Public Relations Counselor
Dallas/Fort Worth Area
- Current
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- Community Relations Manager at AAFES
- Adjunct Professor - Marketing Communications at Northwood University
- Public Relations Principal at 12Comm Public Relations
- Past
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- Strategic Marketing Manager at AAFES
- Account Executive at Wilson & Co. Public Relations
- Public Information Officer (PIO) at Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
- Education
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- Rutgers University Center for CRM Research
- Lacrosse University
- Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
- University of Central Oklahoma
- Recommended
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7 people have recommended Lauren - Connections
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159
connections
- Industry
- Public Relations and Communications
- Websites
Lauren Vargas’s Summary
Lauren Vargas, Community Relations Manger at AAFES and principal of 12Comm Public Relations, is based in Dallas, Texas. She is a well known public relations blogger and speaker who has developed an expertise in integrating social media tools into marketing and business strategy.
Vargas is a multi-faceted communications professional with experience in internal and external corporate communications, governmental affairs and community relations. As a professional and university professor, she assists companies and second-career students engage with the communities they serve by fostering authentic relationships built on trust through conversations and participatory media. Looking for a challenging leadership position in a dynamic organization with integrity and high performance culture.
Lauren Vargas’s Specialties:
Public Relations Planning, Marketing and Business Strategy, Corporate Communications, Media Relations, Reputation Management, Online Communications, Social Media Marketing, and Blogs/Blogger Outreach
Lauren Vargas’s Experience
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Community Relations Manager
AAFES
(Government Agency; Retail industry)
October 2007 — Present (1 year 10 months)
GS 12 Position (Began AAFES employment in 2002)
Develop and execute social media strategy - Specifically SaluteToYourService.com blog, Twitter account (@AAFES_STYS) and YouTube Channel; military blogger relations; AAFES Mobile Minute text message program; internal portal; team/buyer blogs and discussion forums; email initiatives.
Execute all targeted direct mail initiatives to include over 60 mailing events/yr.
Maintain corporate customer database of 11.5M customers and extract and analyze data essential for intelligent business decisions and marketing execution.
Ensure the tactical elements of the integrated plans are executed, to include necessary relationship communication elements.
Provide relationship marketing strategy to the integrated marketing team-supervision/guidance to team members regarding communications disciplines.
Participate in leadership/exploratory Customer Relationship Management (CRM) implementation team and provide social CRM strategy (2003-2007).
Accreditation: Applied Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Strategy Certification from Rutgers University Center for CRM Research and the National CRM Association, 2006 -
Adjunct Professor - Marketing Communications
Northwood University
(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)
October 2006 — Present (2 years 10 months)
Teaching through practice of communication theory and developing the next public relations and marketing generation.
All courses include learning proper use of social media tools and strategic execution in integrated campaigns.
Courses taught: Introduction to Advertising; Principles of Marketing; Principles of Retailing; Sales Management; International Marketing; E-Commerce and Value Chain Integration; and Speech Communications -
Public Relations Principal
12Comm Public Relations
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
August 2001 — Present (8 years)
Provide strategic, ethical and innovative communications programs.
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Strategic Marketing Manager
AAFES
(Government Agency; Retail industry)
April 2002 — October 2007 (5 years 7 months)
(As AAFES Resilian SMM)
Plan and coordinate brand name and corporate identity change for new technology/telecommunications AAFES business.
Plan and execute communications with existing telecommunications primarily in the Pacific Region.
(As overall AAFES SMM)
Establish strategic partnerships with related internal organizations to pursue common objectives.
Develop and maintain the Communications Balance Scorecard and Customer Experience Mapping with measurements directly related to AAFES top line.
Establish and execute print and broadcast media strategies, resulting in an increased share of positive media coverage. -
Account Executive
Wilson & Co. Public Relations
(Public Relations and Communications industry)
May 2001 — April 2002 (1 year)
Produce collateral material and executed media buys for communication campaigns specializing in the health care industry.
Write scripts and produce informational videos.
Organize first post-911 Christmas tree delivery to Camp David for the President of the United States and his family, courtesy of the Texas Christmas Tree Growers Association. -
Public Information Officer (PIO)
Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System
(Government Relations industry)
January 2000 — May 2001 (1 year 5 months)
Establish internal communications policies.
Develop statewide training program for retirement coordinators.
Lauren Vargas’s Education
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Rutgers University Center for CRM Research
Certification , Applied CRM Strategy , 2006 — 2006
Certificate in Applied Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Strategy from Rutgers University Center for CRM Research and the National CRM Association.
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Lacrosse University
MS , Communications , 2005 — 2006
Summa Cum Laude
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Texas Wesleyan University School of Law
2002 — 2003
Basic education; redirected efforts to MS in Communications
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University of Central Oklahoma
BA , Journalism/Public Relations , 1998 — 2001
- Activities and Societies:
- Competitive Speech Team
Mortar Board - Communications Director
Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) - all positions held
Carl Albert Scholar
Student Council Representative
Additional Information
Lauren Vargas’s Websites:
Lauren Vargas’s Interests:
Social Media Screenwriting
Lauren Vargas’s Groups:
Event Organizer - Dallas Twestival 2009
SMC - Social Media Club
PRSA - Public Relations Society of America
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Inbound Marketers - For Marketing Professionals -
The University of Central Oklahoma Alumni -
Social Media Today -
Social Media Marketing -
Tweeple -
MarketingProfs -
HARO--Help A Reporter Out -
twitter innovators Innovation & Creativity Network of Tweeters -
Edubloggers -
Working Moms. Virtual. Flexible. Part-Time. Full-Time. -
PRSA Boston -
Government 2.0 Camp -
JobAngels -
LaidOffCampDFW -
Public Relations and Communications Jobs Community
Lauren Vargas’s Honors:
Superior Accomplishment Award -- AAFES, 2008
Superlative performance of the implementation of the AAFES social media strategy, to include blog, Twitter account and YouTube Channel
Superior Accomplishment Award – AAFES, 2006
Superlative performance of the implementation of the Marketing Playbook, Military Outreach campaigns and overall AAFES Strategic Communications Campaign
Excellence Award – AAFES, 2005
Instrumental in implementation of Balance Scorecard, Value Story Campaign and fiscal year 2005 strategies
Excellence Award – AAFES, 2004
Instrumental in design of Balance Scorecard and Value Story Campaign
PRSA Zenith Award, 2001
Public Relations Campaign for the Oklahoma Farm Workers Health Initiative
Lauren Vargas’s Contact Settings
Interested In:
- career opportunities
- consulting offers
- new ventures
- expertise requests
- reference requests
- getting back in touch
