deniseannhughes

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Member	Jun 18, 2009 (17 years)	-	0	1

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Member since: Jun 18, 2009 (17 years)
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Bio

Denise A. Hughes - DIRECTOR, Creative-Connectors Global Communications, Public Relations, New Media Agency (917) 549-2621—or, E-mail Denise@creative-connectors.com www.creative-connectors.com Public Relations/Media/Communications& Marketing Professional Over Twenty-Years of Experience in the PR, Media, Television & Communications Industries • Over 10 years of public relations, strategic communications and media experience working for cause related, non-profit, anti-poverty, social justice, health and environmental, sustainable food communications. organizations. • Launched Creative—Connectors a New York and Los Angeles based PR/Communications and Marketing Consultancy with Alex Raksin, recipient of the 2002 Pulitzer Prize. Editorial writing. www.creative-connectors.com From December 2006 to present • Senior Media Director GRACE (Grassroots Action Center for the Environment, NYC) From May 2006—March 2007 • Over seven years of public relations and communications consulting experience with international, anti-poverty groups and international health organizations as a Washington D.C based communications & media consultant From 2001-May 2006 • Over two years experience working with international anti-poverty organizations as Director of PR, Media & Communications for two different organizations (RESULTS and the Microcredit Summit) From 1999-2001 • Created Media Nation; a full service advertising/TV production company From 1996-1999 • Advertising Executive at TCI Media Services in New York From 12/97-6/98 • Eight years as a US NAVY Combat Camera television writer, producer, director From 1988-1996 Most recent Communications and Advocacy Campaigns Include: • Working on a Coffee Table book called Witness to a Movement to provide a historical overview of the Microfinance Movement. • Recently returned from leading a press/donor tour to visit Africa’s first Microfinance ECO Town, Kaputiei, a project of Jamii Bora Trust. • Working on New Media Campaigns for most of my international clients. This includes blogging, and strategic blogging campaigns. • Working on the concept and creation of Edible Eco Underground Microsite and launch with communications team at Food & Water Watch. • 2008 & 2009 worked extensively with Maude Barlow, Head of the Council of Canadians, National Board Chair of Food and Water Watch, and activist, author and star of the movie FLOW (For the Love of Water) for the last year. I focused primarily on the international water crisis and water issues in North America. Was the lead publicist on a national book tour for her latest book Blue Covenant: The Global Water Crisis and the Coming Battle for the Right to Water, which is now the sixth leading political science best seller in North America. • Most recently worked on the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the United Nations with U.N. General Assembly President Miguel d’Escoto Brockmann where he and Maude Barlow, his newly appointed, Senior Advisor on Water, called upon members of the General Assembly to make the right to water a basic human right. This is the beginning of a year long campaign. • Worked with Microcredit Summit Campaign and Muhammad Yunus on the Asia Pacific Regional Microcredit Summit Meeting of Councils in Bali, Indonesia in 2008, which generated massive media both nationally and internationally. • Worked on the release of the 2007 Microcredit Summit Campaign Report with a cover story in Businessweek Magazine (report & story examined bad investments in microfinance) This work also resulted in a New York Times story. • Recently completed more than 8 years of work with the Microcredit Summit Campaign (MCS) and its Co-Chair, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Director of GRAMEEN Bank, recipient the 2006 Nobel Peace Prize. Highlighting the work of Professor Yunus and the best practices of the MCS. • Current Clients include:  Maude Barlow www.Canadians.org  Food & Water Watch www.foodandwaterwatch.org  Sustainable Table www.sustainabletable.org  The Eat Well Guide www.eatwellguide.org  The Network for New Energy Choices www.newenergychoices.org  World Pulse Media & Pulse Wire www.pulsewire.net  The Microcredit Summit Campaign www.microcreditsummit.org  GRACE www.gracelinks.org  The Peace Alliance www.thepeacealliance.org  Unitus www.unitus.com • Frequently work with some of the nation’s leading environmental experts such as Professor Michael Dworkin, Director, The Institute for Energy & the Environment at The Vermont Law School; Leslie Lowe, Environment & Energy Director at the Interfaith Center for Corporate Responsibility; Peter