Communication Strategist

Sep 2, 2021

Position Description:

The Communication Strategist builds the roadmap for our clients’ success and directs and manages delivery of communication services as planned. They are creative thinkers with a deep understanding of human behavior and the roles that communication plays in opinions, relationships, and sales.

Hours: 40 hours per week, hours are flexible with general availability during normal business hours (M-F 8:00 am – 6:00 pm)

Level of responsibility: Mid level

Level of professionalism: The Strategist is expected to be available as planned, punctual; dress appropriately for the setting and project, use discretion in publicly discussing the work and operations of the firm, especially maintaining client confidentiality as required.

Supervisory responsibilities: There is extensive project supervision but no staff supervision. May include intern supervision. Leadership is always valued.

Qualifications:

College degree in communication, business or related field and five years of work experience is required. Deep experience in digital tactics preferred. Must have excellent writing and speaking skills. Must be proficient in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and knowledgeable regarding most social media platforms and analytics. A service specialty (industry or tactics) is valued. Agency experience, basic graphic design capabilities and other skills are a plus but not required.

Examples of Duties:

Strategy Development and Planning: Assess business needs and develop strategic communication plans to accomplish specific goals and objectives.

Account Management: Provide the day-to-day service for assigned clients for projects and retainer relationships. This includes communicating with client, documentation, planning timelines and budgets, coordination of team members’ support, tracking progress and outcomes. Also includes offering ideas for additional services to expand the client work. Requires excellent strategic and analytical thinking, clear writing, editing and creativity.

Specialization: All team members must have excellent written and spoken communication. In addition, strategists may be responsible for developing and sharing their deep knowledge within a specific areas. For instance, a tactical specialist such as digital media management, social media, advertising, or media relations and an industry specialist may have experience in healthcare, energy, or B2B.

Misc. Client Projects: Preparing summaries of meetings; facilitating the production of materials on schedule and budget; proofreading and copy writing; and social media planning and management, such as online research and execution of posts and videos. Website content management. In addition, the Communication Strategist may plan, coordinate or assist with opinion research projects.

WS Marketing & Business Development: Research and entry of data on prospects into data bases; personal outreach to target audiences to obtain leads on potential projects, assisting in developing firm marketing materials, developing responses to requests for proposals (RFP), social media posts, providing support for prospect email blasts, and other correspondence; representing WS at meetings and in a trade show booth. Conducting seminars, or webinars such as on social media and interpersonal communication.

Administrative: filing and organization of records, keeping accurate time sheets and shared files, preparing meeting notes and documenting client progress, issues, and opportunities. Routine office duties. Keeping a clean and neat office space.

Technology: Depending on the individual’s level of expertise, the Communication Strategist could be asked to assist with technology issues, such as installing new programs, backing up systems, instituting new technology, and troubleshooting.

Resumes can be emailed to Nancy Wiser, nancy@wiserstrategies.com.

Job Alert Frontier Nursing University

Aug 30, 2021

Social Media and Communications Manager

Learn More

I. Statement of Purpose
The goal of the Multimedia Communications Specialist is to create and share compelling and dynamic content that will build and sustain awareness of Frontier Nursing University’s mission and educational programs using key social media and multimedia platforms. The Multimedia Communications Specialist will work collaboratively with colleagues from across the organization to promote the goals, messages, image and awareness of the university while promoting social media best practices within the organization. This position is charged with the development, implementation and monitoring of social media and multimedia campaigns across a number of platforms and will create, gather, manage and distribute content for electronic publications, social media and blogs.

