Professional Experience

 

​Loyola University Chicago

Director of Communication, Division of University Marketing and Communication

(1/2005 – 5/2014)

 

Manage all internal, external communications and social media for the entire university, including schools, colleges, administration; support overall University brand marketing efforts.

 

 

• Media relations:  Positioned Loyola’s “turn around story” by securing profile stories in national media outlets, including Wall Street Journal, Dow Jones, Associated Press, cover story of Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine, Chicago Sun-Times,  and WMAQ-TV (NBC);  develop all media relations strategy on behalf of every unit of the university;  serve as central spokesperson; coordinate all inquiries from the media;  implement ongoing positioning efforts of faculty and staff experts;  position major initiatives including overall profiles of the university, major gifts, real estate developments, sustainability efforts, cultural events, new degrees, governmental and community affairs efforts, and faculty research findings among others.

 

• Writing:  develop all press materials; write op-eds, bios, byline articles, marketing brochure copy, flyers, web content, articles for internal publications, and external newsletters

 

• Crisis Communications:  Develop response plans and positioning statements to address all issues impacting reputation or image of the University, including crime on and off campus, law suits, on-campus injuries, controversial grant funding, alumni and student issues, on-campus protests;  write white paper on controversial speakers on campus and on catholic identity; developed emergency response plan in the event of H1N1 Flu, Avian Flu or other crisis that may affect business operations; arrange community town halls with public affairs and community relations to address community concerns;  launch campus-wide crisis alert systems.
   

• Internal and Social Media Communications:  Serve as editor of employee newsletter; develop and launch and serve as editor of the weekly broadcast e-newsletter to employees; contribute to alumni publications; launched, manage and develop content for the digital screen project on-campus; manage and develop content for the online newsroom; serve as point person for the development and distribution of special broadcasts to all employees, students and alumni;  manage all the University’s social media accounts.
   

• Brand Marketing:  Supported the development of the new overall image campaign launched in Spring of 2005, including research, concept development, focus groups and roll-out of campaign;  developed the university “street team” who engage in  gorilla marketing efforts; help to develop the University graphic standards and guidelines.
   

• Web:  Implemented efforts to create university calendar; created and launched the online database of faculty experts available to the media; helped in the development of the University Newsroom; ensure all communications are available online.
   

• Other:  Serves as an instructor and lecturer on topics of communications and sustainability courses.

 

Harris Trust and Savings Bank, BMO Financial Group

Director, Assistant Vice President, Corporate Communications (8/2001 – 1/2005)

Senior Media Relations Manager, Corporate Communications  (8/99 – 8/2001)

 

Represent all lines of business including community and retail banking, private client group (wealth management), e-business, small business banking, corporate and investment banking.

 

 

• Media Relations:  Create and implement trade and national media relations strategy for all lines of business; Serve as spokesperson for the bank.
   

• Writing:  Work with internal communications and investor relations on all corporate announcement, news, restructuring;  Create backgrounders, press releases, byline articles, case studies for all lines of business;  Write articles for employee communications, newsletters and intranet/internet sites.
   

• Crisis Communications:  Develop positioning statements for internal and external audiences; Plan long-term communications strategy surrounding issues with all lines of business, including Hispanic Banking, community banking, and predatory lending.
   

• Expert and Corporate Positioning:  Implemented positioning and branding programs to raise awareness of products, services and key management; position Chief Economist, portfolio managers, residential mortgage bankers, and investment/private bankers with national media:  Build image of Harris Bank new CEO.
   

• International:  Worked in Toronto to develop corporate communications plan for the information technology and e-business group of BMO Financial Group; Developed strategy and messages surrounding reorganization in Canada and U.S.; consulted all lines of business in Canada regarding e-business initiatives.

 

KemperLesnik Communications, Chicago

Account Supervisor (5/99 – 8/99)

Senior Account Executive (6/98 – 5/99)

 

Represent corporate, consumer and sports marketing clients, including: Wilmington Trust: Managed, counseled and implemented strategy around sponsorships and philanthropy initiatives; created and implemented trade and national media relations strategy.

 

 

• Starbucks: Developed public relations program and conducted launch of new products, store promotions and new store openings in Great Lakes region; responded to ongoing media inquiries; raised awareness of new store openings in key markets through integrated marketing, including direct mail, media and advertising.
   

• Monsanto: Implemented launch plan for the Danforth Plant Science Center initiative to national and international media- announcement included keynote speaker Jimmy Carter and key executives from Monsanto and partners; coordinated press conference, secured interviews with national and international press; developed strategic branding and positioning plan for biotech food products.
   

• Seagram Americas: Wrote and implemented public relations program and all press kit materials surrounding The Glenlivet brand’s sponsorship of The Glenlivet Office Putting Championship [1998 winner of the "Creativity in Public Relations Award" (CIPRA) the Sponsorship: Sports category]; arranged and coordinated charity media events at The Citywide Finals with sportscasters and anchors; supervised in-studio appearances with client at television and radio stations in Chicago.
   

• Other: Provided media relations strategy and counsel, corporate branding and positioning to AT Kearney, City of Chicago, Chicago Academy of Sciences Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Kemper Insurance, and Ameritech.

 

Hill and Knowlton, Inc., Chicago

Senior Account Executive (6/97 – 5/98)

Account Executive (6/96 - 5/97)

Assistant Account Executive (6/95 - 6/96)

 

Represented corporate and financial relations clients, including Illinois Bureau of Tourism, GE Capital Small Business Finance, Bankers Trust, TIAA-CREF, and Jackson National Life Insurance. 

 

 

• Media Relations: Conducted media outreach; media training; scheduled and coordinated media tours for international journalists; coordinated press conferences and secured interviews.
   

• Corporate Positioning: Developed and implemented defense strategy for targets of hostile takeovers; researched, identified and planned speaking opportunities targeting consumers and industry influencers; developed repositioning and branding programs.
   

• Writing:  Drafted news releases, corporate biographies, fact sheets, media briefing documents; prepared industry and issue background pieces.
   

• Financial Relations: Maintained dialogues with investors on clients' behalf; arranged analyst meetings; conducted investment community audits and provided analysis to clients; targeted investors by analyzing investment style.
   

• Internal Relations: Coordinated Hill & Knowlton’s intern program: developed program structure, supervised activities.