Communications Professional
12.468.S.08
An award-winning communications professional with ten years of increasing responsibilities in providing strategic communications supporting corporate and organizational business objectives, brands, and perceived images. Worked with client and company staff at all levels, providing articles, speeches, collateral and research. Designed and conducted surveys, measuring the impact of various communications initiatives.
Expertise includes outstanding skills in writing, composition, story telling, analysis, research and culture change communications.
EXPERIENCE
The Walt Disney Company, Disney Consumer Products Division (DCP), Glendale, California 2008
Senior Manager, Corporate Communications
Planned, managed and executed internal communications for the entire Disney Consumer Products Division, representing six major business lines with more than 4,000 licensees globally, generating $30 billion in retail sales for the world’s largest entertainment company. Supervised a staff of three.
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Increased employee engagement with more than 200 stories about the Division, which promoted a better understanding of corporate objectives and performance and supported a 26% revenue increase in FY2008. Specifically:
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A behind-the-scenes news story explaining the relationship between Disney licensee Avon and its success in developing and marketing Disney branded products. Avon’s retail sales of Disney products rose 14% in FY2008. The story prompted new DCP international licensing agreements with Avon.
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A story providing guidelines for and defining the company’s mandate to create compelling products.
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A series of profiles on key account brand managers that presented employees with POS accomplishments and challenges Disney faces in its retail businesses.
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For the first time, utilized video to provide employees and licensees with daily coverage of DCP’s most important annual event: the Sales Meeting and Licensing Show in New York City. This coverage helped secure added product sell-in at Toys ‘R’ Us and Target.
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Originated and placed Division stories in the Disney enterprise-wide Newsreel magazine. One story about the Walt Disney Signature furniture collection synergistically resulted in ABC’s purchase of the line for network programs.
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Instituted intranet feedback surveys and hit tracking, permitting adjustments to editorial focus. This resulted in a 16% increase in readership and an increase in the business value of intranet information, according to 86% of respondents.
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Internationalized internal communications by establishing contact and developing ongoing relationships with Disney business units in Latin America, Russia and Asia.
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Enhanced strategic planning through reader feedback, linking employees to external DCP-critical information and competitor news.
MasterCard, Purchase, New York 2004-2008
Director, Corporate Communications
Managed, planned and executed internal communications for the world’s second largest electronic payment company with 4,500 employees in 230 countries. Worked regularly with overseas communications teams to leverage corporate messages globally. Counseled MasterCard business units and executives on strategic internal communications plans.
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Crafted daily communications in support of the company’s objectives published on its intranet, employing videos, e-mails and printed materials.
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Raised corporate news readership numbers by 60% over a 1.5 year period, which prompted a two-fold increase in company news submissions and requests.
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Created and produced MCTV News internal broadcasts (including budget) that were regularly viewed by employees worldwide.
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Supervised change messaging and created an array of staggered communications for employees, explaining the company’s transition to public governance (NYSE: MA).
Kitchen Public Relations, New York, New York 2002-2004
Senior Account Executive
Supervised business-to-business media relations, communications programs, and executive communications for clients of a boutique public relations firm. Managed eight accounts, including The MONY Group, Diversified Investment Advisors, Innodata Isogen, Inc. and Metavante 401K Services, Inc.
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Secured hundreds of placements in publications and outlets, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, American Banker magazine, CNBC and CNN.
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Created executive speeches and byline articles for varied audiences on behalf of financial clients.
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Managed two assistant account executives as well as oversaw work assignments and allocation of billable client hours.
Earle Palmer Brown, Greenwich, Connecticut 1998-1999
Account Executive
Directed consumer and business-to-business media relations and executive communications for clients of a mid-sized public relations and advertising agency with offices in Greenwich, New York City and Bethesda. Managed six accounts, including Northwestern Mutual Life, Drake Beam Morin and Champion International.
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Coordinated media outreach for Beepwear™ pager-watches, resulting in placements in New York Magazine, Essence and Smart Money. This campaign won several media awards.
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Specialized in writing op-ed pieces, byline articles and speeches for corporate executives.
Stanton Crenshaw Communications, New York, New York 1996-1998
Account Executive
Developed and implemented consumer and business-to-business media relations programs and executive communications for clients of a mid-sized public relations firm in New York City. Managed seven accounts, including Metlife, Nextel Communications, Atlantic Bank of New York, P&O Nedlloyd, Digital Evolution, Inc., Manhattan Scientifics and UNC Wings Club.
- Wrote speeches for client executives and secured placement for executive byline articles. Placed articles in major publications, including The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Wired, ABC News Online, Business Week, Internet World and The Journal of Commerce.
National Geographic Channels, Washington, D.C. (part-time work while attending graduate school) 2000-2001
Development Associate
Critiqued and evaluated programs and submissions for a joint venture owned by National Geographic Television (NGT) and FOX Entertainment Group. The enterprise provides programming that supports exploration, conservation and education in 270 million homes, 167 countries and 34 languages.
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Worked with independent producers to ensure the timely conveyance of deliverables.
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Streamlined the submission review process and improved development deliverable times by 40%.
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Improved and maintained a channel program submission database.
PRIOR EXPERIENCE
Began career as a script analyst reviewing documentary projects and selecting the most promising for program development. Wrote treatments for documentary programming, including needed research.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION
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Mercury Award of Excellence – Gold Award for MasterCard Television (MCTV) News (2006)
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Two MarCom Creative Awards – A Platinum Award for Video/Film/Internal Communications (2006); and The Communicator Award of Excellence – Best Story, Media Writing (2006)
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APEX Award for Publication Excellence – Best News and Electronic Newsletter (2006)
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The Communicator Award of Excellence – Best Story in a Corporate Newsletter (2005)
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Two Communicator Awards of Distinction – Corporate Newsletter (2005)
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League of American Communications Professionals Inspire Awards – Silver Award for the Development of an Internal News Publication (2004)
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Two Women in Communications “Best in Show” awards for a public relations product launch (1999)
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Two agency placement awards for generating high-impact client publicity (1998)
EDUCATION
George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
Master of Arts (History), Honors, 2002
University of Miami School of Law, Coral Gables, Florida
Juris Doctorate, 1995
Columbia University, New York, New York
Bachelor of Arts (History), 1990
