Walker branch writes

Independent Editing and Writing • Media and Public Relations • Communication Strategy • Corporate Newsletters and Blogging
LinkedIn Profile
421 N. Oak St., Lincolnton, NC 28092 · carole421@gmail.com · 828-777-8707 cell

QUALIFICATIONS

I have thirty years of experience in writing, layout and production, crisis communication, communications planning, and media coordination while developing an internal communication system for a rapidly growing health system,
the largest employer west of Charlotte. Editor of three books,
I have a special passion for editing and refining written copy.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Independent Writer and Editor                                                                        Current
National and regional consumer magazines
Local consumer publications and news websites
Life123.com web content

Carolina Country Magazine
"Sting Fire Ants Before They Sting You," June 2012
"Seniors on the Road," November 2012
"Any Way You Slice It, Nothing Beats a North Carolina Grown Tomato" March 2013
"Drive Responsibly and Avoid the Fines," April 2013

Small Business Opportunities Magazine Website
"PowerPointers for More Effective Presentations" April 8, 2013

Parent Guide News
"Engaging Tips for Museum Trips," Nov. 2012

Foothills Spotlight
"The Gift of Your Presence is the Best Gift of All," Nov/Dec 2012
"Pain in the Backpack," Sept/Oct 2012
"Apple Festival Time in Lincoln County," Sept/Oct 2012

Lincoln Herald
"Nelson and Brenda Helms Make Molasses the Old-Time Way," Oct. 16, 2012
"Ray Hoffman Shares the Fruit of the Vine," Sept. 21, 2012
"Blackberry Winter, THEN Spring," April 3. 2013

Lincoln County View
"The Tale of the Tale: Serving Stories With Biscuits and Bacon," Nov. 2012
"Zucchini Mania," July 2012

Life123.com assorted topics

Editing
The Game of Gifts – A Guy's Giving Guide for All Occasions, by Rocky Beach, 2012 (Amazon Kindle)
Kibou, A Story of Hope, by Ellie Waters; 2009.
The Legacy of Mission Hospital by Nancy Marlowe, 2004.


Internal Communications Coordinator and                                    1989 – August 2011
Crisis Communication Lead

MISSION HEALTH                                                                       
509 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, NC 28801

• Writing, editing, and layout of all internal communication for 6000+ staff members; event and portrait photography
• Creating and administering daily e-mail news updates for health system staff and system physician offices
• Establishing an up-to-date crisis communication plan and protocol for managing both internal and external messaging during an emergency. Representing Mission Health on a regional public information team, and representing Mission Health at regional emergency incidents and drills
• Planning for celebrity patients and local visits by dignitaries; planning and media management for special events, i.e. 80th birthday celebration of Ruth Bell Graham at Grove Park Inn
• Developing and monitoring a parody advice column called “Ask Dr. Sig” for capturing, monitoring and responding to staff concerns
• Creating, designing, and coordinating printed internal newsletter for staff of McDowell Hospital and for use in physician recruiting
• Administering and monitoring social media fan sites related to special health system departments
• Planning and monitoring thematic blog sites; writing and posting content
• Administering health system educational screensaver program and creating messages and campaigns
• Maintaining news, announcements, and graphics for hospital’s intranet, “Mission on Demand”
• Writing and collateral design and production for both marketing and public relations initiatives
• Managing commercial telephone directory advertisements and listings in 13+ regional directories
• Media liaison and spokesperson for on-camera news interviews; developing messaging and strategy for issues management
• Scriptwriting and field production for “Medical Minute” of health and technology information for WLOS-TV and local cable channels; coordinated voice and on-screen contracted talent
• Scriptwriting and production of marketing messages for Mission Hospital’s “on-hold” system
• Coordinating special events and campaigns
• Creating and executing comprehensive communication and marketing plans.

Production and Promotion Specialist and                                    1981 - 1987
Public Affairs Director
WLOS-TV                                                                                    
110 Technology Drive, Asheville, NC 28803

• Daily promotional writing and production; coordinating voice talent
• Creating and coordinating local on-air contests for sweeps months; coordinating on-air talent, writing and producing promos, managing daily mail and new entries
• Scheduling strategic running position for promotional spots and public service announcements
• Producing Chyron graphics for live news, PM Magazine, commercial production
• Producing and promoting special projects such as a thirty-minute live program for the
• American Red Cross and live weather from Asheville’s Bele Chere on Good Morning America
• Creating and promoting Safe Ride, a program in coordination with local cab companies to provide safe and free rides home during the holiday season
• Coordinating the WLOS presence at the BiLo and Ingles Food Fairs; coordinated promotional production with visiting celebrities such as Alex Trebek and General Hospital stars

OTHER EXPERIENCE

• Completed five days of intensive training in advanced public information officer roles and incident command structure at the Centers of Domestic Preparedness, Anniston, AL.
• Founding member of POINT, Asheville’s first coordinated PIO network for Western North Carolina. Organized through public health and the community following the anthrax scare following Sept. 11, 2001, POINT became the model for the statewide public health information network to coordinate and disseminate accurate and lifesaving messages during a crisis.
• Extensive experience in local disaster drills that have also included local EMS, fire, and law enforcement personnel. Represented Mission Hospital at a recent UNCA “shooter” drill and a drill that involved a mass exposure to an unknown chemical. Of particular interest is planning to reach underserved (non-English speaking, elderly) during an emergency.
• Served for two semesters as an adjunct professor on media management for the firefighter education program at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Community College. Presented media relations workshops to several organizations and provided training in media relations to the regional State Medical Assistance Team (SMAT).

AWARDS

• 2005: Gold Award for Internal Newsletters from the Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marking Society (both North and South Carolina)
• 2001: Silver Award for Employee Publications from Carolinas Healthcare Public Relations and Marketing Society
• Numerous first place awards in employee publications from the Public Relations Association of  Western North Carolina (1990s)

MEMBERSHIPS

• Founding Member of Regional POINT formed following September 11, 2001 and the anthrax scare
• Intrastate Crisis Communication Enhancement Network (ICCE Net)
• American Guild of English Handbell Ringers (AGEHR)
• Leadership Asheville Forum; graduate of Leadership Asheville 22
• Former Member of the National Information Officers Association (NIOA)
• Former Member of the National Public Health Information Coalition (NPHIC)

• Former Member of the Carolinas Healthcare Public Information and Marketing Society (CHPRMS)
• Former Member and Past Secretary of the Public Relations Association of Western North Carolina (PRAWNC)
• Former Member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA)

IN THE COMMUNITY

• Treasurer for eleven years for Boy Scout Troop 53, Daniel Boone Council
• Volunteer with the Daniel Boone Council Executive Committee for special events communication, layout, and design
• Created and maintained the website for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Asheville, NC
• Wrote and produced the member newsletter for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Asheville, NC

EDUCATION

• UNC-Asheville, classes in economics and management, 1998-99
• Appalachian State University, BS in Communications, 1981
• Winthrop University, journalism and theatre production, 1979-80
• Montreat College (formerly Montreat-Anderson College), AA in Liberal Arts, 1979

PERSONAL
Recently re-married, I’m the mother of two sons – one an Eagle Scout and graduate of Appalachian State University living in Charlottesville, VA, and the youngest an undergraduate at Appalachian State University.