Experience

The Strategy Group

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

• Senior Advisor

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  For more than 30 years, the principals of TSG have helped companies, nonprofits and individuals navigate a range of complex issues. Online at tsgnashville.com. For more than 30 years, the principals of TSG have helped companies, nonprofits and individuals navigate a range of complex issues. Online at tsgnashville.com.



Goodwill Industries of Middle Tennessee, Inc.

• United States
• Non-profit Organization Management
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Vice President of Communications & External Affairs

  • Mar 2020 - Nov 2022

  Led communications, marketing and public affairs work for $70+ million nonprofit social enterprise including for 29 retail stores, 45 donation sites, 10 Career Solutions Centers, and an internal workforce of ~1,100 employees across 48 counties. Important myth-buster: Goodwill Industries of Middle TN is a 501c3 and entirely local. All donations, revenue, mission programming, etc., benefit local communities. Lead crisis communications counsel at the onset and throughout the pandemic. Created "Goodwill, It Just Feels Good" multichannel campaign to support strategic goals across core audiences of shoppers, donors and mission clients. The campaign employed print and digital assets as well as research-based paid social and digital tactics, including but not limited to influencer engagement, search, banner ads, pre-roll ads, and geofence conversion tracking using model rank strategies. Supported record fundraising campaigns through community impact report production, event execution, speech-writing, materials development, email campaigns, social and digital strategies, and paid media. Conceived and launched internal engagement tools for a diverse workforce such as the TRUE Blue Trivia yearlong contest and an enterprise-wide closed-circuit TV system. Designed and launched True Blue Rewards, a new best-in-class POS-integrated “surprise-and-delight” shopper loyalty program unparalleled across the national Goodwill landscape. Asked to present nationally on the same as well as on the “Feels Good” campaign. Managed a talented and experienced in-house creative team and outside media vendors. Show less



Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Chief Communications Officer

  • Sep 2018 - Oct 2019

  Recruited to join Mayor David Briley's senior team as strategic communications advisor. Proud to have worked for this mayor on enduring policies and initiatives around equity, inclusion, sustainability, public safety and access to housing and education. Managed a talented in-house communications team. Job ended with the Sept. 2019 election. Recruited to join Mayor David Briley's senior team as strategic communications advisor. Proud to have worked for this mayor on enduring policies and initiatives around equity, inclusion, sustainability, public safety and access to housing and education. Managed a talented in-house communications team. Job ended with the Sept. 2019 election.



Sheridan Public Relations, LLC

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

• Principal

  • Jul 2017 - Sep 2018

  Recruited by former colleagues/partners to join the firm as a principal. Managed accounts including Amazon, Tennessee Health Management, Inc., Connectus Healthcare (a FQHC), Mercy Community Healthcare, and WSW CPAs (now Aprio). Recruited by former colleagues/partners to join the firm as a principal. Managed accounts including Amazon, Tennessee Health Management, Inc., Connectus Healthcare (a FQHC), Mercy Community Healthcare, and WSW CPAs (now Aprio).



Currey Ingram Academy

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director Of Communications

  • Jun 2007 - Jul 2017

  Recruited as the first in-house senior team member to manage internal and external communications and recruitment marketing for premier K-12, co-ed, college-preparatory day school for students with learning differences and unique learning styles. The school has drawn families from 35+ states and 11+ foreign countries due to its unique approach to education. Recruited as the first in-house senior team member to manage internal and external communications and recruitment marketing for premier K-12, co-ed, college-preparatory day school for students with learning differences and unique learning styles. The school has drawn families from 35+ states and 11+ foreign countries due to its unique approach to education.



MP&F Strategic Communications

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Vice President

  • 1998 - 2007

  Oversaw accounts totaling more than $1 million in annual business. Significant clients included the U.S. Dept. of Labor's Job Corps program, Harpeth Hall School, Fannie Mae, Community Education Partners, America's Health Network, Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum (educational programs), Intermedia/Comcast, and other local, state, regional and national clients. Managed national public relations and marketing campaigns for the U.S. Department of Labor's Job Corps National Office and Boston and New York regions. Show less



Goddard Claussen Public Affairs

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

• Account Executive

  • 1995 - 1998

  Public affairs/public relations account management for national clients with inside-the-beltway goals. DC office was acquired by Porter Novelli around 2000. Public affairs/public relations account management for national clients with inside-the-beltway goals. DC office was acquired by Porter Novelli around 2000.



Dow Lohnes & Albertson, Washington, D.C.

• Communications Legal Assistant

  • 1994 - 1995

  Conducted research at Federal Communications Commission to support broadcast television and radio mergers and acquisitions for the nation's oldest and largest communications law firm (at the time). Conducted research at Federal Communications Commission to support broadcast television and radio mergers and acquisitions for the nation's oldest and largest communications law firm (at the time).



People Newspapers

• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Reporter

  • Jun 1993 - Aug 1993

  Reporter for three major weeklies in Dallas, Texas. Wrote more than 50 page-one articles and reported for education, police, real estate, and other regular beats for North Dallas, Uptown and Park Cities weeklies. Byline was maiden name (Laura Voekel). Reporter for three major weeklies in Dallas, Texas. Wrote more than 50 page-one articles and reported for education, police, real estate, and other regular beats for North Dallas, Uptown and Park Cities weeklies. Byline was maiden name (Laura Voekel).