Expert Details
Public Relations Strategy and Advisory
ID: 736296
Florida, USA
Expert is an Emmy Award-winning, accredited PR practitioner, speaker, author, and entrepreneur. He earned a bachelor of journalism from the Missouri School of Journalism, the world’s first and finest J-School. PRWeek named him a “Rising Star of PR.” He has 25 years of experience guiding some of America’s most admired brands, including Budweiser, Dave and Buster’s, H&R Block, Hilton, HP, Miller Lite, New York Life, Pizza Hut, Southern Comfort, Verizon, and many more.
Education
| Year | Degree | Subject | Institution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year: 1998 | Degree: Bachelor's | Subject: Journalism | Institution: University of Missouri- Columbia |
Work History
| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
|---|---|---|---|
| Years: 2002 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: CEO and Managing Partner | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert's responsibilities as CEO and Managing Partner of this public relations firm include:Business Development • Talent Development • Client Engagement • Agency Operations Expert specializes in news, social, and web strategies and services including earned media coverage, thought-leadership, crisis communications, spokesperson training, speaking engagements, and award entries. He is tasked routinely with innovating, developing, leading and retaining high-priority public relations clients and talent. He also stewards the pipeline for new business, manages and develops a catalogue of target clients, and researches and engages in the cogs of a successful relationship between client and agency. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to 2022 | Employer: Synovus | Title: Shareholder, Independent Director, Outside Director, and Advisory Board Member | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert was independent outside director of a financial corporation and North Florida advisory board. American Banker named this firm the “Most Reputable Bank" in America.In this position, board members lend guidance on bank strategies, business development, management, community involvement, and other bank-related matters. Board members help bank leadership build lasting customer relationships, generate new business, and reach out to the community Expert began serving on the board in 2014. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2014 to Present | Employer: Undisclosed | Title: Expert Public Relations Columnist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert is responsible for writing article-based guidance on public relations, marketing, and business topics. Audiences include senior executives, c-suite leadership, entrepreneurs, and business owners. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 2000 to 2002 | Employer: Florida Sports Awards | Title: Vice President, Marketing Communications | Department: |
Responsibilities:Emmy-winning televised Florida Sports Awards, the then-official statewide sports show awarding Jaspers to the state's top professional athletes during a black-tie primetime show, was televised on Sun Sports, DirecTV, Southeast, and Florida NBC-affiliate television stations. It was also the signature fundraiser for the Otis F. Smith Kids Foundation.In this role, Expert built relationships with sports and entertainment news media, professional teams and tours, and corporate sponsors and vendors, including Wachovia, General Motors, the Florida Marlins, Miami Heat, Miami Sol, Miami Dolphins, Orlando Magic, Tampa Bay Devil Rays, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, WTA Tour, PGA Tour, ATP Tour, LPGA Tour, and NASCAR. Expert increased the organization's television earned media news coverage by 412%, print media coverage by 368%, target media list by 99%, show's media room attendance by 55%, website traffic by 80%, fan voting by 500%, media voting by 230%, and show ratings by 29% Expert secured $50K cash and $50K in-kind donations of telecommunications, computers, and more Expert collaborated with an advertising agency to develop successful paid media campaigns and collateral materials. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1998 to 2000 | Employer: FDN Communications | Title: Director/ Shareholder | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert was promoted to general manager of $3 million Internet services division with 24/7 IT support center staffed by 20 employees.He led the team, including level-one and level-two customer support representatives, system engineers, and server and router techs. Among other achievements, he: - managed crises in service, operations, and the facility - developed user agreements, documentation, pricing models, and organization structures - maintained company billing process and credit card merchant account - coordinated departments to solve advanced issues and build a better organization - facilitated customer's ability to do business with company In his prior role as Creative Services and Marketing Director from May 1998 through October 1999, Expert: - managed web design services department and marketing services to company and clients - managed print advertising campaign of $10k, which returned $30k in new, reoccurring