JENNY WEDGE
Summary
Award-winning strategic planning, director of public relations, media relations and community relations campaigns with 20+ years of experience with the local and state government agency; director level experience in tourism, hospitality and nonprofit sectors, focused on community and media relations – with strong relationship development and media results. Currently managing client accounts for Reveille, Inc., a full-service marketing and public relations agency in Costa Mesa, CA. Jenny is experienced in developing and activating crisis communications plans and facilitating media training for C-Suite executives and managers. Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Account Director, Public Relations and Marketing
Reveille, Inc.
Costa Mesa
08.2021 - Current
- As the account lead for multiple clients, cultivate and manage the client relationship serving as a strategic advisor to the client, and the agency client team
- Lead all client meetings, monitor monthly budget of hours and develop detailed monthly activity reports for services provided
- Direct team of marketing and public relations managers and coordinators to assist in facilitating and tracking client projects
- Create annual integrated marketing and public relations plans for reach client
- Develop strong local media relationships educating reporters about various clients and being sought after as a key resource for story ideas
- Facilitate the coordination of media placements in Orange County, Riverside, and San Bernardino
Director, Pubic & Community Relations
Travel Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa
08.2016 - 07.2021
- Developed and directed the public relations program for Travel Costa Mesa to incorporate paid, earned, shared and owned platforms into the overall media and communications plan for the organization
- Implemented and nurtured a partnership program throughout the city to educate businesses about the importance and value of tourism while gaining support for mutually beneficial marketing and communications programs
- Promoted current news about the industry and city through regular communications such as monthly newsletters, in-person meetings, and media relations
- Create and implement public relations strategies and tactics that support overall marketing objectives for Travel Costa Mesa, with media coverage as a key KPI
- Generated annual media impressions totaling 24,500,000
- Developed a partnership communication program, which grew from members of the Board of Directors, City Council and major attractions, to over 300 partner contacts throughout the community including restaurants, hotels, retailers and Chamber of Commerce members
- Established and maintained local, national and international media contacts throughout the U.S., Canada, China and Mexico, earning a wide range of media coverage for the destination
- Increased visibility of the Costa Mesa brand by 300% (media impressions and story placements) in the first year of joining the team as the Public Relations lead
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive crisis and emergency plan for Travel Costa Mesa employees, which became a key reference document during the COVID-19 pandemic and California fires
- Regularly updated Travel Costa Mesa Board of Directors and Executive Committee on Public Relations program status and media coverage through monthly emails and board meetings
- Partnered with the City of Costa Mesa on 'reStore Costa Mesa' campaign and shop local efforts during COVID-19 pandemic earning a Golden Hub of Innovation Award from the Association of California City’s – Orange County, for supporting the local businesses
Sr. Director of Media Relations & Brand Management
Newport Beach & Company
Newport Beach
10.2015 - 07.2016
- Strategized and implemented integrated communications plans including development of content for 200-page, multi-year Marketing Plan, which included identifying strategies, tactics and measurable outcomes
- Built relationships with local and regional media; identified and established relationships with community partners
- Drafted key message points for CEO and Board Members during annual meeting and for media interviews
- Oversaw brand standards including use of logo and messaging across all sales/marketing materials
- Supervised graphic designer and public relations specialist in creation of blogs and marketing materials
- Directed all media relations activities for Visit Newport Beach, Inc., to support signature Newport Beach events including the longest-running parade in the U.S - the Newport Beach Christmas Boat Parade
- Wrote, directed and published 75-page Newport Beach Inspiration Guide for visitors, including a neighborhood map, which were distributed to 10,000 locations throughout the city, in hotels, at airports and shipped to interested parties
Manager, Public Relations / Public Information Officer
John Wayne Airport
Costa Mesa
06.2005 - 10.2015
- Successfully implemented an award-winning five-year communications plan for John Wayne Airport to gain community support for the capital improvements by educating travelers and the community about long-term plans for air transportation in Orange County
- As spokesperson and main media contact for local, regional, national and trade media, 24 hours/day, fostered mutually beneficial relationships with local, state and federal agency public information officers to enhance communication with media and ensure consistent messaging, especially during incidents including the liquid ban in 2006 (3-1-1 on travel) at all airports
- Created messaging for, and on behalf of, the Airport Director/CEO to submit to the local media and national publications
- Developed and implemented Media Policies and Procedures for the Airport for both routine and crisis situations
- Developed, monitored and managed $800,000 public affairs budget
- Supervised public affairs specialist and administrative staff, as well as multiple college interns
- Led communications and strategic planning for the $540 million Airport Capital Improvement Program completed in 2011
- Developed relationships with construction contractors to foster cooperative information sharing; leveraged expertise from all airport divisions for key messaging and technical content
- Assisted in development of the first-ever Social Media Policies & Procedures for the County of Orange and its affiliated agencies.
Public Affairs Specialist
Orange County Water District
Fountain Valley
02.1999 - 06.2005
- Led the community outreach and media relations efforts for the Orange County Water District and Orange County Sanitation District’s Groundwater Replenishment System public outreach program – the first-ever water reuse program in California to provide drought protection to Orange County
- The program received top honors from the Public Relations Society of America, WateReuse Association, American Water Works Association and Association of California Water Agencies.
