Communications Manager

Dear Colleagues,

I design and direct communications that engage people and propel movements, coupling fluency in public policy with experience building brands and strong organizations. I’m known for planning and managing operations that impact the public agenda and for rolling up my sleeves to zero in on what it takes to change the way people think and act.

I bring big-picture perspective, client-service orientation, and a focus on results honed in a fast-paced DC/NYC public relations agency where I won and managed large grants and contracts – and ran $2.5M in social marketing accounts, serving a virtual who’s who of companies, associations, foundations, and government agencies.

Strategy and message design are my core strengths. I make complex issues easy to understand, easy for media to report, and ripe for action. I’ve developed narratives that set the stage for social change; hosted news events to release global stories; and hustled to garner next-day coverage with smart contingency planning. I devise campaigns, materials, and websites that are evergreen and compelling; host purposeful events; prepare brand ambassadors to champion organizational priorities; and develop engaging content for social media.

I help leaders make informed decisions, learn from best practice, and from each other. Working for a federal agency charged with assessing progress in education and child development, I became skilled in government affairs; coordinated advisory boards of national and state lawmakers; produced campaigns to increase the potency of reporting and policies; and created community action toolkits with companion workshops to stimulate data-driven decision making.

I offer breadth, depth, an eagle eye and hard-earned savvy from managing high-stakes programs. You’ll find me at ease leading and collaborating. I thrive amidst diversity; manage budgets and timelines with finesse; and I have experience as a persuasive advocate and spokesperson to represent my employer with confidence.

With 360-degree strategic and tactical communications expertise and deep-rooted experience in public policy, I am prepared to heighten my employer's impact.

Sincerely yours,

Ruth Whitman Chacon

7020 Needwood Road, Derwood MD 20855

****.*.******@*****.***

mobile 240-***-****

linkedin.com/in/ruthchacon/

Ruth Whitman Chacon

****.*.******@*****.*** 240-***-**** linkedin.com/in/ruthchacon/ Washington/Baltimore area

Managing Communications, Cause-Related Marketing and Multi-Tier Projects

Enterprising, politically astute communications pro – Building social impact, prominent brands and powerful organizations.

Plan and direct PR, public engagement and social marketing operations that shape news, opinion, policy and demand.

Big-picture thinker, trend-spotter, problem-solver – Lead initiatives that garner buy-in – Forge and foster partnerships.

Turn complex concepts into communications that capture imagination, influence thought leaders and change behavior.

Excel at strategy, message design and orchestrating events – Manage public affairs, fundraising, websites and publications.

Adept crisis handler and contingency planner – Anticipate needs, create solutions and marshal resources to seize opportunity.

Compelling spokesperson – Insightful writer and editor – Quick to establish trust, teamwork and results.

Productive Facilitator and Program Manager

Won multi-million dollar federal grant; raised an additional $1.5M in partnership investments to expand FigureThis.org.

Ran hearings, news events, policymaker outreach, briefings and production of materials for the National Institutes of Health.

Coordinated problem-solving sessions for governors; providing data dashboards and policy briefs to speed decision-making.

Convened deliberative forums linking lawmakers and change agents to explore education and economic development.

Shaping Image, Message and Public Opinion

Counseled elected officials and CEOs to earn sustained public support and keep their messages in the news.

Won favorable editorials and endorsements on complex education issues.

Syndicated reprints of first-ever New York Times advertorial, delivering Where We Stand column to 127 papers each week.

Conducted opinion research with cost-effective techniques, translating findings into salient messages and measurable ROI.

Generating Publicity, Increasing Awareness, Mobilizing Action

Honchoed message design, White House events, speaker training, briefings and media for release of TIMSS research.

Ran high-volume press office, pitched stories and led target-market blitzes, positioning employer as “go to” source for news.

Secured speaking opps at prime venues – redoubling exposure with earned news coverage and talk show attention.

Enlisted USA Today and industry sponsors for public engagement campaigns, earning full-page color newspaper inserts.

Ghostwriter and speechwriter for elected leaders. Crafted op-eds, headline-making soundbites and testimony.

Influencing Policy, Winning Support

Leveraged public-private coalitions to grow networks, adopt policies, register voters and win elections.

Built political will and private-sector support to champion controversial policies for standards in education.

Orchestrated lobbying campaigns that influenced legislation, regulations and policy reform.

Developed multi-state “Ideas” initiative to solicit citizen input and organize volunteers to improve state service delivery.

Created consumer action kits with accessible apps, issue guides and easy-to-adapt materials used in 4,000+ communities.

Marketing Ideas, Products and Services

Crafted campaigns for states to boost education investments, health care reform, public safety and women-owned business.

Managed direct mail, media outreach and targeted advertising for event registration – doubling prior year’s attendance.

Produced direct response ad campaign – generating four million orders from schools, retailers, churches, civic centers.

Created travel adventures for Japanese groups. Led US/Japan trade missions. Closed deals for language training school.

Capitalizing on Traditional and Social Media

Forged partnerships to start education websites for telecoms and foundations: MarcoPolo, ThinkFinity, Read/Write/Think.

Wrote point-counterpoint audio series for opinion leaders – and distributed commentaries to 200+ subscribing stations.

In one month, boosted the click rate and doubled the number of engaged followers on LinkedIn.

Produced award-winning TV series, collateral and public service ads featured on banner websites and networks.

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Building Capacity to Champion Change

Led media, spokesperson and PR training for government agency chiefs, Fortune 50 execs and nonprofit directors.

Conducted workshops for 50+ National Geographic leaders to secure favorable legislation and increased funding.

Mobilized corps of brand ambassadors through ‘each one, reach one’ approach and ‘Tune In on Tuesday’ conference calls.

