An expert in entertainment media relations and has over 20 years of experience in the industry. A communication leader, visionary, and vibrant strategist. Successfully took on various entertainment positions and made positive contributions. Skilled at identifying areas for improvement and implementing changes to optimize business operations for increased efficiency.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Public Relations Senior Executive – Music | Sports |Special Events |Brand Development
PR WIZZZZ ENTERTAINMENT
Los Angeles, CA
08.2002 - Current
Secure new business-created PR proposals, broker talent deals, maintained client relationships, supervised music & red-carpet events, provided crisis public relations, and managed staff.
Accountable for creating and executing press campaigns, and special events for celebrities, athletes, and entertainment organizations.
Devising and implementing effective press campaigns and organizing exclusive events for high-profile individuals, including recording artists, professional athletes, and television and film personalities.
Expertise also includes managing VIP/Celebrity events for music, lifestyle, and entertainment organizations.
Delegate tasks and oversee staff, including associate publicists, managers, coordinators & executive assistants to enhance their publicity skills and involvement in local publicity efforts and promote appropriate performances
Works directly with clients, creating and implementing targeted marketing plans, and pitching clients for media coverage.
Pitch top-tier market media, build relationships to increase client visibility in the marketplace, and create new business opportunities.
Develop relationships with key players in the celebrity market - talent, publicists, agents, managers, stylists, and editors
Formed accurate budget estimates for the client's long-term and short-term campaigns
Create campaigns for special events, award shows, and music showcases.
Pitched and secured media coverage in local, national, and international media outlets for television and film productions
Assess new business leads and participate in pitch development and presentation.
Play a vital role in events and award show facilitation including but not limited to Soul Train Music Awards, MTV Awards, GRAMMY, NAACP Image Awards, America Music Awards, and BET including artists' coverage on red carpets and client bookings at ancillary activities.
Directed market expansions to propel business forward, and meet changing client's needs.
Developed and implemented new strategies and policies in collaboration with executive partners to establish and achieve long-term business objectives, providing the company with strong and sustainable organizational leadership.
Senior Director – Publicity | Media Relations | Special Events
MCA RECORDS (Subsidiary Of Universal Music Group)
Los Angeles, CA
08.2000 - 08.2002
Conceived and implemented media campaigns for a diverse, cross-section of music-related projects: including K-Ci & JoJo, Jodeci, Chante Moore, Jesse Powell, KeKe Wyatt, Jaguar Wright, Magic Johnson Music, Nicci Gilbert (Brownstone), and Steve Harvey as well as coordinating music press for films: Two Can Play That Game and Brown Sugar, among others.
Negotiating and securing press coverage with key trade press and selecting consumer press outlets to maximize DC initiatives and stories.
This includes setting up, scheduling, and staffing interviews, negotiating exclusive coverage for announcements/reveals, and securing assets from developing long and short-term online, print, and on-air media strategies in alignment with corporate & artist objectives
Writing media documents such as press releases, biographies, media alerts, fact sheets, and bullet points for interviews, among many other press documents
Coordinating photo shoots, which includes working with other departments to hire photographers, scouting locations, and supervising budgets.
Directed design and execution of business transformation initiatives to drive performance, profit optimization, and growth opportunities.
Drove strategic improvements to enhance operational and organizational efficiencies.
Strategized and executed business plans for customer operations design, development, and maintenance.
Senior Account Executive – Music PR | Publicity | Special Events | Image Consultant
ROGERS & COWAN (Division Of The Interpublic Group Of Companies)
Los Angeles, CA
09.1993 - 08.2000
Successfully designed and executed PR projects, special events, and publicity campaigns for recording artists, producers, record labels, and entertainment companies.
Put into operation PR strategies that grew client business and increased Rogers & Cowan's Entertainment/Music/Special Events department billings by 30%.
Supporting the EVP Music/Special Events in strategic communication planning, publicity campaigns, executive speaking, and presentation planning for artists.
Accountable for quality control for the final review of all press releases, media alerts, and other PR-related correspondence.
Managing event publicity, and updating media contact lists, and databases.
Brainstorming with marketing, corporate, and television dept
To create media campaigns.
Maintain and develop relationships with media, including writers, television bookers, and online outlets.
Work to secure national, regional, and tour press (television, print, and online).
Worked extensively with talent representatives, in-house publicists, agents, and managers on celebrity-oriented initiatives.
Coordinated media for major awards shows including National Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences (The GRAMMY, MusiCares).
Brought in over $25,000 in monthly revenue while managing multiple high-profile accounts.
Networked at events and prospected for new celebrity clients with diverse strategies.
<ul><li>Manage three separate teams for which their scope includes middle office support for the client relations community including known population remediations, complex reporting as well as a business manager team executing on efficiencies and development opportunities (eleven individuals both domestic and overseas contingent workers). 13 years of Institutional Relationship experience, 7 of those involving people management</li><li>Currently own and assist with facilitating the client relation pieces of various Management Action Plans (MAP) and internal audits within Revenue Credit Account (RCA) and Service Level Agreement (SLA) areas</li><li>In February 2024 released the first Salesforce Intake system at TIAA after five years of development and advocacy. This build has been noted as the blue print for all future case management intake systems within Salesforce at TIAA providing efficiency and ease for the user while reducing risk for the company</li><li>Worked on advancements and efficiencies within the Service Level Agreement process including salesforce automation. Implemented continuous improvement projects which reduced specific quarterly reporting tasks from days to minutes as well as the inception of a single budget code to pull penalties from rather than dozens of different budget codes</li><li>Through partnership with operations, updated the standard operating procedures for Client Service Managers concerning non bulk Lost Earning Calculations in 2021 to be submitted primary through plan focus unless through special exception. This reduced volumes for my team around lost earning calculations by 22% compared to the year prior while providing a more seamless and straight through process for the external clients</li><li>Continue working through obstacles, avoid duplication of efforts between client relations and other support team within different departments while creating synergy towards “working as one”</li><li>Advanced public speaking skills presenting both in person and virtually to groups as small as senior leadership to hundreds of employees on various forums</li></ul> at TIAA<ul><li>Manage three separate teams for which their scope includes middle office support for the client relations community including known population remediations, complex reporting as well as a business manager team executing on efficiencies and development opportunities (eleven individuals both domestic and overseas contingent workers). 13 years of Institutional Relationship experience, 7 of those involving people management</li><li>Currently own and assist with facilitating the client relation pieces of various Management Action Plans (MAP) and internal audits within Revenue Credit Account (RCA) and Service Level Agreement (SLA) areas</li><li>In February 2024 released the first Salesforce Intake system at TIAA after five years of development and advocacy. This build has been noted as the blue print for all future case management intake systems within Salesforce at TIAA providing efficiency and ease for the user while reducing risk for the company</li><li>Worked on advancements and efficiencies within the Service Level Agreement process including salesforce automation. Implemented continuous improvement projects which reduced specific quarterly reporting tasks from days to minutes as well as the inception of a single budget code to pull penalties from rather than dozens of different budget codes</li><li>Through partnership with operations, updated the standard operating procedures for Client Service Managers concerning non bulk Lost Earning Calculations in 2021 to be submitted primary through plan focus unless through special exception. This reduced volumes for my team around lost earning calculations by 22% compared to the year prior while providing a more seamless and straight through process for the external clients</li><li>Continue working through obstacles, avoid duplication of efforts between client relations and other support team within different departments while creating synergy towards “working as one”</li><li>Advanced public speaking skills presenting both in person and virtually to groups as small as senior leadership to hundreds of employees on various forums</li></ul> at TIAA