Experience

Sierra Club

• United States
• Political Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Acting Deputy Chief of Communications, Regional Media - Sierra Club

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  As the acting deputy chief of communications - regional media, I lead the Sierra Club’s local, state-based media approaches, and serve as the lead strategist for the Club’s local media strategy, including growing Sierra Club’s equity and justice aspirations through creative storytelling, spokesperson identification and story pitching.

• Lead Press Secretary

  • Oct 2019 - Present

  As lead press secretary for Sierra Club, my role is to lead media outreach in the Southeast and the Midwest for its groundbreaking Beyond Coal Campaign, as well as mentoring new media staff and fellow press secretaries for all of the Club's electric sector campaigns. Beyond Coal’s main objective is to replace dirty, dangerous fossil fuels with clean, affordable renewable energy by working with and mobilizing grassroots activists in local communities to retire old and outdated coal plants, and to prevent the addition of climate disrupting fossil fuels to the grid. Show less

• Senior Press Secretary

  • Jul 2015 - Present

  As senior press secretary for Sierra Club, my role is to help lead media outreach in the Southeast and the Midwest for its groundbreaking Beyond Coal Campaign. The Beyond Coal campaign’s main objective is to replace dirty coal with clean and renewable energy by mobilizing grassroots activists in local communities to advocate for the retirement of old and outdated coal plants, and to prevent the addition of climate disrupting fossil fuels to the grid.



North Carolina Conservation Network

• Raleigh, NC

• Member, Board of Directors

  • Jan 2015 - Jan 2021

  The North Carolina Conservation Network is a statewide network of nearly 100 environmental, community and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health. The North Carolina Conservation Network is a statewide network of nearly 100 environmental, community and environmental justice organizations focused on protecting North Carolina’s environment and public health.



Asheville Beyond Coal

• Asheville, NC

• Communications & Media Team Member

  • Oct 2012 - Jul 2015

  Asheville Beyond Coal is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to build a clean energy future for Western North Carolina, transition Asheville off of our reliance on power from the Asheville coal burning power plant, and eliminate coal pollution from our air and water. Asheville Beyond Coal is a coalition of organizations and individuals working to build a clean energy future for Western North Carolina, transition Asheville off of our reliance on power from the Asheville coal burning power plant, and eliminate coal pollution from our air and water.



MountainTrue (a merger of Western North Carolina Alliance, ECO & J-MCA)

• Asheville, North Carolina Area

• Communications Director

  • Jan 2012 - Jul 2015

  Managed the communications needs of MountainTrue, a grassroots environmental advocacy organization in Western North Carolina. Responsibilities included: - Management of website content - Strategic management of social media - Creation of collateral materials (brochures, fact sheets) - Preparation and delivery of media releases and strategic management of media relations - Development of media strategies around campaigns and events - Use of communications as a membership development tool - E-newsletter/Print Newsletter MountainTrue is the result of a merger of Environmental and Conservation Organization (based in Henderson County, founded in 1987), Jackson-Macon Conservation Alliance (based in Macon County, founded in 2000) and Western North Carolina Alliance (based in Buncombe County, founded in 1982). MountainTrue became an official non-profit in January 2015, and was formed with three specific goals: – To have a stronger influence on policy at all levels of government, through increased local presence; – To build a stronger organization and increase our geographic reach; – And to strengthen our grassroots engagement and involve a broader spectrum of the population. To achieve our goals, MountainTrue’s board, volunteers and professional staff focus on a core set of issues across 23 counties of Western North Carolina: sensible land use, restoring public forests protecting water quality, and promoting clean energy – all of which have a high impact on the environmental health and long-term prosperity of our region. MountainTrue is the home of the French Broad Riverkeeper, the primary protector and defender of the French Broad River watershed. Show less



