Communications, media & public relations

Communications strategist with **+ years of experience driving visibility and impact for leading cultural institutions, media organizations, and nonprofits. Proven track record of developing comprehensive communications strategies, managing high-stakes transitions, and executing large-scale public events. Expertise in crisis communications, executive positioning, and strategic narrative development. Various

Consultant, producer, host & committee member

Los Angeles, California

October 2023 - present

+Consultant: Create and execute newsmaking strategy for Oregon’s BendFilm and Bend Film Festival, including leadership transitions and new initiatives. Write and edit news releases, statements and advertorial content. Prep executives for media interviews; write remarks.

+Co-producer and -host: Convene and coproduce events to raise funds and awareness for cultural nonprofits (2024: MacDowell alumni salon; Save Venice major donor luncheon).

+Member, 2024 Social Impact Media Awards Preselection Committee: screened 165+ hours of submitted feature-length and short-form documentaries, evaluating qualitative categories and narrowing to recommended finalists across 23 juried award categories. Milken Institute

Associate Director, Marketing and Communications

Santa Monica, California

July 2022 - November 2023

+Co-founded and -led Milken Institute Speakers Bureau, proactively securing opportunities for executives at live and digital events. Designed, maintained calendar of targets across industries and verticals. Wrote and distributed scheduled, targeted pitches highlighting experts’ latest work and expertise. Successful placements include trade and industry conferences, media events and academic keynote opportunities.

+Ideated, wrote and captured content for The MI Minute, a new internal newsletter showcasing latest wins, initiatives and staffer news. Designed, managed editorial calendar, review process.

+Identified & transcribed pullquotes and transcripts from live panels at flagship events including MI’s Global Conference, Middle East/Africa and Asia Summits, and Future of Heath Summit. Sundance Institute

Director, Communications

Assistant Director, Media Relations

Los Angeles, California; Park City, Utah

September 2017 - June 2022

July 2016 - September 2017

+Amplified the nonprofit Institute’s position at the vanguard of global culture, created an overall strategy that maximized the Institute’s news across owned and earned media.

+Oversaw publicity for the Sundance Film Festival, including messaging, narrative and news release/materials development, executive interview and remarks preparation, media accreditation application and leveling, press events including receptions and Day One Press Conference.

+Co-founded the Press Inclusion Initiative, a grant program that enabled underrepresented journalists to attend and cover the Festival. Raised and oversaw $330,000 granted 2018-2022.

+Oversaw publicity for gala fundraisers, year-round public events, residential creative development labs (US, Europe, MENA) and global satellite festivals (London, Hong Kong). Spencer Alcorn

+Managed year-round and seasonal publicity staff; developed several multi-year team members through progressive responsibility and title growth. Contracted and managed external agencies.

+Collaborated with leadership executives, including interview preparation and writing remarks, statements and op-eds; developed responsive communications, including crisis, government relations, sponsor relations and legal issue plans. Served as spokesperson when necessary. Los Angeles Times

Manager, Communications

Associate, Communications

Los Angeles, California

February 2014 - July 2016

March 2012 - February 2014

+Created & executed strategic proactive publicity plans for journalism and journalists, events portfolio, corporate initiatives. Reached, engaged and retained broad, relevant audiences.

+Amplified impact of daily interview and materials requests from local, national & international news outlets. Assembled and contextualized PR results and reporting for diverse internal audiences.

+Showcased flagship public events (Festival of Books, The Taste) in collaboration with agencies.

+Designed, created and distributed internal all-staff newsletter; managed departmental social media. Devised and refreshed methods of showcasing results: metrics, analytics, context. The Workshop Collective

Account Manager

Los Angeles, California; Miami, Florida

August 2009 - March 2012

Plug Co. Public Relations

Account Executive

Santa Barbara, California

April 2007 - November 2008

+Strategized and executed publicity campaigns and event integrations for portfolios of retainer and project clients, including consumer and retail brands, personalities, and nonprofit organizations. Clients included Land Rover Range Rover, the Noreen Fraser Foundation, Revolve Group, the Santa Barbara Museum of Art and Veuve Clicquot.

EDUCATION

University of California, Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Arts, English and History of Art & Architecture Santa Barbara, California

June 2009

Dean's Honors List, Award of Excellence for work in Portuguese Literature in Translation.

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