Tamara Necole Ward
Sharpsburg,United States
Summary
Public affairs professional with comprehensive experience in strategic communication, media relations, and crisis management. Known for fostering collaboration within teams and adapting to evolving challenges while maintaining results-driven approach. Skilled in public relations, stakeholder engagement, and policy advocacy, with strong ability to influence and manage public perception. Recognized for reliability, flexibility, and delivering impactful outcomes.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
09.2021 - Current
- Contributed to several successes as the Assistant Field Supervisor for Communications.
- Highlighted our office as a public partner supporting the conservation of wildlife, plants and their habitats in the Bay Area, the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta, the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers and their tributaries, and the Central Valley of California.
- Guided by the best available science, I routinely collaborated to promote with other agencies and members of the public to help sustainable populations of species thrive.
- This includes promoting the research, restoring habitats, and shaping development plans that balance growth with conservation of the Delta smelt and Longfin smelt fish species.
- Organized, facilitated, and presented during a public hearing for the Proposed listing of the Longfin Smelt as Endangered.
- Helped coordinate with multiple agencies and substantial interest from the media and public at large the five-year experimental release of Delta smelt project.
- Provided oversight provided oversight of communications between state and local partners, and despite the challenges associated with and substantially complicated by Covid-19 concerns, the release announcements was successful.
- Lead in the development and execution of communications plans, press releases, Q&A documents and several associated media products related to the proposed Endangered Species listing of Longfin smelt.
- Made multiple media contacts in the Northern California area, where multiple stories were published where BDFWO personnel were quoted, and podcasts highlighted our species.
- Consistently kept BDFWO and Regional management informed with regular and real-time updates of media coverage and general public engagement.
- Worked with leadership to provide substantial internal engagement to BDFWO staff including staffing events and highlighting staff efforts using written articles and stories, videos, tweets, and media outreach.
- Fulfilled goal of constantly making sure the communications office was open to new ideas from staff and responded promptly to any requests.
- Routinely provides guidance to agency leadership, other program senior managers and communications managers at the regional and national level.
- Solid communicator as well as expert in gaging potential negative impacts as well as successful strategies to overcome challenges with innovative and creative approaches that linked BDFWO and the Service's strategic priorities with highly effective communications at all levels.
- Routinely showed initiative in educating myself and others in ways that expand the ability to consider how best to pursue the enforcement of the Endangered Species Act addressing an ecosystem heavily impacted by climate change, increasing demands on agency resources and other inevitable changes that will only make Federal work more challenging to implement.
- Created and maintained successful partnerships.
- San Francisco Bay Delta Fish and Wildlife Office. Website: [fws.gov](https://www.fws.gov)
Speechwriter/Mass Communications Specialist
U.S. Federal Government
07.1997 - 09.2020
- Worked directly with Federal Government leadership from the Department of the Army to the Food and Nutrition Service Undersecretary, and other senior Federal officials to communicate authoritative Agency public policy positions in speeches and other written materials for a variety of audiences including media and Congressional committees.
- Served as HQs liaison with regional public affairs offices to coordinate travel and speaking opportunities for senior Federal leadership.
- Generated and assessed strategic plans in line with competing Administration’s priorities.
- Researched, wrote and edited speeches, articles, op-eds, Congressional testimonies, and letters regarding key government issues.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Memphis
Memphis, TNSkills
- DRUPAL/AQUILENT WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
- CRISIS MANAGEMENT
- POLICY ANALYSIS
- INTERNAL COMMUNICATIONS
- GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
- WEB CONTENT MANAGEMENT
- MEDIA RELATIONS
- SPEECH WRITING
- RESEARCHING ISSUES
- ANALYZING DATA
- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
- CONDUCTING RESEARCH
Accomplishments
*Time Off Awards – 8 hours, Three in the last three years
*Back-to-Back Outstanding Annual Outstanding Performance Evaluations 2023-2024
*Multiple Cash Awards - 2022-2024
*FEB Employee of the Year Team Award, August 2018 (Department of Agriculture)
*Certificate of Appreciation, Disaster Response (Hurricane Irma), 2017
*For the months of March and June of 2014, I was selected as a SAMHSA “Pockets of Excellence” winner. The SAMHSA “Pockets of Excellence” nominations are based on the evaluations of coworkers and other SAMHSA staff for such qualities as excellent staff work, teamwork, management, or leadership.