Bradford, Professor at the Vermont Law School; Robert Alvarez, Senior Scholar, at the Institute for Policy Studies; Dr. Robert Lawrence, Director, Johns Hopkins University’s Center for a Livable future— all through GRACE (a national environmental foundation— www.gracelinks.org) • Completed publicity push and Live Webcast for Sustainable Table’s “Eat Well Guided Tour of America.” Clips were generated in the New York Times and many other publications, including online blogs and TV and Radio. • Continuing to work with world-wide leaders in the Microcredit movement. • Recently completed work on the most comprehensive report on Bio-fuels called, “The Rush to Ethanol: Not All Biofuels Are Created Equal.” With the Network for New Energy Choices. (NNEC) • Worked on a new report and event planning for the H20=Life Exhibit and accompanying report with NNEC and the American Museum of Natural History, NYC • Media Consultant for RESULTS www.RESULTS.org for more than seven years working on the international issues of AIDS, TB and Malaria and Microcredit. Worked with them on the promotion of key U.S. federal legislation that resulted in hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. foreign investment into the treatment of these major diseases and the funds for the expansion of microcredit. Also focused on International Debt Relief. • Organized a world wide internet, live webcast from the Society of Environmental Journalists Conference in Burlington, Vermont. Our client went head to head with the Nuclear Power Industry in a live debate. The event was a huge success. It created a platform for our client to speak directly to the environmental movement in order to dispel the myth that Nuclear Power is the answer to climate change. • Directed Media outreach efforts at the G8 Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia for GRACE to stop the spread of the Bush & Putin led Global Nuclear Partnership (GNEP). We released a major report on Sustainable Energy that resulted in media clips in the New York Times, Washington Post, Boston Globe and many other media outlets. • Worked on the release of the 2006 New Global PLAN to Fight TB at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland for the WHO and the TB Control Report Card leading up-to World TB Day in March 2006 • Organized numerous International Press Tours with Professor Muhammad Yunus and Queen Sofia of Spain and Queen Rania of Jordan around many different International and Regional Microcredit Summit meetings on four continents from 1999-2006. Also organized strategy & press coverage for all of these meetings. www.microcreditsummit.org. Organized Press outreach and tours througout Africa, India, China, Chile, Bangladesh, Bolivia and Mexico, resulting in extensive press coverage including a New York Times page three exclusive the day after the U.S. bombed Afghanistan. Organized media visit of Paul O’Neill and U2’s Bono to FINCA Uganda in 2002. • Generated 100’s of Regional, National and International Media clips, on Microcredit, Tuberculosis, Debt Relief, Education for All, World Bank and IMF critiques and HIV/AIDS, including two front-page New York Times articles, many different NY Times Editorials, and features. Responsible for the appearance of Editorials, Op-ed’s and features all appearing numerous times in the Washington Post, LA Times, Boston Globe and many different Regional Newspapers across the United States. Worked with the British Media resulting in exclusives in the Economist, Financial Times and the BBC. Developed an extensive relationship with the International arm of CNN over the past two years resulting in 8 news features and 4 International on the ground program visits. • Crafted a Strategic Communications Plan for the launch of Poverty Frontiers a new website of USAID launched in early 2005. Also crafted a complete outreach plan for the office of Poverty Reduction and Social Safety Nets (PASSN) at USAID. Crafted a complete communications guide for outreach to USAID missions, NGOs/Donors and the U.S. Congress and Administration. • Generated media surrounding the Microcredit Summit Campaign’s Meeting of Councils in Amman, Jordan October 2004. Responsible for all media generation around this meeting. Worked closely with Professor Muhammad Yunus of Grameen Bank and Co-Chair and Queen Rania Al-Abdullah as meeting host. Generated over 300+ media clips world-wide and over 100 media clips in newspapers around the United States. Also developed a Strategic Communications plan for the Microcredit Summit Campaign to lead into 2005’s International Year of Microcredit at the U.N. • RESULTS/Open Society Institute and WHO-Stop TB Department media work at the International AIDS Conference in Bangkok, Thailand. Held press conference on TB-HIV and generated numerous clips on the links between these two diseases. Most notably started