Professional Resume
Professional Objective:
Build and lead teams that advance the reputations of purpose driven organizations and successfully engage the communities they serve. Advance organizations through inclusive, collaborative, co-creation of strategies, strong project management, and leadership. Solve problems. Meet goals. Have fun and get things done. Strive to advance inclusive excellence and social justice. Support access to education to help people thrive. Maintain a growth mindset.
Professional Achievements:
Professional Experience:
Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives 2015 to present
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Community Relations Specialist 2007 – 2015
Plug in to Nature Project Project Manager April 2011 – March 2012
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
Concentration in Environmental Communications
Certificate in Environmental Affairs
Colorado State University – Warner College of Natural Resources
Coursework and Technical Knowledge:
Coursework: BN476 Negotiation and Conflict Management, BY220 Fundamentals of Ecology, F311Forest Ecology, JT413 New Communication Technologies and Society, JTC614 Public Communications Campaigns, JTC640 Public Communication Technologies, JTC650 Strategic Communications, NR220 Natural Resources Ecology and Measurements, NR300 Biological Diversity, NR365 Environmental Education, NR400 Public Relations of Natural Resources, NR320 Natural Resources History and Policy, NR361 Natural Resources and the Media, NR605 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Theory, NRRT665 Survey Research and Analysis, PL345 Environmental Ethics, PO361 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy, POLS500 Governmental Politics in the U.S., RR231 Principals of Parks and Protected Areas Management, RR262 Principals of Environmental Communication, RR270 Principals of Natural Resources Tourism, RR330 Social Aspects of Natural Resources Management, RR462 Environmental Communications, S460 Society and the Environment, SOC668 Environmental Sociology
Software and applications: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere MailChimp, WooBox, SalesForce, Weebly, Cumulus, Ciscion, Trendkite, Iconosquare, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Prezi, Wordpress, Wordpress BuildMail, AirTable
Awards and Training:
Plug in to Nature Awards:
Build and lead teams that advance the reputations of purpose driven organizations and successfully engage the communities they serve. Advance organizations through inclusive, collaborative, co-creation of strategies, strong project management, and leadership. Solve problems. Meet goals. Have fun and get things done. Strive to advance inclusive excellence and social justice. Support access to education to help people thrive. Maintain a growth mindset.
Professional Achievements:
- Created a Warner College brand that led to multiple student tattoos
- Earned media placements in New York Times, Washington Post, and other major outlets
- Consistently high undergraduate enrollment yield rates, between 27%-33% over past 5 years
- Award-winning redesign of the Warner College website
- Owners’ Representative on two major capital projects ($22M and $4M)
- Contributing to fundraising exceeding $100M since 2015
Professional Experience:
Colorado State University Warner College of Natural Resources Director of Communications and Strategic Initiatives 2015 to present
- Provide inspirational leadership for the Warner College communications program ($550k budget) that executes all aspects of internal and external communications for the 3500-member College to lead to and grow applications, enrollments, and student retention in support of achieving student success, communicating research ($150M/annually) and outreach impacts and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion goals
- Developed College strategic plans (2015 and 2022) and Diversity and Inclusion Plan (2018)
- Build and steward the Warner College brand including major brand elements, key messages, visual branding, environmental branding and brand engagement. Created and launched new College brand in 2016.
