Experience

DART - Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority

• United States
• Truck Transportation
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Aug 2023 - Present



Speak Action

• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Owner

  • Oct 2019 - Present

  Provide writing and strategy expertise in areas of organization and advocacy messaging, storytelling, digital content marketing, copy editing, public relations, meeting facilitation. project management, coalition building, and online course development. Current clients include Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Iowa ACEs 360, EveryStep, and Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing Provide writing and strategy expertise in areas of organization and advocacy messaging, storytelling, digital content marketing, copy editing, public relations, meeting facilitation. project management, coalition building, and online course development. Current clients include Mid-Iowa Health Foundation, Iowa ACEs 360, EveryStep, and Greater Des Moines Supportive Housing



United Way of Central Iowa

• United States
• Fundraising
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Strategic Communications Officer

  • Nov 2016 - Oct 2019

  • Managed daily operations of strategic communications team, and the development and distribution of quality, compelling marketing and communications materials across many channels • Identified goals and implemented targeted communications plans for organization, as well as donor engagement and community impact initiatives; built engagement in efforts including child care cliff effect, 5-2-1-0 healthy choices count campaign, and OpportUNITY Plan • Fulfilled writing, public relations, social media, and evaluation needs • Member of Strategic Planning Team; participated on three committees focused on organization strategy and priorities Show less



Prevent Child Abuse Iowa

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Director

  • May 2012 - Nov 2016

  • Developed, executed and evaluated communications strategic plan • Coordinated the development of Connections Matter, a community engagement initiative, using a collective impact process • Led efforts to communicate about prevention and the impact of childhood trauma by coordinating the development of two online learning modules, co-creating a community action planning program and developing communications toolkits • Directed external communications including managing website, e-newsletter and social media platforms and enhancing connections with traditional media sources • Assisted in internal communications including board communication about the organization • Oversaw statewide campaign to market income tax check off for child abuse prevention • Provided training and resources for community partners to support communications efforts • Assisted in fundraising activities including special events and grant writing • Award: Mid-Iowa Health Foundation Capstone Prize to PCA Iowa for building community capacity to address childhood trauma, Nov. 2016 • Presentations: Connections Matter and Building Community Capacity to Address Childhood Trauma, Prevent Child Abuse America Conference, Oct. 2018 Show less



University of Missouri-Saint Louis

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Peer Academic Support Coordinator

  • Aug 2011 - May 2012

  • Identified high-risk courses to support; recruited and trained undergraduate mentors; worked with teachers to target skills; evaluated program; and developed best practices. • Presentation: “Best Practices to Engage Students in Learning,” UMSL Professional Development Conference, August 2011

• Writing Instructor

  • Aug 2009 - May 2012

  • Taught First-Year Writing, Beginning Fiction Writing and Junior-Level Writing courses. Work included creating syllabi, lesson plans and assignments, mentoring students, evaluating writing, and assigning grades; used online and in-class teaching models.• Helped organized annual English TA Workshop and presented teaching methods.



Health Literacy Media (HLM)

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Junior Associate

  • Mar 2010 - Jan 2012

  • Wrote press releases, blogs and stories; edited copy; and created presentations. Wrote copy for new website and created media press tour packet. • Developed social media strategy, managed accounts, and evaluated efforts. • Presentation: “Utilizing Twitter as a Tool for Community Engagement and Collaboration” co-presenter with Health and Human Services and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Conference on Health Communications, Marketing, and Media in Atlanta, GA, August 2011 Show less



Business Record

• Des Moines, Iowa Area

• Reporter

  • May 2006 - Jul 2009

  • Brainstormed story ideas, conducted interviews, researched topics and wrote two to three feature articles per week on various business-related topics; put together daily email and breaking news items; updated Website; developed and wrote wedding blog. • Internet Task Force Committee: Helped develop strategies for new online products and opportunities in social media; created company Facebook page and Twitter account. • Brainstormed story ideas, conducted interviews, researched topics and wrote two to three feature articles per week on various business-related topics; put together daily email and breaking news items; updated Website; developed and wrote wedding blog. • Internet Task Force Committee: Helped develop strategies for new online products and opportunities in social media; created company Facebook page and Twitter account.