Employment

Senior Communications Advisor

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina

April 2022 – Present | Durham, N.C. | Hybrid

Strategize and execute high-profile, sensitive, and complex communications that position the organization as a leader among key stakeholders, including the media, business leaders, and health care providers. Serve as a core strategic partner to ensure all messaging is measurable and aligned with enterprise-wide goals.

Strategic Counsel & Leadership

Executive Advisory: Provide high-level communications counsel to senior and executive leadership on sensitive matters, company positions, and long-term engagement strategies.
Cross-Functional Collaboration: Consult with subject matter experts and management across the organization to develop cohesive communications plans that support both divisional and corporate success.
Unified Messaging: Work collaboratively across communications departments to ensure a consistent approach to the brand voice and corporate identity.

Campaign Strategy & Engagement

Strategic Execution: Develop and evaluate comprehensive engagement activities designed to reach diverse audiences, from internal employees to pharmacies.
Stakeholder Relations: Partner with external stakeholders and internal teams to deliver superior, data-driven communications plans that meet strategic business objectives.
Crisis & Sensitivity Management: Oversee the development of messaging for complex or highly sensitive issues, ensuring organizational reputation remains protected and favorably positioned.

Owner & Founder, Editorial Freelancer

jgfairytales Freelance Services

July 2016 – present | Remote

Deliver comprehensive substantive editing, copyediting, manuscript critiquing, and proofreading for international authors in the fiction and poetry genres. I specialize in guiding emerging and self-publishing writers through the final stages of the creative process to ensure their work is publication-ready.

Commissioned Work

Provide high-level editorial services for manuscripts one phase away from publication.
Successfully transitioned four commissioned clients to professional publication.

Pro Bono Work

Mentored more than 30 emerging authors via Wattpad.com, delivering extensive critiques, edits, and proofreads for manuscripts that have collectively earned 5+ million reads.
Supported the growth of the digital writing community, leading to the professional publication of a pro bono client.

Communications Public Relations Manager

Child Care Services Association

November 2018 – April 2022 | Chapel Hill, N.C. | On-site

Strategized organizational communications and reworked messaging through a DEI lens to position the agency as a thought leader in the early childhood education sector. Managed organization-wide communications functions, providing high-level consultation to executive leadership on internal and external relations.

Strategic Leadership & Infrastructure

Modernized Brand Identity: Audited and restructured communications policies; created the organization’s first comprehensive style guide and social media use policy.
Crisis & Emergency Planning: Revised the organization-wide emergency action plan and authored a robust crisis communications plan.
Digital Transformation: Launched and managed two new websites in collaboration with design firms; established and led an organization-wide social media committee to coordinate cross-divisional digital campaigns.
Professional Mentorship: Supervised and trained the Development Communications Associate and seven communications interns, fostering growth in editorial and project management skills.

Public Relations & Event Management

Anniversary & Advocacy Events: Executed the 45th-anniversary gala and auction, along with multiple awards ceremonies (pivoting successfully from in-person to virtual).
Emergency Fundraising: Strategized media and marketing activities for the 2020 COVID-19 Relief Fund, successfully raising awareness and critical funding during the pandemic.
Collateral Development: Partnered with Fund Development to produce all multi-divisional marketing materials, from print brochures to digital content.

Project Manager & Executive Assistant

Carolina Ear & Hearing Clinic, PC

February 2017 – October 2018 | Raleigh, N.C. | On-site

Managed high-level administrative operations and project lifecycles for clinical research and medical education. Provided comprehensive support to the President/Director, ensuring organizational excellence across local and international initiatives.

Operations & Project Management

Interim Leadership: Supervised clinical administrative staff and directed daily operations during executive absences to ensure seamless service delivery.
Program Development: Managed the end-to-end lifecycle of local, national, and international programs, including venue contracts, speaker engagements, and marketing collateral.
Event Logistics: Coordinated complex logistics for Continuing Medical Education (CME) activities, ensuring strict adherence to accreditation and record-keeping standards.

Editorial & Research Coordination

Scholarly Communications: Managed confidential record-keeping and provided expert editorial support for the submission of industry-related articles and publications.
Clinical Research Management: Oversaw on-site specifics for multiple research studies, including IRB protocol coordination, patient screening/consent, and high-accuracy data entry in iMedidata and RAVE.
Professional Compliance: Attained and maintained CITI certification for Good Clinical Practice (GCP) and human subjects research.

Community Advocacy

Non-Profit Support: Facilitated logistics and on-site operations for Camp Woodbine, an annual day camp dedicated to supporting deaf and hard-of-hearing children.

January 2016 – April 2016 | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | On-site

Short-term strategic project for Lake City Books, focused on expanding brand presence and optimizing retail operations.

Social Media Strategy & Engagement

Strategic Planning: Developed a comprehensive action plan to increase social media followership and community engagement.
Content Coordination: Managed consistent social media messaging and conceptualized promotional and fundraising events to drive store traffic.

Retail Optimization & Operations

Revenue Growth: Consulted on merchandising strategies and inventory displays to maximize profitability and enhance the customer experience.
Business Management: Managed all aspects of the consultancy, including formal contract development, project tracking, and performance reporting.

