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Alison Harris, B.A., M.A., Bennington College, Bennington, Vermont

www.linkedin.com/in/aliharris Abridged Portfolio: https://app.box.com/s/iafpl5pc336d1ghazos0

Consumers - Communities - Companies - Communications Seeking position at an energetic company that values innovation and traditional customer service. Held three rising

positions at Harvard University. Worked for fashion icons Tommy Hilfiger and Liz Claiborne. Experience in healthcare, higher education, non-profit, government, and retail settings. Published weekly columns and features in print media.

Employment History Boston Correspondent, PR for People, The Connector May 2015 – present Recruited via social media to write a monthly column for industry magazine focused on public relations and people.

Elevate Communications, Media Relations Director, Boston, MA

2014 – 2015

Position included oversight for media team, strategies for campaigns as well as execution of executive media

matters.

Supported special events and assisted/directed with crisis management in addition to working with traditional and

digital media on earned placements in global, national, and local venues.

Planned and executed deskside meetings for executives with top-tier media across many segments.

Aided the co-principals in multiple matters across the whole portfolio.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Branch, Executive Office of Labor and Workforce

Development, Director of Communications, Boston, MA 2008 – 2013

As the unemployment crisis affected the Commonwealth, recruited and appointed to serve Suzanne Bump, a

cabinet member in Governor Deval Patrick’s administration, and the state’s first Secretary of Labor and Workforce

Development. Increased her visibility, and she stepped down to run successfully for State Auditor.

Worked with three secretaries of Labor and Workforce Development in my tenure. Substantially increased the

visibility of all three secretaries in local, regional, and national media using a combination of strategies.

Responsible for communications across multiple platforms for the secretariat with five departments, a quasi-

public agency, over thirty One Stop Career Centers, sixteen Workforce Investment Boards, several TeleClaim

Centers, nearly all secretariats and key offices of the Patrick Administration, and coordinated with the Governor’s

communications team daily.

Engineered a targeted and substantive approach to dissemination of information, improved upon existing press

lists, press events, press relations, and briefings. Assisted with launch of intranet, developed and oversaw the

jobs blog, and the secretariat’s Twitter account.

Developed talk points regularly on both positive and controversial issues on deadline for use by the Secretary,

Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and other cabinet members. Acted as a spokesperson as needed.

Worked directly with representatives from the Microsoft Corporation to help launch Elevate America, a free E-

learning program made available through the state’s One Stop Career Centers.

Co-founded with staff at Suffolk University, The Ashburton Place Career Seminars. Obtained the funding from

Suffolk to provide this free series of conferences to job-seekers, and recruited faculty from three universities to

lead workshops.

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Cambridge Health Alliance, Teaching Affiliate of Harvard Medical School, Director of Media

Relations, Cambridge, MA 2004 – 2008 Recruited to Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA). Worked at CHA in 1990’s when it was The Cambridge Hospital. Invited to

return in newly created role to define the function for the organization. Responsible for designing and implementing CHA’s

first comprehensive media relations strategy to serve three hospitals, over Twenty health centers, hundreds of Harvard-

appointed faculty, Tufts-appointed faculty and health & education programs.

Cambridge Health Alliance – Public Affairs, Community and Government Relations

Helped coordinate a program with Cambridge Public Schools on behalf of Harvard Medical School’s Office for

Diversity and Community Partnership. Worked with program’s Dean to establish an award program to boost the

visibility of the school programs.

Represented CHA in collaborations with Massachusetts Hospital Association, Harvard Medical School, Harvard

University, professional trade organizations, academic societies, various agencies, and in the industry locally and

nationally.

Responsible for media trainings, consultations, and presentations with faculty, students, and leadership.

Engaged in ongoing crises management across over thirty sites and collaborated with legal, risk management,

government affairs, community affairs, and executive leadership on significant crises.

Responsible for emergency preparedness/communications, coordinated PIO’s for several sites. Worked across

city, state, and other agencies in meetings, drills, and exercises.

Improved relations between Marketing & Business Development with Government Affairs.

Assisted with highly successful site visit from Senator Edward Kennedy, during which he received a national

lifetime achievement award and read to children in a pediatric community-based health center.

Cambridge Health Alliance - Media Relations

Created systems for gathering and disseminating CHA news on a regular basis. Used the tools and systems to

distribute press releases about awards, new hires, improved or new facilities, academic research, public health

matters, and new services. Previously CHA had not released news systematically, frequently or thoroughly.

Identified media tools for dissemination, research, and tracking. Identified and trained media experts to improve

response time to reactive media. Responsible for several staff, vendors, and outside public relations firms.

