​​

Employment History

CONSULTANT, Metuchen NJ. 6/2007 – present. Freelance/self-employed. Metuchen, NJ

• Writer/Editor and Social Media Consultant. Create/edit digital content including blog, social media and webpages for DNR Communications, Raising the Bar and others. PR package for Dizzy Gillespie Songbook.

• Communications Industry Marketing Consultant. Provide communications strategy and content for businesses, government, analysts, entertainers, media executives, and others. Produced/hosted videos (e.g., Eye on Metuchen) for YouTube, VoD, and social. Presentations for NJ League of Municipalities, NATOA, and FCC. Presented strategy to FCC Chair and Commissioners on community media issues. Wrote articles for Community Media Review (e.g., Shelly Palmer review). Consult with government officials on communications and speaking strategies for events (NJLM, Eastern Region Media Conference, Jersey Access Group, etc.…). 

• Organizational Development Trainer and Consultant. Developed and presented inter-organization communications workshops for large corporations. Foundation for teamwork book by Glenn Parker.

VERIZON, Basking Ridge, NJ. 4/2016 – 11/2018. Verizon Consumer Markets Digital & Strategic Sales.

• Business Operations and Communications Manager. Responsible for executive and employee communications, employee engagement, social/community management, content development, and event/meeting management. Source, manage, train and support email, distribution, reporting and productivity tools (eCRM, GSuite, WebEx, VZTube, Jive, Survey Monkey, etc.). Develop and manage communications channels and content (videos, blogs, polls/surveys, social media/intranet, collaboration tools, video, email, email lists, reports and business process playbooks). Highlights include: Created/managed onboarding program and trained 80+ new hires/transfers. Developed/managed meeting and agenda/content for vendor/partner and leadership forums with C-level executive participation (250+ people). Led/developed training and job aids and support plan for transition to G Suite and WebEx platforms. Created HTML, email, and slide templates. Managed/initiated live chat event with 200+ posts. Designed, launched and managed CrowdAround community.

DIGITAL MARKETING & OPERATIONS CONSULTANT/CONTRACTOR. 2/2014–4/2016.

• Verizon Wireless Online Personalization Manager. 6/2015–4/2016. Full-time contractor. Developed and managed personalization strategy across digital platforms (social media, paid search and landing pages). Documented and designed personalization and other digital marketing processes. Performed market research. Partnered with business partners to execute cross-channel initiatives. Identified personalization and customization opportunities. Defined, documented and drove business metrics and reporting. Highlights include: First standard process documentation with forms and procedures for personalization/customization projects used by development, creative, project management, QA, analytics, and other functions. Managed personalized landing pages for Twitter/social listening and paid search projects.

• Johnson & Johnson/Janssen Communications Manager and Technical Writer. 2/2015–6/2015.  Full-time consultant. Communications planning and strategy for IT's report and analytics framework including roll-out, communications, presentations, training materials, and implementation guide.

SIEMENS A.G., Piscataway, NJ. 12/2011–2/2014. Siemens Hearing Instruments. 

• Director, Digital Marketing, PR, and Communications. Managed PR/media relations, digital marketing, internal/executive communications, ecommerce, intranet, event management system, social media, and online presence. 4 direct reports, 3 agencies. Established online content standards and processes. Managed website CMS migrations. Created mobile/tablet solutions, sales tools, campaigns (PPC, social media, SMS, and SEO), bylines, testimonials, syndicated articles, and other content. Vendor management, including work definition, terms and conditions, etc. Highlights: Doubled CTR while halving CPC. Created/led digital marketing workshops for small businesses. First social media (Facebook, Twitter, Google+, etc.). First social listening/reputation management. First analytics dashboards. First awards program. 2014 and 2013 CES Innovation Honoree; Parent Tested Parent Approved Seal; 25 testimonials (12 video); Siemens Global Collaboration Award; 5,800+ articles via PR (BrandPoint record for fastest to print media). 

LEXISNEXIS/MARTINDALE HUBBELL, New Providence, NJ.4/2008–12/2011. Legal Business Solutions.

• Director, Digital Marketing, Digital Marketing Solutions. Internal agency providing digital strategies (mobile, web, social, PPC/SEM, and SEO) for law firms. 12 direct reports, 50+ vendors including writers, project managers, digital marketing specialists, and editors. Established/managed content process and standards. Designed/wrote consultation scripts/creative briefs, press releases, blogs, and custom content. Digital and creative agency vendor management. Highlights: Innovation award for mobile app. Reduced copy development time by 40%, increased throughput from 17 to 100+ websites/month. Produced 17,000+ custom web pages/year with a < 0.01% error rate. Established lawyers.com and digital style guides. Led Employee Engagement Task Force.

TELCORDIA TECHNOLOGIES, Piscataway, NJ. 11/1994–6/2007. Global telecom software & services.

• Regional Marketing Director Americas, Corporate Marketing. Led strategic planning and marketing to drive $700M in sales. Ensured brand integrity across business units. Managed direct (email) marketing, communications, events, sponsorships, messaging, and case studies. Highlights: Moderator IP network panel at TMW. Created corporate/executive messaging (presentations, talking points, event agendas. etc.). Facilitated webinars and initiatives with channel partners. Exceeded Americas region sales goals.

