Overview
Skills
Professional Summary
Work History
Education
APPEARANCES
FREELANCE WORK
Timeline

MARY LYNN RYNKIEWICZ

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
Annandale,VA
MARY LYNN RYNKIEWICZ
30
years of professional experience

Strategic communications leader with over 20 years of experience in Washington, DC, driving association and nonprofit initiatives. Former reporter and editor specializing in U.S. Congress and lobbying coverage. Excels in multitasking, delivering compelling copy under tight deadlines, managing vendors, and fostering collaboration across departments.

Skills

Advocacy strategies
Media relations
Public policy
External communication
Internal communication
Project management
Strategic planning
Team collaboration
Effective communication
Legislative advocacy

Work History

DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

1 Year 9 Months
National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) | 01.2025 - Current
  • Direct legislative and regulatory advocacy at the federal and state levels.
  • Develop and oversee materials to further NAELA public policy objectives, including Explainers, Advocacy Action Kits, consumer resources, comment letters, and Statements for the Record.
  • Serve as Project Director for NAELA Foundation's "Elevating Voices" $400,000 grant on Medicaid Estate Recovery.

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

1 Year
American Academy of Audiology | 01.2024 - 01.2025
  • Directed and oversaw all strategic communications and marketing.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

2 Years
Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA) | 01.2022 - 01.2024
  • Directed all communications, including media relations, social media, email newsletters, website, and publications.
  • Edited Tomorrow's Business Leader magazine. Received TRENDY and APEX awards for Most Improved Magazine after becoming editor.
  • Oversaw production of general sessions at conferences reaching more than 18,000 attendees.

ENGLISH TEACHER

5 Years
Hayfield Secondary School | 01.2017 - 01.2022

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

4 Years
General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) | 01.2013 - 01.2017
  • Led external communications, including press releases, social media, op-eds, presentations, and publications.
  • Managed national STEM competition for high school students.
  • Produced rallies to promote general aviation's economic impact with governors, members of Congress, and industry leaders.
  • Oversaw redesign of GAMA's public-facing website.
  • Led media outreach for the Arsenal of Democracy: World War II Victory Capitol Flyover. Attracted worldwide media coverage.

COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTRACT MANAGER

2 Years
NextGen Institute | 01.2011 - 01.2013
  • Wrote and edited content for Institute publications.

EDITORIAL MANAGER

1 Year
Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace | 01.2010 - 01.2011
  • Edited publications, wrote press releases, placed op-ed articles.

SENIOR PROPOSAL WRITER

1 Year
SRA International | 01.2009 - 01.2010
  • Researched, wrote, and edited proposals for potential clients.

STAFF WRITER

4 Years
Newspaper Association of America | 01.2005 - 01.2009
  • Wrote stories on public policy, editorial, and business issues.
  • Awarded Paul Miller Washington Reporting Fellowship from the National Press Foundation.

SENIOR EDITOR

1 Year
The American Prospect | 01.2002 - 01.2003
  • Wrote and edited articles on politics, the media, and culture.

ONLINE EDITOR, FEATURES EDITOR, STAFF WRITER

5 Years
The Hill | 01.1997 - 01.2002
  • Directed all features of the website.
  • Produced special reports on policy issues.
  • Edited, assigned, and wrote breaking news and feature stories.

Education

BACHELOR OF ARTS - Political Science

Wellesley College | Wellesley, MA | 01-1996
Cum laude, departmental honors

MASTER OF SCIENCE - Journalism

Columbia University | New York, NY | 01-1997

APPEARANCES

  • TELEVISION & RADIO
  • The McLaughlin Group, MSNBC, Fox News Channel, National Public Radio, WTTG-TV, WMAL-AM

FREELANCE WORK

  • Chicago Tribune
  • Los Angeles Times
  • The Washington Business Journal
  • The Washington Examiner
  • Wellesley alumnae magazine
  • Encyclopedia of American Political Parties & Elections

Timeline

DIRECTOR OF ADVOCACY AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS

National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA)
01.2025 - CurrentRead More

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

American Academy of Audiology
01.2024 - 01.2025Read More

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & MARKETING

Future Business Leaders of America, Inc. (FBLA)
01.2022 - 01.2024Read More

ENGLISH TEACHER

Hayfield Secondary School
01.2017 - 01.2022Read More

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS

General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA)
01.2013 - 01.2017Read More

COMMUNICATIONS AND CONTRACT MANAGER

NextGen Institute
01.2011 - 01.2013Read More

EDITORIAL MANAGER

Carnegie Endowment for Intl Peace
01.2010 - 01.2011Read More

SENIOR PROPOSAL WRITER

SRA International
01.2009 - 01.2010Read More

STAFF WRITER

Newspaper Association of America
01.2005 - 01.2009Read More

SENIOR EDITOR

The American Prospect
01.2002 - 01.2003Read More

ONLINE EDITOR, FEATURES EDITOR, STAFF WRITER

The Hill
01.1997 - 01.2002Read More

Columbia University

MASTER OF SCIENCE from Journalism
Read More

Wellesley College

BACHELOR OF ARTS from Political Science
Read More

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MARY LYNN RYNKIEWICZ