Established vibrant national media platform through placements with Wall Street Journal, NY Times, USA Today,

CNN, CBS, NPR and national industry publications.

Improved relations with Harvard publications, including placements in Harvard Magazine, Harvard Medical

School’s Focus, Web Weekly, and eCommons. Frequently secured coveted spots on the Harvard University

homepage spiking CHA’s web traffic. Increased placements across University venues such as Harvard Magazine,

Harvard Gazette, Harvard Crimson, and secured CHA’s coverage in Harvard Medical School’s annual Dean’s

report.

Identified the need for trade and industry dissemination lists, and increased awareness with several trade

organizations.

Harvard Medical School, Director of Media Relations & Public Information, Boston, MA 2003 – 2004

Instituted a client-based structure. Identified key missing components for sustained media placements such as

the creation of bio-sketches of HMS experts with contact information. Collaborated with staff to add this feature

to the existing database.

Introduced report-backs to improve communications across teams assigned to complex projects.

Responsible for several staff, vendors, and outside public relations firms.

Co-facilitated launch of the New Research Building and a series of events to celebrate the 100-year milestone for

the anniversary of the Quadrangle.

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Worked on events and media with the Dean’s Office, Executive Dean’s Office, Office of Diversity & Community

Partnership, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Harvard School of Public Health, and Quadrangle-based

administrators, professors and students.

Increased HMS’s relationships with key media outlets and secured media attention for diversity programs that had

not previously received such recognition.

Met frequently with constituents to assist with strategic planning, and managed difficult situations for the New

England Primate Research Center and the Dean’s Office.

Acted as a liaison with over twenty affiliated area hospitals and medical institutions.

Represented HMS at national conventions to foster new connections in media, academic organizations, and the

biotech industry.

Chosen by Dean Joan Reede to serve as a judge in an awards process for youths as part of the Reflection in

Action: Building Healthier Communities event held at HMS to celebrate civil rights.

The Civil Rights Project at Harvard University, Information Officer, Cambridge, MA 2001 – 2003

Established and managed the communications function for The Civil Rights Project (CRP).

CRP’s contribution to the Affirmative Action cases before the U.S. Supreme Court in June of 2003 was noted

publicly during the process and final hearing. Worked on the press briefing for these cases, organized a large

group of national organizations in higher education that contributed to legal briefs and coordinated with the

University of Michigan to help with the successful outcomes of these landmark decisions.

Organized press briefings in several states. Co-directed media training for nationally known scholars and a media

roundtable in partnership with the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at University of North

Carolina.

Worked with CRP's data expert to build a publicity database for CRP. The media database became a model for

CRP's main database. Once the database was operative, began disseminating information about CRP's work

throughout the Harvard community, to set the stage for working with much broader audiences.

Played a key role in website redesign as an active member of the Web Working Group, which I helped organize.

Developed a tool that became invaluable to the organization, the Media Tracking Report, which allowed CRP to

track and share media placements with a variety of audiences including funders, media, and potential hires.

Disseminated dozens of studies for CRP in a variety of venues, often with multiple authors and organizations.

Researched targeted distribution channels for every publication. Expanded the national media coverage

significantly in print and broadcast media, and moved beyond that to international media.

Harvard University Press, Assistant Manager & Publicist, Publicity Department, Cambridge, MA 1996 - 1998

Responsible for publicity campaigns for both mid-list and special distributed titles. Worked as a member of the

management team with supervisor and assistant to strategically plan, implement, and oversee publicity for

Harvard University Press (HUP).

Managed campaigns for over two hundred titles and contributed to an increase in HUP's visibility in key disciplines

by frequently crossing over mid-list books into mainstream media. Books traditionally covered in academic

journals appeared in Newsweek, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Atlantic Monthly, Village

Voice, Boston Magazine, and USA Today.

Supervised staff, interns, and peers in a collaborative atmosphere. Worked far in advance of publishing dates

beginning at manuscript/proof stage. Interfaced with editorial staff, advertising, marketing, customer service, and

production. Sought and secured advance praise from distinguished authorities in diverse disciplines based on tips

from editorial department. Researched academic journals, trade publications, and became acquainted with an

eclectic mix of writers and reporters from mainstream media.

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The Cambridge Hospital, Manager, Marketing & Public Relations, Cambridge, MA (Now

Cambridge Health Alliance) 1992 - 1995

Created strategic marketing plan annually and reviewed it frequently. Responsible for the department's budget

and a Continuing Medical Education (CME) course budget. Responsible for staff, interns, and vendors.

