Experience

Los Angeles County Department of Public Health

• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of External Communications

  • Feb 2023 - Present



Los Angeles County Office of the Chief Executive

• Los Angeles

• Strategic Communications Consultant

  • Aug 2019 - Feb 2023

  Serve as a top media strategist for the Chief Executive’s Office. Lead and coordinate messaging and crisis management of high profile, sensitive and confidential issues, including Public Health messaging on COVID-19, sensitive legal matters with County Counsel, homelessness, annual budgets and other emergent issues among dozens of County departments working with department heads, top deputies and frontline staff in a County with a $36 billion annual budget. Identified and trained subject matter experts for media appearances in English and ethnic media outlets. Developed innovative social media strategies to directly engage with followers of the County’s largest social media accounts. Produced award-winning video content. Show less



Cook County Government

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Press Secretary - Office of the President

  • Apr 2018 - Jun 2019

  Executive-level media strategist and official spokeswoman for the second-largest County in the country, with 23,000 employees and a $6 billion annual budget.Lead communications team of six, formulating, delivering and enforcing media strategy across multiple departments for broadcast, internet, print and social.Projects included: built public support for 40% reduction in jail population; promotion of healthcare plan that extended coverage to 330,000 Illinoisans; passing $6 billion budget with bipartisan support; opioid awareness.Work with elected officials, chief of staff, department heads, business partners, editors and reporters to advance county agenda.Wrote speeches and Op-Eds for Board President Toni Preckwinkle, prepared her for media/public events.Handle crisis management around major issues, including criminal justice and public safety. Show less

• Public Information Officer

  • Oct 2015 - Apr 2018

  Lead communications strategist and spokeswoman for a portfolio of critical County departments, including Medical Examiner, Transportation, Animal Control and Environment and Sustainability in a County with a $6 billion budgetOfficial voice of Cook County’s top forensic pathologist in high profile murder and death investigations during period of record violence.Routinely handled national breaking news.Positioned Medical Examiner as expert source to cut through media noise.Ran media strategy on campaigns around solar energy and sustainability that helped reduce the county’s greenhouse gas emissions by 32%; transportation project that brought $132 million from a federal grant. Oversaw content for seven county agencies, including press materials and social media content. Show less



Chicago Sun-Times

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Staff reporter

  • Oct 2012 - Oct 2015

  Medical marijuana reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Also writes about education, politics and crime. Medical marijuana reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times. Also writes about education, politics and crime.



DNAinfo

• United States
• Online Audio and Video Media
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Courts reporter

  • Jun 2012 - Oct 2012



Chicago Tribune Media Group

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Reporter

  • Jul 2010 - Jun 2012

  General assignment reporter General assignment reporter



Sun-Times News Group

• Staff Writer

  • Oct 2008 - Jun 2010

  SouthtownStar metro reporter. SouthtownStar metro reporter.