Summary
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic
Kevin G. Davitt

Kevin G. Davitt

Glen Rock,N.J.

Summary

o More than 20 years’ experience as a public relations/communications/customer service specialist possessing extensive media contacts, superior writing skills and a command of result-driven communications and marketing strategies, including the use of social media.

o Led the Long Island Rail Road's Corporate Communications Department responding to customer service issues with the objective of retaining our customer base and promoting the LIRR brand

o Served as press secretary for New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey, Brooklyn District Attorney Charles J. Hynes and New York City Council Speaker Peter Vallone. Primary speech writer for these individuals.

o Op-eds, Letters to the Editor and other writing has been featured in the New York Times among other media outlets. (See Publications section)

Work History

Public Relations-Private Consultant

Volunteers of America
New York, NY
05.2018 - Current
  • Front page placement and television coverage of “Sidewalk Santa” Drive.
  • Prominent placement of a variety of DWJ TV clients on network and cable television through satellite feeds.

Director of Corporate Communications

MTA/Long Island Rail
Jamaica, NY
01.2007 - 01.2018
  • Goal: Effectively promote the Long Island Rail Road brand externally and internally, through the development of content and the management of its strategic implementation among customers, the media relations, government relations, marketing, corporate communications and operational departments
  • Achieved: Content development and management of Presidential communications with elected officials, MTA Board members and customers as well as LIRR workforce of 6,000 employees
  • Closure of more than 36,000 annual points of contacts (mail, media alerts, phones calls, emails) from elected officials, customers and employees
  • Development of enhanced external and internal communication systems with a particular focus on the introduction of social media to the agency
  • Presidential speech composition
  • Production and supervision of written, graphic and web promotional LIRR material.

Senior Director of Communications

Wagner College
New York
01.2004 - 01.2006
  • Communications Associate and Web Master for campus publicity, marketing and publications efforts to promote the college, its President, Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students
  • Achieved: Created Communications Strategic Plan for the College
  • Secured New York Times coverage of Wagner College’s Commencement in 2005 and 2006 – Only instances of NYT’s coverage of the college in its 108-year-old history
  • Worked successfully with Admission Department to target diverse student applicants and, in the process, changed applicant base from 75% New York based students to 75% other than New York students
  • Designed crisis communications plan for anticipated scenarios
  • Provided communications counsel, media training, speeches and talking points to President.
  • Named Editor of the College’s Annual Report and biannual alumni magazine.

Director of Communications

Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey - Police
Jersey City, NJ
03.2003 - 01.2004
  • Goal: Assist Superintendent of Police and superior officers in publicizing role of the PAPD as full- partner to NYPD in counter-terrorism, airport security and waterfront port protection
  • Achieved: Media trained officers for 9/11 book interviews and appearances on “Nightline,” “Dateline - NBC” and regular network newscasts.

Press Secretary

Governor of New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey
01.2001 - 01.2002
  • Goal: Restore damaged and ineffective channels of communications between Governor’s Office and the media and provide ongoing communications counsel as well as initiating, and responding to, contact with media
  • Achieved: Counseled Governor and Cabinet members in all media and communications matters
  • Identified key audiences and constituencies and communicated key messages using traditional and non-traditional media
  • Wrote speeches for Governor, Chief-of-Staff and Cabinet members
  • Supervised a subordinate staff of ten to respond to all media inquiries concerning the activities of the New Jersey Governor.

Director of Public Information

Kings County District Attorney
Brooklyn, NY
01.1999 - 01.2001
  • Goal: Reshape image and brand of DA from chief law enforcement office to that of innovator in alternative to incarceration programs, law enforcement education and therapeutic drug treatment
  • Achieved: Managed external communications through earned media placements and correspondence to targeted audiences including ethnically diverse voting constituencies
  • Lead Communications staff of 5 including web master
  • Introduced new (social) media to KCDA including web site development and Intranet Education of targeted District Attorney’s constituencies to available social services
  • Gained marked increased in coverage of District Attorney’s office in New York Times, Crain’s
  • Business Weekly, Boston Globe and New York Times magazine.

Account Executive

Dan Klores Communications
New York
01.1998 - 01.1999
  • Goal: To create media to media publicity and marketing opportunities for a variety of clients including the New York Daily News, New York Magazine, and the New York Observer and political candidates Eliot Spitzer (elected Attorney General of New York State) and Betsy McCaughey Ross
  • Achieved:
  • Created pre-publication publicity blitz for New York Magazine featuring Sunday media placements in anticipation of Monday publication releases
  • Increased media exposure of newspapers, magazines and featured reporters - Joanna Molloy (Rush &
  • Molloy), columnists Mark Kriegel (News) and Joe Conason (Observer).

Executive Communications Director

The Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York
New York
01.1996 - 01.1998
  • Overhauled Communications division within HIP NY/NJ Corporation
  • Developed strategic communications and crisis management plan for the corporation and its affiliated plans
  • Strong defense of corporation in the media during period of health-care company collapse (Oxford) and retention of customer base during media-driven “managed care crisis”

Communications Director

The New York City Planning Commission
New York
01.1994 - 01.1996
  • Working with Commissioner Joseph B
  • Rose, developed and implemented media strategy to publicize a number of planning and zoning initiatives of the Giuliani Administration
  • Projects included rezoning of Times Square and other “adult entertainment” zones throughout New
  • York City and rezoning of manufacturing districts for “big box” (Home Depot, Kmart) districts.

Education

Masters of Science -

Hunter College

Bachelor of Science - Political Science

Brockport College

Post-graduate - undefined

Teachers College

Post-graduate studies - undefined

Columbia University School of Journalism
01.1992 - 05.1996

Skills

Strategy development

undefined

Timeline

Public Relations-Private Consultant

Volunteers of America
05.2018 - Current

Director of Corporate Communications

MTA/Long Island Rail
01.2007 - 01.2018

Senior Director of Communications

Wagner College
01.2004 - 01.2006

Director of Communications

Port Authority Of New York And New Jersey - Police
03.2003 - 01.2004

Press Secretary

Governor of New Jersey
01.2001 - 01.2002

Director of Public Information

Kings County District Attorney
01.1999 - 01.2001

Account Executive

Dan Klores Communications
01.1998 - 01.1999

Executive Communications Director

The Health Insurance Plan of Greater New York
01.1996 - 01.1998

Communications Director

The New York City Planning Commission
01.1994 - 01.1996

Post-graduate studies - undefined

Columbia University School of Journalism
01.1992 - 05.1996

Masters of Science -

Hunter College

Bachelor of Science - Political Science

Brockport College

Post-graduate - undefined

Teachers College

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Kevin G. Davitt