Public Relations Non-Profit

THOMAS BUCHOLZ

*** ****** ***** *****, ***** Ledge, Michigan 48837 Phone: 517-***-****

Email: **.*******@*****.***

SUMMARY AND PROFILE

Extensive experience providing expert level strategic policy and communications counsel to leaders in the private, philanthropic, non-profit, and government sectors; intergovernmental relations strategic expertise on a wide variety of health, education, and technology issues; resourceful, proactive leader with a specialty in defining goals and executing integrated strategic plans that target specific audiences and compel desired action; nationally recognized spokesperson in several areas; adaptive learner, experienced grant writer, accomplished communicator.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

George Law, Royal Oak, Michigan

Director of Operations

2022 to Present

Overseeing daily operations of a criminal defense law firm in greater Metro Detroit. At any given time, the firm is responsible for 75 to 100 felony or misdemeanor cases, with potentially serious repercussions and high stakes for clients.

Responsible for maintaining for maintaining relationships with clients, prosecutors, and courts across the state of Michigan; certified Notary Public within the state of Michigan

Managing extensive court schedules and writing schedules for six licensed attorneys. Responsible for authoring appearance and discovery requests, stipulations and orders, motions, deviations, and other legal documents necessary for positive client outcomes

Licensed professional investigator in the state of Michigan, with experiencing managing cases, using computer-based research methods, surveillance techniques, and conducting interviews and observations for related cases

Casework experience includes background checks, examining fraud, theft, asset search and discovery, and accurately piecing together evidence and interviews for clients seeking answers.

Bering Waters Group, Hong Kong, SAR

Communications Lead

2022

Communications leader for Bering Waters Group and its three affiliated companies, Bering Waters OTC Desk, Bering Waters Tech, and Bering Waters Ventures.

Bering Waters focuses on research-heavy innovations in the electronics, blockchain, and cryptocurrency spaces, envisions and implements innovative solutions to accelerate mass adoption of Distributed Ledger Technology, and is the world’s leading Over-The-Counter Desk for unreleased tokens and forward contracts for altcoins.

Retained to improve communications and marketing initiatives for all three companies and develop global engagement strategies with prospective investors and clients

Job is remote based with occasional travel to the European Union and Asia.

Vanguard Public Affairs, Lansing, Michigan

President

2014-2022

Vanguard Public Affairs has worked with more than 100 clients since its inception, including education groups, health care companies, consumer products, public municipalities, law firms, financial services, non-profits, philanthropic organizations, and a host of other individuals and organizations.

Specializes in public affairs, strategic communication, issue management, message development, political advocacy, polling and statistics, crisis communication, image consultation, web site development, digital media, television and radio production, media relations and their related metrics.

Registered lobbyist with the state of Michigan since 2018.

Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Lansing, Michigan

Senior Director, Public Affairs Practice

2010-2013

Worked in the private sector at Michigan’s largest investor relations and public relations firm, focused on strategic communications, public relations, corporate communications, crisis and issues management, product launches, and their related metrics.

In the company’s Lansing office, TJ led nearly $1 million worth of billable work for a wide array of clients in the company’s marketing ecosystem, including education, financial services, consumer products, defense, energy, and health care sectors.

Michigan Public Health Institute, Lansing, Michigan

Senior Analyst

2010

Working as a senior analyst specializing in stakeholder engagement for various healthcare projects, including the Michigan Provider Credentials Center (MiPCC) and Sanctioning Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals.

Responsible for developing overarching communications strategies for various MPHI clients, including the state of Michigan, and other federal and state grantees.

Andy Dillon for Michigan, Lansing, Michigan

Communications Director

2010

Serving as senior communications strategist for the Andy Dillon for Michigan campaign. Dillon served as the Democratic Speaker of the Michigan House of Representatives.

Primary assignments include developing comprehensive political and communications strategy for candidate, developing policy positions on a wide variety of issues, analyzing of polling data to influence campaign strategy, preparing candidate and surrogates with talking points, leading debate strategy team and negotiations, and managing staff of six.

Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Secretary of State, Detroit, Michigan

Senior Strategist and Communications Director

2009-2010

Serving as senior political and communications consultant for the Jocelyn Benson for Michigan Secretary of State campaign

Benson, a law professor and election law expert at Wayne State University in Detroit, won election to the SOS post in 2018.

Primary assignments include developing comprehensive political and communications strategy for candidate, including calendaring of major events, analyzing polling data to influence campaign strategy, serving as campaign spokesperson, working with staff to coordinate fundraising efforts, and cultivating candidate image.

The Benson campaign announced its fundraising efforts at the end of January 2010 and set a record for the most money raised by any non-incumbent candidate for the office in Michigan history, legitimizing Benson as an electoral force for the general election.

Hayes Green Beach (HGB) Hospital, Charlotte, Michigan

ALIVE Campaign Director and Senior Consultant

2009-2010

Member of HGB senior leadership team, reporting directly to the CEO.

Responsible for relationship building, internal communications, strategic planning, and government relations for an innovative, experience-based $20 million health and wellness campus construction project.

Primary assignments include developing overarching campaign strategy, setting critical goals for internal and external fundraising, working with federal, state, and other intergovernmental agencies to secure financing for the project, and constructing a public campaign platform to be deployed regionally.

Also responsible leading the hospital’s internal response and logistics for H1N1 influenza activity between the months of October 2000 and January 2009.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle, Washington

Senior Program Officer – US Program Advocacy

2008-2009

Senior official in foundation’s US Program Advocacy Division, developing strategic initiatives, internal communications, advocacy partnerships, and media campaigns in concert with libraries, educational organizations, Pacific Northwest institutions, and information technology firms to further the foundation’s goals. Responsible for $20 million in foundational resources.

Primary assignments in the foundation’s U.S. Libraries, Pacific Northwest, and Washington State organizations, but also responsible for cross cutting advocacy work in the foundation’s two primary U.S. strategies – College Ready and Post-Secondary Success.

Performed intergovernmental liaison work between lawmakers in Olympia and foundation senior officials associated with several priority areas for the Gates family, including family homelessness, community grants and relations, and state education reform.

Office of Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry Jr.Lansing, Michigan

Director of Communications

2007-2008

Responsible for developing comprehensive communications strategy for state’s Lieutenant Governor in a highly-charged political environment.

During my tenure, Lieutenant Governor Cherry was considering a run for Governor in Michigan’s 2010 election – responsible for designing a strategy specifically designed to improve his name identification with key issues, engage the electorate, and ramp up his candidacy.

Extensive issue management experience at the executive level in health care, education, environment, conservation, Great Lakes water quality, job creation, and tribal issues.

Work included speech writing, white paper development for policy issues, developing message strategy on key issues for a wide range of audiences, media relations, and serving from as a spokesman for Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm.

Senior communications and political advisor for Lieutenant Governor, Governor, and key Executive Office staff.

Granholm for Governor Campaign, Lansing, Michigan

Communications Advisor

2006

Took leave of absence from the Michigan Department of Community Health to provide full-time communications counsel to the 2006 Granholm for Governor Campaign (August 2006 to November 2006)

Campaign experience included speechwriting, drafting message points for candidate and surrogate speakers, media and political consulting, developing communications strategy, authoring endorsements for surrogates and all constituency groups, and staffing candidate

The 2006 Michigan Governor’s electoral campaign was one of the most hotly contested gubernatorial races – with both sides spending more than $60 million combined.

Michigan Department of Community Health, Lansing, Michigan

Director of Communications

2003-2007

Responsible for serving as state’s spokesperson for all state and national level health-related issues.

Well established relationships with reporters and editors in all regional media markets, as well as national contacts at major outlets; Extensive experience with state and federal intergovernmental relations for health care programs.

Responsible for overseeing multi-million dollar MDCH television, radio, and print advertising campaigns in several areas, including public health preparedness, problem gambling, infant mortality, chronic disease, family planning, and drug control policy issues.