Headed mentorships and employee development program tied to performance incentives – yielding increased productivity.

Directed coaching project to train federal grantees – increasing impact and use of programs by target audiences.

Designed integrated communications to teach English and US customs to dignitaries from Europe, South America and Asia.

Managing People, Projects and Budgets

Harnessed resources and diverse views across cultures and companies – resolving conflicts in volatile field operations.

Accountable for budgets up to $8M and productivity of 20+ personnel among five divisions and seven subcontractors.

Secured/managed over 30 government contracts. Wrote four federal RFPs and evaluated submitted proposals.

Recruited, hired, and cultivated talent to serve clients in a fast-paced PR agency and meet newsroom deadlines.

Ran impact evaluations and led strategic planning for nonprofits to boost efficiency, prominence and service delivery.

Cut operating costs by 30 percent through vendor competition, coordination and close monitoring of consultants.

Employment History

Communications Manager and Senior Writer/Editor · BETAH Associates (Sep 2022 to March 2025 – Remote)

Led marketing and communications strategies to promote BETAH’s brand, services, and clients. Developed entirely fresh new branding, website, and marketing collateral. Conducted research and created high-quality content, including promotional videos, news releases, op-eds, articles, newsletters, and social media and blog posts. Responsible for editing and QA procedures in print and social media. Contributing writer and editor of large-scale proposals.

Senior Communications Officer, Global Policy & Advocacy · Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

(Aug 2021 to May 2022 – Washington, DC, limited-term contract)

Manage an $8M portfolio of grants and contracts. Responsible for producing a newsletter, overseeing social media, coordinating projects to assist grantees and safeguarding the foundation’s reputation.

Senior Communications Manager · Aspen Institute (Aug 2020 to May 2021 – Washington, DC)

Designed and carried out promotional strategies for the College Excellence Program. Translated complex ideas into succinct, impactful communications. Managed social media, website and e-newsletter. Published commentaries. Increased public visibility and advanced ideas by building relationships with media.

Communications Consultant (2002 to Present – Washington, DC). Select engagements include:

Boosted applicants and saturated news coverage as communications director for NSF Presidential Awards.

Messaging, media, training, publications and network-building for ten cities in Carnegie’s Schools for a New Society.

Board advisor and regional outreach coordinator for Coca-Cola’s Council for Corporate and School Partnerships.

Wrote Disney’s High School Musical activities guide, twinned with a national school grant competition.

Developed marketing strategies and publications to promote job search engine and research service from EdWeek.org.

Market research and communications planning for nationwide network of Robert Wood Johnson-funded health centers.

Laureate-branding PR to launch Gruber Foundation web site and its $1M prizes in justice, science, women’s rights.

Event manager for Hudson Institute book forum drawing 100+ CEOs and politicians to deliberate ed-tech innovations.

Secured 15 content partners to create school training and films for Modern Education Services, reaching 1200 sites.

Tripled customer base with innovative co-marketing concept for National TeleLearning Network. Negotiated sponsorships. Directed research and production for interactive televised conferences. Sold box-office rights to 250 communities.

Staged summer festival with hands-on family learning activities for Sandy Spring Museum – attracting 5,000 patrons.

Hosted “Creating Opportunity” consultative suites for National Governors Association conference to seed new business.

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Senior Vice President · Widmeyer Communications (1996 to 2002 – Washington, DC)

Spearheaded $2.5M in social marketing and policy communications for B2B, consumer and philanthropic accounts. Doubled portfolio sales in the first year. Managed communications planning, research, message design, media relations, public affairs, crisis communications and special events. Served 50+ educational organizations, nonprofits, foundations, think tanks, corporations and government agencies including: Harvard; Columbia; Penn; Educational Testing Service; College Board; American Association for the Advancement of Science; National Center on Education and the Economy; Carnegie Corporation; Kellogg, Ford and Annenberg foundations; Council of Chief State School Officers; National Association of Secondary School Principals; National Board for Professional Teaching Standards; US Departments of Health and Human Services, Education, and Labor; National Institutes of Health; National Science Foundation; National Institute for Literacy; National Geographic; Smithsonian Institution; Siemens; and Discovery Communications;

Prior Employment Experience

Communications Director · National Education Goals Panel · US Department of Education (Washington, DC) Managed media and public affairs, publications and advisory board relations for this bipartisan body of White House officials, governors and legislators. Counseled senior leaders. Led strategy, planning, research, outreach and government contracting.

Associate Director of Public Relations · American Federation of Teachers (Washington, DC)

Managed community relations, media, direct mail and ad campaigns; secured revenue-rich partnerships; produced materials; and handled hot-button issues as spokesperson, positioning the union as “the most politically potent force in education.” New York Times Led national promotions, coalitions, training, events and publicity for 2,200 affiliates. Created learning activities hotline used by 90,000 callers/month. Boosted circulation of magazine by 35 percent.

Education and Certification

The Complete Google Analytics 4 Course, Udemy online academy

Federal Procurement and Contract Administration, US Department of Education, Washington, DC

Thunderbird School of Global Management, Trade Specialist Training Certificate, Phoenix, AZ

National Policy Fellow, Institute of Educational Leadership, Washington, DC

International Language Institute, Spanish Certificate, Washington, DC

Bachelor of Science with 4.0 GPA, University of Maryland, College of Journalism, College Park, MD

Strategic Planning

Issue Management

PR & Public Affairs

Message Design

Coalition & Non-Profit Management

Public Engagement

Marketing & Advertising

Special Events

Board & Partnership Relations

Community Organizing

Market & Opinion Research

Writing & Editing

Affiliate & Membership Affairs

Internal Communications

Development & Fundraising

Advocacy & Media Training

Core Competencies

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