Hi, I’m
Jessica Denson
Digital Communications, Content, & Brand Strategy Executive
Louisville,KY
I learned what every dreaming child needs to know, that no horizon is so far you cannot get above it or beyond it.
Beryl Markham, "West with the Night"
Summary
Emmy & Murrow award-winning journalist | Telly & Communicator award-winning PR pro | 2023 Digital Communicator of the Year
A results-driven communications executive with 15+ years of experience shaping brand perception, leading national campaigns, and generating over $18M in earned media through strategic storytelling. Proven track record in building and scaling high-impact content and PR strategies across digital, social, video, podcasting, and broadcast channels.
Recognized for executive-level thought leadership, media influence, and award-winning brand work. Adept at guiding cross-functional teams, aligning content with revenue and reputation goals, and influencing stakeholders from C-suites to communities.
Overview
30
years of professional experience
4
years of post-secondary education
Skills
Strategic Communications
undefinedWork History
Connected NationLouisville, United States
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
03.2017 - Current
Job overview
National nonprofit driving broadband expansion and digital equity across the U.S.
- Lead all strategic communications, branding, marketing, and media relations, reporting directly to the CEO
- Increased website traffic by 858% and social engagement by 668% within five years
- Grew earned media from $1.4M to $18M between 2019 and 2021 through executive comms, media mining, and targeted outreach
- Rebranded the organization’s digital presence, earning national awards for design and storytelling
- Serve as national spokesperson; build and manage relationships with national and regional media
- Created award-winning podcast series and directed high-impact video, digital, and social content
- Partner with board members, executives, and state officials to elevate the organization's narrative and reputation
Key achievements:
- Digital Communicator of the Year, 2023
- 12x Telly Awards, 14x Communicator Awards (2021–2024)
- Increased donor and stakeholder engagement through emotionally resonant storytelling and campaign alignment
WDRB Media (Block Communications) Louisville, United States
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
01.2013 - 03.2017
Job overview
Regional media outlet serving the Louisville market with TV and digital news coverage.
- Regional media outlet serving the Louisville market with TV and digital news coverage.
- Oversaw newsroom staff and editorial content for 6pm, 10pm, and 11pm newscasts
- Led breaking news and special event coverage, including the Kentucky Derby and severe weather
- Achieved ratings growth across all evening time slots through strategic content planning and leadership
PC (USA) Louisville, United States
COMMUNICATOR (International)
04.2011 - 01.2013
Job overview
Global faith-based nonprofit with international humanitarian and advocacy missions.
- Produced stories from the field for national and international outlets, including post-disaster coverage in Haiti
- Developed national coverage and strategic content for Racial Ethnic & Women’s Ministry
- Produced print and digital content, including a new magazine concept and launch
- Handled paid national media placements
- Note: at the request of leadership, continued writing freelance fundraising stories and collateral until 2021
No Kill LouisvilleLouisville, United States
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT (VOLUNTEER)
04.2010 - 01.2013
Job overview
Grassroots nonprofit focused on animal welfare and advocacy in Louisville, KY.
- Built a 35K+ follower base and raised over $100K in the first year
- Developed and led programs including pet adoption/foster initiatives, a pet food bank, and animal transport efforts
- Collaborated with city officials and stakeholders to shape local animal welfare policy
Ursuline Sisters Of LouisvilleLouisville, United States
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
02.2008 - 02.2010
Job overview
Global faith-based nonprofit with advocacy missions.
- Conceptualized and guided redesign and implementation of website, earning national award
- Guided concept and wrote copy of publications and collateral materials for outreach, fundraising
- Promoted events and programs using news media, advertising, and internal publications
WLKY-TV (Hearst Television) Louisville, United States
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
10.2002 - 09.2007
Job overview
Regional media outlet serving the Louisville market with TV and digital news coverage.
- Supervised newsroom staff during daily newscasts, saw growth in all day parts
- Planned special news coverage including KY Derby, multi-city coverage of Hurricane Katrina, March Madness, and elections
- Assigned to Hearst’s “jump team” to handle national coverage during disaster related events
- NOTE: At the request of the news director, returned to produce newscasts as freelancer from 2018 - 2020
KFOR-TV (New York Times Broadcast Group) Oklahoma City, OK
PRODUCER AND ANCHOR (NEWS UPDATES)
04.1995 - 10.2002
Job overview
Regional media outlet serving the Oklahoma City market with TV and digital news coverage.
