Experience

Taylor Johnson Public Relations

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

• Senior Account Manager

  • Jun 2021 - Present

  Lead 5 client accounts - Lendlease USA, The Habitat Company, BKV Group Architects, Lincoln Park Builder and West Central Association Chamber of Commerce (WCA) - for boutique PR/marketing agency focused in the commercial/residential real estate industry. • Member of team that pitched and won Lendlease USA account, the largest in Taylor Johnson’s 40+ year history. • For Lendlease USA, placed 10+ stories on Javits Center (NYC) $1.5 billion expansion and rooftop sustainability project. • For WCA, placed feature story in Chicago Tribune on City of Chicago’s Extended Outdoor Dining (EOD) program Show less



Les Turner ALS Foundation

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Communications & Marketing

  • May 2020 - Jun 2021

  Lead all marketing and communications outreach for one of country’s longest-serving independent ALS organizations. Through Foundation’s affiliation with Northwestern Medicine and its Les Turner ALS Center, work in collaboration with Neurology Department and clinic professionals to promote ALS research funding, clinical trials, and support services. • Serve on Foundation’s Senior Management Team, manage Board’s Governance Committee and one direct report • Increased web traffic to Foundation’s website by 15%, with over 100,000 visitors to site in 2020 calendar year • Launched Foundation’s online ALS Learning Series, bringing the latest information on telehealth, clinical trials, in-home care and more to over 1,000 individuals impacted by ALS, during critical stages of COVID-19 pandemic • Led marketing strategy for Annual Appeal, year-end giving, resulting in 10% increase in individual gifts in 2020 Show less



Cushman & Wakefield

• United States
• Real Estate
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • May 2019 - Apr 2020

  Manage all media relations/PR and creative content for Chicago global headquarters market and other East region markets, including Boston, Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, for one of the largest commercial real estate firms in the world, with annual revenue exceeding $8.8 billion.  Increased firm’s Chicago area earned media coverage by over 35% in first year, contributing to $12 million in income growth for Chicago brokerage in 2019  Placed stories in top tier publications: Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Crain’s Chicago Business, Forbes, Real Estate Alert, Yahoo Finance, ABC7, WGN  Serve on company’s Chicago leadership team  Manage two direct reports (Minneapolis & D.C.) and oversee day-to-day management of two PR agencies (Chicago & Boston)  Manage Chicago’s social media accounts and contribute creative content to website and research reports Show less



AARP

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• Associate State Director, Communications & Outreach, AARP Iowa

  • Aug 2017 - May 2019

  Directed all communications outreach and marketing strategy in state of Iowa for largest Association in the U.S., which has over 38 million members nationwide and 370,000 in Iowa. Focus on policy communications to legislators, members, and media on issues impacting the 50+, including prescription drugs, financial security, caregiving, fraud, utilities, age-friendly cities, and more.  Have increased social media engagement statewide by more than five percent over past 1.5 years  Increased Earned media placements by over 15 percent in last 1.5 years  Helped grow member attendance at statewide programs by 10 percent from 2017 to 2018  Led Iowa’s Challenge Grant outreach plan, which was adopted and implemented nationwide  Placed 10+ stories on Better Block – E. Grand Ave. project, Des Moines (July 2018) in local media  Placed 5+ major stories on MoveDSM, city's first multi-modal transportation plan, leading to City Council passage Nov. 2018 Show less



National MS Society

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 700 & Above Employee

• National Marketing Director, MS Awareness, Advocacy, Constituent Education

  • Nov 2016 - May 2017

  Oversaw national strategic marketing direction for largest MS organization in the world, in the areas of advocacy and governmental affairs, services and mission delivery, and MS awareness campaigns, through the alignment of communications functions across channels, including digital, social media, content, PR/media relations and creative. • Served as member of Society’s national marketing leadership team• Marketing liaison to Multiple Sclerosis International Federation (MSIF)• Serve on Edward M. Dowd Personal Advocate Program work team, aimed to increase independent living and quality of life for people w/ limited access to healthcare programs and benefits • Implemented marketing plan for MS Navigator program, the Society’s core service, assisting over 200,000 people annually through financial assistance, physician referrals, newly diagnosed resources• Increased MS Awareness Week (March 5-11, 2017) engagement nationwide by more than 25% from 2016• Pre-event and on-site management of Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. (March 20-22, 2016) Show less

