United States
I am a dynamic, award-winning sports communications leader with 12+ years of experience in the NBA, NFL, college football and WNBA – who has a passion for building trust and reliability through telling the authentic stories of organizations, athletes, coaches, executives and brands. I spent the past eight years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, most recently as Director of Basketball Communications, where I led the Basketball Communications Department's overall media strategy, storytelling and organizational narrative efforts from a day-to-day perspective to season-long media planning. My proudest achievement to date is leading my department to being named the Professional Basketball Writers Association's Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award recipient for the 2023-24 season – presented to the NBA media relations staff that best exemplifies professionalism and excellence. The standard of excellence I hold myself and staff members to stems from my time as a collegiate student-athlete where I put an emphasis on the importance of teamwork, adaptability, goal setting and effective communication. This was recognized by my communications peers at the League level and I was selected to sit on the NBA's PR Advisory Board for almost eight seasons – where I offered my perspective and area of expertise to help identify league-wide PR guidelines and solutions to ever-evolving media and PR issues. I pride myself in my ability to develop PR campaigns and media opportunities that are true to the brands of the individual athlete, coach or executive while also aligning with the overall organizational brand. As a communications leader, my philosophy and approach is rooted in connecting and relationship building to better identify areas of improvement whether in storyline gaps, the media experience, broadcast opportunities and digital media strategy.
• Led the Timberwolves Basketball Communications Department to be named the 2023-24 PBWA’s Brian McIntyre Media Relations Award recipient • Served as the primary media and business contact for Timberwolves players, coaches and front office media, partnership and appearance requests • Cultivated trust and buy-in from athletes and coaches with media leading to award winning media recognition for Head Coach Chris Finch (PBWA’s Rudy Tomjanovich Award Finalist), Mike Conley (PBWA’s All-Interview Second Team) and Rudy Gobert (PBWA’s Magic Johnson Award Finalist) • Spearheaded all planning for the Timberwolves to become just the fifth team in NBA history to partner with ESPN on an all-access broadcast experience, from behind-the-scenes practice to a full-day of Timberwolves specific exposure across ESPN that led into an all-access game broadcast • Served as the organization’s main point of contact for executing and editing Anthony Edwards’ involvement in the Netflix series “Starting 5” • Selected to be on the NBA’s PR Advisory Board to help identify and decide best practices for PR departments across the league • Spoke on countless panels and moderated conversations including, Today’s NBA: Players, Emerging Media and Finding the Path to Yes, the Timberwolves & Lynx Career Development Training Camp and Community Conversations with both Karl-Anthony Towns and Pablo Prigioni surrounding Hispanic Heritage and representation in the NBA • Planned and executed holistic media and marketing campaigns for player and coach awards and All-Star consideration, including but not limited to: Anthony Edwards (All-NBA and All-Star), Rudy Gobert (Defensive Player of the Year and All-Defensive Team), Jaden McDaniels (All-Defensive Team and Rising Star), Naz Reid (Sixth Man of the Year) and Karl-Anthony Towns (All-NBA and All-Star) • Managed and mentored the Basketball Communications Department staff including all full-time employees, part-time, interns, stats crew and gameday staff members
• Served as the primary media contact for Timberwolves players, coaches and front office requests • Oversaw day-to-day basketball and gameday communications efforts • Captained all Media Day planning and execution • Developed player relations programming and media training surrounding public relations and media best practices • Ideated the organizational tool of player capsules which outlined player community involvement, off-court interests and more to assist in better selecting appropriate and authentic options for media, content, community and brand partnership opportunities • Spearheaded PR efforts for the organization’s Pack The Vote Initiative and all community events • Served as the department’s point person for digital content collaboration, brainstorming and approval • PR Travel liaison for road games • Authored basketball communications press releases, injury reports, roster transactions, active lists and starting lineups • Served as the organization’s sole, cleared PR representative at practices, home games and road games during Covid protocols • Managed communications gameday staff and team’s stats crew
• Ensured all gameday communications processes were completed, from media related arena setup to media hospitality, credentialing and more • Implemented a new and more efficient credentialing system for the organization, including both NBA and WNBA teams which allowed everything to be digitized for the input process and media credential requests • Authored team publications including gameday programs, media guide, game notes, postgame notes, corporate and basketball press releases and transcribed quotes • Developed relationships with local and national media members to pitch player and organizational storylines • Received 2018 WNBA’s Above & Beyond PR Award for efforts during the WNBA All-Star Game hosted in Minneapolis and throughout the season
• Assisted the Pistons Public Relations department with all game night efforts including, media related arena setup, running stats, credentialing, postgame locker room media availability and transcribing quotes until obtaining a full-time opportunity with the Minnesota Timberwolves & Lynx
In addition to my full-time role with the Orange Bowl and Boca Raton Bowl, I worked gamedays on the Miami Dolphin's Public Relations Staff • Assisted with all gameday efforts including media related press box setup, running stats, credentialing, postgame media availability and transcribing quotes • Served as a spotter for visiting radio broadcasts and Spanish radio broadcasts
Served in a dual role as main media contact for the Boca Raton Bowl and secondary contact for the Orange Bowl As the Primary Media Contact for the Boca Raton Bowl I: • Created the overall communications strategy to market the game • Executed the media operations for the Boca Raton Bowl and community events • Managed the press box and media relations staff • Handled approving and denying media credentialing for events and game • Created social media campaigns and content • Planned and facilitated press conferences and media availabilities • Designed and distributed a weekly release, press box notes and daily football recaps, composed press releases both from football communications and corporate communications standpoints • Released all media communication and worked with team SIDs in regards to individual interview requests, distributed quotes, postgame notes and game books As the Communications Assistant for the Orange Bowl Committee I: • Assisted with the Capital One Orange Bowl media operations • Worked community outreach events • Wrote scripts for the Orange Bowl's television program, contributed content to the Orange Bowl magazine and media guide • Authored and edited press releases and advisories • Handled credential distribution • Served as Quote Manager on gameday – recorded and transcribed player and coach interviews • Facilitated media requests at practices, media availabilities and press conferences