PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Multiple Emmy award-winning communications expert with more than 20 years of executive-level public relations and marketing experience. Trusted and dynamic communications adviser and speechwriter for high-level executives and senior leadership teams. Industry leader who excels at developing, executing, and evaluating integrated communications strategies.

EXPERIENCE

Arizona Department of Health Services 
Marketing Director, Aug. 2020 - Aug. 2023
Communications Director, Aug. 2018 - Aug. 2020
Public Health Communications Director, Feb. 2013 - July 2018

  • Served on the senior leadership team and provided expert consultation about communications and marketing strategies for the director, senior staff, the Governor’s communications team, as well as other state agencies

  • Led the Arizona Emergency Operations Joint Information Center during the COVID-19 Pandemic

  • Led the development, implementation, and evaluation of multiple statewide marketing campaigns

  • Managed contracts with six advertising agencies, the Phoenix Suns, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Arizona Cardinals

  • Ghostwrote internal and external communications for the director

  • Supervised 7 staff including the public information team, social media team, and website developers

  • Managed $11 million budget

New Mexico Department of Health
Communications Director, Dec. 2009 - Feb. 2013
Deputy Communications Director, Dec. 2004 - Dec 2009
Public Relations Director, Nov. 2001 - Dec. 2004

  • Served as senior public relations counsel to the Secretary of Health, the Office of the Governor, the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, and the senior management team

  • Directed all public relations and marketing activities for the largest state agency in New Mexico

  • Wrote speeches and talking points for the Secretary of Health and senior management team

  • Served as public information officer with state, regional, national, and international media

  • Planned and executed all statewide public relations and marketing initiatives

  • Wrote and distributed news releases and news feature stories to statewide media

  • Served as public information officer for 12 locations statewide, including three hospitals

  • Managed in-house video and audio production studio

  • Developed and implemented an agency-wide reorganization plan that led to a 40 percent increase in proactive stories covered by statewide media

  • Produced and edited audio and video public service announcements and TV commercials

  • Wrote a weekly feature news column that was published by 16 New Mexico newspapers

New Mexico State University
Media Relations Manager, May 2000 - Oct. 2001

  • Served as public relations adviser to several university departments including the University Museum, Department of English, and the University Library

  • Served as spokesperson to local, state, and regional media

  • Wrote news releases that promoted university events, activities, and staff

Office of Border Health
Public Relations Manager, March 1997 - May 2000\

  • Researched and wrote testimony for the director and senior staff that was presented to the United States Senate and the New Mexico State Legislature

  • Managed all public relations and marketing activities in New Mexico and southern Texas

  • Served as public relations adviser to the Border Health Office Director and nine Border Health Commissioners that were appointed by the President of the United States

QUALIFICATIONS

  • Excellent relationships with national and local media

  • Extensive experience with Lean Continuous Quality Improvement process

  • Professional photography

  • Expert user of Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office on Apple and PC platforms

  • Expertise using Google Analytics and Facebook Insights to analyze social media reach and performance

EDUCATION

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication, New Mexico State University, August 2001

  • Master of Arts in Communications , Johns Hopkins University, Current Student

AWARDS

  • Emmy in the Health and Medical category for the short film Milestones

  • Emmy in the TV Commercial Single Spot category for The Run

  • Best in Show: The DeNoble Files

  • National Campaign Gold Award: The DeNoble Files

  • National Campaign Silver Award: Cause and Effect

  • Best Video Series: The DeNoble Files

  • TV Gold Awards: It Matters, Slab

  • TV Silver Awards: Grave, Gurney

  • Integrated Campaign Gold Award: The DeNoble Files

  • Online Video Silver Award: Secondhand Smoke

  • Award of Merit: Voyage Trekkers