Curriculum Vitae

Senior level strategist with 15 years of policy, communications and advocacy experience and a record of success delivering results for corporations, trade associations and NGOs.

FATHER AND FREELANCE STRATEGIST

October 2017 - Present

• Primary caretaker of my 2 year old daughter

• Freelance strategist to companies, trade associations and non-profits on projects that elevate their brand and expand their influence.

VICE PRESIDENT OF STRATEGY AND DIGITAL
SUBJECT MATTER

December 2015 - October 2017

• Conceived, designed, and delivered integrated strategic communications plans and campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, trade associations and nonprofit organizations.

• ​Oversaw the internal proposal development process for business development and led teams pitching integrated advocacy strategies to prospective clients.

• Served as strategic account lead for McDonald’s, delivering a range of high-profile stakeholder and consumer-facing content focused on the sustainability of the McDonald’s supply chain.

• Developed and implemented digital advocacy and content strategies and led a team of technologists designing and building websites and digital tools for agency clients.

• Restructured the Digital & Interactive department to reduce overhead costs and increase revenue, resulting in an increase in profitability of over $1 million during the first 6 months.

• Led teams delivering advocacy content and targeted distribution for the Association of American Railroads, Trust for America’s Health, and the American Jewish Committee.

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
BLUE STATE DIGITAL

July 2014 - June 2015

• Developed strategy and led the team implementing a digital grassroots advocacy program for the American Hospital Association and Federation of American Hospitals, resulting in successful legislation that amended Medicare’s reimbursement formula, the client’s top legislative priority.

• Led a digital mobilization campaign for the Communications Workers of America, which led to the successful negotiation of a new contract for AT&T mobility workers.

• Led online fundraising and email marketing programs for the United Negro College Fund.

• Developed and implemented a comprehensive digital communications strategy for the Propane Education and Research Council.

ACCOUNT DIRECTOR
GLOBAL PRAIRIE MARKETING

April 2013 - April 2014

• Strategic lead for the agency’s clients in the food and agriculture sector, including those seeking federal deregulation of foods derived from plant biotechnology.

• Led a crisis response coalition for the U.S. wheat industry after regulated genetically-modified wheat was detected in the commercial supply chain. Coordinated the industry’s international regulatory response, media relations and public relations, and supply-chain communications.

• Served as a regulatory and advocacy communications strategist for J.R. Simplot, the largest potato supplier in the United States, in their effort to deregulate the first genetically-modified potato for commercial use. 

MANAGER, GLOBAL STAKEHOLDER RELATIONS
BAYER CROPSCIENCE

August 2012 - April 2014

• Served as a liaison between Bayer’s Sub-Saharan Africa pesticide business and USAID and other private sector organizations leading malaria eradication programs globally. 

• Led the U.S. regulatory approval process for LifeNet, an innovative malaria bed net, making it available to U.S. organizations running malaria eradication initiatives worldwide.

MANAGER, EUROPEAN PUBLIC AND GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
BAYER CROPSCIENCE

September 2008 - August 2012

• Led European political and stakeholder outreach for Bayer’s agricultural seeds business.

• Oversaw the successful deregulation of 13 regulatory approval dossiers through the European Union’s (EU) scientific and political approval process.

• Led a team of Bayer business leaders from 27 EU member states to coordinate political messaging in support of European Commission, Council and Parliamentary votes.

• Worked closely with European industry associations throughout the food and agriculture supply chain to influence policy on the GMO approval process, new breeding technologies and the Common Agricultural Policy for EU member states.

MANAGER, U.S. GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
BAYER CROPSCIENCE

January 2005 - September 2008

• Coordinated Bayer’s relationship to the U.S. Trade Representative in support of a WTO Dispute Settlement Case against the EU’s regulatory approval process.

• Advised Bayer’s senior executives on the business implications of domestic and international policy developments from the U.S. Congress and Executive Branch agencies.

• Awarded the Luminary Award for Project Excellence for leading an aggressive legislative strategy that resulted in the suspension of over $60 million in import tariffs over three years. 

LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANT
CONGRESSMAN CALVIN DOOLEY (D-CA)

January 2002 - January 2005

• Prepared the Congressman for hearings and committee business for the House Agriculture Committee and the House Resources Committee and assisted in the development of targeted provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill.

• Crafted and delivered detailed communications to constituents of California’s 20th Congressional District on issues like agriculture, water, forestry, health care and trade.