II. Major Responsibilities/Functions

Responsible for creating, managing and distributing powerful and relevant social media content through Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Instagram, the FNU blog and various other platforms while supporting FNU’s strategic communication needs. This content includes but is not limited to industry content, news and feature stories in video, print and web formats.
Create graphics and videos and assist with development of various other media materials to contribute to marketing library for use across internal and external platforms.
Lead the development, execution and measurement plan with metrics of fan engagement strategies for social media marketing and advertising campaigns, including third party vendor campaigns.
Engage industry contacts, national media outlets and their journalists to cultivate leads and expand online community. Monitor, listen and respond to users on all platforms.
Oversee design and ensure brand consistency on all online social platforms.
Monitor trends in social media tools, applications, design and strategy and analyze competitors, industry and target audiences to identify threats and opportunities.
Monitor effective benchmarks (best practices) for measuring the impact of social media campaigns.
Serve as member or co-chair of standing FNU committees and work groups as assigned/needed.
Creates and coordinates unit-wide social communications calendar, with a focus on content for social channels and internal communications.
Work with various units across the university to develop multimedia communications plans for special events and projects.
Serves as university representative for in-person recruiting or brand awareness events as needed.

III. Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree minimum
3-5 years work experience in higher education or related field
Excellent written and verbal communication skills
Proficient knowledge of leveraging social media technologies such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, and working knowledge of web analytics software. Proficiency in using personal computer and various office software packages including word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, calendaring, and email management.

IV. Reporting Relations
This position reports directly to the Director of Marketing and Communications.

Learn More

Governor Andy Beshear Selected Communicator of the Year by Thoroughbred Public Relations Group

Jun 22, 2021

Governor Andy Beshear Selected Communicator of the Year by Thoroughbred Public Relations Group

(LEXINGTON, KY) June 22, 2021 — The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announces the winner of its annual Communicator of the Year award goes to Governor Andy Beshear and Team Kentucky.

The award is bestowed on the Governor and his team for the work they did to communicate with the people of Kentucky during the COVID 19 pandemic crisis in the calendar year 2020. The award goes to a person or group who does not work as a public relations professional, but exemplifies excellent communications of their message to a variety of audiences. The selection is made by the board of directors of the Thoroughbred Chapter of PRSA located in Lexington.

“2020 was a year of extraordinary challenges, however Governor Andy Beshear, Dr. Steven Stack, and Virginia Moore worked tirelessly to lead Team Kentucky through the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Ryan Worthen, president of the Public Relations Society of America Thoroughbred Chapter. “The Governor’s daily press conferences and frequent updates informed and educated Kentuckians, and his caring and compassionate communication provided peace of mind to many in a time of great uncertainty.”

This is the 24^th year the Thoroughbred Chapter has selected a Communicator of the Year. Other recipients include form UK women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell, Catholic Action Center director Ginny Ramsey, former UK president Dr. Lee Todd, and former EKU president Doug Whitlock. Former Governor Steve Beshear was the honoree in 2015.

Individual and company awards were also presented. Each entry was judged by members of a sister PRSA chapter and could receive either a Win (First), Place (Second) or Show (Third) designation.

Award recipients include:

Tina Bryson, Assistant Director of Communications, Christian Appalachian Project

One Win (Kentucky Education Television PSAs), Two Place certificates and two Show certificates.

Bethany Langdon, Corporate Director of Marketing & Communications, New Vista

Two Wins (New Vista News – Social Media: See The Good), One Show certificate.

Holly Weimers, Communications Director, UK Ag Equine Programs

Two Wins (UK Equine Weekly – Equine Science Newsletter).

Brittney Kinison, Director of Marketing & Communications, Frontier Nursing University

One Win (FNU Quarterly Newsletter), One Place certificate & One Show certificate.

Todd Wold, Professor/Sponsor of Communication Students, Asbury University

One Win (2020 Highbridge Film Festival – Won by student group)

Mackenzie Davis, PR & Creative Services Coordinator, Wiser Strategies

Two Place certificates.

Ashley Tabb, Publications Production Manager, UK Health Care

One Place certificate.

Beth Goins, Director of Marketing Communications, UK College of Education

One Place certificate.

Kristi Middleton, Chief External Affairs Officer, EKU Communications & Brand Management

One Show certificate.

“On behalf of the chapter’s board of directors, we applaud the excellent work done by public relations and communications professionals throughout central Kentucky,” Worthen said.

See the Governor’s acceptance video here.