sales within 30 days - made an in-debt department profitable in six months after it underwent three years of losses - transformed the department into the company's most profitable department in six months - led marketing efforts that led the company to its best revenue periods in history - secured regular news media coverage that led to company purchase - served as the media spokesperson - designed and developed multi-department corporate intranet - managed client e-commerce software design, development, and integration that later became the framework for Yahoo! Shopping - led eCommerce strategies for employees and clients - served as ustomer advocate |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1998 | Employer: Self-employed | Title: President | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert was President of his public relations, advertising, and Internet consulting firm. His clients ranged from advertising agencies to not-for-profit organizations (Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools) to national consumer products (Clean Shower) and global architecture and engineering firms. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1997 | Employer: Shepherd Public Relations | Title: Public Relations Assistant | Department: Internship |
Responsibilities:During this time, Expert assisted senior account executives on a variety of accounts and projects. Clients included automotive, cable television, health insurance, hospitality, transportation, travel, and veterinarian pharmaceuticals like Coggin Automotive Group, Comcast, Florida Blue, Hilton, JAXPORT, GATX Logistics, Merck, OffRoad America, and more. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1995 to 1997 | Employer: Missouri Partnership for Outstanding Schools | Title: Communications Coordinator | Department: Part-time |
Responsibilities:Among other achievements, Expert:* Published and promoted statewide, monthly print newsletter (8,200 circulation) * Designed and developed organization's first website * Managed public relations, communications, special events, and fundraising/sponsorships with Budweiser, Herschend Family Entertainment, and Kauffman Foundation * Consulted for organization for two years after employment |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1996 to 1997 | Employer: Columbia Missourian | Title: Web Developer and Reporter; Digital Missourian | Department: Apprenticeship |
Responsibilities:The Columbia Missourian is a digital and daily print newspaper that competes in the smallest U.S. market with two daily newspapers. Expert covered local and state government issues for the Digital Missourian when it first launched. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1992 to 1996 | Employer: New York Times Regional Media Group | Title: Production Assistant | Department: Part-time |
Responsibilities:Expert worked as a production assistant, including darkroom technician and layout/production services. He also served as a writer and photographer for Florida's oldest weekly newspaper, The Fernandina Beach (Fla.) News-Leader, a The New York Times Regional Newspaper Group company. |
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| Years | Employer | Title | Department |
| Years: 1993 to 1995 | Employer: The Florida Times- Union | Title: Freelance Journalist | Department: |
Responsibilities:Expert wrote feature stories for teen and young adult readers on various topics. He also covered sports and metro stories, including Nassau County news, and worked on the initial online edition (pilot program) efforts for jacksonville.com. |
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Career Accomplishments
| Licenses / Certifications |
|---|
| FBI; Active Shooter Executive Seminar Training, Issued Feb 2018 Licensed Real Estate Associate- Florida, Issued 2016 Continuing Board Education (CBE) Program, Issued 2015 HubSpot; Inbound Certification, Issued 2014 The Predictive Index; Certified Predict Index (PI) Analysts, Issued 2013 Public relations Society of America (PRSA); Accreditation in Public Relations (Expert), Issued 2002 HubSpot; Solutions Partner Certified, Issued 2020 |
| Professional Appointments |
|---|
| Association for Corporate Growth; Director, Board of Directors Water for All Nations; Director, Board of Directors The Second State Business Development Initiative; Director, Board of Directors VOICE Today; PR Advisor Nassau County Economic Development Board; Director, Board of Director, Chair Rotary International; Board of Directors Member, Local Club First Coast Electronic Commerce, Inc.; Director, Board of Directors University of North Florida; Department of Communications Professional Advisory Board |
| Awards / Recognition |
|---|
| Golden Image Award Total Ad Campaign Award The Northeast Florida Regional Leadership Academy Time’s Person of the Year Service Award Small Business of the Year Rising Star of PR Dick Pope All-Florida Golden Image Award 40 Under 40 Accreditation in Public Relations Emmy Award Image Award Commendation Emerging Leader High-tech PR Firm Regional Companies To Watch nominee Top 25 Advertising, Marketing and PR Agencies Top 25 Best Places to Work Top 25 “Companies That Care” |
| Publications and Patents Summary |
|---|
| Publications: 6 |