April Kaull
Morgantown,WV
Summary
Dynamic strategic communications and marketing professional with extensive experience as a motivational people leader spanning private and public sectors. A quick learner who excels in team building, developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Equipped with strong problem-solving abilities, willingness to learn, and excellent communication skills. Poised to contribute to team success and achieve positive results. Ready to tackle new challenges and advance organizational objectives with dedication and enthusiasm.
Skills
Strategic Communications & Marketing Planning & Implementation
Public Speaking & Presentation
Crisis Communications
Community Outreach
Team Building
Social Media Engagement
Budgeting & Resource Management
Work History
Executive Director of Communications
West Virginia University
07.2020 - Current
- Elevate and guide Presidential and other University leader communications, including speeches, op eds and opinion pieces, videos and media relations.
- Develop and execute annual Academic Media Day.
- Provide strategic counsel and preparation to University leadership, Board of Governors and faculty regarding interviews and potential interview opportunities.
- Collaborate on marketing campaigns including WVU 150th anniversary celebration, campus safety, Would You? and Mountaineers Go First.
- Oversee the University's brand reputation and crisis communications efforts.
- Chair the WVU Campus Safety Communications group coordinating staff and key safety messaging across multiple campuses.
- Created and led a successful strategic communications plan for implementation of the W.Va. Campus Self-Defense Act across the WVU System.
- Serve as the primary spokesperson for the University.
- Emcee high-profile University events, including “fireside chats” with University president and other leaders, public Q&A sessions during State of the University and the WVU Alumni Association Academy of Distinguished Alumni celebration.
- Act as WVU communications and marketing liaison to the Big 12 conference.
- Guide and mentor the Office of Communication's professional staff.
- Led strategic organizational change to focus on research, news and WVU Magazine, and
better align resources and priorities for a flagship, land-grant, R1 university in the Big 12
conference. - Create and nurture relationships with external vendors such as Cision, The Conversation and Newswise.
- Managed the relaunch of WVU Magazine as part of a WVU Alumni Association member benefit campaign.
- Established collaborative “UR Hours” concept to build engagement among cross-campus communicators.
Director, University Relations/News
West Virginia University
01.2016 - 06.2020
- Served as key position in University Relations’ integrated marketing communication model providing day-to-day leadership in news and media relations operations, including crisis communications in absence of Senior Executive Director of Communications.
- Managed staff which produces and monitors wide range of messages serving internal and external constituencies through various digital platforms.
- Created, produce and host Inside WVUToday video series highlighting strategic initiatives, leaders and events at West Virginia University.
- Led successful redesign and launch of new wvutoday.wvu.edu and magazine.wvu.edu platforms.
- Launched enews.wvu.edu and redesigned companion MOUNTAINEER E-News electronic newsletter for WVU faculty and staff.
- Launched UNews, twice weekly student-focused electronic newsletter.
- Developed WVUToday Story Pitch and Expert Pitch concepts.
- Started training program to assist faculty, staff and students when interacting with media.
- Served as inaugural TEDxWVU host in 2020.
Assistant Director of News
West Virginia University
Morgantown, West Virginia
2014 - 2016
- Responsible for producing, managing and measuring the success of executive-level internal communications, including videos, letters, html emails and some digital content for webpages and social media platforms.
- Helped manage and oversee News unit's external web presence and daily list stories and experts distributed to traditional and social media outlets.
- Worked with the Director and News team to develop experts on issues to targeted media, especially as it related to elevating WVU’s work and reputation on a national and international scale.
Vice President of News Operations
West Virginia Media LLC
12.2002 - 12.2014
- As Vice President of News Operations, led staff of 150 coordinating training, news coverage and staff initiatives at all WV Media stations
- Managed news directors at each station, including large-scale projects, hiring and resource development
- Developed strategic plan for WV Media news outlets which included targeted coverage, news-sharing protocols, schedules, and oversight of transition from linear to non-linear field reporting and editing systems
- Accomplished all of this while continuing to serve as executive producer and anchor for company’s daily statewide newscast
- In addition, served as executive producer and anchor for numerous statewide special projects.
- As News Director at WOWK-TV, company’s flagship television station, managed staff of more than 40 news employees in two locations.
- Oversaw budgeting, resource deployment, employee evaluation and training.
- Developed specialized franchise reports, oversaw launch of station’s 5 p.m. newscast and expansion of morning newscasts.
- While working for WV Media LLC at WBOY-TV, assumed immediate responsibility for both news director and lead anchor positions following concurrent departure of incumbent director and two main news anchors during department transition to new location while maintaining market-leading ratings and high staff morale.
Education
Master’s Degree - Integrated Marketing Communications
05.2016
Bachelor’s Degree - Broadcast News
12.1991
Minor: Political Science
Additional Information
West Virginia Media LLC
Anchor, WOWK-TV/Executive Producer
- As Executive Director and Anchor, developed daily news coverage and special programming, coordinating resources from four WV Media stations and the “State Journal” newspaper.
- Co-anchored daily local newscasts and served as executive producer and anchor of daily statewide newscast. Responsible for daily development of online reports and social media outreach efforts.
- Developed, in conjunction with the U.S. Attorney’s Office, WV Media’s award-winning “Safe Schools” project.
Weekend Anchor / Producer (WOWK-TV, Huntington)
- At WOWK-TV, anchored and produced weekend editions of local newscasts.
- Instrumental in creating, formatting, and producing WBOY-TV’s first morning newscast.
- Coordinated reporters, photographers, and production staff in both offices and actively cultivated relationships within the community.
Anchor / Reporter / Producer (WBOY-TV, Clarksburg)
- Served as a reporter, producer and anchor for weekend, evening and morning newscasts, and guided the newsroom on two separate occasions as WBOY-TV’s interim news director with oversight of the news budget and staff.
Affiliations
- Led numerous presentations and served on expert panels at conferences and meetings for the American Public Land-Grant Association, Public Relations Society of America-Counselors to Higher Education, WV Public Broadcasters Association, WV Press Association, WV Higher Education Policy Commission and WV Public Relations Society of America.
- Public Relations Society of America Counselors to Higher Education Chair, 2024 Chair Elect, 2023 Programming Committee Chair, 2020-2022
- Adjunct Faculty, 2004-Present West Virginia University College of Creative Arts and Media
Community Engagement
Served as the emcee for high-profile community events for non-profit organizations, including WVU Cancer Institute, United Way, Stepping Stones for People with Disabilities, Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization and 4-H.
- Boy Scouts of America
Merit Badge University, WVU
Instructor, 2022-2023
- West Virginia Public Theatre
President, Board of Directors, 2020
Vice President, Board of Directors, 2019
- The Residences at Waterfront Place Property Owners Association
President, Board of Directors, 2019
Community Engagement
- Emcee high-profile community events for non-profit organizations, including WVU Cancer Institute, United Way, Stepping Stones for People with Disabilities, Miss West Virginia Scholarship Organization and 4-H.
- Instructor for the Boy Scouts of America Merit Badge University.
- Guided West Virginia Public Theatre as Board of Directors president and vice president.
- Served as president of The Residences at Waterfront Place Property Owners Association Board of Directors.
Awards & Recognition
- 2014 Douglas Southall Freeman Meritorious Award for Public Service Through Television Journalism
- 2008 WV Small Business Journalist, U.S. Small Business Association
- 2007 Inductee to the Shinnston, Lincoln Scholarship Foundation, Inc. Hall of Fame
- Numerous WV Public Relations Society of America Crystal Awards and Associated Press Awards
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
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