Senior Communications Professional

Charles B. Henderson, APR

**** ******* ******

Saint Louis, Missouri 63122-4761

E-mail: *************@*********.***

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/myprofile?trk=hb_side_pro

Mobile: 314-***-****

Residence: 314-***-****

Summary

Highly accomplished public relations professional and educator with a demonstrated record of achievement in media relations, employee communications, marketing communications, crisis communication, strategic messaging, and project planning and management.

Career Highlights

• Created and led successful, high-profile communications program that overcame an organization’s virtually hostile relationship with the media, poor staff morale, and multiple budget and staff reductions.

• Calmed a public and internal crisis in three cities in response to a media hoax.

• Developed internal volunteer event into the largest employee-donated drive of its kind.

• Recognized with “award of excellence” by Houston, Texas chapter of International Association of Business Communicators.

• Adjunct Professor, Crisis Communication/Reputation Management, Washington University in St. Louis (2002-Current).

• Accredited in Public Relations (APR), Public Relations Society of America.

“Charles ‘owns’ projects and takes pride in achieving top results,

a quality he inspires in others.”

─ performance review excerpt

Professional Experience

Senior Media Relations Specialist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis

Saint Louis, Missouri

1993 to 2009

• Generated top-tier media coverage among 12 Reserve Banks by providing solid news stories, comment, information and service to local, regional and national media, producing extensive coverage in key business and banking media, as well as blogs and other Web-based outlets.

• Calmed a crisis in three cities in response to a radio hoax involving U.S. currency, generating front-page coverage and personal quote in USA TODAY.

• Introduced online promotion and distribution of news releases and other communication programs.

• Led employee volunteer advisory board, developing largest employee-donated food drive (“Canned Film Festival”) in the St. Louis area, averaging 50,000 canned goods and other non-perishables donated each year for 13 years.

Communications Consultant

Saint Louis, Missouri

1991 to 1993

• Generated more than 1,500 sales leads for new PC software for teachers through targeted publicity in national educational and technology media.

• Developed and wrote first community/economic impact report for Washington University in St. Louis.

Communications Manager, Monsanto Company

Saint Louis, Missouri

1990 to 1991

• Awarded “Bronze Quill” award by St. Louis chapter of International Association of Business Communicators for writing and producing monthly newspaper for 6,500 St. Louis-based employees.

• Served as public relations counsel for company’s world headquarters campus.

Director of Communications, Greater Houston Chamber of Commerce

Houston, Texas

1985 to 1988

• Directed five-person staff and managed $300,000 budget for media relations, member communications, public information, publication sales and marketing communications.

• Crafted highly successful promotional initiatives that overcame organization’s adversarial relationship with the media, abysmal staff morale because no employee had received a pay raise in two years, and budget and staff cuts that exacerbated every other problem.

• Generated 80 percent increase in positive media coverage.

• Media-trained senior managers, teaching them how to craft strategic messages and develop relationships that led to third-party credibility for their programs.

• Developed first promotional video and introduced first graphic identity/branding program.

Communications Manager, First General Realty Company

Houston, Texas

1984 to 1985

Reduced graphics and printing costs by 30 percent through competitive bidding.

Publications Representative, Tenneco Inc.

Houston, Texas

1978 to 1984

Honored with “award of excellence” for “effective sales and marketing piece” by Houston chapter of International Association of Business Communicators for writing and producing community relations/recruitment brochure for petroleum refinery in suburban New Orleans.

Education

University of Southern California

Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations (cum laude)

Los Angeles, California

Associations

Public Relations Society of America

Board of Directors, St. Louis Scottish Games & Cultural Festival (2001-Current)

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