YWCA of Asheville

• Asheville

• President - Board of Directors

  • Jul 2008 - Jul 2014

  I was a proud former member of the YWCA of Asheville's board of directors, which sets policy for the organization as we and a dedicated professional staff continue building on the YW's 100+ years of social justice work in this community. I served for six years and my term as board president was July 2012- July 2014. I was also honored to the lead the YWCA's Search Advisory Committee to locate and hire a new executive director for our organization, which has 120 full- and part-time employees and a $3 million budget. About the YWCA: Mission: Eliminating racism, empowering women and promoting peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all Vision: Be a community builder, leading by example for the good of all We Value: A compassionate community Respect A healthy, balanced lifestyle Honesty and integrity Non-violence Collaboration Justice and fairness The dignity of all people Show less



Lake Eden Arts Festival

• Black Mountain, NC

• New Media & Communications

  • Feb 2012 - Dec 2012

  Contracted to manage social media outreach and planning for LEAF in Schools & Streets and LEAF International. Responsibilities : --Creating a sustainable social media action plan --Capturing stories in multiple ways: through writing, videos and photos. --Developing an archive of engaging short stories. --Managing the LEAF You Tube channel and Facebook pages. --Coordinating with executive director & designer to integrate with marketing: ads, press, brochures, etc. 2013: Special Projects, including press releases and the ongoing documentation of the Delta House Jazz Band, a group of middle-schoolers who traveled to New Orleans to work with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. Show less



Asheville Green Drinks

• Events Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager - Summer 2012

  • Jul 2012 - Sep 2012

  Managed communications for Asheville Green Drinks during the summer of 2012. Wrote the weekly event e-news and managed the AGD Facebook page, as an additional part of my responsibilities at the Western North Carolina Alliance. Asheville Green Drinks is a networking party and part of the self-organizing global grassroots movement that connects local communities with environmental ideas, media and action. All over the world people who are interested in environmental issues and topics meet up for a drink and occasionally listen to an expert in environment, ecology, and/or social justice. Show less



City of Asheville

• United States
• Government Administration
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Public Information & Social Media Specialist

  • Mar 2011 - Dec 2011

  Wrote, managed and photographed content for news articles for the City of Asheville’s website and City of Asheville Blog and social media platforms. Primary Community Relations Division media and web support for Transporta- tion, Water, Civic Center and Economic Development departments. Assisted with script writing for city Public Service Announcements and copy editing for the Asheville Channel (Charter Cable 11). Member of the regional Public Officers Information Team, focusing on partnerships and best practices for crisis communications across organizations and municipalities. Show less



Asheville Police Department

• Community Relations Manager

  • May 2007 - Mar 2011

  Managed, wrote and released police department investigations and news. Created the APD’s “police blotter” web page for department bulletins and announcements, and the prostitution blotter for Vice Unit arrests. Organized press conferences, community meetings, wrote and issued hundreds of press releases to local media and posted to the city’s website and police web page. Managed, wrote and released police department investigations and news. Created the APD’s “police blotter” web page for department bulletins and announcements, and the prostitution blotter for Vice Unit arrests. Organized press conferences, community meetings, wrote and issued hundreds of press releases to local media and posted to the city’s website and police web page.



Gannett | USA TODAY NETWORK

• United States
• Media Production
• 700 & Above Employee

• Asheville Citizen-Times

  • Jan 1999 - May 2007

  Managed a team of five reporters covering government issues in Asheville, Buncombe County and WNC for the city’s daily newspaper of record. Led the newsroom on Saturday evenings for the publication of the Sunday newspaper and served as first-line editor on all Sunday edition breaking news copy. Primary editor for regional Community News Pages, Community Calendar. As a journalist, did in-depth reporting on municipal government in Buncombe County, with a concentration on Asheville City Council. Managed a team of five reporters covering government issues in Asheville, Buncombe County and WNC for the city’s daily newspaper of record. Led the newsroom on Saturday evenings for the publication of the Sunday newspaper and served as first-line editor on all Sunday edition breaking news copy. Primary editor for regional Community News Pages, Community Calendar. As a journalist, did in-depth reporting on municipal government in Buncombe County, with a concentration on Asheville City Council.