Lydia Cisaruk

• Strategic and tactical communications guidance for multiple audiences on transformational initiatives including organizational change, brand building, product launch and reputation management.
• Led development of messaging, biographies, speeches, e-newsletters, videos and webinars for a diverse client base of global companies and start-ups
• Produced a webinar series preparing Trane employees for their largest product introduction in 18 years.

• Head of Communications for the second-largest for profit childcare provider in North America, covering 11 unique brands across 1,000+ preschools in 39 states, with 20K+ educators and capacity to support 156K+ children.
• Oversight of all communications – including public relations, crisis management and employee communications.
• Safeguarded corporate reputation and ensured message alignment. Mitigated reputational risk, managing highly sensitive issues daily.
• Provided strategic communications guidance, working in close collaboration with colleagues in Legal, Operations and Human Resources.
• Managed all corporate messaging throughout the pandemic, emphasizing commitment to health and safety – retaining customers and employees, and improving internal and external satisfaction.
• Championed the corporate Grow Fit healthy lifestyle program. Drove Let’s Move partnership launch event hosting First Lady Michelle Obama, covered by 428 news outlets at an estimated ad value of $6.3 million.

• Managed internal communications for Ford’s President of The Americas. Produced weekly executive webcasts and e-mails to employees, setting the tone for all internal communications during heavy corporate downsizing.
• Streamlined production process for executive webcast, reducing costs by 68 percent while retaining high quality. Improved accessibility by making the program available via podcast
• Developed influential executive presentations to media, industry analysts, dealers and community organizations.

• Introduced new framework for corporate communications to dealers, improving information flow, strengthening existing tools and boosting dealer satisfaction scores.
• Developed media training curriculum for the dealer network.
• Managed media communications for Ford and Lincoln Mercury dealer-related issues during dealer restructuring.
• Concurrently, managed media strategy and outreach on product pricing and incentives, emphasizing product value.

Lincoln-Mercury Communications Manager (August 2005-May 2006)

• Led communications and media outreach for Lincoln and Mercury during brand campaign introductions as well as vehicle debuts for the Mercury Mariner Hybrid, Milan and the Lincoln Zephyr, MKZ and MKX.
• Expanded Lincoln Mercury’s presence in multicultural media with aggressive outreach, targeted drive programs, guerilla marketing tactics and increased access to senior management.

Ford Truck and SUV Communications Manager (August 2004-July 2005)

• Spearheaded media efforts for the company’s largest and most lucrative products, the Ford F-150 and F-Series Super Duty trucks, including managing drive events and technical product reviews.
• Led communications for market introduction of the Escape Hybrid as the world’s most fuel-efficient SUV. Generated prominent media exposure on exclusive roll-avoidance SUV safety technology.
• Leveraged high-profile alliances in communications efforts with partners including American Idol, Harley-Davidson, Toby Keith, Home Depot, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Cabela’s, BP and others.

Communications Planning Manager (September 2003-July 2004)

• Ensured executive message alignment and media preparedness on key corporate issues through concise and timely briefing materials. Developed executive presentations to influential audiences.
• Maximized the value of Ford’s participation in external events through strategic planning.

Product Launch Manager (July 2001-August 2003)

• Managed communications for the 2004 F-150 during the largest product launch to date for Ford’s top-selling vehicle. Communication efforts contributed strongly to F-150’s role as Ford’s most highly awarded product.
• Drove development and execution of comprehensive product technical reviews and drive programs for media – leading message development, program content, vehicle coordination, speaker preparation and media outreach.
• Managed media efforts for vehicle introductions and auto shows, developing engaging product press kits and ‘personality profiles’ for key executives and product experts.

Assistant Manager, Customer Satisfaction and Quality Communications (March 2000-June 2001)

• Developed communications on Consumer Driven 6-Sigma and other quality improvement initiatives.
• Managed 10-city Customer Satisfaction Road Show with senior executives to educate and engage employees.
• Led media outreach and response on quality concerns and the company’s performance in influential external quality studies such as J.D. Power and Associates surveys and other closely watched third-party assessments.

Editorial Supervisor, Internal Communications (November 1999-February 2000)

• Supervised daily operation of Ford’s industry-leading employee news organization – including its television news program, internal website and employee newspaper. Ensured sensitive news was communicated to employees, first.
• Managed personnel, maximizing newsroom talent during downsizing by helping Ford’s TV reporters strengthen their writing skills to effectively contribute to print and digital media coverage.

Assistant Manager, Corporate News (June 1998-October 1999)

• Managed media relations for issues related to corporate reputation, corporate history, philanthropy and education. Managed media outreach on the debut of the Henry Ford Academy charter school and Ford Fund-sponsored programs – including the Detroit Opera House renovation, the Three Tenors’ Detroit concert and traveling exhibits.
• Provided media relations support for management succession, labor negotiations, financial news and other issues.

• Managed the monthly publication for Ford's North American employees and retirees. Circulation: ~350K
• Managed personnel, developed feature stories, supervised layout, coordinated the print process, wrote articles and edited copy
• Overhauled the distribution process to reduce costs by one third.

• Supervised the production of Ford's daily television newscast for U.S. employees.
• Determined program content, wrote scripts, edited copy, managed script reviews and supervised edits and video shoots.
• Served as special programs producer and news assignment editor. Planned story coverage, managed reporter assignments, wrote scripts for the daily employee newscast. Served as field producer. Assisted in post-production.