Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States
With over ten years of experience in communications, I specialize in shaping narratives that establish trust, enhance reputation, and drive engagement. My career has spanned corporate, government, and media environments, giving me a unique perspective on how to navigate complex public landscapes and deliver messages that resonate with diverse audiences. I’m passionate about strategic communications that make an impact, particularly in times of change or crisis. Whether guiding executive messaging during emergencies, leading public affairs initiatives across multiple states, or training teams in effective media response, I focus on straightforward, authentic storytelling that protects and advances organizational goals. I thrive on collaboration, creative problem-solving, and transforming complex issues into clear, actionable messages that inspire change. I’m always eager to exchange ideas on strategic communication, crisis management, and the evolving role of public affairs in today’s world. Interested in collaborating or need support shaping your next communications initiative? Let’s connect and chat about it!
- Designed and delivered a comprehensive media training program for a financial services client, developing curriculum materials, leading executive presentations, and conducting mock interviews to prepare spokespeople for high-stakes media engagements. - Produce client-ready content across multiple healthcare, business and nonprofit accounts, including blogs, press releases, communications plans, and social media calendars that drive consistent brand messaging. - Advise clients on integrated communications strategies and tactics designed to strengthen brand favorability and audience engagement. - Plan and execute press conferences, media events, and internal and community engagements that amplify client visibility and stakeholder relationships. - Counsel clients on public affairs and public relations strategies, providing tactical guidance to navigate stakeholder and regulatory landscapes. - Guide clients through crisis communications planning and response, developing messaging frameworks and rapid-response tactics to protect organizational reputation.
Serves as a communications manager in BASF's Southeast Communications Hub, managing site and community relations for BASF's manufacturing sites in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina including BASF's largest North American site in Geismar, Louisiana. - Supports the management of site and community relations, including internal and external communications for BASF Corporation's largest Verbund site in Geismar, Louisiana - Leads the management of site and community relations for BASF's manufacturing sites in McIntosh, Alabama; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Sparta, Tennessee; Cincinnati, Ohio; Attapulgus, Georgia; Savannah, Georgia; McIntyre, Georgia; White Stone, South Carolina; Mauldin, South Carolina; Clemson, South Carolina; and Seneca, South Carolina - Assists with the implementation of public affairs plans across managed sites across the Southeastern United States - Assists with crisis communications for managed sites - Crafts press releases and other external media collateral for managed sites - Assists with community relations efforts, including serving on the board of the Capital West chapter of the Red Cross in Louisiana, in Geismar, Louisiana. - Leads the support of community relations efforts in Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina - Leads community ambassador training as part of community relations efforts - Manages contracts with public relations support in Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia and South Carolina - Crafts and curates social media content for manufacturing sites in Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina - Interfaces with BASF marketing communicators in support of managed sites in Louisiana, Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia and South Carolina - Interfaces with BASF Corporation corporate communications, including STEAM education communicators, to further community relation efforts
Serves as the Department of Children and Family Services’ deputy communications director, providing support to the agency’s communications director in managing the needs of the agency. Serves as the direct supervisor to four public information officers, managing the workload and tasks of the staff to ensure the communication needs of the agency are met. Serves as the primary public information officer in the Department of Children and Family Services’ emergency operations center during times of emergency, playing a crucial role in disseminating information to the public, media and stakeholders during the response to Hurricane Ida in August 2021. Acts as the primary contact with the media, developing talking points for agency executives, coaching subject matter experts prior to interviews and fostering positive relationships with reporters throughout the state. Leads the development and implementation of priority public relations campaigns to promote agency programs to key stakeholders and recipients of services. Manages agency public relations contracts, monitoring the progress of deliverables developed through those contracts Leads training for agency public information officers to prepare them to interact with the media during times of disaster. Leads internal communications initiatives to provide information to the agency's staff. Interfaces with other communications directors and deputy directors in the state’s executive agencies. Serves as a secondary webmaster for the agency’s webpages, both internal and external, approving content. Serves as a secondary social media coordinator for the agency’s social media pages, approving content and answering constituent questions. Researches materials for agency programs, informational materials and other collateral. Conducts pro-active media campaigns to promote agency services to the public. Assists in the production of public relation campaign collateral through the agency’s contractors.
Disseminates routine informational material through various media to inform the public about a department's programs or services, inform executive and administrative staff about progress of public relations activities and assist in developing and implementing public relations programs for departmental programs. - Championed social media for the Department of Health, growing the Department’s following from approximately 11,000 between Facebook and Twitter to approximately 57,000 between Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn in two years. - Led one of the first in-house social media ad campaigns for a state executive agency, exceeding all industry metrics. - Cultivated relationships with key media outlets covering the Department of Health. - Managed media relationships and coached subject matter experts prior to interviews. - Led in a number of internal communications initiatives. - Served as the primary communications liasion between the Bureau of Media and Communications and the Office of Public Health. - Assisted communications efforts in Medicaid and the Legislative and Governmental Relations bureau through the Bureau of Media and Communications. - Researched legislative matters that could potentially impact the agency from a communications standpoint. - Pitched stories to media outlets. - Crafted talking points for agency executives. - Wrote a number of speeches and other collateral for agency executives. - Created graphics for agency initiatives and social media campaigns, both paid and organic. - Created videos for agency initiatives and social media campaigns.
Led the creation of new livestreaming and digital broadcast opportunities while working in tandem with digital and social content creators and with the news and marketing departments. - Produced content during breaking news situations, including but not limited to, OTT, mobile and web-based live streams, mobile push alerts and social media posts. - Created, edited and leveraged content and videos to push social users to the station’s website and traditional broadcasts. - Maintained social media accounts of both station and station’s talent. - Wrote content for the station’s health section.