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

Clemson University

Assist research team on the MAiN 2.0 Study (Managing Abstinence in Newborns) a collaboration between Clemson University and Prisma Health Upstate, researching effective palliative treatment models for opioid-dependent newborns. This program is supported by the Department of Health and Human Services.
Perform qualitative midpoint interviews with hospital staff
Conducting community needs assessment and semi-structured interviews with community agencies

Graduate Research Assistant

Spherion

Facilitating communication and collaboration between 988 and 911 services 
Outreach to the public to increase awareness of 988

Outreach Coordinator 988/911 for DHS

Great Lakes Inter-Tribal Epidemiology Center (GLITEC)

Engage in public health practice with Tribal communities. 
Serves as a resource for technical information in public health information, practice, and innovations.
Make oral presentations, both scientific and non-scientific.
Created oncology fact sheets for relevant types of cancer based on the population.
Research and identify appropriate evidence-based or promising practices for a variety of public health areas/disease topics

Public Health Specialist

Wisconsin Literacy

Program management of a large grant received for COVID-19 vaccine outreach from the state.
Hired and managed 4 VCO Specialists ensuring effective outreach throughout the state.
Created digital communications & social media posts - made LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter posts.
Assisted in planning the VCO presummit and Health Literacy Summit
Stakeholder management - giving updates to board members, CDC/DHS, specialists, and organizations participating in the subaward process.
Developed and trained local community leaders, other non-profit organizations, and community-based organizations on health, digital, and science literacy to support COVID-19 vaccination outreach efforts
Led and nurtured vaccine outreach strategies by building partnerships with trusted community partners and organizations.
Assisted in creating tailored resources for local communities, such as infographics and factsheets.
Supported community-based organizations in data collection and reporting to evaluate success of outreach efforts.

Vaccine Community Outreach Project Manager

Demonstrated cross-functional team leadership
Exhibited stakeholder management skills
Monitored and managed all aspects of designated clinical trial protocols in a GMP lab
Accountable for project performance and client satisfaction of assigned clinical trials
Provided internal consulting on project management issues
Identified opportunities for process improvement and efficiency
Acted as chief liaison to the operational personnel of major sponsors

Project Manager - GMP Labs

Covance

Facilitated project management according to scope, schedule, budget, and quality baselines
Stakeholder management from the sponsor to vendors to management
Provided direct communication to management on progress, opportunities, and issues along with identification and recommended remediation
Worked with project team to set up and maintain project schedule
Built relationships with vendors and provided vendor management
Logistics and operations management through ordering lab kits, binders, and iPads for each site and ensuring they arrived on time for the study to open at that site
Updated Xcellerate Risk Identification & Issue Resolution (RIM) tool; and followed up on outstanding action items to resolution
Updated the Project Governance Tool on a monthly basis
Facilitated study team communication & collaboration by attending & setting up team meetings; updating the ADI log; updating the Task Order Matrix; maintaining the Project Directory; setting up distribution lists, SP sites, mailboxes, and other collaboration tools; and set up / maintain project-specific trackers.
Cross-functional team leadership to facilitate timely TMF uploading, TMF reviews, TMF issue resolution, systems access, project-specific training curriculum, and other delegated tasks

Global Project Coordinator

Aerotek

Drove the availability of outcome data which optimized decision-making processes throughout the project.
Source document proofreading & review.
Compiled dossiers from multiple studies for the outcome review committee.
Coordinated efforts to achieve case closure and paperless endpoint case processing.

Adjudication Assistant II - Contractor

UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Administration and coordination of oncology clinical trials (phases I, II, and III).
Stakeholder management for my management team, PI, Sponsor, and monitors.
Recruited, screened, and assessed eligibility, registered research subjects.
Collected, analyzed, and reported data on multiple trials using various EDCs.
Liaised with doctors, nurses, CROs, patients, and multiple departments (cross-functional teams).
Coordinated Site Initiation Visits, Start-Up Meetings, Monitor Visits, and Close-out Visits.
Participated on the committee for professional development.
Subject and data management.
Trained staff.

Clinical Research Coordinator

Submitted modifications and renewals to the IRB for oncology clinical trials.
Collaborated with CROs to ensure regulatory documents are complete and up-to-date.
Used OnCore to initiate, maintain, and terminate studies.
Maintained regulatory files for monitor visits and audits.
Created agendas and recorded minutes for the weekly pod meetings.
Participated on committees for process improvement, hiring new staff, and professional development.
Developed working knowledge of regulatory compliance & procedures relating to oncology research.

Regulatory Assistant

UNC Health Care

Acted as liaison between Emergency Dept staff, patients, and other departments within the hospital.
Ordered EKGs, blood work, lab work, imaging tests, supplies, and equipment using EPIC & Lawson
Coordinated a process improvement change with pharmacy to increase efficiency in non-acute care unit.
Orchestrated communication via pages, interpreters, faxes, and phone calls
Ordered emergency release blood for trauma patients & set them up as disaster patients, if needed.
Registered emergent patients arriving via ambulance and helicopter.
Trained other health unit coordinators and volunteers who worked in the ER.
Answered patient call bells.

Health Unit Coordinator

Project Manager/ Community Health / Change Agent

In every position I have worked, I look for ways to improve the process. I am always learning. In one position, I updated a form that we used all the time, but people just wrote what they wanted on it because the listed options were out of date. That small move got me nominated to the Process Improvement Committee by a coworker. While on that committee we updated our processes to mostly electronic instead of paper saving a ton of actual paper, printer supplies, and space where we previously stored all our papers. 

In a separate position, I noticed that nurses had to leave the non-acute emergency department quite often to retrieve the medicines they needed. After getting the okay from my manager, I tracked which medicines they were leaving to get and coordinated with the pharmacy department to get the machine in our department updated. I saved time and steps for the nurses, improved the customer experience, and saved our department money.

These are just two examples of process improvements but I'm also a relationship builder. As a project manager (and in many of my roles) I need to maintain relationships with both internal and external stakeholders to help things run something. These same skills are important for community outreach and working with groups and communities as well.

taplio

The Battle

Karen Nicholas

Margaret Marcou, MAS

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