Communications Specialist

Professional Experience

INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT (Internationally based)                                                                                                                        2013-2016

·   Provided editing and proofreading services, content guidance, and independent research.

·   Created training and briefing sessions for NATO’s Resolute Support (RSM) Post-Transition Planning Group.

·   Crafted crisis management scenarios during training exercises.

·   Coordinated and shared information within a hierarchical structure and determined key issues for organizations.

·   Designed and delivered content briefs to senior leaders on anti-corruption issues to support the comprehensive approach in counter-insurgency and stability operations.

NAVANTI GROUP, Arlington, VA                                                                                                                                                                     2014

Deputy Program Manager (Consultant Contract)

·   Supervised 45+ subject matter experts and advised senior management on employee development, performance enhancement, and productivity.

·   Instituted communications processes that reinforced team communication and collaboration.

·   Strengthened proposal review systems to more effectively clarify and prioritize client needs.

·   Edited final products to ensure analysis and fusion of open-source operational information met client planning and intelligence priorities.

Combined Joint Interagency Task Force (CJIATF) - Shafafiyat, Kabul, Afghanistan                                       2012-2013

Strategic Liaison and Chief – Counter Corruption Assessment & Training

·   Drafted background and situational briefs for key leader engagements; provided leadership key report analysis.

·   Established effective working relationships with government, military and international officials.

·   Prepared and taught an anti-corruption curriculum at the Joint Warfare Centre in Stavanger, Norway, HQ ISAF, Kabul, Afghanistan, and Grafenwoehr, Germany.

·   Delivered the first NATO study examining the intersection of anti-corruption and strategic operations in conjunction with the Joint Analysis Lessons Learned Centre.

·   Provided direction and guidance on public affairs matters for Commander’s Advisory Group (CAG) and Counterinsurgency Advisory and Assistance Team (CAAT) on Anti-Corruption strategic messaging.

·   Designed and led strategic site visits of anti-corruption experts from Transparency International’s Defence and Security Programme to highlight the challenges of anti-corruption campaigns in war zones.

Kingfisher Systems, Inc., Falls Church, VA                                                                                                                                                 2012

Recruitment Consultant

·   Recruited candidates with intelligence, security, military, and law enforcement experience for U.S. government.

·   Ensured the quality and background of candidates presented matched federal contract requirements.

·   Actively data mined candidates and vetted CVs for /national security contracts; prescreened candidates with detailed interviews.

Ciber, Inc., Carlisle, PA                                                                                                                                                                                        2011

Analyst

·   Support creation of anti-corruption training courses for deploying military and civilian personnel to Afghanistan (in support of CJIATF-Shafafiyat).

·   Responsible for detailed tasking, development, design and drafting of anti-corruption curriculum hosted by Army Training Network (ATN. Content manager for ATN post-construction.

·   Developed measurement tools and information protocols to assess the effectiveness of training; edited course material based on assessment results.

·   Analyzed news reviews, academic journals, and conducted media monitoring to provide trend analysis.

·   Created standard operating procedures for file management, information processing, subject matter expert tracking, and dissemination of research materials to government and contract team.

US Army War College, Carlisle, PA/Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY                                                                                        2010-2011

Graduate Research Assistant

·   Interviewed key military and civilian experts engaged in Afghanistan to uncover the depth and breadth of corruption; course podcasts developed from recorded talks.

·   Supported marketing and implementation of The National Security Management Course for the National Security Studies Program through international and political affairs news reviews, analyses, and background development.

·   Supported external engagements, including official visits with senior public and private sector leaders.

University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL                                                                                                                                                        2006-2010

Regional Director of Alumni Giving

·   Managed donor a portfolio of 435 alumni with accountability for soliciting gifts up to $100K.

·   Developed and deployed an aggressive outreach expanding the donor base to more than 1000 alumni.

·   Responsible for drafting solicitation scripts, and for globally communicating the strategic regional vision.

·   Built strong personal relationships with large donors increasing the maximum assigned gift to $100,000.

·   Implemented programming, recruitment and special events expanding alumni participation and visibility; coordinated alumni programs with the University’s National Outreach Program.

·   Supported internal and external engagements as required in support of the overall university mission.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT

·   Associate Manager – Management, Williams-Sonoma, Inc./Pottery Barn, West Palm Beach, FL

·   Purser – Accounting and Management, M/Y Mosaique (Yacht), Cannes, France

·   Assistant d’Anglais – English Teacher, Inspection Academique des Alpes Maritimes, Cannes, France

·   Assistant Director of Annual Giving – Fundraising, Episcopal High School, Alexandria, VA

·   Legislative Correspondent– Congressional Staffer, Congressman Fred Upton, Washington, DC

EDUCATION

MA, International Relations (Focus: Public Diplomacy), Maxwell School, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY

BA, Public Relations/Journalism, Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, MI

Certificates of Advanced Study, Post-Conflict Reconstruction & Conflict Resolution, Syracuse University

Masters Program Courses, King’s College, London, UK

Extended Studies Program, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA

Dale Carnegie Leadership Program – Graduate

Social Media Marketing Certification – HootSuite Academy