Describe your role at Platform:
I'm the Director of Advocacy & Strategic Communications. Most of my work involves clients with public affairs needs and helping them accomplish specific goals. Sometimes, that work extends to assisting clients to manage crisis communications needs as they arise.
What are the most important skills you need to be successful in your position?
We work in a high-stakes, fast-paced industry with low tolerance for mistakes. Learning to respond quickly to the needs of a client in a given news cycle is key, but the most important skill you can learn is to slow down, assess a situation, and develop a good strategy for your client in the moment that helps them execute their goals in a timely fashion.
What has been your favorite experience at Platform?
Working with other communications experts on the Platform team. It's a group of people who are good at what they do and have the experience to back it up.
Can you share a success story where strategic communication was pivotal in achieving a positive outcome for an organization (or client)?
Our work with the Home Crew Coalition is a recent example. Led by community leaders from every corner of Wisconsin, the coalition was in support of a bipartisan solution to the ballpark funding issue that the Legislature just approved last week. We leveraged strategic messaging opportunities and news developments at key moments to keep the positive economic impact that Major League Baseball has in WI in the news.
How do you stay updated on emerging trends and best practices in crisis communications?
I'm a big consumer of the news - TV, print, and digital. Behind every story, there are newsmakers, PR firms, and (of course) reporters. Understanding how the news is made and then taking in as much of it as possible helps me understand what is and isn't working for others, and influences the decisions and recommendations I make day to day.
