I learned at an early age what it means to be result driven. First, by my father who led by example and earned the distinction of being the youngest black manager in the history of IBM, at a time when there were little or no blacks holding these positions. Second, from the life lessons that I learned on the football field. The game of football is a metaphor for life. The gridiron taught me that there is no substitute for hard work, discipline and commitment to achieving long term goals. I have applied the same work ethic and understanding that there is no substitute for solid preparation to my marketing and communications career. (I’m in the top row, center.)

The following are highlights of my PR agency and in-house marketing achievements:

Great America Theme Park, Santa Clara, CA (February 2007 – September 2007) 

Silicon Valley-based Amusement park offering thrill rides and a complete water park

Public Relations & Community Affairs Manager

• Managed media and community relations including television appearances, press releases, website management, electronic communication and collateral materials.
• Managed crisis communications following a tragic drowning incident in the water park, handling media inquiries in the aftermath, disclosing investigation results, and communicating waterpark safety precautions in place and compliance with guidelines in advance and following the accident. 
• Provided water safety guidelines to California State Assemblywoman Elaine Alquist, who used them almost verbatim to write the current state law. 
• Managed response that helped educate the public and restore confidence in Great America as a safe and family-oriented amusement and water park for the community.

Hill + Knowlton’s Blanc & Otus Public Relations, Mountain View, CA (September 2000 – March 2001)

Account Executive

• Restructured analyst relations program for TiVo to establish and sustain strong relationships with iTV analysts and key industry influencers to improve ratings and coverage compared to rival ReplayTV.
• Planned and executed successful product launch and media tour for Sprite.com to announce its partnership with RocketCash.com.

McGrath/Power Public Relations (June 1999 – September 2000)

Senior Associate

• Citadon, Inc. (formerly Cephren, an online construction management platform)
  • Booked and managed logistics and follow-up for a 27-appointment media and analyst tour that delivered news and feature coverage in IT, engineering and construction trade media.
  • Spearheaded analyst relations program with construction industry analysts and influencers to effectively position the company relative to their largest competitor, Bidcom, which eventually resulted in a merger between the two market leaders. 
• Sina.com (dominant online media company in China)
  • Managed media relations program through company’s IPO announcement in 2000, including booking a 15 appointment national media and analyst tour that fueled extensive national business and financial media coverage.
  • Trained company’s executives for media and analyst interviews, and accompanied executives on tour through San Francisco, New York and Boston.
• Wyse Technology, PulseMD and the Advisor Resource Alliance
  • Executed media outreach to generate ongoing business and trade media coverage.

Sun Microsystems & Ceridian Corporation (July 1995 – April 1996)

Legislative Policy Staff/Lobbyist

• Provided government relations support to both corporations, within a shared Washington, D.C. headquarters to staff each company’s Washington, D.C. headquarters and monitor legislative and executive affairs for each organization.
• Assisted with the research and development of press releases involving technology policy, telecommunications, export controls, intellectual property rights, tax and immigration issues.
• Organized and implemented $5,000 a plate PAC fundraiser luncheons for Rep. David Drier, R-CA and Rep. Marty Meehan, D-MA and other legislators who support Sun’s policy positions.
• Met with congressional staff members to provide information concerning the potential impact of proposed payroll and federal tax policy and regulation.
• Assisted in the research and development of policy position papers concerning payroll and federal tax policy issues.
• Researched and published a bi-weekly report of Ceridian’s federal affairs activities and communicated it internally to all client executives.