Account Director, Public Relations & Social Media

• Mar 2022 - Present

Oversee development and implementation of all strategic communications, social media and diversity, equity and inclusion strategy for brands including Amazon, Troy-Bilt, Aetna and Takeda. Supervise team of over 20 employees, contractors and vendors on event management, media & analyst relations, social media and influencer partnerships. Own development initiatives with internal and external stakeholders, community organizations, government agencies and officials. Act as liaison between agency and clients, providing direction on deliverables, campaign analysis, risk assessment, end-to-end workflows and budget allocation. - Assist with development of the brand framework for Amazon Global DEI Experiences - Lead logistics, social, creative and influencer campaigns for the 2022 Amazon Represent the Future Summit - Manage development of creative assets and content including videos, blogs, op-eds, infographics - Develop strategy to position Amazon leadership as experts in DEI & technology - Launched pilot influencer campaign to connect Troy-Bilt products to US Hispanic consumers - Cultivate efforts to foster thought leadership via focused content development, media relations and community outreach efforts for healthcare, technology and utility campaigns Show less

Senior Connections Manager, Social Media & Internal Communications

• Jan 2021 - Mar 2022

Senior Social Publisher, Internal Communications

• Mar 2020 - Jan 2021

Serve as a liaison between agency leadership and Ford Motor Company Internal Communications. Develop and implement social media strategy for Ford stakeholders and over 200K global employees. Facilitate brand training for C-suite executives and their respective teams. Work cross-functionally with human resources, marketing, communications, media, legal, and creative teams to foster the brand narrative and messaging across digital and social platforms. - Collaborate with agency partners to oversee asset and content creation for organic and paid social media campaigns - Create and execute crisis and reputation management strategy and brand social response to COVID-19 global pandemic across brand internal and external channels - Support brand activations, product launches and CSR initiatives relating to change management, sustainability, innovation, technology deployment and electrification Show less

Senior Principal Consultant

• Jan 2008 - Jan 2020

Manage media relations campaigns for entertainment studios, start up companies, non-profit organizations and Fortune 500 brands. Cultivate global diversity & inclusion strategies and corporate partnership opportunities. Connect brands to the public through strategic communications tactics. Manage digital and grassroots campaigns, elevating brand visibility to the international platform. - Garner publicity for feature films, film festivals and screenings or the likes of Focus Features’ LOVING, the BMW Blackfilm.com series and the American Black Film Festival - Develop partnerships with leading groups including the National Urban League, National Black Public Relations Society, National Association of Black Journalists as well as a host of Historically Black Colleges and Universities - Foster influencer relationships to develop brand affinity within the African American market - Implement organic social media plans Show less

Publicist

• Apr 2019 - Oct 2019

Responsible for leading global campaigns for brands in the high tech, healthcare and consumer goods verticals. Led brand positioning and strategic planning initiatives. Managed partnership and product integration opportunities for IoT and artificial intelligence deployments. Developed press materials and content strategy for client social media platforms. Supervised junior staff assignments and provide support through mentoring and coaching. - Procured product integration contract for NewAir Compact Appliances with Let’s Make A Deal and The Kelly Clarkson Show - Secured thought leadership interviews for C-suite executives with NPR, The Ladders, Reuters, Medium and Mashable - Managed media announcement for Geotab’s telematics partnership with Ford Motor Company - Launched media campaign for Nuance Communication’s cloud-first biometrics cybersecurity subscription service Show less

Guest Lecturer

• May 2016 - Sep 2018

Taught continuing education students the dynamics of experiential marketing. Educated students on utilizing psychographics and competitive analysis to garner brand affinity. Lectured on how to develop brand activations and experiences from concept to completion including budget management staffing, content management and social media marketing. Provided insight on strategies to engage multicultural audiences. Course: Marketing & Promotion BUS 28 - Extended education course that prepares students for employment in entertainment promotion and marketing production. This course teaches the essential skills needed to launch a career as a writer, producer, or editor. Show less

Guest Lecturer

• Dec 2016 - Dec 2017

Educated undergraduate students on cross-cultural media engagement strategies. Provided insight on developing campaigns to reach consumers in historically marginalized communities. Taught on the history of multicultural communications and the leaders, agencies and brands. Helped students to craft brand messaging to reach target audiences in the African American, Latino American and Asian American communities. Courses: Media Worldwide COM 506 & Intercultural Media Literacy COM 412 Media Worldwide COM 506 - The study of media in relationship to other institutions and as a part of the total system of cultural, political, economic, and educational developments in our world. Toward that end, intercultural factors relating to the individual working with media, or served by the media are considered. Studies the contemporary use of print and non-print media in various parts of the world and compares their use with that in the United States. Intercultural Media Literacy COM 412 - Explores the role and influence of the media industry in shaping intercultural understanding within the United States. Focuses on the ability to read, interpret, analyze, and begin to produce media from a culturally informed perspective. The history of representations are examined based on race, gender, class and ability. Show less

