I completed my education at Northwestern University, earning a Bachelor of Philosophy in Communication from the School of Speech. Even at that time, I recognized the universality of communication, its significance across industries and successful organizations, and how my skills could seamlessly transition. Every communication, presented through various channels, ultimately serves a person seeking information, guidance, instructions, updates, motivations, and more. Sometimes, I interact with an individual client, while on other occasions, my audience spans tens of thousands of stakeholders across diverse time zones and locations.

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Being an experienced communication professional deeply involved in numerous change endeavors, I realized the intrinsic role of change in our complex world. Consequently, I pursued formal training in change management. I find immense satisfaction in this profession, which has enriched my life and empowered me to be a leader in communication engagement and change management.

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Furthermore, recognizing that learning is a perpetual journey, I expanded my knowledge from 2020 to 2022, earning continuing-education certificates from Cornell University and UC-San Diego. Additionally, I obtained certification as a Change Practitioner through Prosci Change Management.

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While pursuing my Bachelor of Philosophy in Communications degree, I embarked on my first "real job" as a journalist for a suburban newspaper. Despite its modest pay, this experience enriched my life and skills, offering immediate lessons in deadline management and public interaction. My journey then led me through various roles, including positions at the Chicago Board of Trade, Accenture, JPMorgan Chase, LaSalle Investment Management, and the Mid-America Regional Council Of Carpenters.

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During my nearly 10-year tenure as Chief Communications Officer at the Mid-America Regional Council of Carpenters (formerly the Chicago Regional Council of Carpenters), I led the development and execution of a comprehensive, integrated communications strategy. This included a robust internal communications program tailored to the needs of 40,000+ members, as well as external campaigns that enhanced the organization’s brand, reputation, and service visibility. I also served as the president’s ghostwriter, authoring more than 40 articles under his byline for member publications. After relocating from Chicago to Arizona to provide elder care for a family member, I have continued to contribute through remote consulting and communications leadership, and I am now seeking a long-term role where I can bring this experience to a mission-driven organization.

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Recently, I worked as a consultant with ACGME, serving as Communications Lead for its digital transformation initiative and multi-product rollout, and Communications and Change Management Consultant with Optum in its Strategic Engagement and Technology Enablement group, leveraging my strategic change communications experience to help integrate acquired health care businesses within the Optum enterprise. Previously, I fulfilled the role of a Change Management and Communications Project Manager with W.L. Gore & Associates. In this contractual position, I led a pivotal change initiative within the Medical Products division. My responsibilities encompassed creating crucial rollout timelines, establishing a framework for a team of thought leaders, assessing the impact on stakeholders, and implementing ADKAR® change principles. I also established a communication milestones cadence, which proved instrumental in effectively sustaining the model both internally and externally.
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Not only have I developed strategic communication plans and disseminated messages to global and domestic internal and external audiences, but I have successfully and enthusiastically mentored and championed individuals and teams -- skills acquired and set in motion through years of athletic competition, teaching and coaching of high school and college athletes. My depth and breadth of communications experience, analytical thinking, persuasive people skills and can-do determination have enabled me as a #nonprofit organization's Humane Policy State Chair and Advocacy Team Lead to drive positive change for communities in which I work with fellow advocates. ​

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Being a communications professional can mean having a blank piece of paper with no margins, or a rigid template that demands answers to the 5 Ws and 1 H:  the Who, What, When, Where, Why and How. This is a vocation and skill that is both applicable and a necessity within every successful industry, company, sector, and geography. Strategic and tactical communication is crucial to every disseminated message whether shared in confidence with one, or comprising a mass distribution involving many thousands. Communication is about listening to others, collaborating across a network, recognizing and understanding defined goals and challenges, questioning process and origination of problems, empathetically caring about the audience and the needs of the receiver of the message, being responsive, and ultimately...delivering!
 

​As an individual I have been defined as principled in my thoughts, words and actions, thoughtful in the way I consider others and go about tasks, tenacious because of a commitment to face down challenges and adversity, and humane for the way I try to live my life as a respectful steward of the planet, her species, and her limited resources. I invite you to explore this site's snapshot of my thoughts, background, narrative-telling visuals, and resume.  Oh...and of course some samples, which are but a scintilla of past work, much of which cannot be shared out of respect for confidentiality and proprietary considerations.  Who we are and how we are perceived help create a conduit of respect, trust, and confidence.  Drop me a line if I can help your business!

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