EXPERIENCE

ELEVANCE HEALTH | Director of PUBLIC RELATIONS 

July 2022 – Present

  • Develop and lead a comprehensive media relations strategy for Elevance Health’s pharmacy benefit manager, CarelonRx, in addition to supporting PR efforts for Elevance Health – a top 25 Fortune company.

  • Oversee media relations, issues management and reputation management for CarelonRx.

  • Craft thought leadership pieces for national media outlets on behalf of company leaders, prepare presentation remarks and speeches for executives, and provide media training for key leaders.

  • Manage executive visibility for CarelonRx’s president, including event participation support, video script writing and social media support.

  • Collaborate with colleagues across internal and external communications, marketing, government relations and CarelonRx executive leadership to enhance overall communications efforts.

  • Implement strategies and tactics designed to educate and build relationships with the public, the media and key opinion leaders.

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UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy

March 2019-July 2022


Director of Marketing and communications | Director of Brand alignment and communications

  • Oversaw marketing strategy and implementation for the School’s three degree programs, events and continuing education certificate opportunities.

  • Managed marketing and communications team members.

  • Oversaw department’s budget, which included collaborating with outside agency vendors, printers and designers.

  • Cultivated brand alignment among key internal and external audiences, including faculty, staff, students, alumni, and industry partners at the No. 1 School of Pharmacy in the country.

  • Led the development and implementation of internal and external communication strategies that furthered the School’s mission of Advancing Medicine for Life.

  • Provided executive communications support to the Dean and School leadership, which included routine emails and newsletters, urgent crisis communications, speech writing, video scripts, and social media support.

  • Created/managed 52 weekly email messages from the Dean, 52 weekly event digest emails, 12 School-wide digital newsletters, 12 alumni digital newsletters, and four alumni print publications each year.

  • In collaboration with Content Manager, developed and trained faculty, staff and students to become Social Media Brand Ambassadors.

  • Managed the School’s media relations and partnered with University Communications to amplify key messages. Also prepped School leadership and faculty prior to media interviews/press events.

  • Supported the planning and execution of signature School events to increase brand awareness and reinforce brand identity.

  • Member of the following committees: UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Strategic Planning Advisory Committee; UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Beyond Strategic Plan Engagement Committee; UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy Wellness Committee; University Research Week Planning Committee; UNC National Security Working Group Subcommittee.

  • Served as yearly guest lecturer in School of Pharmacy’s Leadership and Professional Development course for second-year pharmacy students. Lecture examined ways to harness emotional intelligence when communicating to promote diversity, equity and inclusion among teams.

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AMERICAN RED CROSS | REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER

March 2016-March 2019

  • Managed marketing/communications for the Eastern North Carolina Region of the Red Cross (53-county territory).

  • Led/trained team of 40+ marketing/communications volunteers to tell the Red Cross story through written articles, photography, videography, social media and media interviews. 

  • Supported messaging for five Red Cross boards, and trained members to publicly represent the organization.

  • Fielded daily media requests/interviews. Planned and hosted press conferences and pitched story ideas to media.

  • Briefed regional executives and staff before interviews.

  • Ghostwriter for regional CEO, partner executives and board chairs as needed.

  • Managed/created content for regional website, social pages, blog, and print and electronic newsletters. 

  • Served as public affairs lead for disasters in the region. Included managing public affairs and crisis communication during Hurricanes Matthew and Florence. 

  • Supported events such as Red Cross gala, annual meetings, smoke alarm installation events, telethons, etc. through building of marketing materials and external promotion.

  • Planned Red Cross of Eastern NC grand Centennial Celebration and led Centennial Campaign Committee. Included creation of wounded warrior art gallery in the North Carolina Museum of History.

  • Completed rigorous national Red Cross multi-day public affairs team training.

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PEDIATRIC BRAIN TUMOR FOUNDATION

Jan. 2013 – Feb. 2016

DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR 

  • Communicated daily with major donors across the United States and managed major gifts to the national nonprofit. 

  • Organized multiple fundraising initiatives, including an annual radiothon that collected more than $1 million to date; launching an athletic endurance program; and supporting community fundraisers. 

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR 

  • Raised awareness about childhood brain tumors and heightened the foundation’s visibility by writing and sharing stories of youth, families, medical staff, volunteers and fundraisers affected by the disease.

  • Created annual report, two print newsletters, monthly e-newsletters, press releases, and monthly internal staff e-newsletter.

  • Created and managed production of press kits for use across the country. Included templated press releases, television and radio public service announcements, live-read scripts, and templated social posts for nearly 50 annual events across the country. 

  • Managed foundation’s website content and event website. Included building and sending hundreds of event campaign emails via peer-to-peer (P2P) platform.

  • Project lead working with outside designers, printers, photographers and videographers to build fresh marketing materials. Served on organization’s rebranding team (worked through group tasks such as creating new brand identity and messaging guidelines, and website redesign, etc.).

  • Served as social media voice, managing Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Vimeo.

  • Increased PBTF’s national media impressions by 82 percent by first year on staff.

  • Trained volunteers and staff across country on social media and how to gain local media at events.

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THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER

July 2010 – Dec. 2012

REPORTER 

  • Served as paper’s first Young Achievers section reporter – a weekly two-page spread that shared stories of inspirational youth. Wrote two print articles and two blogs per week for section. 

  • Covered crime/breaking news on weekends.

  • Daily updated paper’s website and social sites; and shot/edit video as needed.

INTERN REPORTER 

  • Crafted about five stories per week. Covered crime and breaking news for the metro desk, profiles for the state and local section, as well as news, sports and lifestyles for community news.

  • Edited community newspapers weekly.