Robert Alexander Communications Director / Content Strategist

(470) 848-2447 6411 S Norcross-Tucker Rd., Tucker, GA 30084 roba1communications@gmail.com Mail: P.O. Box 930454, Norcross, GA 30003

http://www.linkedin.com/in/roba1digitalcommunications

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

Career communications professional with comprehensive experience managing media strategies and staff for a state authority and a member of Congress. Customer development director with demonstrated success in public engagement and marketing. Content strategist with enhanced skills in online marketing and experience producing blogs and digital photography with additional experience in web development and analytics, SEO and attracting traffic to websites using a variety of social media platforms. Current: enrolled in the Master’s of Public Policy graduate program at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University. Employed as a Graduate Research Assistant in the Center for State & Local Finance.

SKILL SET

• Writing – Newsletters, blogs, op-ed

articles, internal memos, congressional testimony

• Marketing – agency promotion campaigns, social media development

• Design – social media platforms, newsletters, marketing materials

• Public Speaking – Board presentations, community outreach

• Policy promotion – legislative campaigns, media strategies

• Digital Photography – Candid, on-street a specialty, processed for web applications (own Nikon D800)

RELEVANT COURSEWORK / TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

• Policy Data Analysis • Web Analytics and Search Engine

Marketing • Elementary Web Design and

Development • Attracting Traffic to Websites Through

Social Media • How to Run a Successful E-Mail

Marketing Program • Make Your Own YouTube Video • E-Commerce

• WordPress • PhotoShop • MailChimp • Dreamweaver • HTML5 / CSS • The Art of Exceptional Customer Service,

Customer Service Professional Certification

• Planning for Effective Public Participation, International Association for Public Participation

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION

Masters of Public Policy GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY, Atlanta, GA Andrew Young School of Policy Studies Expected graduation: May 2016

Bachelor of Arts UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA, Athens, GA Henry W. Grady School of Journalism Major: Journalism Minor: Political Science

Internet Marketing Certificate EMORY UNIVERSITY Center for Continuing Education

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Marketing Assistant – Center for State and Local Finance, Georgia State University Andrew Young School of Policy Studies (GSU) January 2014 - Current Graduate Research Assistant: principal research on climate change impacts on state and local governments in Georgia. Previously: manager of social media platforms for the school’s research centers. The Centers provide nonpartisan research, technical assistance and education in the evaluation and design of state and local fiscal and economic policy. Marketing Manager, PEDS (part-time) November 2013 – May 2014 Manage the online presence and social media strategies for a pedestrian advocacy non-profit; develop creative content for blogs, website and social media; Provide media relations and point of contact for local news media regarding the advocacy group’s activities and expertise. Georgia Regional Transportation Authority (GRTA), Atlanta, GA 1999-April 2013 Performed successfully in a variety of positions to develop and deploy communications strategies to promote the interests of this state authority. Professional development:

• Strategic Campaigns Planned and implemented legislative and marketing campaigns to advance the transportation interests of the Authority as Manager of Intergovernmental Relations (1999-2000), External Affairs Director (2000-2003) and as Customer Development Director (2004-2012).

• Management As External Affairs Director, managed communications manager and community coordinator to provide key outreach to the news media and people affected by the Authority. As Customer Development Director staffed, trained and supervised six-person staff engaged in customer service, pass sales and marketing.

• Editorial Content Provided text and photos for newsletters, annual reports, Board presentations and website (internet and intranet). Composed and distributed news releases and marketing materials throughout my service at GRTA. As Public Affairs Liaison (2012-2013) also wrote blogs and e-mail newsletters on transportation.

• Public Engagement Broad experience in public speaking before legislators, GRTA Board of Directors and customers and potential customers of the Xpress commuter bus service. Developed and presented training classes for bus operators. Developed and conducted regular series of public outreach events to promote the Xpress service.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE PRIOR TO 2000

• Senior Legislative Assistant, U.S. Senate, Washington, D.C.

• Communications Director, U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, D.C.

• Chief Political Writer, The Pensacola News-Journal, Pensacola, Florida

• Reporter, Assistant City Editor, Photographer, The Anderson Independent, Anderson, South

Carolina

HONORS

• Congressional Fellow, American Political Science Association, Washington, D.C • Customer Service Champion, Governor's Office of Customer Service • Governor’s Commendation for Excellence in Customer Service • Phoenix Award Certificates of Excellence, Public Relations Society of America (Georgia),

GRTA newsletter • Bronze Flame, International Association of Business Communications Atlanta, Print

Communications Design