My professional “roots” are in breakthrough technology and strategic communications.
My prized currency is big ideas- especially big ideas that challenge the status quo.
About Me
After 15 years being part of a big agency, I started my own shop, verbal800, with the goal of working with start-ups and expanding my sector expertise to include education and healthcare. Working with dynamic teams of entrepreneurs, academics, physicians and educators I built a portfolio that took me across the country and around the world – to the capitol building in Connecticut on behalf of patient advocacy groups fighting for new healthcare legislation; to a CEO’s office on the top floor of a Tokyo skyscraper to discuss strategy for establishing thought leadership in the mobile gaming space; and to a research lab at the University of Washington to celebrate the acquisition of a cutting-edge device to advance baby brain science.
We all have “ah ha” moments that enable us to see things in a new light. My first came in 2008 as I read an article entitled Can The Cell Phone Help End Global Poverty, in the New York Times Magazine. It was then I realized how my experience working with many of the most influential digerati could be applied to global development.
That put me on a path to return to university and launch the next chapter of my career. My graduate work a the University of Washington, which focused on the intersection of digital communications, international development and mobile technology, provided a springboard for working with CARE USA, Mercy Corps, Sustainable Harvest Coffee Importers, Grounds for Health and now The Lemelson Foundation.
My full CV can be found here.
Experience
I have 15+ years experience in strategic communications focused on issues relevant to both sides of the equator– education, healthcare, global poverty, technology adoption and sustainability. Some examples of results include:
Relationship building with industry analysts and media influentials representing vertical, local and national outlets. Proactively drove seminal New York Times feature story that Bill Gates noted was “one of the best articles on Microsoft in a long time”.
Mobilized community advocacy groups to influence legislative decision-making. Resulted in national media coverage (CNN, Good Morning America, New York Times) and more favorable dialogue with healthcare influentials and lawmakers that ultimately factored into state-sponsored anti-trust investigation. Awareness-building activities for Libraries Yes! Campaign resulted in passage of Multnomah County Library Levy by 4:1 margin.
Increased online engagement cited as key factor in successful completion of multi-million dollar capital campaign with significant support from the Bezos Family Foundation.
Narrative development, direction, camera work and video production for Lewis & Clark College, University of Washington Institute for Learning & Brain Sciences, Grainger and Boopsie resulting in eight videos used for internal and external communications programs.
Development of a wide range of content including news releases, blog posts, newsletters, op-eds and by-lined articles. Articles have appeared in Monday Developments, Roast Magazine, CoffeeTalk Magazine, Stanford Social Innovation Review and Huffington Post.
Development of executive thought-leadership platforms for myriad clients resulting in high profile speaking invitations such as TEDx and Portland City Club. High profile senior executive support for industry leaders including Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer.
Selected as speaker, panelist and moderator at numerous events and lectures including: International Lyme and & Associated Diseases Society Annual Scientific Conference, Portland State University Entrepreneurs Program, Fulbright Enrichment Programs, Let’s Talk Coffee Global and InventEd.
Developed and taught seminar entitled Strategic Storytelling for Business, Leadership and Social Change at Ashesi University in Ghana.
Identified and grew talent to efficiently meet organizational objectives and foster culture of high productivity, enthusiasm, creativity and accountability.
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Silver Anvil Award winner
Organizations
