Experience

Communications Manager
Economic Development Board for Tacoma-Pierce County

The EDB is the county’s most influential business recruiting and retention organization. Hired as the first communications manager in the nonprofit’s 38-year history, I worked on developing strategies for the organization as a whole as well as those that focused on specific community issues.

• Collaborated with the Port of Tacoma, the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Puget Sound Energy and other partners on communication plans around two large industrial projects that met with unexpected community opposition.
• Utilized a monthly newsletter, websites, social media and earned media in these efforts.
• Led the effort to update the EDB’s website for the first time in years, including development of a project charter, writing the RFP and conducting a selection process from local companies.
• Created a temporary website for the organization in 72 hours after an outdated platform and hosting failure required the old site to be retired. It was a compliment that some members of our board thought the temporary site was the new one, designed by the professional company we had yet to hire.
• Designed a scientifically valid public opinion survey to inform a long-term communications strategy on the value of industrial jobs to the Pierce County economy.
• Produced speeches, PowerPoint presentations and reports for several events, including the EDB’s annual meeting, which is attended by several hundred people.
• Researched and wrote briefing material, talking points and op-eds for board members and staff on topics including methanol, liquefied natural gas, public transportation and social media engagement.
• Managed the work of freelance writers, design vendors and a tactical public relations firm.

Editor and reporter
The News Tribune (Tacoma)

Starting in 2009, I was the paper’s top-producing business reporter, working closely with editors, photographers and designers on stories that revealed the nuance of complicated topics such as bankruptcy and commercial real estate. One of my first in-depth stories was about the decision facing the City of Tacoma and Tacoma Public Utilities on whether to install a multi-million-dollar water filtration system to address the rare threat of cryptosporidium.

Editor and designer
The Miami Herald

Copy editor and designer
The Corpus Christi Caller-Times (Texas)

Education

Bachelor of Arts, Texas Tech University, 1998

Relevant experience

Mason United Methodist Church (Tacoma)
Chairwoman, Trustee Committee
January 2012-January 2015

Led a committee of nine volunteers; formed and executed a plan to handle 10 years of deferred maintenance in five years, including a $75,000 structural wall repair and replacement of three HVAC systems.

Evergreen Primary PTSA (University Place)
former co-treasurer and current President
June 2015-present

Manage the nonprofit’s annual budget of $15,000; launched a Facebook page to increase parent engagement and to provide a reliable source of information about events; streamlined event schedule; creating a system for volunteer management that emphasizes early communication and post-event recognition.