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Thoroughbred Awards – Things You Need to Know

Mar 1, 2021

Thoroughbred Awards – Things You Need to Know

The entry deadline for this year’s annual Thoroughbred Awards is in less than one month here’s information you need to know to enter this year.

The deadline for submitting electronic entries is St. Patrick’s Day, Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.

Individual & Company Awards

The awards categories for individual and company PR professionals highlights the work from the previous year. Click on the link to see this year’s categories.

Save the Date for Submitting PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Award Entries

Feb 1, 2021

Award Update from Cliff Feltham and Katie McDaniel

Yes… We are having awards In 2021 and it will be all online again this year!

It’s awards season for our chapter and it’s time to start thinking about what you’d like to submit from all your ‘working-at-home’ work the last calendar year. This is a heads-up for the deadline to keep in mind.

Individual & Company Awards
The key date is St. Patrick’s Day. The deadline for submitting electronic entries is Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.

We are tweaking some of the entry categories. Those categories and entry forms will be revealed soon. No major changes, so go ahead and consider the categories from last year to get started.

Communicator of the Year
Each year, the Thoroughbred Chapter awards a Communicator of the Year award. This will be the 23rd year for it which honors a person (or persons) who during the last calendar year have done an excellent job of communicating his or her passion but does not work as a PR professional.

The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.

Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame
The Thoroughbred chapter also periodically awards one of our chapter members a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the requirements (among others) is the recipient must have at least a 20-year career in public relations. It is not presented every year…just at those times as the chapter members and board feel it should be presented.

The deadline for entries is also Wednesday, March 17, at 5 p.m.

It’s time to get thinking and organized. More information is coming soon!

PRSA Thoroughbred Chapter Announces 2021 Board of Directors

Jan 12, 2021

LEXINGTON, Ky. — The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) has announced its 2021 Board of Directors.

Officers

Ryan Worthen, 2021 President

President: Ryan Worthen, Kentucky Employers’ Mutual Insurance (KEMI)
Past President: Natalie Wilks, Cornett
President Elect: Bethany Langdon, New Vista
Secretary: Brittney Edwards Kinison, Frontier Nursing University
Treasurer: Ashley Tabb, UK Healthcare

Directors-at-large

Awards Co-Chair: Cliff Feltham, Kentucky Utilities (Retired)
Awards Co-Chair: Katie McDaniel, American Association of Equine Practitioners
Ethics Chair, APR Co-Chair: Holly Wiemers, APR, University of Kentucky- Ag Equine
Diversity Chair: Tina Bryson, Christian Appalachian Project
PRSSA Liaison: Katie Neal, Katie Neal Consulting
Social Media Chair: Jessica Sparrow, Kentucky Interactive (Kentucky.gov)
Communications Chair: Mackenzie Davis, Wiser Strategies
APR Co-Chair: Amy Preske, APR, Buffalo Trace Distillery
APR Co-Chair: Brant Welch, APR, Farmers National Bank of Danville

2020 Thoroughbred Awards

Jul 27, 2020

(LEXINGTON, KY) July 27, 2020 —- The Thoroughbred Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) announces the winners of its annual awards competition. The entries were in two main categories. Campaigns & Tactics. Each entry could be awarded either a Win (First), Place (Second) or Show (Third) designation. View a PDF version of this list here.

Campaigns

Place – Nicholasville Stormwater Community Champion category

Wiser Strategies & the City of Nicholasville

Win – Big Family Integrated Communications

KET staff & others – Todd Piccirilli, Abby Malik, John Dawahare, Rob Elliott, Reggie Beehner, Lauren Bennett, Ann Bransom, Patrick Brumback, Bullhorn Creative, Mollie Eblen, Grand Communications, Nancy Howard, Lisa Meek, Audra Miller, Robin Roenker, Steve Shaffer, Josh Sims, Micah Trvisonno and Missy Upton.

