Experience

Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC)

• United States
• Utilities
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of External Affairs

  • May 2008 - Present

  I oversee external communications for the state agency representing Indiana utility consumer interests. The Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (OUCC) participates in cases before state and federal commissions that regulate utilities.In managing the agency’s media, consumer, and governmental relations, I deal daily with electric, natural gas, and water/wastewater utilities and issues. Among my accomplishments and duties: - Annual Report: I develop and write all content. I wrote the agency’s first such report in 2010 and have overseen its growth each year.- Monthly Newsletter: I launched our first electronic newsletter in May 2015. Since then, I have developed and written all content for each edition. - Website: I manage and update content regularly. In 2015, I surveyed the readability of all pages on the Flesch-Kincaid reading scale and simplified numerous pages. A site that had been dominated by college-level language now reads mostly at a high school level. - Social Media: I launched and continue to manage the agency’s pages on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn.- Media Relations: As the agency’s liaison to local, state, and trade news media, I respond regularly to inquiries while issuing news releases and other communiques. - Governmental Relations: I track legislation daily when the Indiana General Assembly is in session. I attend committee hearings, monitor floor activity, and respond to inquiries from legislators and staff. - Consumer Relations and Outreach: I oversee and ensure accurate and timely responses to consumer inquiries, develop materials to be distributed at public hearings, and speak to public audiences on the agency’s behalf.

• Public Information Officer

  • Nov 2000 - May 2008

  I coordinated the agency's media relations and outreach efforts before being promoted in 2008.



Westwood One

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 200 - 300 Employee

• National/State Correspondent, MetroSource

  • Apr 1998 - Nov 2000

  I served as the first Midwest-based correspondent for a start-up national radio news and information network, building contacts and coordinating coverage of statewide and regional news. While based in Indianapolis, various assignments took me to ten other states to cover hurricanes, the 2000 presidential campaign, and more.



Network Indiana, Wabash Valley Broadcasting

• Statehouse Reporter

  • Oct 1995 - Mar 1998

  I managed coverage of state government and politics for a statewide radio news network, including coordination of the network's coverage of the Indiana General Assembly.



WCMY/WRKX Radio

• News Reporter/Anchor

  • Sep 1994 - Oct 1995

  As a general assignment reporter, I covered criminal, civil and appellate courts, police and fire departments, city and county government, education, and more. I also anchored newscasts on a daily basis.