- Anchored on-air hourly, overnight news updates
- Field produced & wrote anchor stories
- Produced 4pm & 6:30pm newscasts following several years on morning show as producer; increased ratings year-over-year
- Began career on day of OKC bombing as associate producer during weeklong, 24-hour live news
Education
University of Central OklahomaEdmond, OK
Bachelor of Arts from Major - Broadcast Journalism; Minor - Advertising
08.1991 - 12.1995
Awards and Accolades
2025
- Award of Disctinction - Connected Nation Podcast for Podcast Series - Technology
2024
- Silver Telly Award - "Texas Public Meetings" videos - campaign - not-for-profit
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Excellence (Gold), Connected Nation Podcast - Award of Excellence for podcast series - technology
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Excellence (Gold) & Award of Distinction (Silver), Connected Nation website revamp
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Distinction (Silver), Connected Nation's social media platforms
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Two Awards of Distinction (Silver), "Let's Get Digital: Oklahoma Broadband Tour" videos for low budget and non-profit video categories
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Two Awards of Distinction (Silver), "Texas Public Meetings" videos for low budget and causes & awareness video categories
2023
- PRNEWS' Digital Awards - Digital Communicator of the Year
- PRNEWS' Digital Awards - Digital Team of the Year
- PRNEWS' Digital Awards - Connected Nation podcast - Honorable Mention
- Two Silver Telly Awards for "Why Michigan will likely become one of the most connected states in the union video" for Craft-writing and General-Low budget (under $700 a minute)
- Two Bronze Telly Awards for the Kids Tech Summit - General-Live Events and General-Science & Technology
- Bronze Telly Award for "What the American farmer needs now to not just survive but thrive" video - General-Social Issues
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Excellence (Gold), Kids Tech Summit for general ed & training for virtual & remote
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Distinction (Silver), Connected Nation podcast – technology series
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Distinction (Silver), “What the American farmer needs” video for social issues/responsibility for film and video
- Finalist Team of the Year (In-House), Grant Prize Category – PR Daily’s Social Media & Digital Awards (announcing June 14)
- PRNEWS National Nonprofit Awards – Communicator of the Year – Honorable Mention
2022
- Five Telly Awards (2 silver, 3 bronze) related to “A national conversation on the Digital Divide”
- PR Daily, Nonprofit Awards, Best Virtual Event, “A national conversation on the Digital Divide”
- PRNEWS, national finalist, Platinum Awards, PR Professional of the Year (In House)
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) - Award of Distinction (Silver), “A national conversation on the Digital Divide"
- Communicator Awards (AIVA) -Award of Distinction (Silver), Connected Nation podcast – tech series
2021
- Bronze Telly Award for “All about telehealth in less than 7 minutes”
- PRNEWS, national finalist, Digital Newsroom “Responding to the Coronavirus Crisis”
- PRNEWS, national finalist, 2022 Digital Communicator of the Year
- Gold Rank, International Economic Development Council (IEDC), Digital Works site redesign
- PRNEWS, national finalist, Digital Communicator of the Year
- PRNEWS, national finalist, Digital Works site redesign
2019-1999
- PRNEWS, national finalist, Nonprofit Awards – Branding/Re-branding (2019)
- Emmy Award, Spot News, GE fire/flooding in Louisville (2015)
- Associated Press Award, Best newscast, 4pm news (2015)
- Edward R. Murrow Award, Breaking News, Large Market (2014)
- Society of Professional Journalist, 1st place, 4pm newscast (2014)
- 5 Emmy nominations – 3 best newscasts, best continuing coverage, spot news (2013)
- DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards, Awards of Excellence: Magazine & Newsletter (2011)
- Pet Group United Awards- Trooper Awards, Volunteer of the Year (2011)
- Best Community Leader for Pets, Louisville Tails Honors (2011)
- DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards, Award of Excellence: Periodicals: Magazine (2010)
- DeRose-Hinkhouse Awards, Best in Class: Website/internet communications (2009)
- Hermes Creative Awards, Gold Award: Brochure on Human Trafficking Awareness (2009)
- Associated Press, Best Sports Special: Battle of the Bluegrass (2007)
- Emmy Award, Live News, May 3rd Tornado Outbreak (1999)
- Associated Press, Best Sports Special: Battle of the Bluegrass (2007)Emmy Award, Live News, May 3rd Tornado Outbreak (1999)
Volunteer Work
2024 to present - Board member, YMCA Downtown Advisory Board - Louisville, KY
2009 to 2023 - NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month), ML for Louisville
2010 to 2013 - No Kill Louisville, President and Co-Founder
2009 to 2012 - YMCA, Membership and Programs Committee Member
2009 to 2011 - Louisville Metro Animal Services, Volunteer
2003 to 2005 - Habitat for Humanity builds
Examples of My Work
- 2021 National Event (multi-award winning) - cn20.org - I produced, wrote, and voiced all videos for this national event which was hosted LIVE in three US cities
- Schools and broadband video piece (award winning) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7T1jzMYl7Y
- NBC News Think Oped - https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/covid-health-care-access-telemedicine-kill-states-rcna52616
- 2021 Kids Tech Summit (award winning) - https://connectednation.org/kids-tech-summit/ - I produced and hosted this summit which won an Award of Excellence
- Connected Nation Podcast - https://connectednation.buzzsprout.com/ - I produce, book guests, and host this multi-award winning podcast.
- Video Profile (award winning) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Q5oNrp4s08 - profile on American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall
- End of Year Blog - https://connectednation.org/press-releases/this-holiday-season-lets-sound-the-alarm-on-broadband-access-for-all
Work Preference
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Availability
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Timeline
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Connected Nation
03.2017 - Current
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WDRB Media (Block Communications)
01.2013 - 03.2017
COMMUNICATOR (International)
PC (USA)
04.2011 - 01.2013
CO-FOUNDER AND PRESIDENT (VOLUNTEER)
No Kill Louisville
04.2010 - 01.2013
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS
Ursuline Sisters Of Louisville
02.2008 - 02.2010
EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
WLKY-TV (Hearst Television)
10.2002 - 09.2007
PRODUCER AND ANCHOR (NEWS UPDATES)
KFOR-TV (New York Times Broadcast Group)
04.1995 - 10.2002
University of Central Oklahoma
Bachelor of Arts from Major - Broadcast Journalism; Minor - Advertising
08.1991 - 12.1995