Sara Reed

816-***-**** • Kansas City, MO *****

ad2wdv@r.postjobfree.com • Sara Reed's LinkedIn • Sara Reed Portfolio

STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LEADER

Insight-driven, multi-faceted, creative Communications Leader with a strong passion for linking communications strategies to overarching business objectives, supported by highly effective tactical plans that bolster brand awareness and inspire action among audiences and stakeholders. Forward-thinking, customer-centric strategist who formulates targeted communication plans to support internal organizational programs and external efforts. Collaborates closely with stakeholders to understand goals and needs, offer communications counsel, proactively identify opportunities, and recommend appropriate branding, messaging, and solutions.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Nevro HFX Kansas City, MO 2022 - Present

Patient Ambassador & Public Speaker

Public speaking conference engagements with an audience of 75+ medical professionals.

Provide patient support.

Engage with prospects considering getting spinal cord stimulator implants.

Freelance Kansas City, MO 2009 - Present

Author, Content Writer, Proposal Writer, Editor

●Partner with Matters of the Heart newsletter for a bi-weekly digital newsletter with 800 readers.

●Writer on Upwork.

●Plan, research, and author a range of articles encompassing a variety of issues to drive business decisions.

●Prepare, finalize, and present RFPs

●Develop compelling, narrative-driven content rooted in the science and art of storytelling to engage target audiences and expand the readership base.

●Contribute original editorial content and edit content for accuracy, quality and style.

●Partner with metro area locations to explore engaging subjects to form the basis for new stories.

●Skilled at finding the hook and bringing the brand together.

●Work collaboratively with the editing team to review all written material and advise on content and the development direction.

●Consistently communicate analysis and interpretation to the appropriate audience.

●My writing influences the hearts and minds of target audiences.

Hostess Brands Kansas City, MO 2002 - 2006

Manager, Communications

Provided leadership, oversight, and strategic direction for a team of 12 direct reports.

Strengthened relationships with internal communications partners, executives, and organizations.

Co-developed, reviewed, and approved the department’s vision, mission, and guiding principles.

Developed system of operational metrics and presented to decision-makers.

Authored the basic Consumer Affairs Manual; ensured team members were fully trained and supported to generate maximum value for Hostess Brands and its customers.

Developed/tracked key performance indicators and coded related reporting.

Briefed federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on key issues related to potentially dangerous products.

Managed Consumer Affairs Tracking System to monitor consumer comments at 56 bakeries.

Improved the quality, integrity, and reliability of Key Process Indicators.

Served as the sole point of contact for all high-liability calls encompassing plant sabotage, food allergies, foreign materials, and product tampering.

Established and managed a Consumer Affairs Call Center to provide a highly differentiated customer support experience, gather customer feedback, and generate sales opportunities.

Led a strategic initiative to print toll-free numbers and a web address on product labeling; scaled YoY contact volume by over 400%.

Uncovered and remediated significant deficiencies in operational procedures.

Managed and optimized departmental workflows.

Employed a task rotation technique to maximize workforce productivity and minimize burnout.

Sprint Communications Kansas City, MO 1996 - 2000

Communications Program Manager

Certified a $250MM contract with equity partner Sprint Canada.

Managed a portfolio of complex global projects impacting various mission-critical functions.

Negotiated project requirements and authored business cases for divisional projects; ensured compliance with established scope and schedule for each project.

Assembled and assigned a team of subject matter experts (SMEs) to develop new products, services, and network enhancements for Sprint Canada, TelMex, Sprint’s Brazilian partner.

Traveled throughout Brazil, Mexico, and Canada to certify network security and to authorize contract proposals.

Served as a go-to resource and subject matter expert in fraud; provided guidance and insights.

Strategically merged two groups into one agile business unit.

Reduced the department’s bad debt reserve to improve cash flow position.

Wrote many business cases focused on technical design and user interfaces.

Integrated fraud prevention systems for Sprint Canada, our Brazilian equity partnership, and Mexico-based Sprint affiliates.

Developed and enforced credit policies for residential long-distance customers.

Securely extracted bankrupt customer data to outsource and train a third-party vendor.

Created training documents, requirements documentation, and network security white papers.

Performed additional roles throughout Sprint, including the creation of a system algorithm which reduced fraud losses from $2MM/month to just $92K/month.

EDUCATION

MBA Masters of Business Administration Marketing & Applied Finance Rockhurst University

BA Bachelors of Arts Economic History Dartmouth College

CERTIFICATIONS

Content Writing Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, Dec 2023

Corporate Communications Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, July 2023

International Project Management George Washington University, Online

International Contracting George Washington University, Online

Managing Across Cultures George Washington University, Online

SKILLS

Public relations and speaking • Continuous process improvement • Project management • Strategic corporate communications • Proficient management of time-critical and highly confidential projects • Influencing the hearts and minds of target audiences through precise storytelling, reporting, and writing • Research • Attention to detail • Creativity • Editing • Collaboration • Content pitching • Technical writing • Meet deadlines • Microsoft Office suite • Prioritization of deadlines • Storytelling • Matching writing styles • CTA • Grammar expert • Word Press • Resourceful problem solving • Creating viable solutions • Brand ambassador • Written communication

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