Orange County Power Authority
- Having entered the market as a new public agency in early 2022, my team established key messaging documents, PowerPoint presentations and brochures for use in the community, coordinating closely with a design team to ensure all brand guidelines were being followed
- Developed a social media policy and guidelines and implemented monthly content for consistent publishing to all social accounts with the goal of increasing followers and reaching key audiences through paid campaigns
- Plan bi-monthly content for newsletters and published through Constant Contact portal
- Establish relationships with local media and serve as key contact for client, overseeing all media inquiries, research and developing key messages and facilitating interviews
- Created a strategic communications plan and briefing documents, including key talking points and a presentation deck to update media on the status of the agency, to discuss various audits and financial standing of the organization
- Successfully implemented a one-year anniversary media relations campaign focused on ‘gratitude’ to the community for supporting the need for more renewable energy and the fight against climate change
- This included management and production of three events in three cities with visual activations including a public art mural and planting of 10 trees in local communities
- Media coverage from these events included the front page of The Orange County Register, front page article and full interior spread in the Orange County Business Journal and feature on KABC-7 ‘In The Community’ segment.
Meals on Wheels Orange County
- Meals on Wheels Orange County serves more than 20 cities in Orange County with meal delivery programs, lunch cafes and adult day care services for older adults age 60+
- Provide strategic public relations opportunities, highlighting the programs and developed messaging about older adults being the largest growing population in Orange County
- Conducted media training for the CEO and leadership team helping them develop skills and best practices for media interviews
- Wrote the first-even crisis communications plan that includes roles, key messages and scenarios they may confront in their day-to-day business.
City of Hope Orange County
- Media relations lead for the unveiling of the Lennar Cancer Research Center in Irvine
- Secure and facilitate interviews with all local traditional media and multicultural outlets ensuring key interviews with the President of City of Hope and Physician-in-Chief
- Manage on-site media interviews during Lung Cancer Awareness Month and Topping Off Ceremony for City of Hope Cancer hospital securing front-page photo coverage from the event in The Orange County Register.
Human Options
- Human Options is a nonprofit agency dedicating to preventing domestic violence in Orange County for more than 40 years
- Over a six-month period, I worked with the strategy, design and development team to launch an all-new branded website, streamlining content and ensuring easy navigation for users
- Created strategic marketing and public relations plan to incorporate monthly newsletters and social media content to drive visitors to the newly launched website
- Planned and conducted an award-winning press conference announcing the first-ever Domestic Violence Death Review Report that included more than 10 years of documents linking deaths in Orange County to domestic violence
- Planned and implemented the first Human Trafficking Awareness Month candlelight vigil in partnership with Costa Mesa Police Department, including participation by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and local State Assembly Delegates to lead the community event with 100 attendees and securing a front-page story and photo in the Daily Pilot.
Waymakers
- Support day-to-day communications, specifically to media relations and event management of this nonprofit organization with the mission of ensuring safer communities by helping people find their way
- Whether redirecting youth offenders, helping sheltered children get back on track, unifying troubled families, resolving community conflicts or empowering victims of violence, Waymakers clears the path so clients can advance beyond crisis
- Oversee production of five-minute video featuring the Waymakers Guidance Center, working with the team to develop a script, bring in actors/extras and facilitate timeline for filming
- Coordinated all aspects of the Orange County Human Trafficking Task Force press conference to announce details of the 2022 Human Trafficking Victim Report, coordinating with key partners on the run of show, key talking points, securing an embargoed story with the Orange County Register and attendance by all major broadcast media outlets in Southern California.
Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire
- Identify day-to-day media relations opportunities with the organization that strives to bring awareness to the hundreds of children fighting life-threatening health issues and how one wish can change the trajectory of the child’s health outcome by lifting their spirits and giving them hope
- Secured dozens multi-page media coverage in popular local magazines and publications about the fundraising and donor efforts supporting wishes
- Oversaw annual report content, design and development to distribute to more than 300 constituents.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
California State University, Fullerton
Fullerton01-1996
Skills
- Budgeting
- Account Management
- Community Partnerships
- Crisis Communications
- Executive Communications
- Media buying/Advertising
- Marketing
- Public & Media Relations
- Social Media content creation and paid programs
- Staff mentorship/development/supervision
- Stakeholder Relations
- New Hire Onboarding
- Customer Service
- Client Relationship Management
- Strategic Planning & Communications
Affiliations
- Assistance League of Orange
- Public Relations Society of America, Orange County Chapter, Member and Past President
- International Food, Wine and Travel Writers Association, Associate Member
- Orange County Visitors Association, Board of Directors, Secretary
- Sigma Kappa Sorority, Alumnae Member
Certification
- National Incident Management System (NIMS) - Introduction and Public Information
- Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) - Emergency Management Institute courses
- National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) - Managing Communications in an Aircraft Disaster Crisis Preparedness in the Workplace - City of Costa Mesa Fire & Rescue
- Certified Tourism Ambassador (CTA)
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Account Director, Public Relations and Marketing
Reveille, Inc.
08.2021 - Current
Director, Pubic & Community Relations
Travel Costa Mesa
08.2016 - 07.2021
Sr. Director of Media Relations & Brand Management
Newport Beach & Company
10.2015 - 07.2016
Manager, Public Relations / Public Information Officer
John Wayne Airport
06.2005 - 10.2015
Public Affairs Specialist
Orange County Water District
02.1999 - 06.2005
Orange County Power Authority
Meals on Wheels Orange County
City of Hope Orange County
Human Options
Waymakers
Make-A-Wish Orange County and the Inland Empire
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
California State University, Fullerton