Experience

American Farmland Trust

• Civic and Social Organizations
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Vice President of Communications

  • Jan 2019 - Present

• Special Assistant to the President and Acting Communications Director

  • Dec 2016 - Jan 2019



The Brookings Institution

• United States
• Think Tanks
• 500 - 600 Employee

• Associate Director of Communications, Metropolitan Policy Program

  • Jun 2013 - Oct 2016

  Directed the creation and implementation of communications strategy for program’s research, scholars, and initiatives, coordinating publications, media, social media, website, newsletters, and data visualization --Worked closely with researchers from initial stages of paper development through final release and beyond to ensure deadlines were met and goals of work were achieved --Coordinated efforts with stakeholders, including funders, partners, and Brookings executive office, to maximize the effectiveness of communications strategies --Ensured Metro program complied with Brookings’s rules of independence and quality; created guidelines for large initiatives to ensure that dozens of stakeholders were also in compliance --Directed efforts to evaluate effectiveness of strategies and made recommendations to revise strategies as needed --Edited research papers and blog posts; wrote and edited media materials; served as final reviewer of all communications products --Managed a department of six people and coordinated work of consultants; managed department budget



Economic Policy Institute

• United States
• Think Tanks
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Acting Communications Director; Media Relations Director

  • May 2010 - May 2013

  As Acting Communications Director, oversaw media relations, publications, and online/creative departments, managing a staff of seven; as Media Relations Director, headed an extremely proactive media-relations team that built and maintained relationships with reporters on a wide range of beats, and created opportunities for EPI experts to build complementary relationships --Evaluated success of EPI’s media-relations efforts in reports designed specifically for particular audiences, including funders and EPI’s Board of Directors --Provided ongoing media training to EPI experts --Coordinated EPI’s social-media efforts, increasing EPI’s Twitter followers by more than 9,000 (including many journalists and elected officials) and doubling EPI’s Facebook fans --Oversaw “Working Economics,” EPI’s blog, ensuring experts followed blog’s guidelines and maintained proper tone; edited individual blog posts --Worked with communications and policy staff on the Hill and at unions, nonprofit organizations, and other think tanks to develop press materials for joint projects and press events



U.S. House of Representatives

• United States
• Legislative Offices
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Director for Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

  • Mar 2008 - Mar 2010

  --Served as primary point of contact for local, state, and national reporters and news producers, coordinating interviews, pitching stories, and maintaining productive working relationships --Composed media advisories, press releases, op-eds, and letters to the editor --Managed filming of weekly cable show, identifying and booking guests and drafting scripts --Wrote text, gathered photos, and worked closely with vendors to produce print and online newsletters --Planned media events, including press conferences, and prepared briefing materials for Congresswoman Johnson --Coordinated overhaul of Congresswoman Johnson’s website; maintained website, updating content frequently



Richardson for President campaign

• Des Moines, Iowa Area

• Iowa Deputy Communications Director

  • Apr 2007 - Jan 2008

  --Advised press of campaign events and wrote and disseminated issue- and event-based news releases --Coordinated statewide letters-to-the-editor program, preparing weekly talking points and tracking published letters --Analyzed local issues and served as liaison between national research/policy office and Iowa field staff; prepared briefs for Governor Bill Richardson --Advised press of campaign events and wrote and disseminated issue- and event-based news releases --Coordinated statewide letters-to-the-editor program, preparing weekly talking points and tracking published letters --Analyzed local issues and served as liaison between national research/policy office and Iowa field staff; prepared briefs for Governor Bill Richardson



Governor Chet Culver’s Inaugural Committee

• Des Moines, Iowa Area

• Communications Director

  • Nov 2006 - Jan 2007

  --Developed aggressive communications plan to generate positive earned media about inaugural events and charity partner Youth & Shelter Services --Served as inaugural committee’s formal public representative and point of contact for all press inquiries --Coordinated statewide essay project to engage charity partner’s clients --Developed aggressive communications plan to generate positive earned media about inaugural events and charity partner Youth & Shelter Services --Served as inaugural committee’s formal public representative and point of contact for all press inquiries --Coordinated statewide essay project to engage charity partner’s clients



Culver-Judge Gubernatorial Campaign

• Deputy Press Secretary

  • Jun 2006 - Nov 2006

  --Advised press of campaign events and wrote event-related news releases--Organized and advanced press events statewide, including women’s health roundtable discussions--Wrote and managed website content

• Researcher/Press Assistant

  • Feb 2006 - Jun 2006

  --Conducted self and opposition research--Collected and analyzed news clips--Organized radio and newspaper press tours around state for Iowa Secretary of State Chet Culver, his wife Mari Culver, and Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge



Iowans for Patty Judge for Governor

• Des Moines, Iowa Area

• Researcher/Director of Operations/Finance Assistant

  • Jul 2005 - Feb 2006

  --Prepared research book on Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge --Researched current law and legislative history of bills relevant to Secretary Judge’s career --Paid bills, processed all incoming contributions, and served as campaign bookkeeper --Researched donors and potential donors and created and maintained call sheets --Compiled and submitted financial disclosure report --Prepared research book on Iowa Secretary of Agriculture Patty Judge --Researched current law and legislative history of bills relevant to Secretary Judge’s career --Paid bills, processed all incoming contributions, and served as campaign bookkeeper --Researched donors and potential donors and created and maintained call sheets --Compiled and submitted financial disclosure report



Senator Tom Harkin

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations

• Intern

  • Jun 1999 - Aug 1999

  --Conducted research to develop policy recommendations --Reported on hearings and meetings --Communicated with constituents on issues relevant to Senator Harkin’s constituents --Conducted research to develop policy recommendations --Reported on hearings and meetings --Communicated with constituents on issues relevant to Senator Harkin’s constituents