Darlene M. Roberts

Director of Communications

***** ** ********* ** – Charlotte, NC 28278 – ad2rvc@r.postjobfree.com

Executive Public Relations Manager with over 30 years of Air Force Public Affairs as well as local and federal public health experience.

SUMMARY

A polished and dedicated professional offering exceptional background in Public Relations with expertise in media relations, community relations, crisis communication, internal information, human resource management and personnel management, plus an additional 15 years of both local and federal government health care communications experience. Thirteen-plus years of proven leadership and management skills in directing processes, daily activities and quickly identifying, focusing and executing pivotal priorities under pressure.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Recipient of White House Champion of Change Award: Disaster Preparedness

White House Blog: Utilizing Interactive Technology to Teach Our Children About Public Health http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/01/19/utilizing-interactive-technology-teach-our-children-about-public-health

AREAS OF STRENGTHS

Budget and Resource Management Health Communications

Editor, Writer and Photographer Speech Writer

Community Relations Training Manager

Counselor, Mentor and Supervisor Media Relations

Crisis Communications Communications Campaign Mgr

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

Health Communications/Campaign Manager/Project Officer Nov 2015 – May 2023

Prevention Communications Branch, Division of HIV Prevention, CDC

As Project Officer, effectively managed eight national partnerships and cultivated relationships with grantees, meeting with each regularly to provide direction, address needs, and deliver materials to ensure they had the tools and guidance for success.

Managed Branch newsletter, regularly meeting and working with the contractor, and collaborating with team members and leadership to ensure the publication delivered relative and timely information and materials on a regular basis.

As Campaign Manager, provided on-site guidance and technical direction during HIV campaign video and print production in Atlanta and Miami, also providing input and direction during post-production for CDC’s Let’s Stop HIV Together campaign.

Facilitated/lead cross collaborative team through campaign refresh, acting as liaison between team, contractors and leadership to ensure input was communicated.

Lead development of Stop HIV Stigma communication products and activities, result-ing in new print, digital media, radio and video creatives, in both English and Spanish

Collaborated with Research and Evaluation Team to conduct formative testing to assess the target audience’s perceptions of potential campaign concepts/messages.

Worked closely with internal team to develop/finalize the theoretical framework that served as a map to inform the campaign design, implementation, and evaluation.

Handled review and monitoring of campaign budgets, quarterly metric reports, monthly project activity and budget reports for two HIV Awareness campaigns.

Public Affairs Specialist/Press Officer May 2013 – Oct 2015

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Lead CDC Discoveries project to create new fact sheet series that highlighted new or reemerging pathogens studied by CDC that were used to promote CDC investigative and research work to media, documentary companies, and other audiences.

Worked with infectious diseases programs to anticipate and plan releases of journal articles campaigns or press events that highlighted/promoted a variety of key infectious disease research or data, public health guidelines or recommendations.

Collaborated in planning media activities in support of number scientific research announcements and outbreak investigations by developing and coordinating media products such as press releases, media advisories, and talking points.

Routinely responded to a variety of topics to include: TB, HPV, Cyclospora, Flu, Ebola, Salmonella and more, that lead to coverage by local, regional and national news agencies reaching millions with CDC’s 24-7 messages of protecting and saving lives.

Handled numerous media calls and interview requests daily, keeping team members aware of the status of press inquiries and potential issues as they arose.

Ensured inquiries and communication messages used by subject matter experts were properly cleared in accordance with the Department of Health and Human Services and CDC established media relations policy and guidelines.

Routinely provided responses to national media such as Today Show, Redbook, Oprah Magazine, CNN as well as local news agencies and others.

Crafted and cleared multiple press releases, talking points and interview requests in support of a variety infectious diseases scientific studies and findings.

Director of Marketing & Communication

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (District 3-1) July 2011-April 2013

Represented the organization at the White House during Champions for Change event as an award recipient and panel participant to discuss public health strategies.

Developed/implemented the Cobb & Douglas Public Health Strategic Communication plan to include the establishment of communications mission, vision and messaging.

Directed all aspects of marketing and communications for two-county public health district in support of staff, leadership, and community members.

Developed concept and script for award-winning, 11-minute interactive and technological learning module that teaches public health messages to over 20,000 elementary aged children each year at the Cobb County Fire Dept Safety Village.