a Lifesaving Health Campaign to save the lives of people who were infected with HIV by immediately treating their TB, which is also the number one killer worldwide of people living with HIV. Supported the Gates Foundation media work on TB-HIV and their Press Conference with Nelson Mandela. • WHO Canadian Media Campaign focused on the Global Drug Facility to Fight TB, and the WHO 3X5 Initiative. Promoted Dr. Jack Chow, then Deputy Director General, for AIDS, TB and Malaria, WHO. As a direct result of these campaign efforts, Prime Minister Paul Martin announced a $100-Million dollar commitment to the 3X5 Initiative, which is targeted at treating 3-Million people with AIDS by 2005- Media appearances were made on CBC-News Morning Canada’s National TV morning show, National radio and print coverage and direct testimony was given to Canadian Parliament’s Human Rights and International Relations, Subcommittee. April 2004 • WHO Stop TB Partner’s Forum in New Delhi India, March 2004: Generated over 300 global media pieces with over 75 quotes in U.S. Newspapers. Organized all communications and media outreach for this meeting including exclusive WHO Stop-TB report coverage in USA Today, The Washington Post and the Economist. Also organized media press interviews and events for Dr. J.W. Lee, Director General, WHO, Dr. Jack Chow then Deputy Director General WHO, Dr. Mario Raviglione, WHO and Dr. Marcos Espinal, WHO • Asia Pacific Microcredit Summit Campaign Meeting of Councils in Dhaka, Bangladesh February 2004. Promoted Microcredit programs that reach some of the world’s poorest people. Highlighted spokespeople like Queen Sofia of Spain, Professor Muhammad Yunus, Fazel Ahbed and Campaign Director Sam Daley-Harris. Generated over 400 International Media clips focusing on Microcredit and the meeting—Media clips included, The Economist Magazine, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Boston Globe, The BBC, CNN International, The International Herald Tribune and many others. (Samples available upon request) • Some 2003 successes included: The Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI) Capitol Hill press events with Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, Dr. Pat Youri and 5 time Grammy Award winning Artist Alicia Keys. Worked extensively with RESULTS and Action Aid USA on many different projects. • Another successful project was the Drop the Debt/Jubilee USA campaign, which occurred during the 2002 Spring Meetings of the World Bank and IMF resulting in targeted media coverage in the Financial Times, LA Times, Boston Globe, NPR and BBC interviews. Also highlighted Actionaid in a front page Washington Post article on their work in Bangladesh during these same meetings. The piece featured Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers in Bangladesh also appeared in the International Herald Tribune. • Promoted numerous Press Conference Calls with RESULTS and Dr. Jeffrey Sachs, International Economist and Director of Columbia University’s Earth Institute, which focused on HIV/AIDS and Debt Relief. In one-hour these calls resulted in media generated in publications such as, The Washington Post, as well as coverage in the Financial Times, The Boston Globe, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Wall Street Journal. Also secured interviews for Stephen Lewis, then Special Envoy to Kofi Annan on HIV/AIDS on NPR, and USA Today. Also organized numerous National Press Club & Capitol Hill Press Events From 2001-2005 • Coordinated African Voices Press Event and Response to Nepad at the G-8 Summit in Calgary, Canada June 2002. Featuring Speakers from Actionaid UK, Jubilee USA, 50 Years is Enough Network and RESULTS Canada. Resulting in numerous press pieces in Canadian Press, and International Press such as The Financial Times, NPR, BBC and AP and Reuters television and Print. • Engaged in Pro-Bono work for the Global AIDS Alliance in 2001, 2002 which has resulted in numerous press pieces in the National U.S. Press and International press. Built solid brand name and image recognition for this organization and its core mission among Washington Policy makers and the International press with Dr. Paul Zeitz, which resulted in more funding dollars from donors. • Organized a Media Event at the United Nations Beijing +5, June 2000 with First Lady Hillary Rodham Clinton’s office, where Mrs. Clinton, Kofi Annan, Noeleen Heyzer and others, presented cutting-edge reports on the Progress of the World’s Women and Microcredit. • Organized a book tour in three different states with author, Dr. Lee Reichman Timebomb, The Global Epidemic of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. This resulted in book signings at major chain bookstores and numerous Editorial Board Meetings and local TV and Radio coverage. MARKETING and FUNDRAISING • As Senior Media Specialist