T. MISSY GILLESPIE
Cranbury
Summary
Dynamic communications leader with a proven track record at the New Jersey Lottery, excelling in crisis communication and strategic planning. Expert in media relations and brand management, I have successfully enhanced public engagement and awareness through innovative campaigns and cross-functional collaboration, driving impactful results and fostering strong stakeholder relationships.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
Work History
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
NEW JERSEY LOTTERY
01.2021 - Current
- Lead an executive team responsible for media relations, public information, and Responsible Gaming. The office maintains vital relationships with Lottery internal, Department of the Treasury, and Northstar New Jersey, the public and the media.
- Responsible for communications strategy, design, implementation, and review for promoting lottery products, educating the public, improving player awareness, and highlighting responsible gaming practices.
- Instrumental in producing annual reports for FY17 through FY20 over a 15-month period. Work included project management, editing, writing, and redesign.
- Craft messaging for important Lottery changes and emergencies, such as couriers being regulated in the state, anonymity for winners, closing of Lottery headquarters during the pandemic, moving from broadcast to online streaming of draw events, and providing guidance to our players during weather events as well as the pandemic.
- Create speeches, talking points and scripts to maintain consistent messaging for the executive director, senior staff members and customer service agents.
- Organize annual press events spotlighting Gambling Awareness Month; 'Not 18 Yet? No Bet.'; and Lottery Holiday Gifting is not Child’s Play.
- During the pandemic, traditional press conferences adapted into videos that could be utilized by media outlets or shared on social media.
- Coordinated workflow during the height of the pandemic when the workload doubled for the Public Information Office team.
- Created new processes for winner experience and press conferences.
- Collaborated with the Executive Director on a pandemic return-to-work plan for the Lottery.
- Orchestrated a team transition from an office-based setting to a telework environment, while addressing ways to make remote work more efficient.
Communications Manager
NEW JERSEY LOTTERY
<ul>
<li>Developed communication strategies for public engagement and brand awareness.</li>
<li>Coordinated press releases and media relations to enhance visibility.</li>
<li>Facilitated internal communications to keep staff informed on organizational updates.</li>
<li>Oversaw community outreach programs to build positive relationships with stakeholders.</li>
<li>Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align messaging and goals.</li>
<li>Analyzed public feedback to improve communication efforts and strategies.</li>
<li>Created content for various media including press releases, website copy, newsletters, brochures, and email campaigns.</li>
<li>Organized promotional activities such as press conferences, interviews with key stakeholders, and special events.</li>
</ul>
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Developed communication strategies for public engagement and brand awareness.
- Coordinated press releases and media relations to enhance visibility.
- Facilitated internal communications to keep staff informed on organizational updates.
- Oversaw community outreach programs to build positive relationships with stakeholders.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to align messaging and goals.
- Analyzed public feedback to improve communication efforts and strategies.
- Created content for various media including press releases, website copy, newsletters, brochures, and email campaigns.
- Organized promotional activities such as press conferences, interviews with key stakeholders, and special events.
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE COACH
SMOOTHSTONE CONSULTING
01.2016 - 01.2021
- Work with corporate, nonprofits, and local governments. Create solutions based on need and focused on core issues, not merely symptom specific.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive and integrated communications and public relations activities that increased awareness of client organizations.
- Full service professional firm, assisting clients with communications, strategic planning and executive coaching.
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
01.2001 - 01.2016
- Provided leadership and coaching in the areas of organizational/individual communications, strategic planning, organization restructuring, personnel, project management, and problem-solving.
- Worked with non-profit and educational entities.
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
01.2009 - 01.2015
- Also served as Acting Director of Web Design and Visual Strategies (2011) and Social Media Coordinator (2009).
- Served as a senior advisor to the AVP overseeing the day-to-day operations of a 30-member collaborative team.
- Aligned projects and training with University messaging goals, notably diversity.
- Annually responsible for a cost-recovery goal of $300,000+, as well as overseeing an office budget of $2,500,000.
- Met with campus partners to develop strategies ensuring clear and consistent messaging targeted audiences through the appropriate mediums.
- Used analytic tools to track the success of social media campaigns.
- Served as troubleshooter and negotiator for project related emergencies.
- Created procedures and protocols for office policies.
- Additionally, oversaw project intake management, assignments, tracking and completion for up to 300 annual projects.
- Led the hiring process for positions ranging from entry level to director.
DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
NJ DEPARTMENT OF STATE – SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE
01.1997 - 01.2001
- Also served as Acting Director of Communications – promoted while in this position to DEO (1999) and Communications Specialist (1997).
- Served as chief of staff, in charge of day-to-day operations of the New Jersey Secretary of State's executive staff and programs.
- Directed constituent relations, communications and media relations, and scheduling.
- Also, acted as SOS liaison with the Office of the Gov., State Assembly and Senate, corporate and community leaders and members of the press.
- Responsible for assisting in the successful implementation of core priorities, programs, and initiatives.
Education
M.S. - Organizational Dynamics
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PAPhiladelphia, PA
B.S. - Political Science
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTSalt Lake City, UT
Skills
- Communications strategy
- Public relations
- Media relations
- Content creation
- Crisis communication
- Brand management
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Strategic planning
- Team leadership
- Reputation management
- Employee engagement
- Internal communications
- Multicultural communications
- Continuous improvement
Key Accomplishments
- Manage an executive team responsible for media relations, public information, and Responsible Gaming for the New Jersey Lottery, a division with $3.38 billion in sales for Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25).
- Planned the New Jersey Mega Millions billion-dollar press conference in 12 hours. Over 60 local and national outlets were present, and those not in attendance contacted the office for comment and b-roll.
- Served as New Jersey Lottery’s executive director’s informed resource for Governor Murphy’s Responsible Gaming Task Force to advise on gaming reforms.
- Instrumental in producing the New Jersey Lottery’s annual reports for FY17 through FY25.
- Won back-to-back North American State of Provincial Lotteries Batchy Awards, which recognize excellence for best annual report in 2023 and 2024.
- Developed a virtual event for the Lottery’s 50th Anniversary celebration in response to the pandemic stay-at-home orders that was so popular that additional digital events were created.
- Successfully met or surpassed annual cost-recovery goals of $300,000+ at Princeton University's Office of Communications. Responsibly oversaw an annual office budget of $2,500,000.
- Successfully served with both Republican and Democratic administrations.
Timeline
CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER
NEW JERSEY LOTTERY
01.2021 - Current
Communications Manager
NEW JERSEY LOTTERY
01.2019 - 01.2021
FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE COACH
SMOOTHSTONE CONSULTING
01.2016 - 01.2021
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
PRINCETON UNIVERSITY
01.2009 - 01.2015
INDEPENDENT CONSULTANT
01.2001 - 01.2016
DIRECTOR OF EXECUTIVE OPERATIONS
NJ DEPARTMENT OF STATE – SECRETARY OF STATE’S OFFICE
01.1997 - 01.2001
M.S. - Organizational Dynamics
University of Pennsylvania
B.S. - Political Science
University of Utah