Joanna Gilkeson
Auburn,CA
Summary
Public relations and communications practitioner with over 14 years of experience. Skilled at leading and motivating teams, relationship building, approaching issue-management with strategy, crisis communications, and collaboration across disciplines. Experienced in Congressional and legislative affairs, media relations, serving as primary spokesperson for large public-sector organizations, and public speaking. Proficient in using independent decision-making skills and sound judgment to assess risks and recommend thoughtful communication strategies.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Acting Assistant Regional Director and Media Officer, Office of Communications
Department of the Interior
Sacramento, CA
06.2022 - Current
- Directs, manages and mentors the Pacific Southwest Region’s communication team by overseeing all communications and media relations, providing managerial and strategic leadership, reviewing all internal and external content for alignment with agency priorities and messaging, and liaising with leadership.
- Advises executive leadership and staff on strategies for responding to high profile, complex, political, controversial and emerging issues.
- Led regional Congressional affairs drafting responses and advising leadership on messaging for more than 40 inquiries.
- Reviews, edits and clears all content developed by the communications team to ensure high quality deliverables including briefing materials, talking points, press releases, feature stories, key messages, social media posts and communication plans.
- Mentored four junior staff, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
Public Affairs Specialist/Media Officer
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Sacramento, CA
05.2022 - 05.2025
- Provided expert counsel on public affairs matters and media relations, guiding organizational leaders in making informed decisions.
- Developed crisis communication strategies to respond to wildlife illness incidents in close coordination with partner agencies.
- Managed 250 media inquiries annually, resulting in increased positive news coverage for the organization.
- Enhanced public perception by developing and implementing more than 30 strategic communication plans annually related to policy proposals and agency decisions.
- Cultivated strong relationships with local, regional, and national media outlets for enhanced media coverage opportunities.
- Led training sessions for staff members on best practices for managing external communications effectively.
- Streamlined reporting and work flow processes, improving accuracy, eliminating redundant reviews and reducing turnaround times significantly.
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Forest Service - Superior National Forest
01.2021 - 06.2022
- Served as lead spokesperson for the forest and Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness.
- Managed an inaugural community outreach team responsible for Tribal affairs, environmental education, Congressional and media relations, and community relations and directed development content creation by professional staff such as kiosks and educational material.
- Exercised independent judgement in development of proactive and rapid-response reactive communication strategies to improve and reinforce the unit’s reputation.
- Created and implemented multipronged crisis communications strategies to respond to urgent, emerging issues and natural disasters in collaboration with executive leadership, key staff and partners and advised the Forest Leadership Team on tactics, risks and messaging for engaging with internal and external audiences.
- Created social media, web content, briefing papers, talking points and press releases.
- Analyzed stakeholder feedback to improve communication initiatives within the agency.
- Improved stakeholder relationships through effective community outreach initiatives.
- Mentored junior public affairs specialists in their professional development while fostering a supportive team environment.
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Reno
Reno, NV
06.2019 - 01.2021
- Developed and implemented a first-time communications strategy for the Reno Fish and Wildlife Office to define outreach goals, priority work and define metrics for success.
- Led the transition to a new website, including branding, design and content.
- Planned and pitched events to the media, resulting in improved relationships with reporters and coverage in local and national outlets.
- Served on the office leadership team and provided expert counsel on public affairs matters, guiding organizational leaders in making informed decisions.
- Coordinated with partners and stakeholders to promote awareness of wildlife protection policies and regulations.
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Carlsbad
Carlsbad, CA
06.2016 - 06.2019
- Developed and designed a timeless template for the office’s annual report.
- Crafted press releases, communications plans, talking points, social media posts, website content and feature stories.
- Built a repository of visual resources to convey the agency’s wildlife and habitat conservation work in Southern California through photography and videography.
- Participated in and graduated from the agency’s middle leadership program: Stepping up to Leadership in 2018.
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Minneapolis
Minneapolis, MN
03.2012 - 06.2016
- Lead communications staff for Wildlife and Sport Fish Recreation program (Office of Conservation Investment), Sea Lamprey Control Program and the agency’s Monarch Initiative.
- Coordinated special projects as assigned by executive leadership, including regional town halls and award ceremonies, by developing agendas, scripts, and managing technology.
- Led training sessions for staff members on best practices for managing external communications effectively in coordination with a state partner agency.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN12-2012
Skills
- Crisis communications
- Leadership and supervisory experience
- Political savvy
- Strategic thinking/problem solving
- Media relations expert
- Public speaking
- Building relationships
- Writing and editing (AP Style)
- Website development (Drupal)
- Graphic design (InDesign, Canva)
Accomplishments
- Quality Step Increase for outstanding performance in 2018 and 2024
- Association of Conservation Information Awards category Magazine Destination, Historical or Cultural Article - "Sweet present, rich past" - second place winner, 2019
- Association of Conservation Information Awards category Magazine Fisheries Article - "A story of recovery: bringing back Southern California steelhead" - third place winner, 2018
- USFWS Campaign: Nature's Good Neighbor's story awards - "Sweet present, rich past" voted employee favorite, 2019
Certification
- Public Information Officer Type 3 Trainee
Timeline
Acting Assistant Regional Director and Media Officer, Office of Communications
Department of the Interior
06.2022 - Current
Public Affairs Specialist/Media Officer
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
05.2022 - 05.2025
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Forest Service - Superior National Forest
01.2021 - 06.2022
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Reno
06.2019 - 01.2021
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Carlsbad
06.2016 - 06.2019
Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Minneapolis
03.2012 - 06.2016
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science, Policy and Management
University of Minnesota