EXPERIENCE
Director of Development, Cincinnati Opera, Cincinnati, Ohio (2006-present)
Oversee all fundraising activities to support Cincinnati Opera’s $6 million annual budget.
Manage team of five development professionals in tasks ranging from annual campaign and special events to major gifts, sponsorships and planned gifts. Evaluate and motivate staff; new professionals when needed.
Participate in the management and strategic direction of America’s second-oldest opera company.
Nurture relationships with opera donors and corporate supporters and identify new sources of revenue.
Assistant Editor, Arts & Entertainment, CityBeat, Cincinnati, Ohio (1998-2006)
Planned, assigned and edited all arts and entertainment features. Managed full-time staff of four feature writers.
Wrote cover stories and served as theater columnist and chief theater reviewer.
Served as a member of the newspaper’s senior management team.
Executive Counselor, Vice President, Dan Pinger Public Relations, Cincinnati, Ohio (1991-1998)
Provided strategic counsel and services to a wide range of agency accounts and projects including Cincinnati Bell, LensCrafters, Downtown Cincinnati Inc., Forward Quest, Union Central Insurance & Investments, Burke Market Research, RiverHills Healthcare, St. Luke Hospitals, Jewish Hospital, The Health Alliance, Group Health Associates and The Inclusion Network.
Served on the agency’s senior management team.
Conducted new business activities, spurring growth from 7 to 34 employees between 1991 and 1998.
Recruited, evaluated and hired individuals for the agency’s professional staff.
For two years (1995-1997) served as a contract employee with The Jewish Hospital holding the position of Vice President, Marketing/Communications. Managed a $2.2 million budget and a 15-person staff.
Associate Director, Public Relations, Hensler Westerkamp Giles, Inc., Cincinnati (1990-1991)
Oversaw day-to-day administration of public relations division of full-service advertising agency.
Provided full range of services — strategic counsel, crisis communications, media relations, special event coordination, publication production, and so on — for clients in a broad variety of industries.
Director of Communications, ChoiceCare, Cincinnati (1985-1990)
Created and managed corporate communications and community relations programs for major HMO.
Served as company spokesperson and media liaison.
Wrote, edited and produced publications for subscribers and physicians.
Developed programs of public relations to support marketing activities.
Managed relationships with ChoiceCare’s advertising and public relations agencies.
General Manager, WNKU-FM, Northern Kentucky University, Highland Heights, Kentucky (1984-1985)
Managed non-commercial public radio station from initial licensure through studio construction and transmitter installation, staffing and programming to begin broadcasting in mid-1985.
Worked with university officials, legal and technical consultants, a community advisory board, and federal agencies for licensing, construction, and fundraising. Public speaking to promote station.
Promotion Director, WGUC-FM, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati (1980-1984)
Administered public relations for WGUC, a major public radio and classical music station.
Oversaw publications, marketing, media relations, and special events.
Marketed WGUC’s broadcast services to the local listening audience in Cincinnati.
Marketed WGUC productions to other public radio stations across the United States.
Twice elected to National Public radio’s Public Information Advisory Committee.
Director of Communications & Publications, Walsh College, Canton, Ohio (1978-1980)
Handled public relations, admissions and other publications, advertising, media relations, special event coordination and promotion for liberal arts college. Advised student publications.
Assisted with annual fund drive and with support group coordination.
Assistant Director of Publications/News Services, Hiram College, Hiram, Ohio (1976-1978)
Directed college news and sports information bureau, including speakers and experts lists.
Edited alumni magazine, newsletters, handbooks, and other college publications.
Coordinated special events.
EDUCATION
Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio. B.A., High Honors, 1971. Major in English.
Graduate study in English literature. Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio. M.A., 1972; Ph.D., 1980. State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, doctoral course work in medieval studies (1972-1973). Held fellowships and teaching assistantships.
Professional seminars in crisis communications, marketing, editing, publishing, graphic design, media training, public relations research, personnel management and financial administration.
ADDITIONAL PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
The Sondheim Review, contributor (since 1999) and managing editor (since 2004) of national quarterly magazine about the musical theater works of composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim.
Around Cincinnati, contributor of arts interviews to weekly program on National Public Radio affiliate WVXU-FM (2005-present).
PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Oberlin College Alumni Association, Admissions Recruiter (1980-1984), Class of 1971 President (1991-1994),
at-large member of the newly established Development Committee (2006-present), Class Agent (2007-present).
Leadership Cincinnati, Class XXI (1997-98), Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce. Steering Committee, (1999- 2001); Leadership Cincinnati Alumni Association Board (1998-2003), President (2002).
Regional Leadership Forum, Greater Cincinnati Chamber of Commerce (2004-2005).
The Cincinnatus Association (2001-present); Arts & Culture Panel Chair (2001-2004); Executive Committee (2003-2005); Secretary (2004-2005); Chair, Blue Ribbon Commission to Revitalize Cincinnatus (2004-2005).
Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). Cincinnati Chapter Board of Directors (1983-1990, 1996-1998); Chapter President (1985-1986).
American Theatre Critics Association; Executive Committee (2001-2007); Chair (2004-2005).
Adjunct Instructor, University of Cincinnati, College of Business (managerial communications for M.B.A. students), College of Arts & Sciences (graduate course in promotional writing), and College-Conservatory of Music (courses on theater criticism and dramaturgy); also at Northern Kentucky University, Department of Communications (undergraduate courses in journalism and public relations).
Cincinnati Public Relations Round Table (1990-present); Convener (1992-1998).
Regional Cultural Planning Committee, Executive Committee (1997-1998).
Cincinnati Institute of Fine Arts, Smaller Arts Review Committee (1993-1995); Support Services Committee, Chair (1995-1998); Arts Resource Committee, Chair (2006-present). Oversaw the establishment the Cincinnati Chapter of Business Volunteers for the Arts (1997).
Children’s Dental Care Foundation, Trustee (2004-present).
Greater Cincinnati Foundation, New Directions II Task Force (2002-2003).
Cincinnati Art Museum, marketing committee (1990-1998).
Cincinnati Ballet, marketing committee (1990-1993).
Women Helping Women (rape crisis intervention agency), Board of Directors (1993-1995).
Over-the-Rhine Foundation, Board of Directors (1999-2003); Secretary (2000-2003).
Speaker, lecturer, and program moderator on topics including writing, reviewing, theater, arts marketing, public relations, media relations and crisis communications.
HONORS AND RECOGNITION
Werner-VonderHaar Award, recognizing the city’s outstanding public relations professional, Cincinnati Chapter, Public Relations Society of America (1990).
College of Fellows, Public Relations Society of America (1996).
Who’s Who In Public Relations [PR Publishing Company, Exeter, NH].
Society of Professional Journalists, Cincinnati, outstanding arts reviewing and feature writing (1996-2002).
Society of Professional Journalists, Ohio Statewide Chapter, Outstanding Arts Writer in Ohio (2002).
