Laurie Peterson
Bristow,VA
Summary
Accomplished Communications Officer with over 18 years of customer experience in devising successful communication strategies and orchestrating special events. Works with major corporate partners to identify and address communication and promotional needs. Delivers high-impact, dynamic product presentations to drive mission.
Overview
4
4
Certifications
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Communications Specialist
Eleccion
12.2020 - Current
- Develop and deliver internal communications products, including workforce notices, leadership messages, organizational updates, newsletters, and feature content, translating complex information into clear, audience-focused messaging.
- Manage and maintain organizational website content using Joomla CMS, including creating and publishing articles, managing menus, categories and tags, incorporating images and downloadable resources, and developing pages with light custom coding to support organizational needs.
- Collaborate with department stakeholders to develop and communicate organizational capabilities, initiatives, products, services, and events across the website, newsletters, presentations, and other enterprise communication channels.
- Produce and manage recurring communications, including a bi-weekly newsletter and weekly leadership highlights, coordinating with stakeholders to gather content, maintain recurring sections, and edit submissions prior to Chief of Staff review.
- Create and refine PowerPoint presentations and other visual communication materials, improving layout, consistency, readability, and presentation quality for leadership and organizational briefings.
- Support the development of visual communication products using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, modifying existing graphic assets and templates and incorporating licensed stock imagery to create materials such as organizational products, placemats, and promotional communications.
- Administer Joomla extensions including AcyMailing, ChronoForms, and JDownloads to support electronic newsletters, forms and surveys, document distribution, and online resources.
- Support organization-wide All Hands meetings, award ceremonies, and recognition programs through award nominations and production, presentation development, ceremony slides, event setup, VTC support, recording, transcription, and post-event summaries
Conferencing and Events Manager
Fluor Federal Solutions
07.2019 - 12.2020
- Provide subject matter expertise to senior management in areas of strategic planning, change management, and business process improvement of Conferencing business line.
- Engage critical thinking in a post-COVID world to redesign support capabilities and processes to meet changing requirements in an effort to restart training services in a smart and safe way.
- Actively engaged with sister training facilities to engage in exchange of best practices to make a seamless customer experience.
- Engaged in a benchmarking exercise of the guest experience which led to over $100,000 in Conference Center upgrades and improvements.
- Implemented changes in workflow and work processes which resulted in 20% increase in training and off site reservations.
- Oversee accounts payable and receiving transactions for Conferencing Budget line with over 4 million in revenue per year.
- Attend event industry educational events to stay on top of industry trends to include Virtual Events, build relationships, gain applicable ideas for growth, and enhance leadership skills.
Manager Of Hospitality And Event Planning
Fluor Federal Solutions
03.2017 - 07.2019
- Fulfilled contractual obligations, including communications, stakeholder coordination, schedule creation, budget administration, event preparations and day of event coordination.
- Provided analytics on conferencing activities related to planning, scheduling, cancellation, inquiries, resourcing, risk mitigation and proposal development to senior management .
- Managed full life cycle event management for 250+ annual conference, offsite and special events.
- Lead staff of 15 housekeepers responsible for cleaning of commercial office space, conference center and hotel rooms to include supply management and scheduling
- Promote safety by demonstrating proper operation and use of cleaning tools and chemicals.
Information Management Analyst
Independent Contractor
01.2012 - 12.2015
- Supported customers of the Intelligence Community by carrying out responsibilities that support the operational mission by providing guidance and front-line information management support.
- Performed the job of a name trace analyst in support of the Intelligence Community using a variety of programs such as TIDE (Terrorist Identities Datamart Environment) and E-Cents tools to analyze cases quickly and accurately for customers.
- Utilized critical thinking skills to analyze and process over 30,000 data searches using the various search tools to locate derogatory and non-derogatory information to report via official cable to our customers for processing.
- Demonstrated ability to succeed in a changing environment by keeping current with guidance, regulations, prototypes, and Special Reporting Procedures in addition to the process changes in referral responses in coordination with the various desk officers.
Critical Events Specialist
Lockheed Martin
10.2007 - 02.2012
- Consulted with clients to understand event scopes of work, establish budgets and determine timelines, guest list finalization for over 250 off sites, conferences, executive dinners, and receptions.
- Provided metrics using food service Profit & Loss statements and trend reports, managed food service work requests to guarantee continuity of operations and reviewed survey comments to maintain high level of customer satisfaction.
- Instituted the use of a Conference Event Order to use as a tool that resulted in more than 80% decrease in event issues and has been a valuable communication tool.
- Managed staff members for various event-specific functions and ensured employees’ understanding of associated processes and procedures.
- Performed a comparative analysis of Event Management software's and acted as initial user acceptance tester for integration into use in two customer training facilities.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Communication, Public Relations
Radford University
Radford, VA 05.2005 - 05.2005
Skills
Critical Thinking
Creative Support Solutions
Business Process Support
Communications
Strategic Planning
Brand management
Virtual Meeting Management
Advertising and marketing
Written Communication
Organization and Time Management
Accomplishments
- Mertorious Unit Citation (2021)
- Leidos Spot Award (2017)
- Lockheed Martin Team Accomplishment Award (2008)
- Lockheed Martin Star Award (2008)
Affiliations
- Member, Society of Government Meeting Professionals (SGMP), 2019 to 2023
- Member, Meeting Professionals International (MPI), 2018 to 2021
Certification
Clearance: TS/SCI with Polygraph
Timeline
Communications Specialist
Eleccion
12.2020 - Current
Conferencing and Events Manager
Fluor Federal Solutions
07.2019 - 12.2020
Manager Of Hospitality And Event Planning
Fluor Federal Solutions
03.2017 - 07.2019
Information Management Analyst
Independent Contractor
01.2012 - 12.2015
Critical Events Specialist
Lockheed Martin
10.2007 - 02.2012
Bachelor of Science - Communication, Public Relations
Radford University
05.2005 - 05.2005