Experienced Media Savvy Communications Professional passionate about telling stories that resonate with audiences across multiple channels, from traditional media to blogs, videos, podcasts, email and social media. Recognized as a quick thinker and strategic and creative leader with a track record of landing top-tier media coverage and increasing media mentions, site traffic and revenue. Skilled collaborator and mentor able to manage complex topics and projects effectively across diverse internal and external interest groups.
Skills include:
§ Journalism
§ Communications Strategy § Content Marketing
§ Writing & Editing
§ Media Strategy
§ Press Releases
§ Blogging
§ Podcasting
§ Visual Storytelling
§ Freelancer Management
§ Influencer Marketing
§ Social Media Management § Crisis Communications
§ CEO Thought Leadership
EXPERIENCE
Cityside Journalism (April 2024-Present)
I led the successful launch of Berkeley-based nonprofit Cityside Journalism’s third daily news website in Richmond, CA., where, as Editor-in-Chief, I manage a small team producing news stories in a demanding fast-paced market. We’ve posted more than 400 articles and more than 1,200 images in six months – coverage that has won considerable attention both in the journalism industry and the community, which has donated thousands of dollars to support our efforts.
Zeno Power, (May 2023-March 2024)
I founded and led the external media & communications strategy for an early-stage advanced nuclear start-up with $40+M in government contracts from NASA, the U.S. Space Force & U.S. Navy. Highlights include:
*Produced an off-site press conference and two-day event with 50+ attendees, including top military and Department of Energy officials, that won national media coverage with an estimated reach of 2.4M views worth $1.6M in ad dollars.
*Landed a mention in The Washington Post in less than 90 days. In 120 days, I helped secure the company’s first TV spot and an NPR clip.
*Helped increase social followers on X (400%) and LinkedIn (200%) in six months.
*Designed and launched company’s first newsletter marketing program with a 65% avg. open rate.
*Managed communications and crisis planning for a product shipment that falls under national and international security guidelines.
KH Content & Communications, LLC (2020-Present)
I provide a la carte content marketing services to a diverse array of clients. My journalism and corporate marketing experience helps companies tell their stories via website optimization, earned media, social media, email marketing and brand coaching.
Social Media & Communications Manager, Deep Isolation/Berkeley Earth (2020-2023)
I pioneered a robust social media presence and media and communications strategy for S.F. Bay Area-based nuclear waste disposal start-up and its co-owned internationally acclaimed climate science/air quality nonprofit research organization. Highlights include:
*Designed, hosted and co-produced a podcast series with a 5-star Apple rating that was named one of the 5 Best Nuclear Energy Podcasts to listen to in 2024 by FeedSpot.
*Founded communications strategy that in 2022 resulted in record high media mentions for Deep Isolation: 1,690 (up 156% YoY), total potential reach 897M (up 311 percent YoY);
*2020-2022: Organically doubled social followers, increased engagement to 5.7%, grew impressions 228%;
*Top media placements: The Washington Post, The Atlantic, Associated Press, Forbes,
YouTube influencer collaboration (3.4M views & 22K+ comments);
*Ran email marketing program with 40% open rate (up 30%) and improved click rate of 17% (up 76%).
Marketing & Communications Advisor, JuvaHealth (2019-2020)
I launched the social media channels and guided the digital marketing and communications strategy for a start-up company that's developing a smartphone app to deliver biofeedback therapy to treat migraines and other chronic health conditions.
Social Media Manager/Blog Editor/Online Reputation, SunPower (2015-2019)
As the sole social media, community engagement and reputation manager for a global solar manufacturer with more than 8,000 employees, I worked with multiple divisions to establish the company’s social media and content communications footprint for its C-Suite leaders, including staff and affiliate training programs. Highlights include:
*Grew social audience exponentially to 265K followers; established blog with 200K+ annual page views;
*Wrote blog posts for C-Suite authors;
*Founded Facebook Live video program; project managed brand video shoots from concept through publication;
*Collaborated with corporate communications, marketing, sales and product managers, in B2B and B2C units worldwide, to demystify the science of solar energy;
*Launched online reputation program that increased company’s average star rating from 2.6 to nearly 4.0/5 stars in 10 months.
Associate Editorial Director, Patch.com (May 2013-Jan. 2014)
*Assigned, edited and wrote articles and blog posts, shot photos and videos for digital news website. Managed budgets, freelancers;
*Executed organizational restructuring that positioned the NorCal/Washington region to maintain traffic and engagement during downsizing;
*Established new communication and CMS workflow systems that improved efficiency, resulting in better content and stronger traffic across all platforms.
Regional Editor Patch.com (May 2010-May 2013)
*Was founding member of a national editorial team that built an AOL.com start-up from 20 community news and information news sites to more than 900 properties in 22 states;
*Duties included social media management, recruiting and hiring writers, editing stories, managing editorial calendars, mentoring teams;
*Won in-house competition to lead an initiative to market Patch to more than 500 West Coast businesses by developing and delivering training sessions that helped win one of our most lucrative advertising accounts;
*Part of 2010 Pulitzer Prize entry for coverage of the fatal PG&E gas explosion/fire in San Bruno, Calif.
Bay Area News Group (1997-2010) Reporter, Daily Review Editor, Breaking News Editor, Features Editor & Online Entertainment Editor
*During my tenure at the Oakland Tribune/San Jose Mercury News Group I served in multiple leadership roles, including Editor of the Daily Review, where I managed a daily newspaper staff;
Features Editor for the Oakland Tribune; and Online Entertainment Editor;
*Managed daily breaking news coverage online, working with reporters, photographers and editors to tell stories in the fast-paced/competitive San Francisco Bay Area market;
*Produced videos and other online content and worked as a web producer;
*Managed an annual budget and led a staff of 20 reporters, freelancers, assistant editors and page designers producing eight weekly print products, including the award-winning daily Bay Area Living section, circulated to 200,000 households in the SF Bay Area.
OTHER EXPERIENCE
Editor/Reporter/Copy Editor (1991-2002)
Full-time daily newspaper reporter covering education, city government, transportation and crime and courts; copy editor and page designer for Final Frontier Magazine and daily newspapers in California, Oregon and Nebraska.
Teacher
Founded high school newspaper class grant-funded programs in Oregon and Hayward, Calif.; taught pro bono journalism classes at SF State University; taught journal writing to formerly incarcerated women; taught fashion journalism, Academy of Art, San Francisco; Copy Editor for the department’s fashion magazine distributed at NY Fashion Week.
EDUCATION
Bachelor’s Degree, San Francisco State University, with emphasis in Political Science
HONORS/AWARDS
▪ Host/co-producer of Nuclear Waste: The Whole Story podcast, named one of 5 Best Nuclear Energy Podcasts for 2024 by FeedSpot
▪ Two-time recipient of Prism Award, SunPower’s highest internal peer-nominated honor, for leadership in improving our company’s online reputation, 2019
▪ San Francisco Peninsula Press Club General Excellence Award, second place patch.com, 2011
▪ Won $25,000 grant to design and launch Bay Area News Group’s first independent freestanding topical website, 2008
▪ American Association of Sunday and Features Editors for Best Features Section, 2006
▪ Living Here, special section for ANG Newspapers, honored for excellence by California Newspaper Publishers Association, 2005
▪ American Society of Newspaper Editors, $5,000 grant recipient to create a high school journalism program for at-risk students, 2000
▪ California Newspaper Publishers Association, honored for breaking news coverage,1999
▪ Benjamin Fine national first-place award, 10-day series on Oregon school reform, 1992