Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
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Katie Simons

Santa Clara,CA

Summary

Sports communications professional with extensive expertise in strategic communications, media operations, and content development across top sports organizations. Over 10 years of experience crafting compelling narratives, enhancing media outreach, and leading successful press operations. Demonstrates skills in athlete storytelling and stakeholder engagement, leveraging advanced communication and public relations strategies to achieve impactful results.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Director, Public Relations

Bay FC
12.2023 - 11.2024
  • Implemented communication strategies for the inaugural season of an NWSL expansion club, coordinating daily with coaching staff and players to facilitate over 50 successful media availabilities and broadcast interviews
  • Led successful execution of press operations for all 12 home games, overseeing postgame press conferences while managing a team of part-time gameday staff to ensure effective media access throughout events
  • Led strategic communication plans that resulted in securing placements with five top-tier sports publications, establishing a strong narrative around the club’s first season achievements through targeted outreach efforts
  • Established a centralized database for historical statistics and record-keeping that tracked key player milestones, providing accurate data to local, national and broadcast outlets while enhancing storytelling capabilities
  • Collaborated with the website team to pinpoint and enhance key areas of the site, leading to an increase in user engagement through rich player bios and an expanded media resources page
  • Drove coordination efforts with a team of creatives including social media managers and videographers; increased efficiency by launching 25 innovative content pieces that elevated brand presence on digital and traditional platforms

Director, Media Relations

Portland Timbers/Portland Thorns FC
05.2014 - 11.2023
  • Created comprehensive press materials that informed reporters on player statistics and match outcomes; achieved a remarkable average response time of under two hours for live-game media inquiries, enhancing communication efficiency
  • Managed gameday media operations for both clubs, managing a part-time gameday staff of five individuals while coordinating media credentials and servicing media for all home matches
  • Facilitated gameday media, broadcast, and internal requests for all Thorns FC home matches, including helping coordinate local and national television broadcasts and postgame press conferences
  • Engaged closely with cross-functional teams in social media and digital marketing; identifying compelling narratives that bolstered engagement on major platforms while amplifying players' personal brands
  • Established connections with key stakeholders at over 20 local and national media organizations; crafted compelling narratives about club initiatives which resulted in heightened visibility reflected significant increase in press coverage
  • Implemented and executed comprehensive communication strategies for major events including Providence Park expansion project, MLS Cup and two NWSL Championships, resulting in increased local engagement while aligning with media relations objectives

Assistant Athletic Director - Communications

Concordia University – Portland
08.2016 - 12.2016
  • Directed all communication strategies for the athletic department, serving as the primary sports information contact across 13 NCAA Division II programs
  • Crafted engaging storytelling elements around athlete achievements using compelling narratives shared on digital platforms; findings revealed three key themes resonating most with audience demographics leading to increased retention rates among followers
  • Revamped gocugo.com, developing all written content, historical archives, student-athlete bios, and additional multimedia content

Sports Information Director

Saint Martin’s University
08.2012 - 05.2014
  • Introduced two new social media platforms within the first six months of the job, YouTube and Instagram, while adding live stats for all sports and live streaming video
  • Accelerated website traffic by 40% within the first year through strategic web content creation, including weekly game previews and unique articles, while achieving a doubling of Facebook likes and Twitter followers
  • Directed daily operations for a dedicated team of eight game-day staff members, implementing efficient scheduling processes that improved operational efficiency and ensured seamless execution during high-attendance sporting events
  • Coordinated game operations for two consecutive years during the GNAC Men's and Women's Basketball Tournaments; streamlined event execution efficiency by implementing streamlined communication channels among staff members, resulting in smoother coordination

Assistant Sports Information Director

Colorado School of Mines
08.2008 - 08.2012
  • Managed all facets of game day activities across 10 sports as the primary contact, overseeing statistical reporting, public address announcements, and digital content updates; led a dedicated team of 10 work-study students during events
  • Drove the redesign of the athletics department website launched in 2010; transformed accessibility for fans and stakeholders through revitalized navigation, multimedia content integration, resulting in a significant increase in traffic
  • Researched and compiled comprehensive record books for men's basketball and baseball; expanded documentation to include detailed statistics for softball, women's basketball, track & field, cross country, and swimming across six sports

Education

M.A. - Communications

Regis University

B.A. - History, Communications

Regis University

Skills

  • Public Relations
  • Writing and Editing
  • Media Operations
  • Media Outreach
  • Strategic Communications
  • Sports Information and Statistics
  • Content Development and Planning
  • Broadcast Communications
  • Athlete Relationship Building

Timeline

Director, Public Relations

Bay FC
12.2023 - 11.2024

Assistant Athletic Director - Communications

Concordia University – Portland
08.2016 - 12.2016

Director, Media Relations

Portland Timbers/Portland Thorns FC
05.2014 - 11.2023

Sports Information Director

Saint Martin’s University
08.2012 - 05.2014

Assistant Sports Information Director

Colorado School of Mines
08.2008 - 08.2012

B.A. - History, Communications

Regis University

M.A. - Communications

Regis University

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