Brian O'Neel

  • Communications Director
  • Lansing, MI, USA
  • Jan 02, 2024
Full time Communications Media-Journalism Public Relations Religious Education

Personal Summary

Repeated success within the communications and marketing sectors. Talent for writing, editing, publishing, media relations, branding, and design. Strong working knowledge of the Church and her teachings. Expert presenter and team leader and able to forge relationships with partners and build consensus across multiple organizational levels. Broad knowledge of political, religious, social, generational, and cultural trends and how to leverage these. Skilled in social media and SEO/SEM.

Work Experience

Deputy Press Secretary
Apr 2019 - Jan 2024 Office of the West Virginia Attorney General

Wrote and edited news releases, backgrounders, speeches, talking points, and op-eds, some of which got the highest rate of media response possible. Wrote scripts and used PowerDirector to produce weekly consumer minute videos that aired on several stations because of my outreach and persuasion. Built a huge national media database that was used to garner coverage by globally recognized news organizations. Posted on and increased the number of our social media channels. Ran the office in the press secretary’s absence. Used Mailchimp and Photoshop.

Director of Publicity
Sep 2015 - Jan 2016 Syndicate Strategies

Wrote news releases, marketing copy, scripts, testimonials, presentations, and copy for SEO and SEM, Google Ads, Facebook Ads, Twitter, websites, and other social media platforms; to leverage our client’s marketing efforts and promote their brands, interacted with and pitched the media on stories. Created publicity briefs and media plans and implemented them. Participated in semi-weekly brainstorming sessions, including several centering on a very complicated app for a client. Proofed communications of president and vice president for Business Development. Helped prepare and present presentations to clients and helped develop their marketing plans and strategies.

Director of Communications
Feb 2014 - Aug 2015 Diocese of Santa Rosa in California

Produced, wrote for, edited, and published the monthly newspaper. Wrote news releases. Dealt with news media and other audiences, both internal and external. Advised leadership on media strategy. Managed website and social media platforms. Helped other departments with their communications efforts. Expanded and managed website and social media. Directed the change in format for the organization’s monthly publication from a magazine with little local or universal coverage to a newspaper with comprehensive coverage, which produced a uniformly positive reception. Managed a team of designers and freelancers to produce an outstanding publication each and every month.

Education

Bachelor's of Arts, English
Sep 1985 - Jan 1990 California State University, Fullerton

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