Supervised and executed The Cambridge Hospital's (TCH) publications including the annual report, brochures,

newsletters, statements from officials, and program fact sheets.

Co-organized an international faculty, participating physicians, Biotech/Biomed sponsors, and the sponsoring

institutions for a first-of- its-kind CME course, Genes in Primary Care, with an MIT scientist and a primary care

physician from HMS/TCH.

Coordinated and implemented the Bentley College Service Learning Project. Co-coordinated an MIT teaching

project known as TILT. Co-organized TCH's first Women's Health Conference on International Women's Day, a

cooperative effort between TCH and Cambridge's Women's Commission.

Co-coordinated the site-visit, which was instrumental in TCH's winning the most prestigious hospital industry

award for community service. Obtained broadcast media coverage, such as segment on Tom Brokaw's NBC

Nightly News where First Lady Hillary Clinton hailed TCH as the comeback hospital.

Boston Herald and Greater Boston Area Media Venues, Weekly Columnist 1986 - 1992

Feature stories appeared under my byline in Boston Herald, Boston Magazine, Middlesex News, and TAB Newspapers.

Liz Claiborne Inc., Account Executive, New York, NY 1983 - 1985

Account Executive in Women's Sportswear Division. Grew a two million dollar business into a fifteen million dollar account structure within two years.

Daniel J. Edelman Public Relations, Electronic Media Publicist, New York, NY 1982 - 1983

Responsibilities centered on creating and implementing publicity campaigns for international and domestic accounts and acquiring placement in all electronic media.

Tommy Hilfiger’s 20th Century Survival, Publicity Director & Account Executive, New York, NY 1980 – 1982

Tommy Hilfiger's first well-known product line. Established and ran the publicity department, arranged first national television appearance for Hilfiger on Good Morning America. Managed accounts including internationally

known department stores, specialty chain stores, and boutiques based in other countries.

Retail Experience in Sales, Management, Visual Merchandising, Inventory, and In-Store Events - Highlights Worked in prestigious, unique, and traditional retail settings. Duties included sales, management, in-store-events, visual

merchandising, inventory, and stock evaluation, attending buying events, meeting with buyers, and cultivating repeat clientele.

Sachi NY, NY – Assistant Manager

Sachi NY, NY at Fiorucci NY, NY – Franchise Manager

o Arranged Sachi NY franchise for Fiorucci Boston, MA

Fiorucci, Boston, MA – Assistant Manager

Capezio, Cambridge, MA and Capezio, NY, NY – Sales Associate

Details (jewelry and gifts), Cambridge, MA - Manager

Pappagallo, Cambridge, MA – Assistant Manager

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Ann Taylor, Cambridge MA – Sales Associate Macy’s Herald Square, NY, NY – Visual Merchandising Manager, Holiday Toy Department

Patch n Place (vintage clothing), Bennington, VT – Manager

Educational & Artistic Endeavors – Highlights

Actors Studio, New York, NY

Worked as Special Assistant to Lee Strasberg, the Playwriting Lab, Director’s Unit, and the Actor’s Workshop.

Awarded unique status of Professional Observer by Lee Strasberg, a privilege usually reserved for actors from other countries.

American Indian Community House, New York, NY

Advisor and consultant to the Director of Public Relations and the Board of Directors. Organized benefits that

captured local and national print and electronic media.

Bennington College, B.A., M.A., Bennington, VT

In order to fulfill the Master’s Degree requirements at Bennington College, I taught several courses in theater arts, founded and implemented a student teaching program that was a first-of-its-kind cooperative effort between

the college and the Bennington Public Schools.

Columbia University, New York, NY

Co-coordinated Schizo Culture, a three-day symposium sponsored by the Columbia University French Department, the French Embassy and Semiotext(e) Magazine. This was one of the first events in the United States to

introduce the post-structuralism movement with Michel Foucault, Gilles Deleuze, John Cage, and William Burroughs presenting.

Community Voices, National Primary Care Center, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA

Acted as a consultant to program founder to create an award program and academic conference centered on

healthcare disparities launched in April 2008 with an award in CNN’s Soledad O’Brien’s name.

Errol Morris, Documentary Films, Cambridge, MA

Worked with Errol Morris on Fast, Cheap & Out of Control, Academy Award-winning film, Fog of War, and on political messaging for campaign advertisements.

The Group School, Cambridge, MA (co-founder, employee, and student)

Original student founder and member of the first graduating class of the award-winning independent high school

for working-class youth that served the Cambridge community for many years.