TreeHouse Foods

Communications Manager, Social and Digital Engagement

Patina Solutions

Communications Consultant

Karen Nicholas Communications

Freelance Writer & Communications Professional

Millig Design Build

I recruited and onboarded new employees and created various communication pieces to increase employee engagement. I created a Human Resources department and established internal communications best practices. I helped plan events and contributed to our marketing communications efforts.

Director of Communications & Employee Relations

Willdan Performance Engineering 

I provided communication strategy, developed content for both internal and external audiences and recruited new employees for our division. 

I created targeted communications to ensure employee engagement. I identified new ways to improve and innovate our internal and external communication practices and channels, including monthly update meetings, a branded Medium.com site, video communications, etc. 

I also recruited, hired, and onboarded new employees. I focused on furthering initiatives around Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, particularly in the hiring, recruiting, and onboarding process.

Communications & Talent Acquisition Manager

I designed presentations to share critical findings with clients, focusing on simplicity and client engagement. I also helped package our data into consumable content such as charts, graphs, etc.

University of Kansas

As the first communications person for the IT Department, I created and oversaw all communication efforts, including communications planning, crisis communications, and copywriting. I developed internal communication strategies and materials to support new launches, programs, and processes. 

I distilled complex, technical information into simple, digestible, and actional messages for diverse internal audiences, including students, faculty, and staff.  I also built relationships with other departments and team members to ensure seamless launches of new technologies and programs.

IT Communications & Media Relations Manager

David Evans and Associates, Inc.

As the first person in my role,  I created and executed a media relations program – including pitching media, writing press releases, ghostwriting bylines, and submitting applications for various awards. I ensured our external messages were consistent with our internal messages and focused my efforts on telling DEA’s brand story. 

I developed media pitches and articles to attract and engage with new talent through employee profiles in publications, company culture articles, and Best Places to Work awards. We were ranked on Fortune’s 100 Best Places to Work during my time in this role. 

I engaged with senior leadership and colleagues on media outreach opportunities and provided media training, including crisis communications guidance. 

I also assisted in various internal communications efforts, including contributions to internal newsletters and employee communication pieces.

Media Relations Manager

Edelman

Account Supervisor

Special Olympics Texas

Public Relations Coordinator

Corporate Communications | Writer | Employee & Internal Communications - Helping companies engage with their employees and clients

In our current remote/hybrid work environment, engaging and communicating with employees has never been more challenging – or essential. Creating an environment for employees to be the best versions of themselves is not only a cultural win – it’s also a business win.

A Gallup "State of the Workplace" report found that when employees are engaged at work, profitability increases by 21%. Yet, this same report shared that 65% of employees aren’t engaged at work.

We spend a lot of time talking “at” people – not necessarily “to” them. My goal isn’t just to communicate a message. My goal is to ensure those messages are delivered and digested by the audience. It’s also my responsibility to provide executive guidance and direction when messages aren’t the right voice and fit for the audience.

With a background in media relations, editorial content creation, internal communications and employee relations, I bring a range of creative skills and experience to any position. Communicating with employees and partners can be a company's greatest strength rather than its biggest weakness.

Karen Nicholas

Mirror Group LLC

My business and personal development journey is a tapestry of diverse experiences, each thread contributing to who I am today. At its heart is my role as Chief Operating Officer at Mirror Group, LLC, where I orchestrate the daily symphony of our dynamic consulting firm.

In our bustling office, strategies come to life and innovative solutions are born. That's where you'll find me, ensuring our ship sails smoothly towards its strategic horizons. My days blend overseeing contract services, nurturing client relationships, and steering business development efforts.

But my story extends beyond the COO's desk. As an Executive & Personal Coach, I guide individuals through professional labyrinths, turning complex challenges into stepping stones for growth. I blend operational expertise with a deep understanding of human potential, helping clients write success stories.

As a Strategic Thought Partner, I collaborate with visionary leaders to navigate industry disruptions and emerging trends. We craft innovation and sustainable growth roadmaps, transforming bold ideas into tangible realities.

At Mirror Group, LLC, we're storytellers of data. We weave narratives from qualitative and quantitative information, creating empirically sound and practically useful insights. Our team brings cultural responsiveness and rigorous methodology to every project, ensuring our client's stories are told with authenticity and precision.

My professional journey testifies to the power of blending corporate acumen with human-centric approaches. Whether fine-tuning operations, coaching an aspiring leader, or partnering on high-level strategy, my goal remains constant: creating environments where businesses and individuals can flourish.

Chief Operating Officer

The 516 Collaborative, LLC

Owner and Founder, Coach and Strategist

Podcast Host - Collab with Kiva

Business Strategist, Integrator, and Online Business Manager specializing in coaches and entrepreneurs.

Certified Fix This Next Coach specializing in online businesses. Using the Fix This Next framework, let's evaluate your business challenges and pinpoint the vital challenge that needs your immediate attention to level up your business.

Certified Fix This Next Coach

Kiva Slade Designs

Owner and lead designer specializing in contemporary silver jewelry.

Owner and Designer

"If you want to go fast, go alone; if you want to go far, go together." African Proverb

Yes, we can choose to fly solo on our entrepreneurial journeys, but I firmly believe that we can soar higher when we collaborate with others. 

Thankfully, LinkedIn provides this profile space to share more of my story. 

My intertwined passions for connection, information, and encouragement are foundational to my work.

Some might say I'm an eternal optimist; while I believe there is enough for each of us, I wasn't always full of such abundance. When I was younger, my competitive nature caused me to have a scarcity mindset, leading me to hoard information, people, and stuff. 

All of that started to shift when I was in graduate school. During an internship with the Housing Authority of Baltimore City, my task was to help the agency figure out how it and other city agencies that served overlapping populations could work together to implement welfare-to-work legislation. 

That coincided with a Geographical Information Systems course that opened my eyes to the importance of data and how entities could use it to impact resource allocation. 

While my mindset shifted from scarcity to abundance, I retained my hunger for information. 

Throughout my career, whether crafting legislation in the US House of Representatives or homeschooling my children through high school, taking in massive loads of information, finding connections between people and information, and using the information to encourage others has remained constant. 

All these experiences help me give my clients an extra set of eyes and a unique perspective on the analytical and operational issues impacting their businesses. 

I empower business owners to use data in their marketing decisions and show how it impacts their overall operational efficiencies. 

In the words of Sherlock Holmes, I too believe that "It is a capital mistake to theorize before one has data."

It's time to take the guesswork out of running a business. You don't have to run your business like you are wearing a blindfold. 

On a personal note, it probably doesn't surprise you that I'm an avid reader. I also love tiramisu, and I'm delighted to know a wonderful gluten-free bakery that makes the most delicious version. My family and my faith are important to me, and I firmly believe in having core values in your business. 

Contact Information:
E-mail: hello@the516collaborative.com
Company Website: https://www.the516collaborative.com/
Podcast: https://www.the516collaborative.com/podcast

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Karen Nicholas

Kiva Slade, MPA

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