- Create and implement comprehensive data driven strategic marketing and media relations plans to support overall marketing and communications strategies in alignment with the College strategic plan and goals
- Employ an all-inclusive marketing approach and brand development for all external communications including major publications, digital presence, and videography
- Carry out a public relations strategy that results in on-going public support for the College and ensures the College is top of mind to prospective students, donors, alumni, and other key stakeholders
- Direct the production and creative development of all print and responsive/accessible digital materials including a cohesive social media presence across Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn
- Collaborate with all College areas and University divisions to foster relationships that help achieve strategic goals
- Partner with the College advancement team and central advancement division to provide strategic communications support to fundraising efforts and alumni engagement
- Hire, supervise, direct, evaluate, mentor and manage a high performing team to deliver communications services to the College and oversee the College Student Success Center and 15-member Student Ambassador Team
- Perform issues management and crisis communications support
- Facilitate experiences to drive engagement and build community
- Provide executive communications support
Larimer County Department of Natural Resources Community Relations Specialist 2007 – 2015
- Built and led a team overseeing strategic marketing and communications, public engagement, and community relations, and oversaw public engagement for regional planning efforts and management actions
- Developed the Department’s first intentional brand identity, elements of which are still in use today
- Created Park and Open Space interpretive plans, inclusive of exhibits, trailhead signs, interpretive signs, print and digital media, nature playgrounds, and experiences for citizens
- Developed messaging and media including print, social and digital, photo and video, and managed message calendar
- Represented the Department to the public and various community groups and government boards and commissions
- Led partnership-based teams from various organizations to carry out regional events for thousands of citizens such as National Get Outdoors Day
- Served on County-wide “Telling our Story” Strategic Planning group and Public Works Division Communications team
- Served as spokesperson for interviews (radio, TV, newspaper) and presentations
- Managed media relations, distributed press releases and pitched media, maintained media lists, and organized media tours
- Produced videos for staff training and public outreach
- Placed advertising in print, radio, social and digital media
- Performed issues management and crisis communications support
- Provided executive communications support
- Collaborated with variety of partners locally and around Colorado to further Departmental goals
- Managed volunteer naturalist, volunteer ranger assistant, and campground entertainment programs, developed and led school field trip programs, guided hikes, and public tours for visitors of all ages
Plug in to Nature Project Project Manager April 2011 – March 2012
- Conducted a regional gap, barriers, and opportunities assessment of families connections to nature throughout Larimer County sponsored by Larimer County and Great Outdoors Colorado
- Ensured project objectives were met and results were disseminated
- Developed and carried out public engagement strategy for project inclusive of surveys and events
- Identified and carried out strategies to ensure strong engagement with Latino communities in Larimer County
- Implemented recommendations including adding additional outdoor skills programming and programs for toddlers
- Recognized for several awards, including a Project Excellence Award from the American Society of Landscape Architects and Outstanding Project award from the American Planning Association
Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism
Concentration in Environmental Communications
Certificate in Environmental Affairs
Colorado State University – Warner College of Natural Resources
Coursework and Technical Knowledge:
Coursework: BN476 Negotiation and Conflict Management, BY220 Fundamentals of Ecology, F311Forest Ecology, JT413 New Communication Technologies and Society, JTC614 Public Communications Campaigns, JTC640 Public Communication Technologies, JTC650 Strategic Communications, NR220 Natural Resources Ecology and Measurements, NR300 Biological Diversity, NR365 Environmental Education, NR400 Public Relations of Natural Resources, NR320 Natural Resources History and Policy, NR361 Natural Resources and the Media, NR605 Human Dimensions of Natural Resources Theory, NRRT665 Survey Research and Analysis, PL345 Environmental Ethics, PO361 U.S. Environmental Politics and Policy, POLS500 Governmental Politics in the U.S., RR231 Principals of Parks and Protected Areas Management, RR262 Principals of Environmental Communication, RR270 Principals of Natural Resources Tourism, RR330 Social Aspects of Natural Resources Management, RR462 Environmental Communications, S460 Society and the Environment, SOC668 Environmental Sociology
Software and applications: Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Acrobat Pro, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Lightroom, Adobe Premiere MailChimp, WooBox, SalesForce, Weebly, Cumulus, Ciscion, Trendkite, Iconosquare, Hootsuite, Tweetdeck, Prezi, Wordpress, Wordpress BuildMail, AirTable
Awards and Training:
- 2020-2021 CSU Supervisor Training
- 2019 ENR Regional Best Projects, Best Higher Education Building Project
- 2019 UCDA Excellence in Environmental Design
- 2018 Social Justice Leadership Institute
- 2018 CSU Search Chair training
- 2017 Men Educate Yourselves Program
- 2017 CASE Bronze Award for Best College Website Redesign
- 2016 Creating Inclusive Excellence Program
- Selected as on-air talent for County Budget Services Videos
- 2015 National Association of City Television Producers Award for Best Video
- Fred Pryor Project Management Training
- United Way Volunteer Coordinator of the Year – 2009
- 2009 Colorado Institute for Leadership Training
- 2020 Internal Digital Engagement Community of Practice, “Everyone hates email: let’s fix it together”
- 2018 Campus Communicators Network, “Warner College Diversity and Inclusion Strategies”
- 2018 Association for Communication Excellence, “Issues Management” and “Let’s In-gage on Instagram”
- 2017 Association for Communication Excellence, “Social Media on a Budget”
- 2013 Rocky Mountain State Park Executive Conference, “How may we serve you?”
- 2012 Keynote speaker at Adams County Open Space Forum, “Creating the next generation of Open Space and Environmental Stewards”
- 2012 Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education Teaching Outside the Box, “Creating Community Events with Impact”
Plug in to Nature Awards:
- American Society of Landscape Architects – Project Excellence Award, 2014
- Larimer County Innovation Awards - First runner up, 2013
- Colorado Lottery Starburst Award, 2012
- Colorado Chapter of American Planning Association – Outstanding Project, 2012