
Director, Employee Communication at Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Islands

Director, Employee Communication at Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Islands
Seasoned communication professional with more than 12 years of experience finding creative, cost-effective solutions to complex communication challenges in a variety of industries. Successful track record of providing vision and counsel to steer organizations through periods of organizational complexity. Recognized leader in planning and implementing communications programs to support large scale, dynamic change initiatives.
Strategic communication planning, HR communications, internal branding, executive communications, crisis communications, town hall events, using communications to drive employee engagement and culture change, using new technologies (blogs, vlogs, wikis, podcasts) to support internal communication strategies, and connecting employees through intranet portals and e-letters.
(Public Company; 1001-5000 employees; Airlines/Aviation industry)
April 2008 — Present (1 year 8 months)
Engaging employees through effective communications. The right message, through the right channel, at the right time, with the right feedback mechanism -- now that's the ticket.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; PETM; Retail industry)
July 2001 — March 2008 (6 years 9 months)
• Established department from inception through successful operation for the nation’s leading pet products retailer and its 37,000 employees. Developed processes, tools and internal strategies.
• Launched company’s first intranet portal, blogs and podcasts that brought leaders and associates together in unique and relevant ways.
• Brought company brand to life by establishing “the voice of the brand” in e-letter. Effort won IABC Award for electronic communication writing.
• Developed high-performing team of four direct reports.
(Public Company; 10,001 or more employees; LCC; Airlines/Aviation industry)
September 1999 — July 2001 (1 year 11 months)
• Revamped employee communications for this top 10 airline and its 14,000 employees.
• Led communication campaign for on-time performance initiative that helped the airline achieve the No. 1 ranking by the Department of Transportation.
• Conducted comprehensive employee communications audit.
• Created crisis communications plan that was successfully enacted on 9/11.
• Stepped in to handle media relations during difficult time for the airline.
(Mining & Metals industry)
November 1997 — September 1999 (1 year 11 months)
• Led employee communications for this Fortune 200 mining and manufacturing company and its 27,000 employees.
• Led communications campaign for successful companywide 401(k) conversion, increasing overall participation and contribution rates. Won IABC Award for this effort.
• Led communications campaign for successful companywide safety initiative.
• Directed the creation of the first companywide intranet linking operations in 27 countries.
• Created website to communicate major acquisition. Won IABC Award for this effort.
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; PNW; Utilities industry)
March 1996 — November 1997 (1 year 9 months)
• Provided complete communication support for HR and Change Management teams for this Fortune 500 utility company and its 6,500 employees.
• Led successful communication campaign to launch the company’s first flexible benefits program. Won Crystal Award of Excellence for this effort.
• Turned around struggling wellness program with highly successful internal marketing campaign. Won IABC award for this effort.
• Led change management communication campaign to help prepare workforce for open market competition.
• Led change management communication campaign to help prepare workforce for open market competition.
(Non-Profit; 51-200 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)
December 1989 — March 1996 (6 years 4 months)
• Oversaw all facets of member magazine for the 30,000 members of this compensation and benefits professional association.
• Worked with brightest minds in the field including the nation’s top HR consultants and senior vice presidents of Fortune 500 companies.
• Wrote extensively on total compensation, high-performance work teams, work/life balance, executive compensation and flexible benefits.
• Arranged speakers and coordinated content for conferences and seminars.
(Privately Held; 501-1000 employees; Newspapers industry)
1985 — 1990 (5 years )
Bachelor of Science , Journalism and Mass Communications , 1978 — 1982
1976 — 1978
International Association of Business Communicators (IABC).
IABC Accredited Business Communicator (ABC).
Copper Quill Award for Electronic Newsletters from Phoenix IABC in 2004 for HTML e-letter.
Copper Quill Award for Electronic Communications from Phoenix IABC in 2000 for intranet site to keep employees informed during a major acquisition.
Copper Quill Award for Communication Management from Phoenix IABC in 2000 for communication of a companywide employee safety initiative.
Bronze Quill Award from Kansas City IABC in 1999 for companywide communication of a 401(k) conversion.
Copper Quill Award for Electronic Communications from Phoenix IABC in 1998 for promoting a companywide employee wellness campaign.
Crystal Award of Excellence in 1996 for producing an employee benefits guide.
Among top-rated speakers at IABC District 5 Conference, Phoenix IABC Electronic Communications Conference, ALI Internal Branding Conference, World at Work International Conference and Employee Benefit Research Institute Conference.