Lori Stafford-Thomas adus7c@r.postjobfree.com

Cell: 262-***-**** LinkedIn profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/loristaffordthomas/ Portfolio - https://www.clippings.me/users/loristaffordthomas Career Profile

A storyteller at heart: Creative and strategic communicator with 20 years of experience and a proven track record of success in message development, public relations, brand-building and content marketing. Specialize in defining corporate messaging to build integrated marketing themes. Technology, cloud, SaaS and startup experience. Member of exclusive Forbes Communications Council.

Strengths: Thought leadership, executive platform building, PR, social media, brand, journalistic writing, agency management, content, video scripts, social engagement, and team building. Career Highlights

•Messaging – Powered research and interview process to refine mission to resonate with customers and employees for mission-driven company. Launched integrated sales themes.

•Public Relations – Drove 30% more coverage with a successful communications plan, securing stories in The Wall Street Journal, Business Insider, Bloomberg TV and more.

•Content Marketing – Developed online community, Fiserv Boardroom Series. Managed 15 bloggers, writing technology trends, grew the community to 13,000 in one year.

•New Platforms – Engaged thousands of new leads by producing Livestreams to replace events during COVID. Find creative ways to add video to drive engagement and conversion.

•Social Media – Designed strategy to gain followers (up 40%) and power engagement (6% of website traffic) using customers and employees to amplify message.

• Journalistic Background – Anchored two-hour (5 a.m. - 7 a.m.) ABC television affiliate morning show, took ratings from third place to first place in one year. Vice President, Corporate Marketing 1/2022 – 10/2022 Degreed – SaaS EdTech Platform Remote

Built and managed an 11-person global team of Corp. Marketing, including public relations, analysts’ relations, thought leadership, brand studio, social media and internal comms. Designed messaging and launched refresh of mission/vision. Expanded analyst relations program 25%. Grew PR Tier 1 coverage (with stories in Forbes, TechCrunch, etc.). Strategized two-day all employee meeting. Head of Communications 3/21 –12/21

Checkr – SaaS HRTech Platform Denver, CO

Directed PR, content, social and thought leadership strategy for SaaS startup in background check industry. Designed executive leaders’ platforms and secured Fast Company, Bloomberg TV, Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and TechCrunch stories. During Series E round of funding – 56 stories, $2 million in ad equivalency, and 1 billion media impressions. Added 20% more blog posts. Won Fortune Change the World award. Designed content strategy for two-day customer conference with 20 sessions. Senior Director, Corporate Marketing 3/19 – 2/21

Flexential – Cloud and Data Center Company Denver, CO Created new brand, messaging and content direction for company. Raised “Share of Voice” 8% by developing and implementing a new strategy for public relations, content, social media and creative for data center and technology company. Implemented Ceros for more interactive content receiving 200% more views. Managed PR agency, social media, executive communications, bylines, and blogs. Senior Director, Corporate Communications 1/18 – 12/18 Marketo/Adobe Denver, CO

Directed all external communications efforts, including social media, for leading tech SaaS company. Led launch of brand refresh. Managed public relations for Marketing Nation Summit with 6,000 attendees, 32 reporters, 40 interviews. Increased earned media by 33% by focusing on storytelling. Managed executive communications, including writing and promotion of CEO’s book, Engage to Win. Director of Public Relations 2015 – 2017

Vantiv/WorldPay – Acquired by FIS Denver, CO

Achieved 25% boost in coverage and social media engagement for financial services company. Built long-standing relationships with reporters. Managed PR agency and team of four. Started Vantiv VIP video storytelling. Executive Training: coached thought leaders. Crisis – lead with a calm demeanor. Mountain View Communications 2013 – 2014

Founder Denver, CO

Consulted with numerous clients on public relations, marketing communication, media relations, social media and content. Focused on promoting brand and telling their story. Director, External Communication 2012 – 2013

Jackson National Life Insurance Co. Denver, CO

Developed external strategy to promote brand of top U.S. annuities seller. Designed and launched campaign for investment education, new product suite, book launch and media tour. Video communication – Wrote, produced and coached executives in videos used on websites and in social. Assistant Vice President, Corporate Comms. & Marketing 2006 – 2012 Fiserv, Inc. (NASDAQ: FISV) Brookfield, WI

Responsible for external communication strategy for Fortune 500 Company, ranked #4 on Information Week list of Top Innovators. CEO tour – Organized and accompanied CEO on NASDAQ bell ringing and NYC media outreach tour. Tour generated both articles and relationships with media. Corporate Communication Manager 2003 – 2006

Modine Manufacturing Company (NYSE: MOD) Racine, WI Developed strategy with CEO for global communication, both internally and externally, for a $1.6 billion public manufacturing company, with a department of four. Company spokesperson – Managed media relations, including acquisitions, layoffs, plant closings, division spin-offs and community issues. Conducted media training. Liaison for Modine Charity Foundation. Television Anchor & Health and Wellness Reporter

WISN-TV Milwaukee ABC Affiliate 1999-2003

Years of experience doing live television daily, in studio and in field, conducted thousands of interviews. Health reporter who managed team for story on every newscast. Highly respected anchor spokesperson, known for personal involvement, and donation of time to dozens of causes, managed event planning and recruiting donations.

Education

Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University Evanston, IL Master of Science Degree in Journalism, also spent part of term in Washington, D.C. University of Alabama Tuscaloosa, AL

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Broadcast Communications, minor in Business.

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