Experience

City of Farmington Hills

• Government Relations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Department Director, Communications & Community Engagement

  • Nov 2022 - Present



Birdie Communications, LLC

• Principal

  • Mar 2021 - Nov 2022

  Redford, Michigan, United States I lead a consultancy offering expert guidance and marketing and communication services including crises and issues management, relationship development and management, and event strategies for clients including a pediatric practice, an executive, local municipality, major automotive fund, and local theatre. Accomplishments: ● Directed design and creation of client’s award-winning website. ● Conceptualized and implemented client’s first digital show spotlighting key health topics… Show more I lead a consultancy offering expert guidance and marketing and communication services including crises and issues management, relationship development and management, and event strategies for clients including a pediatric practice, an executive, local municipality, major automotive fund, and local theatre. Accomplishments: ● Directed design and creation of client’s award-winning website. ● Conceptualized and implemented client’s first digital show spotlighting key health topics for children and parents. ● Wrote executive client’s first commencement speech which was met with thundering applause and additional speaking opportunities. Show less



Detroit Health Department

• Division Administrator, Director Of Marketing & Communications

  • Dec 2019 - Mar 2021

  Detroit, Michigan, United States I built strategic communication plans to advance the health and wellbeing of residents. Collaborated with state, regional and local communication experts to deliver on messaging relating to the COVID-19 pandemic for diverse audiences. Regularly interfaced with senior executives including the Mayor to achieve goals. Led development of communications content including press releases, social media content, briefing documents, speeches, talking points, brochures, scripts, videos, print and digital… Show more I built strategic communication plans to advance the health and wellbeing of residents. Collaborated with state, regional and local communication experts to deliver on messaging relating to the COVID-19 pandemic for diverse audiences. Regularly interfaced with senior executives including the Mayor to achieve goals. Led development of communications content including press releases, social media content, briefing documents, speeches, talking points, brochures, scripts, videos, print and digital ads (owned, paid and earned). Oversaw development of the department's digital presence. Manage an annual budget of $3 million and staff of 10 communications and health education professionals. Accomplishments: ● Effectively led marketing communications strategies at onset of global pandemic which helped mitigate the city's rising COVID-19 cases and resulted in other U.S. cities reaching out to learn from our success. ● Created and drafted video scripting for a successful digital health awareness campaign encouraging safe holiday gathering, leveraging the chief public health officer and all three major hospital system presidents. ● Leveraged subject matter experts including epidemiologist, chief medical officer and environmental services team, often translating technical topics into meaningful media stories. ● Successfully led PR efforts and related activities at the local, regional and national level. Show less



United Way for Southeastern Michigan

• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Director of Public Relations

  • Feb 2016 - Dec 2019

  I oversaw the media relations strategy including crisis and issues management communication. Effectively led executive positioning strategies including editorials, blog posts, speech writing and talking points. Directed agency relationship and provided supervisory oversight over social media coordinator and copy writer, and managed operational budget of $150K. Also served as contributing member of committees including Advocacy, Development, Events, and Diversity & Inclusion… Show more I oversaw the media relations strategy including crisis and issues management communication. Effectively led executive positioning strategies including editorials, blog posts, speech writing and talking points. Directed agency relationship and provided supervisory oversight over social media coordinator and copy writer, and managed operational budget of $150K. Also served as contributing member of committees including Advocacy, Development, Events, and Diversity & Inclusion. Accomplishments: ● Negotiated new vendor relationship and expanded public relations strategy outcomes. ● Negotiated discounted annual contract for organization’s first media monitoring service for benchmarking, showing an increase in media coverage year over year. ● Represented the organization at key events and conferences, including the annual regional policy conference attracting thousands, to facilitate strategic introductions and media opportunities. ● Executed effective event planning and management of organization's annual tri-county fundraiser which included FCA’s top executive, tri county executives and more than 300 guests. Show less



CKC AGENCY

• Vice President, Media & Community Relations

  • Apr 2013 - Jan 2016

  I strategized and implemented effective brand marketing and communication strategies for municipalities, nonprofit sector, entrepreneurs and the company’s largest retail client. Led on crisis and issues management approaches for clients. Coached and provided direction to junior staff and helped pitch and cultivate new business. Accomplishments: ● Provided outstanding client service management of a portfolio of nearly $500K annually. ● Led and achieved outstanding results for… Show more I strategized and implemented effective brand marketing and communication strategies for municipalities, nonprofit sector, entrepreneurs and the company’s largest retail client. Led on crisis and issues management approaches for clients. Coached and provided direction to junior staff and helped pitch and cultivate new business. Accomplishments: ● Provided outstanding client service management of a portfolio of nearly $500K annually. ● Led and achieved outstanding results for retail client’s Midwest expansion into Ohio, Illinois and Indiana. ● Part of the team that secured full press coverage and exceptional celebrity management during Motor City Comic Con, and for clients including Reality TV Show America’s Next Top Model Judge Nigel Barker and Love it or List It Star Hilary Farr. Pioneered agency’s pro bono services strategy to bolster social responsibility goals. ● Initiated and managed the agency's first staff volunteer program to strengthen team camaraderie and attract talent. Show less



DMC CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL OF MICHIGAN

• Public Relations and Marketing Manager

  • Mar 2009 - Apr 2013

  Greater Detroit Area I developed and executed effective public relations and marketing plans to increase physician referrals and consumer preference for the hospital and its pediatric specialties. Built and maintained trusted relationships with reporters and editors. Collaborated with internal stakeholders for story mining and storytelling. Managed and updated marketing toolkit and ensured consistent brand image. Created, implemented and oversaw communications programs. Engaged in crisis communications and issues… Show more I developed and executed effective public relations and marketing plans to increase physician referrals and consumer preference for the hospital and its pediatric specialties. Built and maintained trusted relationships with reporters and editors. Collaborated with internal stakeholders for story mining and storytelling. Managed and updated marketing toolkit and ensured consistent brand image. Created, implemented and oversaw communications programs. Engaged in crisis communications and issues management efforts alongside members of the leadership team. On-call 24/7 for media inquiries relating to patient condition in accordance with HIPAA Compliance. Continually worked to innovate and create new ways to do PR. Accomplishments: ● Initiated organization’s first resident media training to ensure a strong bench of media-trained staff. ● Part of the hospital's crisis communication team participating regularly in emergency preparedness training, quarterly tabletop exercises and situation reenactments with internal and regional partners. ● Successfully executed community outreach strategies including monthly webinars and live webcasts in collaboration with a local broadcast station. ● Coordinated and managed organization's participation in community outreach and in-patient celebrity and professional team visits.

• Marketing Communications Coordinator

  • Jan 2006 - Mar 2009

  Greater Detroit Area I formulated talking points and speeches for executive leadership and scheduled monthly new hire orientations. I researched and co-prepared CEO's monthly staff presentations and served as editor of the organization's three newsletters managing the product from concept to design while supervising two freelance staff. I also managed the hospital's internal messaging system utilizing various channels including intranet, posters, and the internal TV messaging system, and provided event management… Show more I formulated talking points and speeches for executive leadership and scheduled monthly new hire orientations. I researched and co-prepared CEO's monthly staff presentations and served as editor of the organization's three newsletters managing the product from concept to design while supervising two freelance staff. I also managed the hospital's internal messaging system utilizing various channels including intranet, posters, and the internal TV messaging system, and provided event management support for press conferences, celebrities, dignitaries and professional team visits.