PUBLIC RELATIONS AND MARKETING
Accredited public relations and marketing communications executive with over 21 years of experience in the telecommunications industry. Successfully managed public relations, public affairs, corporate citizenship and marketing support functions for multiple departments and sales entities at the market level in North Alabama. Strengths include research and analysis, strategic thinking, planning and implementation, constituency relationship and event management, corporate reputation and brand management. Entrepreneurial solutions-driven leader focused on coping with complex problems and capitalizing on business opportunities.

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

Product Deployment

• Remote Access to Call Forwarding (concept only).
• Media introduction of ISDN in Huntsville at Redstone Arsenal; introduction of MemoryCall in Huntsville.
• Directed and implemented launch of BellSouth Mobility in the Shoals area.

Marketing Support

• Significant exhibit management and trade show coordination experience.
• Helped lead the BellSouth Roundtable with strategy and implementation of BellSouth subsidiaries' joint sponsorship activities and events.
• Initiated individual BellSouth companies' marketing sponsorships and provided implementation support.
• Instituted relationship management initiatives for high revenue customers and key public officials in multiple jurisdictions.

Community and Educational Relations

• Led local Community Relations Teams. Guided Telephone Pioneer councils to strategic market focus.
• Served as executive liaison to key customers in the education community, managing relationships with 11 public school systems and community colleges and local universities.
• Implemented corporate citizenship and community relations initiatives in Huntsville and the Shoals.
• Primary liaison to multiple Chambers of Commerce, leveraging relationships to support sales objectives.

Media Relations and Public Information

• Established proactive working relationships with major print and broadcast media.
• South Central Bell Media Guide, BellNotes, BellSouth Solutions.
• Implemented BellSouth media/public information initiatives during divestiture by AT&T.
• Directed voter approval campaign to implement Enhanced 911 in Huntsville and Madison County.
• Served as site coordinator for BellSouth's Olympic Connection traveling pavilion and exhibit.

Public Affairs

• Provided local support for implementation of price regulation; grassroots lobbying for passage of the 1996 Telecommunications Act.
• Acted as liaison to local and state elected officials and government entities in northwest Alabama.

Employee Information

• Published The Messenger; common channel; contributing writer/photographer for bama.
• Implemented employee information campaign associated with divestiture.
• Planned and implemented local employee meetings, executive visits and benefits conversion meetings.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BELLSOUTH CORPORATION,
Huntsville, AL 1980 - 2001
Manager - Corporate and External Affairs Managed and administered multiple functions in public relations and public affairs including internal and external communications, volunteer leadership, corporate citizenship, event planning and management and tactical execution. Assisted top executives, regulatory managers, marketing directors, and sales managers with development of strategy, implementation of multidimensional corporate initiatives, and planning of strategic activities.

SELECTED ACHIEVEMENTS

• Accredited in Public Relations by the North American Public Relations Council Universal Accreditation Board. Accreditation in 1982 by the Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF); universal accreditation permanently conferred in 1998.
• Senior Practitioner, SPRF, 1992.
• Received Phillip R. Forrest, Jr. Award, 1986. The award, bestowed annually by the Public Relations Council of Alabama (PRCA), recognizes the recipient as "Public Relations Practitioner of the Year" in the State of Alabama. Also, PRCA - North Alabama chapter "Practitioner of the Year," 1986.
• President's Award, PRCA, 1984.
• Received PRCA Award of Excellence, Best Short Term Public Relations Program, Alabama, 1986.
• PRCA Senior Service Award, North Alabama Chapter, 1989.
• PRCA Medallion Award, Graphic Design, best logo, 1995.
• Best of Show: 1988 Huntsville Advertising Federation Addy Awards; 1996 Huntsville/Madison County Chamber Showcase.

PROFESSIONAL SERVICE
Board of Directors, Public Relations Council of Alabama.
Past President, PRCA - North Alabama, 1985; chapter recognized as "Chapter of the Year."
Chairman, SPRF/PRCA annual convention, 1990.
Huntsville Press Club, board of directors; President's Award, 1984.

EDUCATION
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Bachelor of Arts in English and American Language and Literature, 1977

CIVIC AFFILIATIONS
Huntsville / Madison County Clean Community, Volunteer Center (President), and The Schools Foundation, Huntsville / Madison County and Shoals United Ways.

Huntsville/Madison County Chamber of Commerce. Most recently, Vice Chair - Marketing / Communications and Vice Chair / Economic Development, Shoals Chamber of Commerce. Chairman's Award in 1999 and 2001.