Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES)Media Relations Manager, Special Events Manager, Acting Director of Public Relations
Jan. 2001 - Jul. 2003Washington, District of Columbia, United StatesCreated and implemented communications strategies for more than 40 diverse SITES traveling exhibitions at various stages. Developed, maintained, and expanded contacts with local, national, and international print, broadcast, and internet media. Represented Smithsonian Institution and SITES to national host museums, sponsors, artists, historians, and stakeholders from Washington, DC. Internal coordinator of SITES’ 50th anniversary celebrations in 2002, with staff-created collaborative initiatives launched during the months following 9/11. Traveled across the United States representing SITES at press conferences, community events, exhibition openings, and exhibition fabricators. Trained junior public relations staff and supervised paid Congressional interns. As Acting Director of Public Relations, managed public affairs staff of 3. Created tracking database to eliminate duplication in media outreach. Initiated and implemented cost-effective techniques of using a unified digital graphics package for all host museums of Smithsonian traveling exhibitions to facilitate consistency across venues and maximize SITES brand awareness. Generated significant domestic and international media buzz and coverage for a range of SITES exhibitions, including "Latin Jazz: La Combinación Perfecta" (a bilingual exhibition), "In the Spirit of Martin: The Living Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." (sponsored by PepsiCo), "Naboo: The Art of the Starfighter" (with Lucasfilm), and "Voyage—A Journey Through Our Solar System" (currently installed in front of National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC and at Space Center Houston).