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Expertise: The development and production of
comprehensive public affairs programs with
specialties in media relations and government affairs.
Experience
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REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY,
Chicago, Illinois
The second largest public transportation agency in the United States with an
annual operating and capital budget of $1.6 billion and an asset base of $22 billion.
Provides transportation services through three operating divisions to a six-county
geographic area. The services include rapid transit, bus and commuter rail. If RTA were a
private concern, it would be the second largest company in the State of Illinois.
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September 1995 - Present - Assistant Executive
Director - Public Affairs
Direct the public affairs program, including legislative and intergovernmental affairs,
media relations, marketing, advertising and community relations. Develop strategic
campaigns with operating divisions, establish departmental budgets and implement federal,
state and local legislative strategies.
Accomplishments:
 | Led national transit association (APTA) effort to draft new federal transportation
reauthorization proposal currently pending before Congress. |
| Implemented an employer oriented marketing campaign to encourage transit use that
resulted in an average $300,000 in revenue per month. |
| Initiated outreach program to senior citizens resulting in more than 100,000 new
registrants in transit fare program.
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| Initiated design and development of World Wide Web marketing and rider assistance site.
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February 1991 - August 1995 - Legislative
Director
Directed the legislative and intergovernmental program. Duties included development and
implementation of federal and state legislative programs, liaison with federal, state and
local governmental institutions, supervision of legislative analysts and liaison with
industry associations.
Accomplishments:
| Initiated the first national coalition of transit Board Chairmen to lobby for passage of
federal legislation resulting in authorized funding of $31.5 billion over a six year
period. |
| Secured more than $70 million in "earmarked" funding for the State of Illinois
and Chicago Transit Authority. |
| Secured changes in the RTA’s statutory authorization that provided for more
financial flexibility. |
| Composed and implemented government marketing program as Chairman of the Illinois Public
Transit Association’s Legislative Committee. |
| Produced legislative presentations to demonstrate functional and economic impacts of
transit capital spending.
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May 1987- January
1991 BRITISH AEROSPACE, INC.
Herndon, VA |
Manager, Public Affairs
Directed the company's external public communications and government affairs
activities. Duties included the supervision of the company press office and the generation
of both product and institutional publicity through briefings, special events, editorial
contributions, and the production of promotional material. Government affairs
responsibilities included supervision of BAe, Inc.'s trade consultants, development of
legislative strategy, liaison to industry trade associations and provision of governmental
assistance to customers.
Accomplishments:
| Directed media relations launch of new aircraft RJ70, Jetstream 41 and BAe 125-1000. |
| Successfully orchestrated grassroots campaign to win special "slot exemption"
for customer Air Wisconsin. |
| Designed and produced company’s first institutional public relations campaign that
included paid advertising, brochures and videos. |
| Initiated and designed line of customer-specific promotional material. |
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February 1981 - May 1987 SENATOR ALAN J. DIXON
Washington, D.C. |
Press Secretary
Directed media and public relations functions in the office of a United States Senator
first elected in 1980 and reelected in 1986 with 65 percent of the vote. Served as
spokesman for and advisor to the Senator on both political and governmental issues. Acted
as coordinator of the Illinois Congressional delegation meetings. Conceived and produced
the office's ongoing public relations efforts including mass and targeted mailings, weekly
newspaper columns and radio shows, monthly cable television programs, town meetings,
satellite feeds, and public service announcements.
Accomplishments:
| Produced the nation’s first "cable television town meetings" in Peoria,
Rockford and the Chicago metropolitan area. |
| Developed a targeted mailing system to direct correspondence and newsletters to specific
interest groups and constitutents. |
| Produced one of the Senate’s first participatory weekly radio programs in which
news directors and constituents contributed. |
Professional Organizations
Present Chairman, American
Public Transit Association’s
Fixed Guideway Modernization Task Force
Present Chairman, Illinois
Public Transit Association’s
Legislative Committee
1989
Vice
Chair, Regional Airline Association Public
Affairs Task Force
1985
Secretary, U.S. Senate Press Secretaries Association
1992-Present Member, Chicago Area Public Affairs Group
1996-Present Member, Women’s Transportation Seminar
Education
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Elmhurst College
Elmhurst, Illinois
Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Political Philosophy
May 1979
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References and salary history available on request.
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