Experience

Center For Rural Strategies

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Planning and Program Development

  • Aug 2019 - Present

  - Oversee product development, strategic partnerships, audience relationships, and technology for a new nonprofit media venture focused on rural America. - Provide communications and planning support for the center's existing programs, including the Daily Yonder news website and the Rural Assembly organizing platform.

• Business Planning Consultant

  • Aug 2018 - Jul 2019

  - Authored business plan and other project planning documents for new nonprofit media venture focused on elevating stories from rural America.- Helped raise startup funds to support the venture's development and launch. - Provided expertise on media business models and current trends in news and journalism.



State of Minnesota

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Digital Communications Consultant

  • May 2019 - Oct 2019

  - Led development of the State of Minnesota's 2020 Census website at mn.gov/2020census. - Provided website design and content services in partnership with the Minnesota State Demographic Center. - Coordinated summer 2019 public launch of the website and provided initial support in maintaining site content. - Led development of the State of Minnesota's 2020 Census website at mn.gov/2020census. - Provided website design and content services in partnership with the Minnesota State Demographic Center. - Coordinated summer 2019 public launch of the website and provided initial support in maintaining site content.



Harvard Kennedy School

• United States
• Higher Education
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Teaching Assistant

  • Jan 2018 - Jun 2018

  - Served on the teaching team for two Spring 2018 courses: The U.S. Congress and Lawmaking taught by Professor David King, and American Politics: Political Institutions and Public Policy taught by Professor Thomas Patterson.

• Research Assistant - Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy

  • Sep 2016 - Jun 2018

  - Provided research assistance to Thomas Patterson, Bradlee Professor of Government and the Press, for his book, "How America Lost Its Mind: The Assault on Reason That's Crippling Our Democracy."- Assisted Fall 2016 Shorenstein Fellow Markus Prior with research paper on political interest and the 2016 election. - Conducted research for Knight Foundation-supported project on audience engagement for single-subject news websites.



NBC News

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 700 & Above Employee

• Shorenstein Intern for Media, Politics and Public Policy, Summer 2017

  • Jun 2017 - Aug 2017

  - Completed rotations with a variety of teams including Investigations, Newsgathering, Special Reports, and with specific NBC and MSNBC shows and programs. - Researched policy issues to guide coverage of breaking topics, prepared hosts' briefing materials for on-air interviews, drafted pitches for show segments, and aided producers with various other day-to-day tasks. - Placed via the Shorenstein Center on Media, Politics and Public Policy. - Reported to NBC’s Managing Editor for Politics. Show less



Minnesota Department of Administration

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Project Consultant, State Capitol Grand Opening Celebration

  • Dec 2016 - Aug 2017

  - Provided planning support for Grand Reopening of the Minnesota State Capitol that took place August 2017. - Authored project master plan outlining recommendations for event programming, logistics, communications and marketing, staffing, and more. - Established framework for project team to follow in planning and managing the event. - Developed content for the event's mobile app. - Provided on-site support during event weekend. - Provided planning support for Grand Reopening of the Minnesota State Capitol that took place August 2017. - Authored project master plan outlining recommendations for event programming, logistics, communications and marketing, staffing, and more. - Established framework for project team to follow in planning and managing the event. - Developed content for the event's mobile app. - Provided on-site support during event weekend.



Minnesota Department of Administration

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Deputy Communications Director

  • Dec 2014 - Aug 2016

  - Devised strategy and executed delivery of department’s communications efforts, reaching diverse internal and external audiences across various channels.- Oversaw department websites, marketing materials, graphics, and branding.- Managed and supervised student interns who support the communications team.- Acted as key player in department’s strategic planning, performance measurement, and government improvement efforts.

• Communications Specialist

  • Nov 2011 - Dec 2014

  - Hired to assist Commissioner’s Office in developing a stronger strategic communications function. - Managed daily communications needs -- writing newsletters and announcements, maintaining websites, and designing marketing materials. - Guided department efforts to become a leading voice in government reform with both internal stakeholders and the public.



Office of Governor Mark Dayton

• Saint Paul, Minnesota

• Communications Intern

  • Sep 2011 - Nov 2011

  - Wrote speeches, letters, and statements on behalf of and in the voice of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. - Prepared media releases and blog posts and connected with media outlets to pitch stories and discuss coverage opportunities. - Researched policy issues to guide key messages and communications strategy. - Assisted in launch of the Office of the Governor blog, writing various posts and developing ideas for blog content. - Wrote speeches, letters, and statements on behalf of and in the voice of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor. - Prepared media releases and blog posts and connected with media outlets to pitch stories and discuss coverage opportunities. - Researched policy issues to guide key messages and communications strategy. - Assisted in launch of the Office of the Governor blog, writing various posts and developing ideas for blog content.



Miscellaneous

• Freelance Writer

  • May 2010 - Jun 2011

  - Covered 2010 and 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expos (E3) for Best Buy Media Network in a freelance capacity. - Provided coverage of trade shows and technology trends -- including event previews, recaps and features -- published on Best Buy websites and via in-store channels. - Also assisted in planning and scripting videos shot by on-site camera crews. - Covered 2010 and 2011 Electronic Entertainment Expos (E3) for Best Buy Media Network in a freelance capacity. - Provided coverage of trade shows and technology trends -- including event previews, recaps and features -- published on Best Buy websites and via in-store channels. - Also assisted in planning and scripting videos shot by on-site camera crews.



Padilla

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 100 - 200 Employee

• PR Intern

  • Nov 2010 - May 2011

  - Assisted account staff with a wide variety of public relations tactics and client work. - Wrote media releases, bylines, and case studies for numerous major clients. - Created media lists, identified editorial opportunities, and conducted media outreach to support communications campaigns. - Conducted qualitative research projects to aid clients in understanding their competitive positioning and industry communications trends. - Assisted account staff with a wide variety of public relations tactics and client work. - Wrote media releases, bylines, and case studies for numerous major clients. - Created media lists, identified editorial opportunities, and conducted media outreach to support communications campaigns. - Conducted qualitative research projects to aid clients in understanding their competitive positioning and industry communications trends.



Best Buy

• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Intern

  • Oct 2007 - Jan 2011

  - Acted as an established member of Employee Communications Team. - Developed comprehensive communications plans connecting corporate teams with store employees around the world. - Created transparent, collaborative messaging that strengthened retail-corporate relationships, championed the voice of employees, and celebrated company culture. - Acted as an established member of Employee Communications Team. - Developed comprehensive communications plans connecting corporate teams with store employees around the world. - Created transparent, collaborative messaging that strengthened retail-corporate relationships, championed the voice of employees, and celebrated company culture.



Mesabi Family YMCA

• Mountain Iron, Minnesota

• Membership and Youth Sports Representative

  • Aug 2005 - Aug 2007

  - Worked in Membership Services and Youth Sports Departments providing customer service, performing office tasks, and marketing the organization. - Served as coach and referee in Youth Sports programs. - Worked in Membership Services and Youth Sports Departments providing customer service, performing office tasks, and marketing the organization. - Served as coach and referee in Youth Sports programs.