press corps to book interviews and pitch stories.

• Coordinated with district offices to plan local events, including town halls.

Jim Dyke & Associates

Charleston, SC

January 2007-February 2009

Associate

• Assisted with the creation and implementation of media campaigns for clients, which encompassed print, radio, social media, and television outlets. Coordinated with clients on event planning to promote the organizations’ messages.

• Maintained and created new relationships with members of the press as well as fostered relationships with advocacy organizations that support clients’ campaigns.

• Additional responsibilities included creation and content management of client websites; creation of press and promotional materials; extensive research support; and creation of daily clipping reports.

PUBLIC RELATIONS INTERNSHIPS

• The Charleston Museum, Charleston, SC August 2006-December 2006

• The Home Depot Future Leaders Program, Atlanta, GA May 2005-August 2005

EDUCATION

College of Charleston, Charleston, SC, May 2006 Bachelor of Arts in Communications

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