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CORPORATE EXPERIENCE |
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The years leading
toward the merger that created Highmark Inc. brought an interesting
variety of special assignments, including responsibility for
coordinated communications directed toward early Clinton-era health
care reform efforts. This assignment also offered considerable
experience and insight into the public affairs arena, including the
design and implementation of a grassroots lobbying program featuring
a relational database.
Blue Cross’ first
serious entree into health care delivery also took place
during this era through the construction and staffing of a number of
primary care centers, and I assisted in the development of
communications programs aimed at building patient traffic for those
centers. |
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As assistant
vice president, planned and administered advertising and
communications programs. The position required strong administrative
and administrative skills in addition to the talents of a “hands-on”
writer and creative director. Specific accountabilities included
directing the activities of the then-$5 billion corporation’s
advertising agency, writing and producing speeches and other
presentations for the CEO, and a wide variety of special assignments
from book publishing to television production.
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Planned and
administered advertising, internal and external publications and
sales promotion programs. Wrote advertising copy, developed themes
and supervised production of advertising materials for use in all
media. Created and administered corporate-wide advertising budgeting
process on a line-of-business basis. Provided support to Marketing
Division’s efforts, including writing and supervising production of
brochures, sales presentations, trade-show appearances, etc.
Administered executive communications program, including writing of
speeches, magazine articles and other presentations for president
and corporate officers. Supervised and served as editor-in-chief of
the Corporate Publications Program, consisting of seven periodicals
and an automated telephone information service. Directed the
development of one of the city’s most sophisticated in-house
graphics and audio/visual departments. |
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Revamped a staff of
communications generalists into a well-organized and respected team
of communications professionals. |
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Blue Cross of Western New York
Directed the activities of a
two-person public relations department, requiring experience in all
phases of communications work from media contact and publications
program to advertising and sales promotion. Wrote, edited prepared
layouts and handled all aspects of production contact work for
several periodicals, sales and promotional literature and
advertising. Wrote and coordinated production of corporate annual
report. Managed media relations function. Handled all executive
communications work, including speech writing.
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M&T Bank
Upon completion of management
training program, was assigned to sales and marketing department as
assistant to advertising manager in Buffalo’s second-largest
commercial bank. Wrote advertising copy and sales presentations.
Prepared branch-location analyses in cooperation with urban
geographer. Toured branch office locations throughout Western New
York coordinating point-of-purchase materials.
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