Worked collaboratively as part of the senior leadership team to implement communications strategies, messages and campaigns to advance the strategic business and operational program initiatives, services, and profile for Health Dept

Served as member of executive team, ensuring that organizational standards and guidelines were compliant with Public Health Accreditation Board requirements.

Designed, implemented, and monitored protocols to track marketing and communication initiatives to ensure quality control/consistency in branding/imaging.

Established relationships with community partners and organizations to provide planning and support in marketing and public relations.

Served as Open Records Officer ensuring compliance with Open Records requests.

Public Information Officer/Risk Communicator

Emergency Preparedness & Response

Cobb & Douglas Public Health (District 3-1) April 2008 – July 2011

Worked collaboratively with CDPH directors to communicate essential messages and market programs and initiatives throughout the community and to media partners.

Provided recommendations and guidance to the district health director and other leadership regarding internal and external communications issues.

Developed, coordinated and evaluated emergency management communications strategies, tactics and products for a two-county public health district.

Effectively delivered H1N1 messages to employees, community and partners through development of one-stop shop website, resulting in significant boost in website hits.

Developed communications plan for Cobb floods and handled media responses, to include preparing spokespersons and posting information on organizational website.

Communicated Public Health message by developing fact sheets, media messages and website messaging, during H1N1 Pandemic resulting in more than 18,000 Cobb and Douglas County residents within the district receiving H1N1 vaccines.

Revised Emergency Preparedness and Response Risk Communications Program for the Strategic National Stockpile and Pandemic Flu Plan.

Served as lead Public Information Officer for Public Health during Georgia's aero-medical evacuation flights of injured patients effected by the Haiti earthquake.

Directed media relations program, to include responding to media queries, serving as official spokesperson for the organization, coordinating interviews with subject matter experts and providing media training for organizational leadership and staff.

Spearheaded health district’s participation in Yolanda Adams Health and Wellness event, coordinated with several departments to provide 10 booths, resulting in health and wellness messages reaching 3,000+ community members.

Public Affairs Executive Branch Manager

United States Air Force, McConnell AFB, KS Oct 2004 -- Aug 2007

Managed 9-person staff and all aspects of public relations for 17,000+ organization.

Planned, developed and implemented public affairs support of U.S. Presidential visit, coordinating with White House press desk to host 20+ local/regional media.

Prepped staff for response to accidents/incidents, educated on role during crisis.

Advised leadership/staffs on the implications of Public Affairs plans and policies.

Determined best medium and message content to reach target audiences.

Managed office training /mobility programs; Wrote/maintained contingency plans.

Researched, wrote and reviewed speeches and talking points for leadership.

Created/coordinated disaster responses; addressed on-scene PA issues during crisis.

Public Affairs Branch Manager

United States Air Force, Maxwell AFB, AL Oct 2000 -- Oct 2004

Promoted/maintained public affairs to provide coverage of policies and programs.

Planned, coordinated & executed media plan for Air Force's largest tech conference.

Created/edited e-newsletter for 4,000+ organization, conveying leadership message.

Translated complex mission/technical capabilities into layman language.

Coordinated news stories/responses to queries on sensitive/technical issues.

Conducted research and interviews, wrote articles, and edited submissions.

Public Affairs Director

United States Air Force, Kirtland AFB, NM Aug 1998 -- Oct 2000

Lead organization's public affairs efforts with national coverage of combat rescue training by setting up interviews with CNN, ABC Nightline, CBS This Morning and NBC news agencies.

Devised innovative five-day media plan enabling three national media outlets, each with different goals to share organization's mission to national audience.

Provided media training to SMEs to ensure positive messages were articulated.

Conducted tours and coordinated flights for community leaders, and media reps.

Public Affairs Dept Manager

United States Air Force, Wilford Hall Med Ctr Lackland AFB, TX July 1994 -- Aug 1998

Managed/coordinated work of 5-person staff at Air Force’s largest medical facility.

Conducted media relations functions such as press conferences, media visits, arranged interviews, provided briefings, and escorted media representatives.

EDUCATION

Master of Arts – Strategic Public Relations, George Washington University

Bachelor of Science – Human Resource Management, Faulkner University

Associate of Science – Public Affairs, Community College of the Air Force

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