Keith Morris
Glendale,NY
Summary
Senior Director of Community Affairs offering a diverse background with more than 15 years of experience in the following areas: Volunteerism, Philanthropy, Corporate Social Responsibility, Sustainability, Reputation Management, Community Relations, State and Local Government Relations, Public Speaking, Coalition Building, Strategic Communications, Budget Execution, and Project Management.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Director
Community Engagement and Volunteerism | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2020 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic philanthropic events to enhance Walmart’s reputation, visibility, and impact in the local community
- Created Walmart Community Ambassador program with monthly community events, quarterly local volunteer events, and community playbooks for store “community champions” providing training and resources to help them become more engaged in their local community
- Created volunteerism pilot programs in New York and New Jersey which were then scaled for a nationwide Volunteer Day of Service where all 2,500 stores volunteered in their local community on a single day for causes of mutual importance
- Implemented analytic KPIs for tracking and measuring the success of pilot program, making data-driven decisions to enhance volunteer program outcomes
- Built relationships with local non-profit organizations and executed substantial philanthropic giving programs for the Walmart Foundation in core areas of sustainability, education, and workforce development
- Led the implementation of Walmart Volunteerism Always Pays (VAP) program at the local level for store management community volunteers
- Created internal and external communication methods (video town halls, social media, e-newsletter) to drive awareness of employee led volunteer and community-wide events.
Senior Director
Public Affairs | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2014 - 01.2020
- Led the strategy and execution of regional philanthropic campaigns and initiatives, strategic community events, and volunteerism
- Created community relations pilot program in Long Island and supervised implementation, which included paid and earned media, polling, message development, coalition building, and diverse stakeholder engagement
- Created community relations volunteer training toolkit and led delivery of content at Walmart Academy for new managers
- Provided strategy direction and content creation for a team of ten senior managers responsible for message development and government affairs outreach.
Director
Public Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2009 - 01.2014
- Developed and executed comprehensive philanthropic strategies and local communication plans to aid in the site approval process for new Wal-Mart distribution centers planned in markets across the Northeast
- Built strong, proactive relationships with local/state government officials and agencies
- Lobbied state and local government agencies on a multitude of legislative issues
- Created and delivered public testimony at hearings on a variety of legislative issues supporting company positions
- Arranged editorial board meetings, press conferences, and media events while managing relationships with national print and electronic media organizations.
Senior Manager
Public Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Developed and executed comprehensive public affairs strategies and local community engagement plans to aid in the site approval process for new Wal-Mart distribution centers planned in markets across the country
- Wrote and delivered public testimony for new store applications at local zoning board hearings
- Successfully attained zoning and permitting for new Wal-Mart stores and distribution centers in over 500 communities during this period
- Arranged editorial board meetings, press conferences, and media events while managing relationships with national print and electronic media organizations
- Also built strong, proactive relations with local/state government officials and agencies
- Built relationships with local non-profit organizations and executed substantial charitable giving programs for the Walmart Foundation across the country in core areas of volunteerism, education, sustainability, and workforce development
- Created KPIs to measure success of outreach and giving programs.
Senior Manager
Corporate Communications | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Developed press releases for new Wal-Mart stores and fulfilment centers planned in markets across the country
- Created message points, fact sheets, and briefing documents for executives attending new store grand-openings
- Coordinated ground-breaking ceremonies and various external facing community events to drive awareness and enhance the company’s reputation in local communities
- Arranged editorial board meetings, press conferences, and media events while managing relationships with national print and electronic media organizations
- Built relationships with local non-profit organizations and executed substantial charitable giving programs for the Walmart Foundation across the country
- Created media releases and local press events detailing local sponsorships or charitable contributions to communities in core areas of education and workforce development
- Created content for Walmart annual ESG report.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of Connecticut
Storrs, ConnecticutSkills
- Community Engagement
- Corporate Philanthropy
- Volunteerism
- Strategic Planning
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Internal / External Communications
Affiliations
Represented Walmart at public hearings, speaking engagements, panels, and national conferences.
Military Veteran (6 years with the Connecticut Army National Guard – Infantry Division).
Consistently received outstanding performance evaluations in all positions held.
Timeline
Senior Director
Community Engagement and Volunteerism | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2020 - Current
Senior Director
Public Affairs | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2014 - 01.2020
Director
Public Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2009 - 01.2014
Senior Manager
Public Affairs and Government Relations, Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2004 - 01.2009
Senior Manager
Corporate Communications | Walmart Stores, Inc
01.2000 - 01.2004
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
University of Connecticut
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