Win – We See The Good Ahead, Brand Launch Integrated Communications

Work + Play Studio, Ana Coomer, Principal & Bethany Langdon, New Vista

Place – EKU Valentine’s Day-Instagram Story Social Media category

Sarah Kelley, Jessica Holly, Tara Leisure, Matt Schumacher & Brandon Moore, EKU

Show – WoW Wheel Wednesday Special Event category

Sara Jaggers, Kentucky Housing Corporation

Win – Farmers National Bank 140th Anniversary Special Event category

Brant Welch & Sharon Howell, Farmers National Bank

Place – Campus Buildings Portfolio Student category

Carson Bryant, Jessica Holly, Tara Leisure, Ashley Reaves, Brandon Moore, Amanda Cain, EKU

Place – EKU Weekly Events Highlight-Instagram Story Student Category

Sarah Kelley, Jessica Holly and Brandon Moore, EKU

Win – Hazelwood.org Website category

Trifecta Media & Bethany Langdon, New Vista

Win – Camp Horsin’ Around Website category

Mackenzie Davis, Wiser Strategies & Camp Horsin’ Around, Brant Welch

Tactics

Place – 2019-2020 Highlights Piece Brochure category

Mickey Thomas, Brandon Moore, Josh Kegley, Megan Sevier, Stephanie Waley, EKU

Win – EKU Aviation Program Multimedia category

Duane Bolin, Leonard Nave, Brandie Conder, Matt Phelps, EKU

Place – EKU Marching Colonel Hype video Multimedia category

Kristi Middleton, Brandie Conder, Leonard Nave, Dwayne Bolin, Matt Phelps, Lanny Brannock, Doug Cornett, EKU

Place – Success First Resources Guide Multimedia category

Work + Play Studio & Bethany Langdon, New Vista

Show – Success First Resources Guide Special Purpose Publication

Jessica Holly, Brandon Moore, Ashley Reaves, Mickey Thomas, Lara Vance, Travis Martin, Gill Hunter, Bethany Warner, Heather Davis, EKU

Win – New Vista 2019 Annual Report Special Purpose Publication

Trifecta Media & Bethany Langdon, New Vista

There were co-winners of the chapter’s annual Communicator of the Year Award. The award goes to a person or group who does not work as a public relations professional, and who exemplifies excellent communications of their message to a variety of audiences. The recipients are:

The late Anita Rowe-Franklin, a nurse by profession and also an advocate for gun safety by speaking out for the protection of today’s youth against gun violence. This came in the wake of the shooting death of her son, Antonio Franklin, Jr, an innocent bystander at an event in Duncan Park.

See the video for Anita Rowe-Franklin here.

And,

Dr. Aaron Thompson, a passionate advocate for higher education serving currently as the Executive Vice President and Chief Academic Officer of the Council on Post-Secondary Education in Frankfort. He has served in a variety of education posts including interim president of Kentucky State University.

See the video for Dr. Aaron Thompson here.

Also presented a Lifetime Achievement Award for at 20+ years of excellent public relations/communications work went to Sue Patrick, APR, CPE. She is currently serving as Chief Communications Officer at the Kentucky Council on Post-Secondary Education. Sue has demonstrated her unending dedication to the public relations profession, her skill at crafting effective and engaging messages, as well as her passion for those programs and professionals she leads.

See the video for Sue Patrick, APR, CPE here.

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March Lunch & Learn: Rob Perez from DV8 Kitchen

Feb 27, 2020

Our March lunch & learn will be held on March 17, 2020 at Saul Good at 123 N Broadway from 12:00 to 1:30 pm. Rob and Diane Perez conceptualized, developed, and operate four restaurants and a bakery in Lexington, Kentucky. In 2017, they founded Dv8 Kitchen as a social enterprise focused on giving second chance employment opportunities to people in recovery from drug or alcohol addiction through vocational, on-the-job training. Dv8 Kitchen focuses on providing “Live Changing Food”, service and atmosphere for every guest.

The Perez’s have created Soulfull Enterprises, part of the Dv8 Kitchen Vocational Training Foundation, after realizing that American Business may be creating an environment where the “American Dream – Rags to Riches Dream” is dying. Dv8 uncovered the need for all businesses to change how to employ, motivate and retain employees in early stages of recovery from SUD. They have formalized the DV8 employment model and are working with other businesses to apply this model to their businesses focusing on a bottoms-up approach for all second chance employees.

