Experience

Winona State University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Professor

  • Jan 2023 - Present

  Delighted to be teaching Culture and Communication as part of WSU’s new Strategic Communication master’s program. Delighted to be teaching Culture and Communication as part of WSU’s new Strategic Communication master’s program.



Minnesota PRSA

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• President

  • Jan 2021 - Jan 2022

  Honored to serve as 2021 President of the Minnesota Chapter of PRSA Honored to serve as 2021 President of the Minnesota Chapter of PRSA



Cargill

• United States
• Food and Beverage Manufacturing
• 700 & Above Employee

• Change and Communication Project Lead

  • Jul 2014 - Mar 2015

  • Developed and executed strategic change management communications plans and programs for complex, global initiatives ensuring alignment with Cargill and Global IT’s strategic direction and intent. • Led global communication and change team and projects for significant IT initiatives including moving infrastructure work to a third party service provider impacting 900 positions and 70,000 employees, and supporting the transition to a new organizational structure for more than 5,000 global employees. • Provided strategic counsel to leaders and staff. Show less



Travelers

• United States
• Insurance
• 700 & Above Employee

• Director, Corporate Communications

  • Sep 2007 - May 2013

  • Served as Chief Communications Officer and trusted communications adviser for 15 Travelers’ underwriting entities across its business, management liability and surety lines, representing approximately $10 billion of combined gross written premiums in 2011. • Provided strategic, big-picture planning and manage execution of internal and change management communications, and external public relations programs to advance the organization's strategic intent and leverage cross-functional collaboration. • Enhanced and defended Travelers’ reputation through proactive internal and external communications planning and crisis communications by developing consistent messaging for communication across multiple, conventional and digital channels. Show less



Northwest Airlines

• Airlines and Aviation
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Consultant

  • Sep 2002 - Sep 2007

  Served as interim manager-media relations and spokeswoman for Northwest Airlines managing dozens of media inquiries weekly and assisting with preparing communications materials for crises, new product and service announcements, 2005 strike by mechanics, bankruptcy-related issues and coordinating a major media event in Asia, managing day-to-day activities of seven Asian PR agencies and assisting in preparing materials and remarks. Served as interim manager-media relations and spokeswoman for Northwest Airlines managing dozens of media inquiries weekly and assisting with preparing communications materials for crises, new product and service announcements, 2005 strike by mechanics, bankruptcy-related issues and coordinating a major media event in Asia, managing day-to-day activities of seven Asian PR agencies and assisting in preparing materials and remarks.



Metropolitan Airports Commission

• United States
• Airlines and Aviation
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Assistant Public Information Officer

  • 1998 - 2000

  • Managed award-winning public relations campaigns for MAC including MSP 2010: Building a Better Airport, the then-$2.5 billion expansion program. • Served as spokeswoman and prepared airport contingency plan during the 1998 Northwest Airlines pilots’ strike. • Provided counsel and strategy to staff on strategic communications planning and crisis communications; acted as agency spokeswoman; wrote and edited marketing communications materials including news releases, talking points, remarks, brochures, newsletters, and re-developed the agency’s website. Show less



Shandwick

• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant Account Executive

  • 1997 - 1998

  • Wrote, coordinated and executed detailed public relations plans for clients in the technology practice including Microsoft, Cable & Wireless, Digi International, Xata Corp., and Cray. • Researched and developed new communications techniques through emerging technology channels. • Wrote, coordinated and executed detailed public relations plans for clients in the technology practice including Microsoft, Cable & Wireless, Digi International, Xata Corp., and Cray. • Researched and developed new communications techniques through emerging technology channels.