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Strategic communications professional specializing in external communications, media relations and teaching after a 13-year journalism career
EXPERIENCE
COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER
Brasfield & Gorrie | Birmingham, Alabama | 2018-Present
- Develop, implement and evaluate external communications campaigns to support company’s strategic growth areas
- Build relationships with key media contacts, resulting in publication in New York Times, ENR Southeast and others
- Counsel teams on crisis communications, including holding statements, coaching for media inquiries and monitoring media coverage
- Manage assistant communications coordinator, whose duties include external communication support and internal company podcast
- Hired as communications coordinator; promoted to senior communications coordinator in 2020, to communications manager in 2022
TEACHER
Various Institutions | 2012-Present
- Develop curriculum and teach undergraduate and graduate journalism courses at the University of Alabama and Samford University
- Develop and teach yoga lesson plans for vinyasa and restorative classes, safely accounting for different levels of knowledge
FREELANCE WRITER AND EDITOR
Various Publications | 2004-Present
- Author of “Birmingham Beer,” “Balancing Act: Yoga Essays” and “Muscle Shoals Sound Studio”
- Magazine clients include BookPage, Lonely Planet, Tailgater Magazine, Paste magazine, Portico Mountain Brook, others
- Panelist on Alabama Public Radio podcast Lights, Bama, Action
- Line and copy edited books by authors Amy Bickers, Tara Leigh Cobble and Melissa Scott; copy edited books by Crane Hill Publishers
FEATURES EDITOR
Glenwood Springs Post Independent | Glenwood Springs, Colorado | 2017-2018
- Served as newsroom second-in-command, leading meetings and coaching reporters, and managed two employees
- Used digital media, including timelines, audio and video, to take stories from the page to screen
- Redesigned and created content strategy for summer magazine; designed and edited annual cycling guide; led features redesign
- Obtained Solutions Journalism Network grant to fund a series of articles about affordable housing for people in creative fields
FEATURES REPORTER
AL.com | Birmingham, Alabama | 2015-2016
- Co-hosted, produced and edited the cultural podcast Triple Take
- Led online book club and news coverage for Harper Lee’s “Go Set A Watchman,” resulting in more than 500,000 page views
- Served as newsroom representative to preserve editorial integrity in planning revenue events around content
MANAGING EDITOR
Birmingham magazine | Birmingham, Alabama | 2006-2015
- Planned, assigned and edited editorial content with a budget of about $30,000 annually, hired and managed writers and interns
- Oversaw production and determined page count based on content and revenue
- Won a City and Regional Magazine Association redesign award; finalist in general excellence and feature design
- Hired as associate editor; promoted to managing editor in July 2009
PART-TIME REPORTER
The Birmingham News | Birmingham, Alabama | 2006
- Reported government and community activity in four municipalities
LIFESTYLE EDITOR
The Cullman Times | Cullman, Alabama | 2005-2006
- Wrote, designed and edited columnists for twice-weekly feature sections, a weekly religion page and special sections
REPORTER, COPY EDITOR, DESIGNER
The Tuscaloosa News | Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2005
- Designed local news and features, selected wire stories and edited local copy for style
- Hired on a full-time, temporary basis to cover health, religion and breaking news
EDUCATION
MASTER OF ARTS, JOURNALISM | University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Alabama | 2004
BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, COMMUNICATION STUDIES | Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida | 2002
CERTIFICATIONS
ACCREDITED IN PUBLIC RELATIONS | Universal Accreditation Board | 2021
CERTIFIED YOGA INSTRUCTOR | Sacred Glow Yoga | 2014