Brian J. Berg ad2tsj@r.postjobfree.com • 312-***-****

LinkedIn • Chicago, IL, 60610, US

Director of Communications

Diligent and growth-focused professional with demonstrated experience in formulating and implementing impactful communication, media and public relations strategies and tactics across multiple echelons. Well-versed in preparing and managing internal and external communications material to increase brand integrity on all platforms. Exceptional ability to increase customer loyalty, brand awareness, productivity, and public support using effective corporate communication and social media campaigns. Developer of creative and engaging PR, advertising, and social media content that brings a racial equity lens. Connects and influences targeted audiences and maximizes brand value, customer engagement, transparency, retention, and growth. Excellent communication, collaboration, organization, and interpersonal skills; able to cultivate effective relationships with diverse stakeholders. Areas of Expertise

• Communication Strategies

Creation

• Marketing Campaign Development

• Revenue & Profit Optimization

• Marketing Collateral Preparation

• Public Affairs & Community

Outreach

• Return on investment

Enhancement

• Crisis Communication

• Cross-functional Collaboration

• Key Relationship Development

• Customer Service and Support

• Website Content Creation

• Brand Identity & Recognition

Career Experience

City of Chicago Treasurer’s Office, Chicago, IL 2022 – Present Director of Public Affairs & Communications

Senior advisor to City Treasurer of Chicago and Chief of Staff for developing and directing communications and media relations campaigns for the Treasurer and the financial education, investment, and community engagement teams. Developed and redefined Treasurer’s core messages and mission to enhance awareness and understanding of the office’s role and responsibilities to financially empower all Chicagoans. Identified affordable housing and commercial development, environmental sustainability, socially responsible investing, and financial literacy issues to leverage support for Treasurer’s work and garner extensive earned media.

MK Communications, Chicago, IL 2015 – 2022

Vice President, Senior Account Supervisor

Producing hundreds of millions of dollars investment and widespread support among different stakeholders for economic opportunities and developments in dis-invested and under-resourced neighborhoods by nurturing enduring media relations and creating effective marketing and communications plans in Chicago and across the country. Positioned Chicago Neighborhood Initiatives as a national model for community renewal. Deploying impactful media outreach highlighting initiatives for diverse organizations, which led to an increase in hundreds of new job opportunities, established thousands of units of affordable housing and strengthened growing small businesses. Gathering national and local media placements to stimulate widespread support for: Pullman and Woodlawn’s redevelopment; Pullman National Historic Monument; MacArthur Foundation’s Benefit Chicago small business development program; Daniel Prude’s family police brutality lawsuit; 9th Ward Alderman Anthony Beale; Johnson Publishing Co. Building; 3L Real Estate; Chicago Housing Authority; and historic Chautauqua Amphitheater in Western New York which attained designation as a National Treasure and on the most endangered list by National Trust for Historic Preservation as a result of extensive media attention and grass roots campaign.

• Delivered media coverage by allocating “special guests” on the picket line, preparing a series of neighborhood free concerts and performances, and successfully resolving the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s musicians’ strike in 2019.

• Acquired national media coverage on “Today Show” and in “Time” magazine for the country’s first-ever “Grand Families” home in Boston to establish the nation’s second and third supportive housing complexes in Cleveland and Chicago.

Continued

Brian Berg page 2 of 2

• Spearheaded creative and unparalleled crisis communications and public outreach campaign to achieve $100M environmental cleanup of Barrie Park for the largest settlement in the remediation of a former utility site.

• Accomplished $810M revenue for additional developments and preservation of affordable housing, including a first grocery store in 50 years, a transit-oriented development, Opportunity Zone project, more than 1,000 affordable units of housing, and creation of thousands of new jobs.

• Generated media coverage of Southside neighborhoods for affordable housing developers and mixed-income, and mixed-use projects to generate hundreds of millions of additional investments to escalate development.

• Increased brand awareness through traditional, free, and paid media. Urban Partnership Bank, ShoreBank, Chicago, IL 2004 – 2015 Senior Vice President, Director of Communications and Marketing Optimized revenue up to 30% by leading pro-active traditional and social media and integrated marketing campaigns to surpass the lines of businesses’ sales and development goals every year. Assisted homeowners with foreclosure prevention by creating and promoting industry’s first “Rescue Loan” program to maximize financial institution’s reputation among stakeholders. Liaised with HR and senior leaders to formulate and implement effective strategies for effective employee and stakeholder communications. Enhanced customer service and return on investment by creating and enforcing key metrics, analyzing success, as well as evaluating quality and impact of marketing and communications initiatives to augment operational efficiencies. Acted as spokesperson and delivered strategic issues management assistance for influencing bank’s reputation, capital raising and performance. Supervised key media placements, including CNN, NPR, WTTW, Christian Science Monitor, PBS, Harvard Business Review, Crain’s, Dwell, Bloomberg News, Reuters, Huffington Post, U.S. News and World Report, Time, Atlantic, and Newsweek, GlobeSt.com, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, New York Times, and prominent features in many books.

• Boosted $150M of capital to launch a new bank in Chicago and Detroit.

• Attained $8M in new deposits over a two-week period by introducing a new website.

• Sponsored and developed “Rescue Loan” in the banking industry to produce more than $1M of free media and a

$10M grant from MacArthur Foundation.

• Oversaw the responsibility for design and media buy of advertising, composing web content, news releases, media lists, story pitches, marketing collateral (brochures, newsletters, and annual reports), letters to the editor, speeches, advertising production and copy, award nominations, media training, and stakeholder communications to establish brand recognition, compliance, consistency and drive financial performance. Additional Experience

Senior Account Supervisor, Dickinson Group, Chicago, IL 2002 – 2004 Vice President, Senior Account Supervisor, MK Communications, Chicago, IL 1998 – 2002 Public Information Officer and Spokesperson, Forest Preserve District of Cook County, River Forest, IL 1993 – 1998 Educational Background

M.S., Non-Profit and Public Service Management

DePaul University, Chicago, IL

B.A., History, concentration in Political Science

Kenyon College, Gambier, OH

Professional Affiliation

• Co-captain of Varsity Baseball as a junior; Sports Director of WKCO FM in Gambier, OH

• Kenyon College, Assistant Sports Information Director; Intern Cleveland Guardians

• Campus Director for U.S. Presidential Campaign; Candidate for Cook County Commissioner

Contact this candidate