Rob will discuss the challenges to messaging and marketing the Soulfull Enterprise initiative and change a deep stigma and impact a social issue.

Act fast! Registration closes March 10th.

The Story of a Creating a Life Changing Business with Rob Perez of DV8 Kitchen

2020 PRSA Awards

Feb 20, 2020

UPDATE: The deadline for award entries has passed.

Because of the turbulence of the week that has consumed the time of many of our public relations professionals, we are extending the deadline for submitting entries for our annual awards competition. The deadline is now at the end of the regular work day on Tuesday, April 21st. Hopefully this will afford time for professionals to pull their entries together in what has turned out to be a pretty unusual circumstance for all of us.

It’s awards season for our chapter again and it’s time for you to get your entry or entries ready for judging and ready for the awards they deserve.

Individual & Company Awards
The award categories for individual and company PR professionals is the same as last year.

What You Need to Know
• All entries MUST be submitted electronically
• Students can enter
• Send final submissions containing all materials via email to Katie at kmcdaniel@aaep.org
• Submissions can be sent in the following formats:

a complete Drobox folder link
a PDF
Word Document

• Payments will be made via PayPal
You will receive an acknowledgment of each email within 24 hours. If you don’t receive a response, please follow up.

Key Dates
The deadline for submitting electronic entries is Tuesday April 21, at 5 p.m.
The awards luncheon will be announced at a later date.

Communicator of the Year
Each year the Thoroughbred chapter awards a Communicator of the Year award. This will be the 22^nd year for it which honors a person or persons who during the last calendar year have done an excellent job of communicating his or her passion but does not work as a PR professional.

Last year’s recipient was former Lexington Mayor Jim Gray. Other more recent recipients include Ginny Ramsey of the Catholic Action Center, former Governor Steve Beshear and UK women’s basketball coach Matthew Mitchell.

The deadline for entries is also Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. Please consider who you might submit as an entry for this past calendar year and email that entry also to Katie McDaniel.

Lifetime Achievement/Hall of Fame
The Thoroughbred chapter also periodically awards one of our chapter members with a Lifetime Achievement Award. One of the requirements among others is the recipient must have at least a 20-year career in public relations. It is not presented every year… just at those times as the chapter members and board feel it should be presented.

The most recent recipient was Cliff Feltham in 2018. Other awardees include Nancy Wiser of Wiser Strategies, Tom Harris of UK, Phil Osborne and Thomas Preston of Preston Global.

The deadline for entries is also Tuesday, April 21, at 5 p.m. Please consider who you might submit as an entry for this award and email this nomination also to Katie McDaniel.

It’s time to get organized and good luck. Submit as many entries as you’d like.

Every PR Pro’s Secret Success Weapon with Jason Falls

Jan 7, 2020

Public relations is often criticized for being “fluff” or not providing hard measures of success. But every PR pro can now have a secret weapon to providing hard success metrics and illustrating not only value but versatility to his or her organization. That weapon: Search Engine Optimization. Learn how you can not only help your company website dominate search rankings, but that success can be attributed to PR’s contributions.

About the Speaker: Jason Falls leads digital strategy for the clients of Cornett. He is a noted industry thought leader listed by Forbes as one of the 10 people every entrepreneur should follow on Twitter alongside Richard Branson, Marc Cuban, Tom Peters, and Gary Vaynerchuk. Falls is the author of two books with his third set to come in late 2020 from Entrepreneur Press. He hails from Pikeville, Kentucky, and can be heard live on LinkedIn each Tuesday morning with his podcast, The Jason Falls Show – A Marketing Podcast.

Jason has a monthly newsletter right up PR professional’s ally. “Influence” is once a month and features deeper, more enriching stories than a typical blog post or podcast. It focuses on influence and persuasion in all their various iterations in our marketing and communications-driven world. Subscribe at jason.online/subscribe.