Timeline
Supervisory Public Affairs Specialist
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
09.2021 - Current
Speechwriter/Mass Communications Specialist
U.S. Federal Government
07.1997 - 09.2020
Bachelor of Arts - English
University of Memphis
Job Related Training
- Collateral Duty Safety Officer Training, 2022-10-01
- Climate Change Plan Development Training, 2022-09-01
- Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) International Conference Training, 2017-10-07
- PRSA Online Training, 2017-11-27
- New Rules for Media Pitching in 2017
- Building Trust: The Drivers of Trust Around the Globe
- Emory University Continuing Education – Freelance Writing, 2018-04-01
- Project Management Preparation for Success, 2019-07-01
- Leadership in Government, 2020-01-01
Professional Publications
- Contributing writer and substitute editor for Kwajalein Hourglass
- Co-editor of Fish and Wildlife News (bimonthly agency publication)
Additional Information - Description
Extensive knowledge and experience with various Federal Government policies and procedures, functions, regulations. Effectively and efficiently advises and assists supervisors in troubleshooting and using all aspect of office automation equipment. Extensive knowledge of all computer programs available, can maintain databases, structures, input/output necessary to merge documents from one database to another. Extensive knowledge of storing, retrieval, manipulation reports, able to create; reproduce special reports requiring graphics, tables, and other such complex formats for local functional users. Proficient in maintaining/updating websites. Proficient in compiling, organizing, and creating informational papers. Develops, implements, coordinates, and monitors all media and administrative functions. Meticulous to the smallest of details. Can mix well with any rank, gender, and religion. Can work completely on own, or with a group. Proficient in delegation. Proficient in oral and written communications, and research. Knows how to get the job done. Extensive knowledge of PC and MAC software. Highly skilled in most database programs available. Working knowledge of graphic design. Quick learner, quick thinker, can adapt to any situation. Befriends every office and able to pull off seemingly impossible tasks. An outstanding asset to your organization.
Writing Accomplishments
- Quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle, 2022-10-01, https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/A-tiny-but-vital-creature-is-struggling-to-17492724.php
- Lead Speechwriter, USDA/FNS
- Editor, Fish and Wildlife News
- Occasional speechwriter, Director, Fish and Wildlife Service
- Co-editor, Fish and Wildlife News (bimonthly agency publication)
Public Affairs Accomplishments
- Videos available upon request
- Webpage Administrator, SERO Intranet Page
- Managing Editor, SERO Shout Out
- Editor, Fish and Wildlife News
- Member, Public Relations Society of America
- Official escort for foreign media (Czech Republic/Polish media (Telewizja Polska)) to tour the GBR-P radar
- Editor/Evaluator of community newspaper (The Kwajalein Hourglass)
- Spokesperson for USAKA in Marshall Islands Journal
- Coordinator for 232nd Army Ball, Kwajalein town hall meetings, Secretary of the Interior (Kempthorne) visit, and Quarters of the Quarter program.
- Speechwriter for USAKA Commander for Memorial Day 2007 Ceremony
Personal Information
Availability: Immediately: Full-Time, Domestic and International
Awards
- Time Off Award, 8 hours, 2022-10-01, Department of Interior
- Cash Award, $2500, 2022-10-01, Department of Interior
- Time Off Award, 8 hours, 2019-09-01, Department of Agriculture
- Time Off Award, 8 hours, 2019-08-01, Department of Agriculture
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2018-09-01, Department of Agriculture
- FEB Employee of the Year Team Award, 2018-08-01, Department of Agriculture
- Certificate of Appreciation, Disaster Response (Hurricane Irma), 2017-01-01
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2017-05-01, Department of Agriculture
- SAMHSA “Pockets of Excellence” winner, 2014-03-01
- 2 Crosscutting Team Work Awards, 2013-01-01, Food and Drug Administration
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2010-04-01, Department of Interior
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2010-05-01, Department of Interior
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2009-10-01, Department of Interior
- Quality Step Increase, 2007-03-01, Department of Defense
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2006-07-01, Department of Defense
- Department of the Interior Award certification, 2005-12-01
- On the Spot Cash Award, 2005-05-01, Department of Interior
- Department of the Interior Award certification, 2003-06-01
- Department of the Interior Award certification, 2001-08-01
- Letter of Appreciation, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service