         COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR         Professional Summary    Seasoned communications pro and results-driven communications strategist with award-winning writing and editing credentials, proven successes in media relations/pitching, and longtime experience in Web and social media content.      Skills          Superior verbal and written communication skills  Excellent media contacts  Crisis communication  Web content      Brand development and management  Analytical thinker  PowerPoint presentations  Adobe Photoshop            Work History      Communications director  ,     09/2013   to   Current     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Responsible for all internal and external communications for non-profit agency providing counseling, shelter and services to 90,000 Pennsylvanians each year.  Media relations/government relations/fundraising.  Web site design and content/social media (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest).  Annual report/statewide fatality report/publications design & content.  Developed and managed communications strategies, plans and budgets.  Planned and launched innovative, creative and effective communications campaigns, such as a press conference to honor domestic violence victims at Capitol Rotunda which resulted in participation by governor and 19 legislators and statewide media coverage.  Oversaw and adhered to the communications department budget.         Communications director Pennsylvania Auditor General  ,     01/2005   to   01/2013     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Responsible for all internal and external communications for department of 750 employees serving 12.5 million state residents Issued more than 300 press releases each year, plus media inquiries Web site design and content/social media National award for "PR on a Shoestring'' & honorable mention for Web site Special assignments reporter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (2004-2005) Focused on in-depth background reports on topical political, economic issues High-profile breaking news such as President Reagan's state funeral Recognized as business writer of year by Pennsylvania Society of Professional Journalists for coverage of US Airways' bankruptcy.         Chief communications officer  ,     08/2001   to   04/2003     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Responsible for all internal and external communications for Fortune 700 international toolmaker with more than 14,000 employees in 64 global markets, including Germany, India and China.  Speechwriting, annual report and other executive communications, community relations, government relations, corporate philanthropy.  Served as the primary point of contact for incoming media calls, including requests for meetings and interviews with company executives and experts.  Developed and managed communications strategies, plans and budgets.         Vice president  ,     02/1998   to   08/2001     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Speechwriting, annual reports, crisis communications, government relations.  Marketing communications and strategic planning.  Blue-chip clients included Firestone (Explorer tire fiasco), HealthSouth, Visa.  Developed key messaging, branding and positioning statements.  Planned and launched innovative, creative and effective communications campaigns, such as Os-Cal bone supplement, placing former Olympic skater Peggy Fleming on ABC's "Good Morning, America''          Manager  ,     12/1996   to   02/1998     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Responsible for all external communications for Fortune 500 natural-gas utility with more than 350,000 customers in Pennsylvania and Maryland.  Media relations, customer relations, government relations, marketing.  Public Utility Commission as a model in the state.  Developed and managed communications strategies, plans and budgets.  Created and implemented external and internal communications strategies for key company initiatives such as energy deregulation and retail shopping for natural gas         Editor/Reporter  ,     09/1985   to   12/1996     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      Award-winning reporter and editor with experience in sports, news, business.  Assigned to major stories including sale of Pittsburgh Pirates, financial collapse of Westinghouse Electric, and energy deregulation in Pa.         Editor/Reporter  ,     09/1981   to   09/1985     Company Name   –   City  ,   State      As scholastic sports editor, operated staff of 12 full-time reporters, copy editors and photographers for sixth-largest Sunday paper in U.S.  Investigative reporter in sports, news.         Education      Bachelor of Arts  :   Communications  ,    1977     Pennsylvania State University   -   City  ,   State     communications Reporter and editor of Daily Collegian, college newspaper         MFA  :   creative non-fiction  ,   June 2004     Spalding University    -   City  ,   State           Accomplishments      Youngest scholastic sports editor in nation at top-10 Sunday newspaper  Numerous communications awards, including PA business writer of year and national award for PR on a Shoestring  Oversaw communications for auditor general's 2008 re-election campaign that rolled up third-largest vote total in PA history, outpolling President Obama in Keystone State  Crisis communications for Fortune 700 companies including Firestone, Equitable Resources and Kennametal Inc.        Skills    agency, community relations, content, counseling, creative writing, crisis communications, clients, customer relations, editor, financial, fundraising, government, Explorer, marketing, Marketing communications, Media relations, natural-gas, press releases, PR, profit, publications, reporter, Speechwriting, stories, strategic planning, Web site design and content, Web site, professional writing, writer, annual reports      Additional Information         Awards: Pennsylvania Keystone Press Award, first place, 1990 Golden Quill Award, first place, 1989 Associated Press Sports Editors, fifth place (national), 1986 Associated Press Managing Editors, first place, 1979      