Executive Board Secretary & Senior Account Executive

Cardinal PR | Internship

May 2015 – Dec 2015 | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | On-site

Appointed to the Executive Board of a student-led public relations firm to manage organizational operations and high-impact client campaigns for a team of 16 junior account executives.

Agency Leadership & Operations

Executive Board Secretary: Selected to oversee firm-wide administration, facilitating weekly board meetings and monthly client touchpoints while managing all internal reporting and performance tracking.
Team Management: Shared oversight of 16 junior staff members, delegating tasks and ensuring project alignment with firm standards.

Strategic Client Campaigns

Rebranding & Growth: Researched and developed comprehensive communications and marketing plans for CV-TEC, focusing on organizational rebranding and enrollment growth.
Academic Transition: Contributed to the initial success and strategic direction of the CV-TEC campaign before concluding the role upon graduation from the program.

Planning Committee Member

Shine On! | Internship

August 2014 – December 2015 | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | On-site

Contributed to the strategic planning and execution of large-scale educational programs and community events, serving as a point of contact for stakeholders and media partners.

Program & Event Management

Large-Scale Coordination: Assisted in the management of an annual overnight conference for 500+ attendees and successfully launched the organization’s first parent workshop series.
Recruitment Growth: Developed initiatives that generated a significant increase in mentor inquiries for annual recruitment cycles.

Marketing & Media Relations

Sponsorship Advocacy: Represented the organization during marketing roadshows, presenting to potential sponsors to secure program funding.
Media Spokesperson: Conducted media interviews and authored press releases, feature stories, and sponsorship kits to drive event coverage and brand awareness.
Digital Engagement: Managed social media presence across platforms to foster community growth and real-time event engagement.

Public Relations Course Campaign Team Leader & Member

Ted K. Center | Internship

August 2014 – May 2015 | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | On-site

Directed the research and planning phases of a year-long comprehensive public relations campaign for the Ted K. Center, followed by a semester of high-impact execution and community outreach.

Campaign Leadership: Research & Planning (Fall 2014)

Strategic Architect: Nominated as Team Leader for the first half of the two-semester campaign, overseeing the research, budgeting, and strategic delegation for a $15,000 fundraising goal.
Client Management: Served as the primary point of contact for the Ted K. Center, establishing the campaign timeline and core messaging frameworks.

Campaign Execution: Implementation & Outreach (Spring 2015)

Fundraising Excellence: Collaborated on the execution phase of the campaign, which exceeded goals by raising more than $11,000 in monetary donations and securing $5,000 in sponsored supplies.
Media & Advocacy: Authored press releases and a published Letter to the Editor in the Press Republican to drive community engagement and donor appreciation.
Business Development: Conducted a marketing roadshow to local businesses, successfully garnering corporate sponsorships and long-term community support.

Learn more about the campaign strategy and tactics.

Editorial Assistant Supervisor and Administrative Assistant

Saranac Review

January 2012 – May 2015 | Plattsburgh, N.Y. | On-site

Managed high-level editorial operations and digital transformation for a professional literary journal, overseeing a rotating staff of student interns and streamlining the publication process.

Editorial Leadership & Mentorship

Staff Supervision: Selected and trained a total of 40 editorial assistant interns, supervising between three and nine individuals each semester to ensure quality across blog content and social media.
Talent Acquisition: Managed the end-to-end recruitment process, including interviewing and evaluating potential employees and interns to maintain a high-performing editorial team.

Digital Transformation & Brand Strategy

Operational Modernization: Led the transition to a fully digital workflow by implementing Submittable.com for manuscript management and distribution.
Brand Evolution: Facilitated a comprehensive brand refresh, including the launch of a new website and the redesign of a sponsorship kit that resulted in increased funding.
Media & Representation: Represented the journal as a spokesperson in promotional media and established advertisement exchange partnerships with other literary magazines.

Publication Management

Manuscript Coordination: Managed the flow of submissions to appropriate genre editors, coordinated with accepted contributors, and oversaw the indexing and formatting of the physical journal.
Event Production: Collaborated on the strategic planning and execution of annual journal launch events to celebrate new issues and community contributors.

Marketing, Sales, Customer Service, and Clinical Research Coordinator

Harvest Technologies | Internship

June 2014 – August 2014 | Plymouth, M.A. | On-site

Supported multi-departmental operations across marketing, sales, and clinical research, focusing on data integrity, client outreach, and the development of educational resources.

Sales Operations & Client Relations

Account Management: Conducted high-volume outreach to more than 600 private practice accounts to audit contact data and identify client needs.
Lead Management: Utilized Salesforce.com to track leads and ensure technical inquiries were routed to the appropriate sales representatives.
Customer Support: Managed inbound communications, facilitating order placement, and providing direct assistance to clients.

Marketing & Research Infrastructure

Database Development: Designed and organized a comprehensive library database of more than 500 clinical and industry references to support internal research.
Brand Collateral: Developed patient-facing educational brochures and modernized corporate presentations and forms for field use.
Event Logistics: Coordinated the logistical setup for industry conferences and professional presentations.