THOMAS J. WALSH

adg9sp@r.postjobfree.com; 267-***-**** 233 Marlboro Road, Ardmore, PA 19003

SUMMARY

Experienced communications and public relations manager, writer, editor with extensive media work for local government, including executive and internal communications. Former journalist, with expertise covering economic development, real estate, the built environment, local and national government policy, and other reporting. Navy veteran and current student with FourBlock, affiliated with Columbia University. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER / DIRECTOR; LOWER MERION TOWNSHIP, PA 2012-2020

• Managed and executed all public and media relations work and marketing

• Designed, wrote and executed all external printed publications and photography

• Project managed and designed new Township website and intranet, resulting in much more engagement with residents and employees, proved by surveys

• Initiated the Township’s social media platforms, wrote usage policy, and served as administrator, resulting in engagement with a more diverse demographic within and outside the Township

• Project managed a new smartphone app for residents to report non-emergency problems, such as broken streetlights and cracked sidewalks, using text, photos, and GPS technology, resulting in faster turnaround times by Public Works staff

• Project managed a new software program for official Open Records Requests, resulting in quicker turnaround times for requesters and a new source of measurable person-hours for staff

• Executive produced and frequently hosted government access TV and online video programming, with full- and part-time staff (four direct reports)

• Initiated and implemented a new message system, Blackboard Connect, for emergency announcements, localized police and traffic notices, and public outreach—via phone, text, and email

• Re-prioritized, as Public Information Department Head, marketing and public relations for a staff of more than 400, including the township’s Police Department

• Served as Open Records Officer and senior management member of the township’s Emergency Management Team; liaison to the Health Advisory Council and Cable TV Advisory Committee FREELANCE JOURNALIST, EDITOR, P.R. CONSULTANT; NARBERTH, PA 2007-2012

• Media and public relations consultant, writer, editor: Energy Coordinating Agency (sustainable energy nonprofit); Philadelphia Academies (Philadelphia School District); The Ecolibrium Group (a sustainability consulting firm); The William Penn Foundation; and other regional economic development agencies; Staff writer: PlanPhilly.com, covering the Philadelphia City Planning and Zoning Code commissions (PennPraxis; University of Pennsylvania’s School of Design)

• Contributor: Knowledge@Wharton (University of Pennsylvania’s business news and analysis web site); AOL; The Houston Chronicle; and Context (magazine of the American Institute of Architects) EDITOR AND MANAGER, GENEVA GLOBAL INC., WAYNE, PA 2005-2007 Edited and helped manage international public health research reports and corporate marketing materials, innovatively applying business principles to “performance” philanthropy

• Re-branding / public relations campaign: Helped with $1 million company-wide effort over one year

• Introduced a thorough fact-checking system, creating a new level of due diligence for grants

• Wrote and edited web copy, magazines and brochures; Editorial member of teams researching investments totaling millions of dollars, in China, Africa, Eastern Europe and Latin America Thomas J. Walsh 267-***-****

STAFF REPORTER, GANNETT CO. INC.; RENO, NV AND CHERRY HILL, NJ 2003-2005 Reporter for The Reno Gazette-Journal and The Courier-Post (New Jersey), covering the casino, tourism and public relations industries, regional business and local governments

• Investigated, in 2003, inflated and fabricated convention sales figures by the Reno-Sparks Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, resulting in the forced resignation of the bureau’s sales chief and new, more transparent regional policies being set in place SENIOR WRITER, COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DIRECT; NEWTOWN, PA 1999-2003 Co-founding member for the Internet-based premium financial news service, provided to the national commercial real estate industry (CREnews.com)

• As an original member of the online enterprise, helped to establish an early online model of daily, paid-for information and scrappy Wall Street reporting—one that is still profitable

• Specialized in daily, real-time coverage of the primary and secondary mortgage-backed securities markets (domestic and foreign)

STAFF WRITER, PHILADELPHIA BUSINESS JOURNAL; PHILADELPHIA, PA 1997-1999 Award-winning staff reporter, covering economic development and real estate. On-air weekend business news reporter for partner KYW Newsradio (1060 AM) STAFFER, THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER; PHILADELPHIA, PA 1991-1997 Freelance writer for the Inquirer’s business and features sections, full-time editorial assistant; Work included business features, book reviews and a weekly column in the Weekend section BROADCAST JOURNALIST AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS SPECIALIST, U.S. NAVY 1986-1991 Broadcast journalist, serving in the British Indian Ocean Territories (Diego Garcia), 1987-1988; and as assistant public affairs manager and broadcaster aboard the USS Forrestal (aircraft carrier), 1988-1991; Persian Gulf War veteran

EDUCATION

Temple University (Philadelphia, PA): Bachelor of Arts, Communications Defense Information School (Armed Forces Radio & Television Service): “A” and “C” schools graduate, for journalism, public affairs, and broadcasting PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Participating in the FourBlock / Columbia University Fall 2020 Career Program for Veterans

• Leadership Main Line, Management Class of 2013 (Main Line Chamber of Commerce)

• Wharton School Seminars for Business Writers (Philadelphia and San Francisco)

• Proficient in WordPress, web analytics, CMS platforms, Microsoft Office Suite, Canva, Adobe Acrobat, Basecamp, Slack, ProofHQ, SaaS systems, and database management programs AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

• 3CMA Savvy Awards, 2015: Award of Excellence for Photography

• Silver ADDY Award, 2010, for “Forty Stories” anniversary book (Philadelphia Academies, Inc.)

• American Institute of Architects’ Urban Design Award, 2009, for “urgent and comprehensive online coverage of the built community in Philadelphia”

• Society of Professional Journalists (Philadelphia chapter), for Beat reporting

• Keystone Press Association (Pennsylvania, statewide), for Feature beat writing

• Navy Achievement Medal and Southwest Asia Service Medal, U.S. Navy

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