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Cindy Rodriguez

3411 Ashling Dr. ◆ Lakeland, FL 33803 ◆ (863) 698-8019 ◆ crodriguez@tampabay.rr.com

Profile Executive/Professional seeking career opportunity that facilitates contributing to organizational success through visionary leadership, strategic communication/public relations, public affairs, management and integrated teamwork. Exceptional skills have been honed through 30 plus years of successful executive level employment in both the public and private-sectors.

Areas of Expertise

Public Relations/Communication Proven expertise in crafting impactful public messages for a wide range of public/private industries (government,

agriculture, transportation and consumer services)

Adept at speechwriting, presentation development and converting technical writing or jargon into easily understood language for public consumption.

Strategic counselor – has demonstrated excellence in executive level strategic counsel to protect, maintain and/or enhance organizational image.

Skilled in developing/evaluating content and design for communications in all forms – brochures, direct mail, newsletters, presentations, press releases, fliers, social media distribution channels, websites and more.

Extensive, award-winning, experience in the government public information arena -- crafting communications plans/strategies for a wide range of public-sector initiatives including (but not limited to) various fee increases, ballot measures, legislative policy agendas, infrastructure development, transit/transportation, public utilities, conservation, waste/wastewater and recycling.

Programming and content development and oversight for cable access television station (PGTV)

Proven track record, in community outreach – employing the full gamut of communications tools/methods/distribution channels to accomplish meaningful two-way communications with various stakeholders (includes ballot initiatives; inaugural e-town hall and other large-scale communications efforts)

Brand development/management (including execution of re-branding campaigns)

Maintains relationships with other executive level public relations practitioners and counselors, statewide, via sustained membership and leadership in the Florida Public Relations Association.

Media Relations: Well-established working relationships with Central Florida media representatives (all genres) to gain positive media

exposure for organization/ initiatives and, to the greatest extent possible, minimize negative press.

Comprehensive understanding of Florida’s public records and Sunshine laws and proven track record of successfully working within the boundaries established in both.

“Go to” source for factual information and creative news opportunities.

Respected by media professionals. Attuned to their business model/deadlines. Consistently provide appropriate/timely responses and treat media representatives as true partners to achieve organizational goals.

Crisis Communications: • Led the county’s award-winning crisis communications efforts during/after the historic 2004 hurricane season when

the eyes of three major storms, Charley, Frances and Jeanne, all crossed directly over Polk—leaving widespread destruction in their wake.

Employed effective media relations/communications strategies to ensure that thousands of Polk residents got vital information about sheltering options, safe operation of generators, road and school closures, debris removal, potential health & safety risks and more.

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During recovery phase, delivered timely bi-lingual information about how to access much-needed assistance and where to turn for help. By including elected officials at all levels of government, city, county, state and federal in the communication loop, helped ensure seamless delivery of critical information and services to those in need.

Other crisis communication successes include communication during/after the 70-car pile-up on Interstate 4 during dense fog and successfully navigating through two major employee-related crises (overtime scam and employee threat)

Management:

Certified public manager who employs extensive management and systems analysis skills in meeting both organizational and client needs.

Proven track record in budget and project management (oversaw a $1.4 million budget at Polk County BoCC) systems analysis and process improvement.

Oversaw cable access television operations (PGTV).

Successfully supervised staff; conducted performance appraisals; coached and developed personnel to build a highly effective team that won local, statewide, national and international recognition.

Utilizes leadership to motivate others to be a part of the solution. Public Affairs:

Proven success in lobbying both the legislative and executive branch in the State of Florida.

Extensive background in public affairs/advocacy at all levels of government–city, county, state & federal.

Adept at working with elected officials, appointed officials senior staff, oppositions groups and community stakeholders to develop / advocate legislative policies.

Legislative bill analysis and monitoring expertise.

Developed successful strategies to advocate organizations’ position and deliver desired outcomes. Politically savvy lobbyist.

Worked hand in glove with legislative members/staff to identify acceptable compromises/craft amendment language to meet the needs of various stakeholders while positioning bills favorably for passage.

Provided testimony in legislative committee meetings on a variety of issues

Working knowledge of lawmaking rules and processes.

Successfully managed staff and contract lobbyists’ efforts primarily at State level but, to some extent, Federal level as well.

Maintains professional relationships with many members of the Florida legislature and with Florida’s U.S. Congressional members.

Maintains working relationships with local elected officials in several cities and counties. Sales/Marketing:

Experience spans several industries, including travel (20 years with a major airline), agriculture, manufacturing, service-related businesses, non-profits/professional associations and government,

Handles all aspects of sales/marketing including prospecting, qualifying customers, providing consultative services, sales and solution implementation. Proven closer.

Developed/implemented a variety of successful marketing/communications campaigns for employers/clients – raising product/service awareness and increasing the bottom line.