and Advertising Executive with TCI and Media Nation (a company I owned) • Wrote, Produced, and Directed, whole Advertising Campaigns for corporate clients and acquired a long list of TV AD Sponsors. • Bought and Sold Advertising through numerous Media Outlets in New York. • Created total Advertising synergy in all campaigns achieving and maintaining complete Brand Name Recognition. • Non-Profit Fundraising Initiatives: Organized grassroots fundraisers around the country. Met with Major Donors to cultivate relationships and broaden funding reach. Generated new donors through careful cultivation of key relationships. Organized Fundraising events and donor tours to visit projects. Wrote many fundraising campaign strategies and crafted fundraising brochures and direct mail. Generated media around major initiatives and presented it to donors on an ongoing basis. Grant writing experience and some foundation outreach. WRITER/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR TELEVISION • As a Television WRITER/PRODUCER/DIRECTOR for over ten years: • Created high level informational videos for the Navy Chief of Information at the Pentagon; • Produced and directed a documentary for the US Navy at the 1996 NATO Summit in Belgium. • Created numerous documentaries, training videos, marketing videos, PSA’s and commercials for various Federal Agencies in and outside the Department of Defense. • While with the US Navy, I was Promoted to Head Writer to solve original scripting and structural problems; • Trained and Directed a staff of ten writers and editors on the key elements of documentary production; • Documentary Producer overseeing scripting, talent scouting, contract negotiations, scheduling shoots, edits and client viewings; • Managed the buying and selling of airtime for commercial sponsorships of numerous TV productions. Well versed in the use of NIELSEN and SCARBOROUGH rating systems. VIDEOGRAPHY/EDITING & SOUND • Hands on experience in all stages of T.V. — Video Production. • Working knowledge of all major makes and models of Cameras, Lighting and grip equipment. • Served as Lighting Director and Director of Photography • Innovative Editor, experienced with many different systems from the AVID Media Composer, Fast Machine and other non-linear edit systems. • National Press Photographer’s Association Videographer LEADERSHIP • Currently manage many different media campaigns for International Non-governmental organizations. • Recently appointed to the Board of The Microfinance for Youth Foundation in South Africa • Managed Media Departments for two International Non-Profit Organizations • Utilize Total Quality Management techniques. • While at Combat Camera, (US Navy), Schooled, Supervised and Evaluated Multi-Cultural Personnel for World-Wide Assignments; • Saved The Department of Defense thousands of dollars by developing and implementing a comprehensive, type-line training program to ensure maximum use of assets; • Managed Editorial Office and Training Program; • Worked with high-level Federal, State and Local Agencies. AWARDS • NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL for Writing, Directing, Shooting and Editing documentaries for the Largest nuclear weapons accident/exercise ever Staged; • NAVY ACHIEVEMENT MEDAL for writing, producing and editing a documentary on the new naval Strategy, Post Cold-War Era for the Chief of Information at the Pentagon. • NATIONAL ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES, Best News/Sports/Information piece, Writer/Producer/Director for AHL (Minor League Hockey) Documentary. 1995 EDUCATION • Graduate of SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY’S prestigious NEWHOUSE SCHOOL OF COMMUNICATIONS ON FULL SCHOLARSHIP through the U.S. NAVY. Studied Broadcast Journalism and Television, Radio and Film. May 1995-MMMSP. • NATIONAL PRESS PHOTOGRAPHER’S TELEVISION NEWS Workshop as a SHOOTER/EDITOR. March 1996 • TCI Media Services, “PERSONAL SELLING SKILLS.” 1998 • US Naval Schools of Photography for TV & Video Production. 1991 • US Naval Schools of Photography for Photography. 1988 • Intimately familiar with Cision & Vocus Professional Media Tools References Sam Daley-Harris, Director, Microcredit Summit Campaign (202) 390-0012 samdharris@microcreditsummit.org Maude Barlow Board Chair Food & Water Watch Sr. Advisor to United Nations General Assembly President on Water (613) 882-4487 mbarlow8965@rogers.com Thaddeus Pennas VP, Edelman Public Relations, (646) 578-0915 (212) 642-7742 Thaddeus.pennas@edelman.com Lynn McMullen Executive Director, The Peace Alliance (360) 791-2857 Lynn@thepeacealliance.org Scott Cullen Executive Director, GRACE Foundation (631) 238-5033 (516) 428-0034 (212) 726-9161 Jensine Larsen Founder & CEO World Pulse Media (503) 309-8999 jensine@worldpulse.com

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