Experience

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  ICF Next

  • Senior Communications Strategist, State and Local Markets

    • Feb 2022 - Present

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  NC Department of Transportation

  • Raleigh, NC

  • Deputy Secretary

    • Feb 2017 - Feb 2022
    • Raleigh, NC

    Responsible for development and implementation of all stakeholder engagement, communications strategies (including disaster/crisis), branding efforts, new initiatives and programs for all areas of NCDOT. Advise Executive Management on strategy. Manage multi-million dollar budget, multiple business units and a fulltime staff of over 30+ professionals.Key Accomplishments:• Developed and implemented successful stakeholder engagement, communications and outreach strategies related to support the passage of Build NC Bonds legislation, allowing for new investment in state infrastructure.• Managed communications and community outreach and engagement strategies for natural disasters including rockslides, snowstorms and Hurricane Florence, Michael and Dorian.• Managed stakeholder/media/community engagement for controversial projects.• Developed and deployed a traffic safety pilot project, known as Vision Zero, to reduce vehicular deaths in Robeson County. In two years, Robeson County has seen a 10% in deaths.• Identified and secured thought leader speaking opportunities for the Secretary of Transportation and members of executive leadership.• Created and implemented the North Carolina Transportation Summit, a thought leader event with international experts and over 1,000 attendees (January 2019, January 2020).• Oversaw the successful effort to host the first North American flight of an autonomous air taxi

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  Greer Beaty Consulting

  • Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

  • Owner

    • Apr 2013 - Jan 2017
    • Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina Area

    Created and implemented multi-faceted strategic stakeholder, policymaker and media engagement plans for a wide range of clients with differing needs and desired outcomes. Key Accomplishments:• Successfully led nonprofit in their effort to obtain the former state mental health campus (308 acres) for development as Dix Park. Developed and implemented policymaker and stakeholder engagement strategy. Upon park acquisition, led organization through complete structural reorganization, definition of relationship with City of Raleigh, fundraising strategy and hiring of first executive director.• Developed a policy/business leader engagement strategy for the Institute for Emerging Issues.• Successfully assisted company through a delicate environmental mitigation issue involving a local elected board with no media coverage (client goal). • Delivered management assistance and consultation regarding communications, public outreach and policy maker engagement for clients including NC Homeowners Alliance, NC Optometric Society, NC Academy of Family Physicians, the 4th Branch.

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  NC Department of Transportation

  • Director of Communications

    • Apr 2009 - Mar 2013

    Managed a staff of over 20 professionals as well as contracts with outside consultants.Spearheaded message development for all NCDOT issues.Managed crisis communications ranging from weather-related events to internal transformation, layoffs, and new programs.Provided strategic policy and communications planning for new programs, projects and organizational changes.Directed efforts to improve the department’s relationship with media as well as general public. Expanded NCDOT’s use of electronic and social media.Oversaw the development of communications plans for modes, issues, and crisis events. Managed and/or implemented the creation of all marketing effort for revenue generating programs, exceeding sales goals by 70%. Managed the creation and implementation of all public safety, education and information campaigns. Provided public speaking and media relations training to staff at all levels of the organization. Secured partnerships for public education campaigns and conferences.

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  French/West/Vaughan

  • Director of Public and Community Relations

    • Feb 2006 - Mar 2009

    • Managed staff and activities for major accounts including but not limited to Camden County (No OLF); Dix Park Visionaries; NC Biotechnology Center/NCSU College of Veterinary Medicine; Capital One, Campbell University Law School.• Provided strategic planning and counsel to various clients.• Directed and/or coordinated crisis communications implementation.• Planned, managed and implemented public relations/public affairs strategies for public and private clients.• Provided media relations, event planning/execution, conference planning/execution, and meeting facilitation services.• Speech writing, press release crafting, planning, staff supervision.

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  NC Smart Start

  • Raleigh, North Carolina

  • Public Information Officer

    • Feb 2003 - Feb 2006
    • Raleigh, North Carolina

    Coordinated all interaction with the press for North Carolina’s Smart Start state office.Provided extensive training for staff in local offices – especially in crisis communications.Planned events, drafted releases, wrote speeches and created presentations for Smart Start’s President, Board Chair, and Vice Board Chair and former Governor Jim Hunt.Wrote publications: magazine, newsletters, brochures, annual reports

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  NC Department of Commerce

  • Director of Public Relations - Division of Tourism

    • 2001 - 2003

    Managed a staff of up to 5 full time employees, one intern.Spokesperson for Division when working with local, state, national and international media..Responsible for generating media coverage for NC tourism and sports – generated an estimated $38 million dollars in coverage for 2003. Strategic planning for all public relations and media related activities for Division. Developed a public relations campaign to promote North Carolina travel with the Pepsi Cola Bottlers of North Carolina. Campaign revolves around a commemorative can – over 20 million produced at no cost to the Division of Tourism. Estimated PR value in excess of $14 million dollars.

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  NC Dept. of Commerce

  • Public Information Officer

    • Jan 1998 - Nov 2001

    Managed and supervised staff (5) for the NC Housing Recovery. Assistance Center call center while this was located at DCA - developed tracking and monitoring system for toll-free hurricane recovery hot line. Planned and coordinated public events and announcements for Secretary of Commerce. Developed and carried out comprehensive public relations plans for DCA programs including Main Street, Community Development Block Grant Program, and the Regional Planning Offices as well as special projects assigned by Division Director and Commerce Secretary. Served as media spokesperson for Division. Wrote and managed distribution of press releases, marketing pieces, newsletters, and web pages. Produced PSAs for television and radio. Worked extensively with local government officials.

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  NC State University, Ag. Communications

  • Program Assistant

    • Jul 1995 - Jan 1998

    Developed and maintained database for tracking over 1,200 Extension publications. Developed on-line Publications Catalog with on-line ordering capabilities. Trained and supervised work-study students and temporary staff. Provided project management for publications and managed distribution.

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  Community Partnerships

  • Office Manager

    • Jul 1991 - Jul 1995

    Coordinated and supervised volunteers, fundraising. Designed, edited, and performed lay out for newsletters, training manuals and brochures. Performed various office duties.