Apr 2022 – Present · 4 yrs

• Core messaging is the simplest articulation of the fundamental principles that connect how you do what you do with what your audience truly cares about. Core messaging is the key to getting buy-in — for your product, service, or idea. If you’re responsible for driving action, you need a core message. Founded by Tamsen Webster, Sheperd Simmons, Michel Neray, Francisco Mahfuz, and Brian Miller.

Jun 2016 – Apr 2024 · 7 yrs 10 mos · Boston, MA

• Your Big Idea — whether you’ve found it already or not — starts with how you see the world.
• And if you want other people to act on your idea? They need to see the world the way you do. That means figuring out not only what change we want them to make, but what they need to hear in order to make it.
• But don’t worry. Whether for a pitch, presentation, or platform, the Red Thread ™ reveals how you uniquely see the world so others can see it that way, too... and change what they do as a result.

Dec 2013 – Jul 2017 · 3 yrs 7 mos · Boston, MA

• Here's the Problem...
• Whether you are an individual executive facing a major staff presentation, or a corporate sales organization facing a major customer presentation, there's a MESSAGE to be crafted - a story to be told - and you're not completely sure how to do this well.
• Feedback from audiences on the typical presentation is depressingly consistent: too much information, poorly structured, uninspiring and lacking relevance (and not to forget: excessively reliant on Powerpoint.) And as a result, most communicators fail to achieve the impact they're looking for.
• They know they have a problem but they don't know how to fix it.
• Here's the Solution...
• Oratium offers groundbreaking thinking and tools to allow you to design and deliver highly impactful messaging in any corporate or sales setting. We are different, and what we do WORKS.
• Why? Because of one simple idea: That the key to effective communication lies in understanding how people process information in an oral environment. This is the key to solving those problems - When you leave behind the trivia of eye contact and body language, and recalibrate to what's going on in your audience's brain, amazing things follow.
• Oratium's mission: TRANSFORMING you into the communicator you always wanted to be.

Nov 2013 – Nov 2025 · 12 yrs

• As the Idea Strategist for TEDxNewEngland, the only science-specific TEDx conference in the world, I work directly with primary researchers, technologists, and academics to craft the case for their ideas and the initial draft os their talks. To date, eight of my speakers’ talks, and 20% of our event's total, have been promoted to and featured on TED.com, collecting well over 12 million views.

Nov 2013 – Feb 2025 · 11 yrs 3 mos · Cambridge, MA

• TED is an annual conference featuring the world’s leading thinkers and doers sharing what they are most passionate about. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design - three broad subject areas that are collectively shaping our future. Created in the spirit of TED’s "ideas worth spreading" mission, the TEDx program is designed to give communities, organizations, and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.
• TEDxCambridge is an evening event experience and technology exhibition that draws from the remarkable wealth of innovation, creativity, and inspiration found within Cambridge and beyond. TEDxCambridge is the preeminent TEDx conference in New England. Over 5,000 guests have attended the event series and our gourmet receptions feature food, wine, and craft cocktails prepared by Boston’s premier chefs and restaurants.

Jul 2011 – Nov 2013 · 2 yrs 4 mos · Watertown, MA

• Leadership Team member of 120-person independent, full-service advertising agency. Day-to-day manager of agency’s Content Activation department and project lead on all digital and social media strategy, messaging, emerging technology, integrated media and content marketing projects and new business pitches for local, regional, national, and global nonprofit, startup, retail, restaurant, CPG, and B2B brands. Responsible for planning and executing integration strategies for brand and creative platforms across paid, owned, and earned media channels, as well as new agency product and service
• development. Manager of three full-time staff and two interns.

Jan 2009 – Jun 2011 · 2 yrs 5 mos

• Responsible for Sametz Blackstone's Associates overall marketing strategy, with specific responsibility for inbound marketing efforts (blog editor, chief Twitterer), new product and offering development, and partner relationships. In addition to consulting to clients on branding, marketing, and digital / social media strategy, also manages the Digital Media team.

Oct 2005 – Dec 2008 · 3 yrs 2 mos

• Responsible for all fundraising communication strategy, collateral materials, stewardship, and acknowledgement strategy for Harvard Medical School. Senior staff member, reporting directly to the Dean for Resource Development. Developed and implemented comprehensive dynamic message architecture to simplify, amplify, and improve effectiveness of donor and prospect communications. Devised original "engagement area" concept for developing messages to attract and retain new audiences and managed complete redesign of Office of Resource Development (ORD) graphic identity to reflect more effectively message architecture content and branding. Primary writer, art director, and editor for all fundraising collateral materials, both printed and digital.

Jul 2001 – Oct 2005 · 4 yrs 3 mos

• Chief Marketing and Communications Officer and brand strategist for leading performing arts college, reporting directly to the President. Authored seven-year strategic plan, articulating specific strategies to advance and support institutional mission in preparation for major capital fundraising campaign. Oversaw all institutional advertising, public relations, media relations, publications, website, market research, internal communications, merchandise, audience services, box office, and photography. Developed first comprehensive marketing program to align communications initiatives with institution’s mission and strategic goals. Supervised complete redesign of graphic identity, recruitment and fundraising materials, advertising, and website. Official spokesperson for the institution and primary liaison to the media. Created and drafted institution’s first Crisis Communications Plan and coordinated communications during critical incidents.

Aug 1999 – Jun 2001 · 1 yr 10 mos

• Promoted to specifically created position as head of new department. Project manager for all temporary exhibitions (50 to 60 simultaneous exhibitions). Orchestrated most successful exhibition in organization’s history; raised attendance by 150%. Created and implemented first formalized exhibition planning, production, and evaluation processes. Set all project schedules, managed deliverables, and coordinated all interdepartmental exhibition-related work. Authored museum’s first five-year strategic plan for exhibitions. Managed and oversaw $1 million in organization-wide exhibition and department budgets, as well as five-year forecasts.

Aug 1998 – Jul 1999 · 11 mos

• Created and managed cross-functional project team structure for museum’s bicentennial exhibition and celebration; devised creative concept, selected objects, wrote and oversaw publication of all collateral; organized and managed press preview (organization’s first in three years). Liaison between Marketing and Development departments; coordinated all interdepartmental projects. Responsible for purchase, installation, and maintenance of major relational database to manage press and media contacts and activity that expanded promotional reach by 200%.

Aug 1999 – Jan 2013 · 13 yrs 5 mos · Greater Boston Area

• “Diamond”-level leader and receptionist at the world’s leading provider of weight loss services. Presenter and discussion facilitator at weekly group meetings on a variety of topics integral to weight loss, weight maintenance, and living a healthy lifestyle, for as many as 75 members across as many as five meetings a week. Also responsible for one-on-one coaching and motivation of members, in addition to orientation and training in the basics of the Weight Watchers weight loss programs. Schedule permitting, also serves as coach and mentor for new leaders. Consistently recognized as one of the territory’s top leaders, with devoted and loyal members and consistently high meeting attendance and retention numbers, and has recruited new receptionists and leaders who are also highly regarded. Team leader of up to four meeting receptionists.

Mar 1997 – Jun 1998 · 1 yr 3 mos

• Lead prospector and project manager for major change projects of prominent change management consulting firm; performed situation analyses and facilitated change implementation plans. Modified and refined company’s outsourcing methodology and served as communications expert for outsourcing clients. Developed prototype communications consulting methodology and designed documentation procedure for merger projects. Independently conducted extensive research on crisis communications, critical situation management, and organizational design.