Professional appearance/demeanor coupled with comprehensive understanding of the organization’s/client’s over-arching business goals produced image-enhancing results while driving business/increasing customers.

Successfully conducted business development/fundraising campaigns for a number of special events and other organizational initiatives.

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Education/Training:

Responsible for development, coordination, delivery and oversight of comprehensive adult learning / education programs

Extensive background in sales, customer service, media and communications skills training.

Served as corporate trainer for Delta Air Lines – training all new hires in the Tampa reservations sales office, including approximately 200 former Eastern and Pan Am employees absorbed through corporate acquisitions/mergers.

Developed “train the trainer” programs, implementing them in Cincinnati, New York, Washington D.C., Dallas, and Salt Lake City.

Adept at identifying sales/customer service deficiencies, developing, presenting and evaluating correctional instructional materials.

Successful media coach – providing effective media training for every tier of the organization from the CEO to line workers and entry-level staff.

Developed effective educational programs for complex ballot measures.

Served as an instructor for Polk State Corporate College (early 2000s). Trained mining, hospitality, marketing, citrus, transportation and government-industry employees.

Award-winning innovative approaches and successful program outcomes have resulted in accolades across several industries.

Special Event Coordination: Adept at incorporating both creativity and attention to detail into special event planning and execution.

Successfully developed and executed hundreds of award-winning special events from small-scale, intimate occasions involving just a handful of participants to grand-scale events with thousands in attendance.

Experienced at delivering both something traditional and expected or way-outside-of- the- box- creative. Intrigued? Ask about the 3-D, interactive map created on the capitol courtyard in Tallahassee and the positive results the event achieved.

Employment History A-C-T ENVIRONMENTAL & INFRASTRUCTURE, INC., Bartow, FL – Communications/Marketing/Public Affairs Director 2010-current

POLK COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, Bartow, FL – Communications/Legislative Affairs Director 2004 –2010 Government Relations Coordinator/Public Information Specialist 2002 –2004

CREATIVE IMPACT CONSULTING, Lakeland, FL – Owner (marketing, public relations, advertising firm) 2000 –2002

POLK COMMUNITY COLLEGE, Lakeland/Winter Haven, FL – Adjunct Instructor (Continuing Workforce Education Division) 2000 –2002

LANIER WORLDWIDE, Lakeland, FL – Senior Sales Representative 1999 – 2000 MICRO FLO COMPANY, Lakeland, FL – Communications Director and Customer Service Operations Manager 1998 – 1999 (Agricultural crop protection products manufacturing company acquired and closed by BASF)

DELTA AIR LINES, Tampa, FL – Full time Reservations Sales/Customer Service Representative & part-time student 1993-1998 (completing degree in public relations at USF 1993-1997) Corporate Trainer/ Marketing video script writer 1987-1993

Reservations Sales/Customer Service Representative 1979-1987

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Affiliations and Community Involvement: Actively participates in community issues/problem-solving across a wide range of issues – working closely with local governments as well as private sector companies. Contributes (or has contributed) time/talent and leadership on the following boards and councils:

Central Florida Economic Development Council – Former Board Member

Community Southern Bank – Community Relations Advisory Board (Member)

Florida Government Communicators Association – Past President (2009/10)

Florida Public Relations Association (State) – Former V.P. of Chapter Services/V.P. of Professional Development

Florida Public Relations Association (Polk County Chapter) –Past President / Current Accreditation Chair

Leadership Bartow – Alumni Planning Committee (graduate of Leadership XII)

Polk Arts Alliance Board of Directors – Immediate Past President

Polk County Tourism/Sports Marketing – Arts/Culture/Heritage sub-committee

Polk Vision – Economic Development and Quality of Life Foundations

United Way of Central Florida – Community Health Advisory Committee – Past Marketing Chair Through current employer, holds membership and is actively involved in:

• Ridge League of Cities • Northeast Florida League of Cities • Florida Association of Counties • Polk Vision • Chambers of Commerce (Lakeland, Mulberry, Ft. Meade, Bartow, Winter Haven, Clay County)

Recognition/Commendations

• Communications Program Excellence Awards (30+) from multiple professional organizations (3CMA; FGCA; FPRA and more)

• All-America County designation (led Initiative – 2007) • 2008 Col. John Dillon PR Professional of the Year – Polk County Chapter of Florida Public Relations Association

(FPRA) • 2013 Chapter Member of the Year - Polk County Chapter of FPRA • Outstanding advocacy achievement recognition – Polk Arts Alliance (2013) • Additional letters of recommendation/commendation available upon request

Education/Certification:

A.A. – Music (Voice Performance major/piano minor) – Hillsborough Community College 1976 B.A. – Mass Communications/Public Relations – University of South Florida 1997 CPM – Certified Public Manager – Florida State University 2006