Lead Compliance Monitor

• Nov 2009 - Aug 2014

Monitored the compliance of the hiring process for the offices under the Office of Cook County Board President and Cook County Health and Hospital System. Served as a liaison between county offices and the Compliance Administrator to ensure fair and inclusive hiring practices and decreased discrimination and political patronage. Produced internal events and engagements. Oversaw communications of over 50 county-wide departments, partner and vendors. - Enforced monitoring procedures and countywide HR compliance protocols - Administered trainings and monitoring assignments for over 25 contracted monitors - Implemented reporting database to manage review of monitor reports - Facilitated employee relations initiatives including management of complaints, grievances and investigations - Helped to ensure county-wide substantial compliance Show less

Engagement Marketing Vendor

• Sep 2008 - Jan 2013

Developed and executed multicultural brand communications strategy and social media engagement plans. Conducted competitive market research analyses. Created marketing communications, including press releases, advertorials and media kits. Coordinated vendor relationships, agency partnerships and budget procurement. Forged brand affinity across the entertainment, lifestyle, healthcare and consumer goods industries. Maintained day-to-day client communication and relationships. Innovated creative engagement tactics for client and new business pitches. Developed brand centered diversity and inclusion programs. - Provided media training for over 75 brand ambassadors for interviews with media outlets including CNN, HLN, Huffington Post, BET, ESSENCE Magazine and The Steve Harvey Morning Show, generating over 5 billion media impressions, resulting over $4M in advertising savings - Assisted VP, Group Director with the implementation of campaigns including Disney’s Dreamers Academy with Steve Harvey and ESSENCE Magazine, the Toyota Green Initiative and American Airlines’ Black Atlas - Facilitated brand activations, logistics and speaking engagements for brand launches, talent engagement and executive leadership at Circle of Sisters Conference, ESSENCE Music Festival, CIAA and SWAC - Managed national brand advocacy campaigns to increase awareness and synergy amongst the African American community including the launch of the Bounce TV network - Facilitated speaking engagements for ambassadors and executive leadership at national and global conferences, trade shows and events - Secured media visibility for Zimmer Pharmaceuticals Back In The Groove program in an effort to help eradicate medical disparities in urban communities Show less

Media Relations Director

• May 2008 - Mar 2010

Provided engagement strategies and tactics for new business pitches. Conducted team performance evaluations and assisted with Human Resources endeavors. Developed and edited collateral materials including press releases, advertorials, feature stories and op-ed’s. Facilitated content management for websites, blogs, magazines and internal & external communication vehicles. - Managed initiatives of 12 media relations professionals - Increased visibility for existing and up and coming brands on the local, national and global platforms through placements in long lead media resulting in advertising savings of $200K - Cultivated crisis communications efforts providing optimal solutions, increasing brand affinity by 30% - Coordinated research and development of strategic media campaigns for the International AIDS Conference, University of the Virgin Islands, Bronzeville Children’s Museum and Let’s Talk, Let’s Test Foundation Show less

Production Assistant

• Jul 2007 - Jan 2008

Marketed the Judge Mathis show to potential litigants to settle their cases. Managed production elements for a team of 3 Producers. Performed legal research on national court claims. Reviewed and evaluated national television court cases. Assisted team of 20 professionals with production needs. - Managed digital editing of audio elements for over 50 cases - Prepared litigants for court television appearances including preparation of - statements, wardrobe & grooming - Aided in over 40 litigants securing monetary awards Show less

Public Relations Manager

• May 2005 - Jan 2008

Managed overall publicity for company brands and events. Oversaw content management for brand print, digital and social media platforms. Served as brand spokesperson at national conferences, trade shows and events. Prioritized workflow and management of team processes. - Developed media partnership activations, promotions and media buys with top tier outlets such as TV One, Radio One, Comcast Cable and Univision for the Urban Wheel Awards and Decisive media brands - Facilitated partnership with the North American International Auto Show - Fostered goodwill with the public and media, increasing brand awareness and commitment to diversity and inclusion within the automotive industry - Directed team of staff, vendors, and consultants on media and sponsor relations, event management and logistics for 10 events exceeding $5M in total budget Show less

Advertising Sales Account Executive

• Dec 2005 - Jul 2007

Directed team of five professionals in sales initiatives for the university newspaper - The South End. Acted as liaison between the sales and design departments to develop display advertisements. Coordinated content management for all creative materials. - Administered sales training for new hires - Secured placements with top tier restaurant chains including Jimmy John’s - Created and presented sales presentations to potential clients - Managed ad sales for corporate housing and local residential living properties resulting in 25% revenue increase Show less

Corporate Communications Associate

• Sep 2005 - Dec 2005

Managed global internal communications initiatives. Responsible for maintaining media list databases. Assisted with brand development for W, Brides, Modern Bride, Elegant Bride and Cookie Magazines. - Coordinated external promotions to engage media and consumers at events including New York Fashion Week and Home Textiles Market Week - Assisted event design and management for television production including a Good Morning America news segment, providing key insights into bridal and fashion market trends - Created and distributed company daily e-news and weekly newsletters. Archived media placements and interviews. Show less