Experienced communications strategist and change management expert with a proven track record of driving organizational success through strategic storytelling, stakeholder engagement, and innovative communication plans. Skilled in leading cross-functional teams, developing integrated communication strategies, and empowering leaders to navigate complex transformations. Passionate about leveraging communication as a catalyst for business growth and social impact. Adept at managing diverse client portfolios and achieving significant results in both corporate and nonprofit sectors.
Experience
2020 - 2024
DIRECTOR,
CLIENT DELIVERY
Gagen MacDonald
Managed accounts and led consulting teams to address complex change and communications issues for global corporations.
Highlights included:
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Effectively orchestrated a year-long communications effectiveness study focusing on digitally disconnected or "deskless" employees for a $20+ billion U.S. company.
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Successfully facilitated change management and communications for an SAP / IT integration for a $45 billion global company following an acquisition.
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Strategically developed division-level and leader-level communications strategies and messaging for a global biopharmaceuticals company in advance of the company’s largest product launch.
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Creatively developed internal messaging for a Fortune 100 energy company to drive awareness and acceptance of net zero goals.
ENTREPRENEUR
RED Communications LLC
Led and managed a small firm of writers, web developers, graphic designers, photographers, and videographers to provide internal and external communications, brand marketing and strategic counsel to fuel engagement and business growth for corporations, mid-level businesses and nonprofit organizations.
Highlights included:
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Provided communications strategy and counsel spanning seven years for a major cancer center in the Chicago area.
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Researched, wrote and published a monthly magazine for employees, speeches for senior leaders, and annual reports, and gathered patient testimonials for use in advertising, events and communications.
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Worked in partnership with a prominent oncologist to write, edit and publish a groundbreaking breast cancer book, Knowledge Is Power: What Every Woman Should Know About Breast Cancer.
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Performed a brand market benchmark study of the top five cancer hospitals in Chicago to understand their effectiveness at delivering on a patient-centric model.
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Strategically ensured sustained organizational success for young nonprofit organizations devoted to children's literacy through business straetgy planning and the creation of brand marketing, engagement communications, corporate sponsorship and volunteer programs.
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Led the rebranding of Reading Power in advance of the organization's 15th anniversary, and led the planning, marketing, messaging, and media of the 15th anniversary fundraising event, exceeding the fundraising target by 40%.
MANAGING DIRECTOR
Bernie's Book Bank
Led business strategy, public affairs, media, marketing, community engagement and development for Bernie’s Book Bank, a young nonprofit that has grown to distribute more than $25 million books to at-risk children in Chicago. Achieved a 300% growth in KPIs in one year (books collected, books distributed, funds raised).
Highlights included:​
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Comprehensively developed the brand and all marketing materials (website, volunteer communications, donor communications, book drive communications and marketing support, videos, annual reports, and corporate engagement materials).
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Efficiently defined streamlined operations, systems and processes to deepen engagement with key stakeholders.
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Holistically documented all business processes, corporate engagement strategies, donor and volunteer strategies into a playbook to facilitate national expansion.
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Effectively created three signature fundraising events for the organization, managing logistics, marketing, public relations and media, and teams of volunteers to execute.
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Catherine Driscoll Business Communications
Expertly managed messaging, execution and publication of internal and external communications strategies and marketing collateral for corporations and organizations.
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Clients included Aon/Hewitt, Abbott, Brunswick, Cancer Treatment Centers of America, Dade Behring, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Oce USA, Career Education Corporation, McCormick Foundation, Zurich Life Insurance Company, among others.
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Boldly created enterprise-wide and leader communications for a global diagnostics company facing a pre-packaged chapter 11 bankruptcy following several mergers. The company retained all employees, customers and suppliers, and was later sold for $7B.
CHANGE MANAGEMENT AND COMMUNICATIONS
Allstate Insurance Company
Consistently excelled in all roles in Corporate Marketing, Sales and Corporate Relations.
Highlights included:
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Managed the process of refreshing the company's brand identity standards for this major U.S. insurer, including gaining alignment from key stakeholders. Managed the implementation of new logo and design standards across all corporate entities.
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Implemented enterprise-wide change management and communications for two significant company transformations aligning stakeholders toward business goals and encouraging adoption of new roles and behaviors, including the transition from employee agents to independent contractors.
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Successfully refocused an award-winning internal publication, increasing credibility scores with its primary audiences from 11% to 89% in one year.
Communications expertise
Storytelling
Speechwriting
Video scripting and editing
Book editing & publishing
Magazine journalism
Social media journalism
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Brand marketing
Marketing collateral
Photography
Event planning, marketing and messaging
Change management expertise
Change impact assessment
Stakeholder analysis
Change narrative
Message mapping
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Leadership communications support
Communications strategy
Integrated planning
Enterprise-wide execution