Public Relations

My public relations career has spanned more than a decade, ranging from working for a major regional opera company to living the agency life to doing corporate communications for an overseas university. My specialties are media relations and writing, including articles, press releases, speeches, bios and general messaging. I also have skills in social media, public speaking, strategy and client management and have worked with a range of organizations with interests including arts, education, automotive, publishing, engineering, skincare, advertising and conservancy.

Freelance PR Pro - Your People and Weigandt Communications

Since February 2021, I have been a freelance PR pro, working for Your People and Weigandt Communications. In these roles I write press releases, conduct media relations and provide event support with clients with interests including education, science, automotive, publishing, law and conservancy.

Top Media Placements:
MLive: Pop culture meets science at Hollywood-themed Michigan Science Center exhibit (Michigan Science Center)
Detroit Free Press: West Bloomfield grandmother celebrates reissue of 'Bubbie's Baby,' a songbook for children (Elaine Serling, author)
Fox 2 : Cleary University Offering Degree Program for DPD Officers (Cleary University)
WDIV-TV: Michigan Science Center celebrates intersection between art, fiction, and creativity (Michigan Science Center)
WDET, Detroit Today: Worker Cooperatives Can Teach Businesses About Valuing Employees During "Labor Shortage" (Detroit Community Wealth Fund)
The Grand Life podcast: Music with Grands (Elaine Serling, author)
Detroit News: POPnology travels back in time to the future (Michigan Science Center)
WRSI-FM: Dig in with the Hartsbrook School (Hartsbrook Waldorf School)
WDIV-TV: Cleary University in Howell recruiting for esports team, scholarship money available (Cleary University)

Michigan Opera Theatre (now Detroit Opera)

Airfoil Group

From July 2013 to October 2016, I worked at Airfoil Group, a creative marketing and public relations firm based in Metro Detroit. In this role, I worked with and led teams to provide public relations support for clients with interests ranging from automotive to marketing to consumer tech. I also led the public relations work for the Adcraft Club of Detroit, contributing to a 19 percent increase in club membership.

My speciality is media relations, working with clients to develop and tell their stories and placing their news in strategic national, local and trade news outlets. My work also includes content development, social media, client management, account management and strategy.

Top Media Placements:

Entrepreneur: Recruiting Employees -- and Their Friends -- to Market Your Brand (Airfoil Group)
USA Today: 5 tips to help you file taxes by April 15 (Walsh College)
TIME: This Is the Best Search Engine You’re Not Using (iCIMS)
Teen Vogue: Goodbye, Razors! Here's Everything You Need to Know About Laser Hair Removal (American Laser Skincare)
Detroit News: Altair Engineering marks 30 years; IPO possible (Altair)
Business News Daily: Influence Marketing: How to Get Referrals from the ‘In Crowd’ (Ambassador)
Crain’s Detroit Business: Brogan & Partners gets best of show at Adcraft's The D Show (Adcraft Club of Detroit)
Fox 2: Walsh College’s eGuide to a Successful Career (Walsh College)
Detroit Free Press: James Scapa, Altair's quiet risk taker (Altair)
Business News Daily: 2015 Job Hunt: 4 Ways to Stand Out From the Crowd (iCIMS)
WDET, Detroit Today: Is the Detroit Housing Market Rebounding? Or is it in a Bubble? (Walsh College)
Crain’s Detroit Business: Fox executive becomes latest Adcraft Club of Detroit president (Adcraft Club of Detroit)
Detroit Free Press: CFI Group CEO: Better customer service can boost profits (CFI Group)
Corp! Magazine: AdCon, Adcraft Club Conference Prepares Students for the World Behind ‘Mad Men’ (Adcraft Club of Detroit)
WDET, Detroit Today: Are Everyday Devices Safe From Hacking? (Walsh College)
Business News Daily: 8 Things You Should Never Do During a Job Interview (iCIMS)
Detroit Free Press: How Judge Rhodes came to speak at Walsh commencement (Walsh College)
Corp! Magazine: New Slate of Officers Join Adcraft Club of Detroit to Inspire, Educate Membership (Adcraft Club of Detroit)
WDET, Detroit Today: Career Advancements for Millennials (Walsh College)

Canning Communications

From March - July 2013, I worked as a part-time communications specialist at Canning Communications in Detroit, Michigan. In this role, I worked with non-profit organizations in Detroit dealing with issues including non-motorized transportation, urban planning and promoting safe homes. My work focused mostly on content creation, developing press releases, fact sheets, profiles, FAQs and website content, as well as monitoring for client coverage in the media.

Links to my work with Canning Communications may be available upon request.

UCSI Group and University

Between July 2010 - September 2011 I was a public relations manager for the UCSI Group and University in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. While promoting the university was a significant portion of our work, we were also responsible for representing all of the Group's 20 subsidiary companies, which included businesses in hospitality, education, consultancy and healthcare. One of my largest responsibilities was leading a public relations campaign promoting the Group's $370 million investment in national initiatives aimed at improving Malaysia's economy through education and the development of a 160-acre health, education and tourism complex.

I also served as speechwriter for the Group’s senior executive and other upper level management, including the University’s vice chancellor who trusted me solely to produce all of his spoken or written material. Additionally, I was a public face for the UCSI Group, frequently acting as on-camera reporter and host for in-house video productions and emceeing major events, including the University’s 25th anniversary launch ceremony.

Please find links below to samples of some of my work, more may be available upon request!

Press Releases

UCSI University to Lead Malaysia Centre for Tourism and Hospitality Education
MASholidays and UCSI Group to Offer Malaysia’s First Inbound Education Travel Programmes
UCSI University on Target towards Achieving EPP10
UCSI Group to lead national initiative to promote education, health and research growth
UCSI Group announces RM1.13 billion in expansion plans
5th Annual National Conference on Integrity

Top Media Placements

The Star: Moving Forward
New Straits Times: Lighting Up Lives
The Sun: 9 new initiatives
The Star: Chance to travel and learn
HWM: UCSI & Ricoh Sign MoA
The Star: Masters of Health
New Straits Times: Kids Learn Through Play at UCSI Camp
The Star: Learning Empathy

Brochures

UCSI University Hospital
UCSI International School