• Strategy and Communications Director, Telecom Services and Global Services. Coordinated all internal and external communications and strategic marketing for $150M services business. 3 direct reports and vendors. Ensured consistent branding/messaging across 7 services businesses. Executive communications, strategy/offer development, and marcom for CEO, president, and VPs. Managed market research, segmentation, channel development, PR, events, and web content. Highlights: First time Telcordia in top 10 technology consulting companies. Telcordia became leader in number portability, IPTV consulting, and MVNO (wireless). Initiated/ completed 170+ projects in 10 months: thought leadership, sales training/tools, value props, newsletters, media/analyst relations, webinars/workshops…

• Sr. Consultant/International Location Data Engineer, COMMON LANGUAGE® Products. Technical support, training, and consultation for international location identification and addressing standards. Developed telecom industry standards for wireless, wireline, cable, broadband, and other communications providers. Analyzed network architectures (IP, MPLS, etc.) and network elements. Presented issues/papers at industry forums. Wrote white papers, job aids, user guides, requirements, and technical documentation supporting 125+ customers (98% of North American market). Highlights: CLLI™ Technical Advisory Group chair, ATIS and LERG industry forum representative, international codes/standards and master data SME, developed procedures used throughout the telecom industry.

• Product Line Manager/Business Development Director, Common Language® Products. Developed customer/market-driven proposals (RFx) for $60M business serving industry leaders. Global sales and sales support. Designed product offers and strategies for pipeline and channel development. Trained sales, marketing, customer service, and technical teams. Organized and staffed exhibits, delivered presentations, and developed demos for industry conferences and events. Produced CDs, videos, papers, articles, value propositions, etc. Highlights: Speaker on 2D and 3D barcodes for UK/BT Network Management Forum.

• Product Line Manager, Network Design and Supply Chain Management Business. Grew and maintained $20M in revenues for OSS/BSS products. Directed pricing, segmentation, operations planning, product offers, channels and alliances, market research, and sales for product lines. Developed marketing plans, collateral, contracts, proposals, go-to-market criteria, and customer satisfaction strategies for existing and new products. Highlights: Telcordia recognition awards for product innovation and exceeding targets. Measurably improved customer satisfaction and retention. Speaker and facilitator for Telecom Inventory Management Forum.

• Technical Sales Manager. Product Line Management Group, Language Standards. Provided technical sales, customer service and support for services and standards used by North American service providers (grew from 17 to 100 clients). Organized meetings and events, facilitated focus groups, and presented technical seminars at industry forums. Led planning, product development, pricing, segmentation, market research, and sales strategies. Industry spokesperson for Common Language. Wrote standards documentation. Highlights: Awards for product initiatives. Increased revenues 40% y/y; improved customer satisfaction/retention.

• Communications & Training Manager. Marketing and Customer Support Group, Language Standards. Created all marketing collateral for product line. Published quarterly newsletter (circulation 1400+). Wrote press releases and articles for internal and external publications. Highlights: Division awards for team building and marketing collateral. ITVA award-winning videos (Spanish and English).

Other Experience

• Video Producer/Talent. Produced 100+ TV shows for PEG station METV. Technical and camera work, talent/host. Conducted interviewing technique workshops. Awards include: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, and 2011 JAM awards for excellence as producer and talent. Producer/host/writer: live election coverage, mayor’s forum (guests include Congressional representatives and other officials), and other shows.

• Producer and Theater Professional. Events producer for music festivals and other performing arts series and events. Creative and technical theater work in community, Off-Broadway, and educational theater. Awards for directing, design, stage management, acting.

• Playwright/Poet/Performer. Author professionally produced play and other works performed by various companies in the USA and UK (RSC). Featured reader on PBS, NJN, community, and cable TV, Geraldine R. Dodge Poetry Festival, and more than 100 venues in New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, and Massachusetts. Widely published poet. Director of several long-running reading series. Author of only poem nominated for state poem by the New Jersey State Legislature. Winner 1993 Arvon Foundation International Poetry Competition (UK), Allen Ginsberg First Place Prize, and others. 

• Teacher/Tutor. Judge/adjudicator in many literary and theater competitions. Taught full-time. Tutored undergraduates in electronics, mathematics, and English. Conducted many creative writing workshops.

• Poll Worker. Polling place officer for Middlesex County NJ.

Corporate Committees & Community Service

• LexisNexis Employee Engagement Task Force: Improved employee morale and productivity.

• Telcordia Employee Communications and Marketing Communications Council: President’s delegate for internal communications and corporate marcom e.g. events, media relations, analyst relations.

• Events Management, Bellcore/Telcordia Tradeshow, and Executive Forum Committees

• HR and Communications Sub-Committees, Telcordia Employee Voice (TEV)

• Board of Directors: Edison Valley Playhouse, Parish Players, Actor’s Repertory Company.

• Vice-President/Commissioner, Metuchen Cultural Arts Commission: Appointed to seven two-year terms

• Organizer/Board of Directors, Metuchen Centennial Commission: Co-produced 74 events.

Education & Training

KEAN UNIVERSITY, Union, NJ 

• B. A. Cum Laude, English: Speech/Theater/Media major. Dean's list, recognition awards.

MIDDLESEX COUNTY COLLEGE, Edison, NJ 

• A. A. S. Electrical Engineering Technology. Dean's list; Engineering Honor Society officer; Division Council. 

• Business Management Certification Program. Accounting, economics, law, business management.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT:

• Harvard, MIT/Sloan, AMA, Telestrategies, IBS, AIC Worldwide. Executive forums and seminars: international negotiations, ecommerce, product & sales strategies, cost management, structured analysis…

• Verizon, Siemens, LexisNexis, AT&T, Bell Labs, Telcordia. Technical, sales, and marketing curricula: Masters in Selling, Mini MBA, project management, international marketing, data warehousing/mining, telephony, data communications, telco operations, team building, quality, usability, business strategy…

CERTIFICATIONS:

• NJ State Teaching Certificates: 1440 - Teacher of Speech Arts & Dramatics and 1410 - Teacher of English.

• MECLABS certifications: Online Testing, Value Proposition Development, and Landing Page Optimization.