Experience

Michigan Nurses Association

• United States
• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director Of Government Affairs

  • Dec 2014 - Present

  • Serve as MNA’s primary representative in legislative and political matters, working to generate support for registered nurses’ public policy priorities• Advise members, leaders and staff on the legislative environment and strategic planning • Build effective relationships with policymakers, coalition partners and community leaders• Provide individual and group training and support for RN participation in advocacy activities such as grassroots lobbying and media outreach

• Communications Director

  • Apr 2012 - Dec 2014

  • Develop and implement cohesive communications and branding strategies • Coordinate communications to ensure consistent messaging, effective targeting and maximum engagement with audiences• Generate earned media and serve as media contact• Advise and train members and staff on branding, messaging, issues management, media relations and social media



Progress Michigan

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Director

  • Jul 2011 - Apr 2012

  • Managed issue advocacy campaigns and media for Progress Michigan and partner organizations • Collaborated with various stakeholders to develop and implement customized communications strategies • Organized and ran press events and pitched stories • Wrote press releases, op-eds, talking points, e-mail alerts and other materials on tight deadlines • Managed issue advocacy campaigns and media for Progress Michigan and partner organizations • Collaborated with various stakeholders to develop and implement customized communications strategies • Organized and ran press events and pitched stories • Wrote press releases, op-eds, talking points, e-mail alerts and other materials on tight deadlines



Michigan House of Representatives

• Legislative Offices
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Senior Writer/Communications Analyst

  • Dec 2010 - Aug 2011

  • Crafted and implemented communications strategies to maximize effective media coverage and constituent outreach • Produced print, online, multimedia and internal strategic materials for individual Democratic legislators and the Caucus (including press releases, op-eds, speeches, talking points, newsletters, e-newsletters and web content)• Juggled multiple assignments with turnaround times of 10 minutes to two months

• Director of Writing, Democratic Caucus

  • May 2009 - Dec 2010

  (This position was eliminated as part of department-wide budget cuts.)• Managed a team of writers producing a high volume of diverse materials under tight deadlines • Planned and oversaw a range of short- and long-term print and multimedia projects, such as online petition campaigns and a comprehensive briefing book for legislators

• Writer

  • Feb 2007 - Mar 2009

  • Produced a wide range of materials for legislators and the Caucus, from rapid response to long-term projects • Advised legislators and staff on messaging and media strategy • Developed specialization in clean energy and environmental issues • Produced a wide range of materials for legislators and the Caucus, from rapid response to long-term projects • Advised legislators and staff on messaging and media strategy • Developed specialization in clean energy and environmental issues



Michigan State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Faculty (part-time)

  • Jan 2005 - May 2007

  • Taught Journalism 300 (News Reporting II, a required class) and Journalism 305 (News Editing, an advanced elective) • Taught Journalism 300 (News Reporting II, a required class) and Journalism 305 (News Editing, an advanced elective)



Lansing State Journal

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant City Editor

  • 2001 - 2007

  • Supervised and coached interns and reporters; assigned, developed and edited stories under daily deadlines• Planned and managed short- and long-term projects• Ran city desk at night, responding to breaking news such as homicides • Conducted staff trainings on using math and statistics and covering crimes and courts

• Copy Editor

  • 1998 - 2001

  • Edited stories and wrote headlines on tight deadlines using Adobe InCopy; designed news pages using InDesign



St Petersburg Times

• United States
• Technology, Information and Internet
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Dow Jones Newspaper Fund Intern

  • 1998 - 1998

  • Completed internship on Metro, Nation and World, and Newsfeatures copy desks through the competitive Dow Jones Newspaper Fund program, including intensive training at Virginia Commonwealth University • Completed internship on Metro, Nation and World, and Newsfeatures copy desks through the competitive Dow Jones Newspaper Fund program, including intensive training at Virginia Commonwealth University