PUBLIC OUTREACH / MARKETING / PUBLIC RELATIONS  EXPERIENCES

 

California Department of Transportation Division of Mass Transportation--  Developed, prepared and distributed marketing information brochures for the Department.  Developed and carried out public outreach at major transit conferences statewide.  Developed and maintained the Division of Mass TransportationÕs website.  Developed and provided newsworthy information to the public affairs office for distribution to press, television and other media.

 

Intel Corporation--Created and managed public relations strategies and activities to promote optical networking products to telecommunications equipment manufacturers and the technical, optical, and telecommunications press communities.  Instrumental in increasing both press and customer awareness of network communications resulting in more than $10B in expanded sales.  Consistently garnered 10-15 press interviews for new products and announcements and authored numerous articles published in news, industry, and trade publications.  Coordinated an ÒOptical Boot CampÓ designed to introduce major news publications to optical networking technology.  Efforts resulted in increased visibility both nationally and internationally.

 

Monterey Salinas Transit--Performed marketing, advertising, public outreach, press and public relations; Organized special events.  Prepared and worked as a team with the City of Monterey and the Monterey Bay Aquarium on new shuttle services to Cannery Row (ÒThe WAVEÓ). Conducted on-board and community-wide market research and developed annual marketing plans and advertising campaigns.   Conducted community meetings and press relations for the agency.  Redesigned and managed production and installation of 2,500 bus stop signs and transit service displays for three transit centers. Worked with event promoters and cities to implement special shuttles for Laguna Seca Racetrack, Pebble Beach Golf/Tennis Tournaments, and a variety of fairs and festivals.  Prepared graphics and copy for all schedules, maps, brochures, and on-board signage.  Wrote, prepared and produced all advertising including newspaper, magazine, radio and TV.  Designed and ordered advertising specialties.  Managed media trades and special media promotions including the Take the Bus to Hawaii program.  Planned and implemented transit conferences hosted by Monterey-Salinas Transit including the APTA and CTA Conferences.  Conducted numerous agency open house events and other special promotions.  Represented the transit system before policy boards, technical committees, and business and citizen groups.  Reviewed existing operations for ways to increase service without increasing cost. Prepared route plans, long range plans, and short range plans.  Prepared the Development Review Guidebook in 1985 to increase coordination between new development and transit and city planning for improved mobility.  This was one of the first such development review guides produced in the US for the construction and design industry.

 

Monterey County Trip Reduction ProgramÑDeveloped, in close coordination with developers, city staffs and business organizations a comprehensive trip reduction program for new development and major employers in Monterey County.  Developed, tested and implemented base-line commute surveys of employees in five key employment areas of the County.  Worked with employers to  design workplace incentives to obtain higher vehicle occupancies and increased non-motorized and transit commuting.  Worked with Ridesharing program to match carpools, and with transit agency to development and operate new commuter transit routes and schedules.  Developed, wrote and produced a Trip Reduction Handbook for employers with ready-to-use materials for employees.  Developed with city input, a Facilities Trip Reduction Ordinance that was adopted by all 14 Cities and the County.  The Ordinance requires each development to provide transit and ridesharing and non-motorized amenities to decrease solo auto use and is oriented to residential, employment, educational, retail and visitor serving sites and uses. Assessed the success of each method to induce a mode shift and reported to employers, citizen, transit agency, technical staffs and elected officials.  Implemented count programs to assess average vehicle occupancy during commute and non-commute hours, including recreational peaks, along major roads and highways.

 

Monterey County Rail FestivalsÑPlanned and implemented four Rail Festivals between 1995 and 1998 to market new rail service to the public and obtain their input on factors including schedules, fares, and equipment/stations.  The events were attended by up to 10,000 members of the public.  The project required extensive coordination and planning with local cities, the railroads, Amtrak, transit operator, equipment owners, Caltrain, and local transit.  Represented the agency to the press on matters related to the Rail Planning Program.  Planned and implemented dignitary and elected official train rides to introduce elected officials, chamber of commerce and visitor industry representatives to the possibilities for rail service between San Francisco and Monterey and between Salinas and San Jose.  Hosted new train equipment including the Talgo, ICE, Caltrans Intercity, and Regio Sprinter.  Service operated for the public included trains along the Monterey Branch Line and along the UPRR coast Line through the Salinas Valley.  Produced and distributed a Rail Newsletter to a mailing list of the public collected at the Rail Festivals and at night and weekend orientation meetings on the project.

 

Objective Systems Integrators--Developed and managed public relations activities. Duties included writing press releases for products and personnel, generating articles in relevant news, industry, and trade publications, arranging press interviews, producing a newsletter, creating a corporate website and preparation of information for an IPO.

 

Hewlett Packard--Oversaw overall public relations activities and coordinated public relations outreach with the press and analyst communities. Additionally,  charged with managing trade shows, expositions, and visibility within trade publications.  Reduced PR budget $120K by refocusing efforts towards more productive and newsworthy endeavors.  Increased sales 15% by initiating a Ócustomer endorsement programÓ rewarding field sales staff and customers for product endorsements.  Orchestrated 3-day Industry Analyst Conference to introduce and promote networking products and technology.

 

California Department of Transportation--Led facilitation of internal Caltrans management team meetings, team building, and facilitated multi-agency statewide transit process meetings.

 

Modern Communications, Inc--Managed communication projects for government and private clients including the Indian Health Service, the California SIDS Program, and Sacramento Metropolitan Utility District.  Ensured deliverables were completed in accordance with project schedules, budgets and client contracts.  Prepared content for websites and other Internet-based applications.

 

Marketing--Writer for company documents and publications along with placing advertising in commercial and trade magazines.  Outside territory from Santa Barbara to San Diego for product review in larger chains. Responsible for business development throughout the territory to meet marketing goals, and provide marketing support for expansion.  Hired and trained staff to promote product lines and managed public outreach efforts.  Worked with distributors on marketing promotions, and shipping specialty bulk orders.