• Vice President, Marketing and Community Engagement

  • Dec 2012 - Oct 2016

  Was in charge of all marketing communications and community outreach for 73-county region in Illinois, that serves more than 20,000 people affected by multiple sclerosis, through fundraising, research, advocacy, programs and services.• Oversaw four departmental areas: Marketing, Communications, Advocacy and Volunteer Development• Managed six direct reports and served on Chapter’s Senior Management Team• Oversaw Board of Director’s Governmental Relations and Volunteer Development committees • Served on National office’s Internal Communications Strategy work team• Member of Midwest Region’s Marketing and Special Events and Do-it-Yourself Fundraising work teams • Staff liaison to MS Task Force, a 16-person commission administered by IL. Dept. of Public Health • Social media followers grew 25% each year under my direction• Major fundraising event revenue, incl Walk MS and Bike MS, increased 15% during my tenure • Donor Development revenue, incl. annual Cohn Weil golf outing and Dinner of Champions, increased by 10% Show less

• Director of Marketing and Community Engagement

  • Dec 2011 - Dec 2012



CJE SeniorLife

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Manager, Media and Marketing

  • Jul 2011 - Dec 2011

• Senior Associate, Public Relations & Marketing

  • Aug 2004 - Jun 2011

  In charge of all public relations and marketing communications for senior healthcare organization with annual operating budget of $56 million, 40-plus program areas, serving more than 18,000 older adult clients in Metro Chicago through independent housing, assisted living, skilled nursing, Alzheimer’s care, home health and more.• Agency media hits in print, broadcast and Web publications have increased by 25 percent every year under my management. Placement of stories on CBS2, NBC5, ABC7, Chicago Tribune & NY Times. • Placement of 12 major print stories on Karmel, a continuing care retirement community and largest undertaking in agency’s 39-year history, during project’s eight-month infancy (March – Oct. 2009). • Executive producer of five documentary-style fundraising films highlighting agency’s innovative programs and residential life. Used annually by more than 500 staff and Board members for external marketing.• Implementation of all social media, including creation and maintenance of agency’s Facebook, LinkedIn Twitter & YouTube sites. Acquired more than 270 Facebook fans and 120 LinkedIn followers in 1st year.• Byline in more than 10 local and national print and web publications, including Chicago Hospital News, Chicago Agent Magazine, Pioneer Press, JUF News, AJAS’ Scribe, Chicago Life Opportunities Initiative Show less



American Bar Association

• United States
• Legal Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Specialist

  • Jun 2001 - Aug 2004

  Managed day-to-day media activities, including coordinating press conferences and special events, writing press releases, newsletters, policy papers, strategic marketing plans, and handling media inquiries for more than 10 Association sections – Environmental Law, Judicial Division, Science & Technology, Air & Space Law. • Writing manager for 2003 San Francisco Annual Meeting & 2004 San Antonio Midyear Meeting. Attracted more than 125 media on-site, including USA TODAY, San Francisco Chronicle and Associated Press. • Media coordinator for ABA Air and Space Law Update Conference (Washington, D.C., April 2003). Stories aired on ABC National News, C-SPAN and Bloomberg TV. 15 major media outlets on-site. • Project manager of ABA Dialogue on Freedom (Portland, Ore., Oct. 2002), a discussion on democracy created by U.S. Supreme Court Justice Anthony Kennedy. Feature story ran in Portland’s Oregonian. Show less



State of Illinois

• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Dunn Fellow - Illinois Governor's Press Office

  • Aug 1997 - Aug 1998

  Learned inner workings of Illinois public policy and operations of governmental press office during prestigious year-long Dunn Fellowship. In this position, I wrote press releases, letters and proclamations on behalf of the Governor, coordinated press conferences and media events, tracked and reported on ongoing legislation. Learned inner workings of Illinois public policy and operations of governmental press office during prestigious year-long Dunn Fellowship. In this position, I wrote press releases, letters and proclamations on behalf of the Governor, coordinated press conferences and media events, tracked and reported on ongoing legislation.


Greater Des Moines Sports Authority
• intern

  • 1996 - 1997