Senior health advisor to MDCH Director; Responsible for designing overall communications (internal and external), marketing, and outreach strategies for a wide variety of health care programs, authoring media releases and speechwriting for Governor, MDCH Director, and Michigan’s Surgeon General.

Lead administrator for state of Michigan communications response to chemical and biological terrorism; extensive experience with crisis communications and joint information center (JIC) operations.

Broad understanding of state mental health services, state and federal Medicare and Medicaid policy, health insurance coverage and financing, health information technology, public health preparedness, hospital and physician licensing, physician recruitment and retention, pharmaceutical pricing and purchasing, Certificate of Need licensing of medical devices and equipment, aging services, public health, chemical and biological terrorism, and drug control policy.

Michigan Department of Education, Lansing, Michigan

Deputy Director of Communications /Public Information Officer

1999-2003

Served as state’s spokesperson for all K-12 and post-secondary educational issues

Developed extensive contacts with education reporters and editors in all regional – and many national – media markets; extensive experience with education policy relations at both the federal and state levels

Responsible for implementing communications and internal and external media strategies as outlined by State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education

Responsible for creating and obtaining buy-in – in conjunction with the Michigan Education Association – for statewide Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow advertising campaign

Senior education advisor and chief speechwriter for State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State Board of Education

Broad understanding of K-12 and post-secondary educational issues, including school finance, Revised School Code, curriculum, instruction, assessment, federal regulations, crisis planning, legislative relations, and school safety

Served as content webmaster for MDE’s award-winning web site

Midland Public Schools

Director of Communications

1997-1999

Directed overall public relations and marketing efforts in a 12,000 student enrollment school district

Responsible for creating competitive marketing strategy to maintain enrollment levels in the Midland Public Schools, specifically preventing Midland students from migrating to other non-public education options.

OTHER POSITIONS AND ACTIVITIES

2021 – Licensed Professional Investigator with Exempted Gun Permit, State of Michigan

Director of Information Services – Mt. Pleasant Public Schools – 1996 to 1997

Journalist – Mt. Pleasant Morning Sun – 1994 to 1996

Silver Award Winner – Michigan Society of Association Executives – Save MI City Campaign, 2020

Executive Board Member – President-Elect, Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America, 2020

Sponsorships Chair, Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America, 2018-2020

Vice President, Downtown Lansing Inc., representing the City of Lansing’s downtown business community, 2019-2020

MPLP Executive Advisory Board Member – 2014 to 2020

Community Advisory Board Member – WKAR Public Media – 2015-2017

Founding Members – S.E.E.D.S. Foundation, 2019

2011 to 2016 - Board Member – Red Cedar Youth Basketball League

2005 to 2008 – City of Grand Ledge Planning Commissioner

Lifetime Member – National Scholars Honor Society

2007 – Alumni Board Member – Michigan Political Leadership Program – Michigan State University

2007 – Winner – PACE Pinnacle Award – Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America

2006 – Author – National Public Health Information Coalition Strategy To Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) For National Marketing Of Radiological Public Health Safety Messages

2005 – Federally Trained Public Health Information Officer – CDC

2003 To 2007 – Voting Member – National Public Health Information Coalition

2003 To Present – Media Relations Trainer – Michigan Political Leadership Program –

2003 – President Elect – Michigan School Public Relations Association

2003 – PSTA Crystal Apple Award Winner

2002 to 2003 – Member – NSPRA’s Urban Issues Committee

2002 – Founding Member – Grand Ledge Education Foundation

1998 to 2003 – Executive Board Member – Michigan School Public Relations Association

1997 Graduate, Leadership Midland Executive Training Program

1996 to 2001 – Multiple Award winner - Michigan and National School Public Relations Association Communications Contests

1994 to 1996 – Associated Press and Michigan Press Association Award Winner

EDUCATION

Central Michigan University

Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Journalism and Political Science

Fellow – Michigan State University

Michigan Political Leadership Program (MPLP) – the country’s most recognized bi-partisan political training program

University of Washington Foster School of Business

Executive Education Training

Western Michigan University

Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.)

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