Tom Linafelt

***** ****** **.

Leawood, KS *****

913-***-**** ad06e9@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

I was mentored by a Pulitzer Prize winner while publishing hundreds of news and feature articles for the Knight-Ridder newspaper chain. Since then, I’ve written for CEOs and other senior leaders in support of corporate and brand initiatives, trust- and culture-building internal communications, and earned media at public companies with big brands in highly regulated industries.

I’m an experienced, strategic communicator who has delivered results as an independent news reporter, feature writer and in a variety of corporate and agency roles. I’ve managed teams and projects that have driven success in high-stakes, multi-platform communications targeting employees, consumers, businesses, legislators, investors and other key stakeholder audiences. EXPERIENCE

T-Mobile

Sr. Lead CEO Communications Manager

January 2022 – Present

Writing and strategic communications planning and production on behalf of CEO Mike Sievert and other senior leaders. My work supports transformation and other brand initiatives and includes speechwriting, thought leadership and integrated communications targeting employees, regulators, investors and others.

Cerner Corporation

Executive Communications Partner

May 2020-January 2022

Writing and strategic communications planning and production on behalf of CEO Brent Shafer and other senior leaders. My work supports transformation and other brand initiatives and includes speechwriting, thought leadership and integrated communications targeting employees, regulators, investors and others.

Post-"Town Hall" surveys (1Q 2020 - 4Q 2020) indicate significant gains in positive employee sentiment on key topics since my taking a lead role in Town Hall presentations, including: 1Q20 4Q20

• "Positive outlook about Cerner's future": 73% > 89% > +16%

• "Confidence in Cerner's leadership": 70% > 87% > +17%

• "Better understanding of Cerner's products": 54% > 74% > +20%

• "Better understanding of Cerner's priorities": 74% > 84% > +10%

• "Better understanding of Cerner's Mission & Vision": 71% > 84% > +13%

• "Better understanding of Cerner's financial strength": 73% > 82% > +9%

(*% of respondents indicating "Strongly Agree" or "Agree") Signal Theory (formerly Sullivan Higdon & Sink)

Public Relations Director

June 2018 — December 2019

Marketing communications agency Signal Theory works with leading companies in animal health and the “farm-to-fork” food value chain, including Merck, Cargill, Boehringer Ingelheim, Bayer, Seaboard Foods and SONIC Drive-In restaurants. I was responsible for business development, public relations, marketing communications and transformation for the agency and its clients. Capitalized billings grew from $137 million in 2017 to $161 million in 2018. Sprint Corporation

Executive Communications Strategist

February 2016 – June 2018

Sprint was a leading retailer and provider of telecommunications products and services with

$33.4 billion of operating revenue in 2016. I was responsible for supporting then-CEO Marcelo Claure’s internal and external communications, including those supporting crisis communications, government affairs and corporate transformation.

• Scripted quarterly earnings calls and Town Hall webcasts to 26,000 employees

• Produced weekly CEO newsletter to all employees

• Produced national and regional presentations to company leaders, clients & prospects

• Supported communications around the T-Mobile merger Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar/DineEquity, Inc. Sr. Manager – Communications

October 2014 – February 2016

DineEquity was parent company to the Applebee’s and IHOP restaurant brands. I focused on external communications supporting the Applebee’s brand, including earned and social media, issues/crisis management, marketing communications, community and public affairs and others.

• Drive communications support of brand reinvention and amplify its $165.4 million annual advertising spend

• Prepare executive presentations for brand and franchisee leadership

• Minimize brand damage relevant to a variety of issues-oriented threats

• Help manage a social media program that generates 14.8 billion annual impressions and won Facebook’s “Smartest Storyteller” and Mashable’s “Best Branded Twitter Account” QC Holdings, Inc.

Director – Corporate Communications

January 2006 – October 2014

QC Holdings is one of the nation's largest providers of short-term consumer loans. Led all internal and external communications, including media, government and investor relations and employee communications. Developed and managed the company's intranet, executive speech writing and communications, and support of enterprise marketing, product development and human resources functions. Managed ADDY Award-winning annual report project. • Prepared speeches and testimony for company and national industry leadership

• Co-authored model short-term lending legislation

• Led communications for Missourians for Responsible Government, a grassroots effort to support a successful a $15 million ballot initiative opposition campaign

• Led grassroots activation in support of state and Federal legislative affairs

• Managed communications for company and industry Political Action Committees H&R Block

Digital Tax Communications Manager

November 2001 – January 2006

Helped build and led PR support for H&R Block’s first successful do-it-yourself online tax product. Managed internal and external corporate communications and public relations for H&R Block's disruptive and strategically important do-it-yourself digital tax products, along with other financial products and services, including controversial refund anticipation loans and other settlement products. Responsibilities included executive, internal and external communications. I led the planning and creation of H&R Block's first online press center. Managed several Public Relations Society of America award-winning projects.

• Managed communications for H&R Block’s most important strategic growth business: Do- ityourself digital tax solutions

• Won broad and deep support for do-it-yourself digital tax products among skeptical franchisees and field management

• Managed public perception for H&R Block’s most problematic line of business: Refund anticipation loans

• Minimized brand damage associated with high-cost credit products by establishing responsible disclosures and operational practices

Sullivan Higdon & Sink

Business Writer/Information Architect

May 1999 – November 2001

Managed public relations, copywriting and interactive strategy and development on behalf of the advertising agency and clients with leadership positions in the aviation, financial services and adventure products categories. Served on SHS’ new business team, winning important new clients to the agency’s then-new Kansas City office. Managed several Business Marketing Association award-winning projects for B2B communications.

• Established agency’s public relations practice in its then-new Kansas City office

• Led the agency’s highly successful new business team

• Planned and executed Web site development for Cessna Aircraft and other clients The Kansas City Business Journal

Reporter/Columnist

March 1996 – May 1998

Covered utilities, advertising/marketing, tourism and transportation for Kansas City’s leading business publication, including a weekly column.

Knight-Ridder/The Myrtle Beach Sun News/WRNN-FM

Reporter/Columnist

November 1990 – March 1996

Covered tourism, entertainment and restaurants for Myrtle Beach’s daily newspaper. Also hosted and produced a daily talk radio show on Hot Talk WRNN-FM. Won South Carolina Press Association award for feature writing.

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Reporter/Columnist

June 1986 – November 1990

Covered suburban development, business and entertainment for The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Chester County bureau.

EDUCATION

Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Bachelor of Arts o Journalism major; Political Science, Psychology minors

References and work samples are available upon request.

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