Danielle Donham
Summary
Communications leader with experience driving technology, executive and editorial communications across enterprise organizations. Expertise in editorial strategy, digital publishing, channel management and storytelling that translates complex technology and business priorities into compelling narratives for diverse audiences.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Communications Manager - Merchandising, Marketing, Our Brands & Kroger Health
The Kroger Co.
04.2026 - Current
- Drove direct sales impact through external tactics, including national press releases, and product rollout communications in partnership with marketing and merchandising business units.
- Lead execution of editorial strategy for accessible priority communications across corporate and hourly employee populations and enterprise platforms, ensuring timely, accurate and compelling communications with written and visual storytelling aligned to business purpose and strategy.
- Evaluate and optimize communications effectiveness using data and insights to continuously refine strategy, governance and implementation.
- Launched new communication channel content, introducing engagement campaigns and storytelling opportunities that enhanced employee experience.
- Oversaw multi-state rollout of enterprise-exclusive product line, delivering media training and support for local and national media engagements.
- Owned editorial calendars, publishing operations, governance and editorial standards across enterprise communication channels, ensuring consistent, timely and high-quality content.
- Partner with Kroger Studios to develop executive and employee video communications from concept through final production, including creative ideation, scripting, executive talking points, stakeholder review, and production coaching.
Communications Manager - Technology, Digital & eCommerce
The Kroger Co.
09.2025 - 04.2026
- Partnered directly with executive leaders—including the Executive Vice President, Chief Digital Officer and Chief Information Officer—to develop executive communications, presentations, strategic messaging, thought leadership, speaking materials, Q&As, town halls and leadership narratives for internal and external audiences.
- Owned communications for a large enterprise technology organization, translating complex technology, security and digital transformation initiatives into clear, actionable communications reaching up to 490,000 corporate, retail, distribution and frontline associates.
- Led communication strategy for organizational changes, incident alerts, enterprise technology rollouts, risk and phishing, and leadership transitions, ensuring consistent messaging and high associate engagement.
- Identified and shaped high-impact stories from complex technical work, partnering with subject-matter experts and editing content to translate technical topics into compelling narratives for broader audiences.
- Produced executive storytelling initiatives that increased leadership visibility and strengthened connection between associates and business priorities.
- Provided communications counsel and executive coaching to senior leaders across technology, supply chain, and corporate functions, enhancing messaging effectiveness and leadership visibility.
- Optimized enterprise newsletter strategy, increasing weekly newsletter open rates by 20 percentage points to 68% and achieving a record 95.6% open rate through audience-focused content strategy.
- Served on the cross-functional evaluation team that selected the next enterprise intranet and employee communications platform, assessing platform capabilities, content management workflows, governance, and user experience.
Corporate Communications Specialist - Technology & Digital
The Kroger Co.
10.2022 - 09.2025
- Advised senior executives on crisis response, executive communications and organizational messaging during high-profile business events and time-sensitive issues requiring coordinated stakeholder communications.
- Partnered across Communications, Public Affairs, HR, Technology and Retail Operations to drive enterprise priorities and external recognition efforts.
- Led end-to-end communications strategy for enterprise town halls, leadership events and organizational campaigns, coordinating messaging, stakeholder alignment, execution and engagement measurement.
- Managed enterprise communication channels and engagement initiatives, enhancing governance and effectiveness across diverse departments, including Corporate Information Security.
- Drove measurable engagement improvements across enterprise channels through data-informed storytelling, governance and channel optimization.
- Secured enterprise and external recognition, elevating Kroger's reputation among large companies through coordinated nominations and industry awards.
Public Relations Information Specialist
University of Kentucky
08.2019 - 10.2022
- Secured earned media coverage through proactive media relations, pitching and interview coordination.
- Prepared industry experts, including a former U.S. Ambassador, for media during high-profile national and international news cycles, ensuring effective messaging and representation.
- Supported and led crisis communications, media training and public relations efforts for multiple academic and administrative units.
- Developed strategic communications campaigns and content across digital, news and stakeholder channels.
- Interviewed faculty, students, alumni and community leaders to craft stories that advanced institutional priorities and reputation.
- Edited institutional newsletters and key communications channels to enhance clarity and engagement.
- Managed student interns, guiding and supporting their development across various projects to foster skills and teamwork.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Integrated Strategic Communication, Public Relations and History, International Studies
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KYSkills
Communication strategy
- Crisis communications
- Executive communications
- Channel management
- Communications roadmapping
- Organizational communications
- Media relations
- Change management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Event management
- Data & insights
- Channel governance
- Intranet management
- Multi-workstream initiatives
- Content strategy
- Stakeholder management
- Storytelling
- Cision
- Digital publishing platforms
- Hootsuite
- Issuu
- Meltwater
- Mural
- Newswise
- WordPress
Timeline
Communications Manager - Merchandising, Marketing, Our Brands & Kroger Health
The Kroger Co.
04.2026 - Current
Communications Manager - Technology, Digital & eCommerce
The Kroger Co.
09.2025 - 04.2026
Corporate Communications Specialist - Technology & Digital
The Kroger Co.
10.2022 - 09.2025
Public Relations Information Specialist
University of Kentucky
08.2019 - 10.2022
Bachelor of Arts - Integrated Strategic Communication, Public Relations and History, International Studies
University of Kentucky