Experience

Austin Transit Partnership

• United States
• Transportation/Trucking/Railroad
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Community Engagement & Involvement

  • Jan 2021 - Present



CapMetro

• United States
• Truck Transportation
• 300 - 400 Employee

• Community Engagement Manager

  • Jun 2015 - Jan 2021

  Design, manage and direct public participation programs and events for the Capital Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Passionate about evangelizing CapMetro's mission of connecting people, jobs and community. Manage a team of highly entrepreneurial professionals and promote a culture of innovation and risk-taking. Build and leverage relationships with community leaders, organizations and stakeholders to advance Capital Metro's mission. Identify opportunities to collaborate with local government and partner agencies to promote community-building initiatives. Led engagement for Austin referendum on Project Connect, a $7.1 billion transit expansion program approved by voters on November 3, 2020.



Group Solutions RJW

• Senior Consultant/Project Manager

  • Oct 2008 - Jun 2015

  Managed public engagement campaigns for a variety of clients, including the City of Austin, Atkins Global, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority and Brushy Creek Regional Utility Authority. Owned strategic initiatives with internal and external stakeholders, wrote and edited digital content, newsletters, news releases and other materials. Planned and facilitated public meetings and events. Projects included the Imagine Austin Comprehensive Plan, the Manor Expressway, CodeNEXT and Travis County redistricting.



Self Employed Freelancer

• Communications/Public Relations/Media Relations Consultant

  • Aug 2003 - Oct 2008

  Consulted on marketing and strategic planning projects, wrote news releases and promotional copy, pitched stories and provided media relations services for a variety of clients. Consulted on marketing and strategic planning projects, wrote news releases and promotional copy, pitched stories and provided media relations services for a variety of clients.



The University of Texas Pan American

• Lecturer

  • Jan 1998 - Jan 2003

  Taught undergraduate courses in mass communication, journalism, public relations, and advertising. Advised the student chapter of the American Advertising Federation. Advised student magazine staff.Key Accomplishments:* Expanded course offerings for mass communication track.* Developed three new courses to add to curriculum.* Received Outstanding Faculty Award for Achievement in Teaching.* Participated in the development of the university's first leadership program. Developed a vision, stated goals, defined course objectives and suggested ideas for course content which were integrated into a university curriculum still in use today. * Published in professional journal on innovative teaching techniques.



Texas Monthly Magazine

• Restaurant Reviewer

  • Dec 1997 - Jan 2003

  Wrote monthly restaurant reviews for the South Texas Region.Key Accomplishments:* Reviews of small, relatively unknown restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley region increased clientele and contributed to the region's economic development. * Many restaurants reviewed still display framed copies of those reviews. Wrote monthly restaurant reviews for the South Texas Region.Key Accomplishments:* Reviews of small, relatively unknown restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley region increased clientele and contributed to the region's economic development. * Many restaurants reviewed still display framed copies of those reviews.



Hidalgo County Historical Museum

• Public Relations Officer

  • Jan 1995 - Jan 1998

  Managed all aspects of public and media relations, edited a quarterly newsletter, coordinated all museum publications, developed marketing and advertising strategies, and managed volunteers.Key Accomplishments:* Edited award winning regional cookbook. Working with only the raw recipes, wrote and edited copy, selected historical photos to enhance them, organized sections, and helped design a cover. Won the coveted Tabasco Award for best regional cookbook that year. * Wrote a strategic plan for the museum that would drive museum policy, growth, programs, and operations for five years.



South Texas Community College

• Public Information Director

  • Jan 1992 - Jan 1995

  Managed all aspects of public and media relations and developed marketing and advertising strategies. Wrote and edited all communication materials, planned and executed special events, and served as spokesperson for the college.Key Accomplishments:* Developed a mission, vision, name and logo that would serve as the college's identity for the next ten years. * Orchestrated a ribbon-cutting event to launch the new college. Every locally elected official attended the event, and Governor Ann Richards gave the keynote address. The event was covered by all local and regional media, giving the college thousands of dollars worth of free publicity, and was attended by 2,000+ people.



Independent Communications Consultant

• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Consultant

  • Jan 1989 - Jan 1992

  Market Research-The Monitor, Freedom Newspapers Market Research-The Monitor, Freedom Newspapers