JEFF HILLERY

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

 Strategic planning and research; branding and positioning

 Writing, editing, content development and messaging; expertise in communicating
complex information in a clear, concise manner
 Spokesman
 Cultivation of media contacts, story pitching and placement
 Web content and social media messaging; photography and video production
 Experienced in managing team communications plans

EXPERIENCE

Deputy Director of Communications, Texas Attorney General - 7/16-8/19

 Planned, developed and implemented communications strategies and tactics to increase

positive news coverage, improve public sentiment. Supervised staff (15).

 Developed and wrote internal/external content: Press releases, speeches, talking points,
statements, op-eds, correspondence, PSAs, video scripts, web and intranet content,
along with the attorney general’s monthly newsletter to 4,200 employees.

 Managed and crafted social media messaging. Oversaw photography and video
production.

 Worked closely with the graphics department and the office’s attorneys across 38
divisions and 117 offices on writing and editing brochures, infographics, conference
materials and annual reports – ensuring consistency with branding, voice and style
guidelines.

 Prepared messaging and communications materials ahead of lawsuits, court decisions

and anticipated news cycles.

 Cultivated working relationships with state and national reporters. Handled crisis
communications and responded to media inquiries.

 Advised executives and attorneys prior to and during media interviews.

 Provided media relations support for the attorney general at press conferences,
speaking engagements and appearances. Collaborated with peer agencies, the
governor’s office, legislative offices and the White House on special projects.

 Collaborated with the office’s executive team and all division chiefs on the 2019
redesign of www.texasattorneygeneral.gov.

 Served as lead on key PR campaigns: Human trafficking awareness training video;

website to help Texans combat opioid abuse; and the shutdown of Backpage.com, the
most notorious human trafficking website in the world.

 Provided content and messaging to the political campaign side as an independent

contractor.
Senior Communications Specialist, CPRIT - 11/14-7/16

 Brought in by the CEO to jump-start the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of
Texas’ communications efforts following the state agency’s one-year shutdown due to
legal problems.

 Worked closely with CPRIT’s CEO and top-level executives to plan, develop and
implement all communications strategies and tactics.

 Crafted overall messaging: Statements, FAQs, social media posts, talking points,
speeches, legislative PowerPoint presentations, internal communications and website
content. Wrote and edited press releases, media advisories, achievement reports,
conference programs and annual reports. Conveyed complex scientific and medical
information in understandable language.

 Conducted grantee interviews for promotional purposes. Shot and edited photos and
videos. Worked with agency staff and grantees, CPRIT’s oversight committee, legislative
offices, elected officials, CPRIT advocates and outside vendors to plan and fulfill
communications needs and projects.

 Responded to media inquiries, open records requests and crisis situations. Agency
spokesman.

 Directed high-level planning and coordination of all media events, including press tours,
press conferences and CPRIT’s annual conference. Hired and managed vendors for
various CPRIT communications projects.

Deputy Director of Communications, Texas Secretary of State - 10/13-11/14

 Planned and implemented major statewide voter ID education and voter registration
campaigns and tours.

 Wrote and distributed press releases, media advisories and op-eds. Planned and
executed major public events around the state, including policy rollouts, press
conferences, speeches and county voter registrar office visits. Served as media contact
and spokesperson for the agency.

 Chief speechwriter for Secretaries of State John Steen and Nandita Berry.

 Managed and crafted social media messaging for two Twitter accounts, a Facebook
page, and Instagram and YouTube accounts.

 Provided content for the agency’s website and VoteTexas.gov.

 Served as an agency spokesman. Answered media inquiries on election, business and

border issues.

Communications Director, Texas Senator Joan Huffman - 6/12-10/13

 Developed and executed strategic communication plans for Senator Joan Huffman (R-
Houston) as her first communications director.

 Wrote news releases, media advisories, social media messages, talking points,
 statements, and op-eds. Conveyed complex issues and legislation in understandable
language.

 Maintained Sen. Huffman’s Senate webpage.

 Established close working relationships with local, state and national media, and
political bloggers. Scheduled and coordinated interviews and news conferences.
Shot/edited photos and videos. Maintained relationships with elected officials,
legislative aides, state agencies, district constituents and political groups.

 Handled campaign communications projects (newsletters, speeches, news releases,

social media, and campaign website) as an independent contractor.

Communications Director, Texas Senate Republican Caucus - 1/13-10/13

 Concurrent with state Senate position, crafted internal and external communications for
the 19 senators who comprised the Texas Senate Republican Caucus. Worked closely
with political consultant on messaging.

Executive Producer, Fox News Channel, New York City - 6/06-6/12

 Directed talent, content and overall production of Fox News Radio’s nationally
syndicated talk programs.

 Generated news coverage and brand awareness through strategic pitches, news
releases (AP style), email blasts, and distribution of newsworthy audio and video
content (via YouTube and web links).

 Developed, wrote and produced web content, social media messaging, promo copy and
imaging. Devised strategies to increase website traffic and grow both Twitter and
Facebook followers. Shot and edited photos and videos (Final Cut Pro). Wrote monthly
affiliate e-newsletter. Worked closely with book publishers, U.S. Senate and House
offices, and major PR firms assessing potential stories and guests. Coached talent for on-
air performance and media interviews.

 Established strong media contacts, placing numerous stories about Fox radio shows in
trade publications, traditional (network news, New York Times, Washington Post) and
online (Drudge, Politico, The Hill) media. Landed cover of Talkers Magazine for Brian
Kilmeade.

 Spearheaded cross-promotional opportunities with the Fox News Channel to heighten

awareness of the Fox talk radio brand.

 Devised creative promotions and contests on the website, Facebook and Twitter to help
grow online listener community database by 53% from 2011 to 2012.

Program Director, Talk Radio 570 KLIF-AM, Dallas - 7/2000-6/06

 Provided change management on the rebuilding, rebranding and repositioning of the

station.

 Developed and directed programming, promotions, marketing, production and media

relations strategies. Spearheaded market research (including interpretation,
 presentation and implementation). Planned/maintained budgets. Negotiated contracts
with talent and outside vendors.

 Handled internal and external communication on all programming-related matters.

Developed and wrote news releases, bios, promotional copy, imaging, daily unity e-
mails, text messaging, direct marketing, TV commercials, billboard campaigns, PSAs,
website content, e-newsletters and a quarterly magazine. Oversaw database
management. Provided team leadership and training for staff of 15.

o Developed and managed numerous creative promotions, contests and station events
that enhanced KLIF’s image and generated hundreds of thousands of dollars in
nontraditional sales revenue. My strategic news releases and story pitches resulted
in an unprecedented amount of local and national media coverage for KLIF.

o Organized news conferences and handled media requests. Company spokesman.

Recipient of Susquehanna Radio’s annual company-wide Creative Award.

o My PR, programming, promotional and marketing strategies more than doubled

KLIF’s cume (total weekly 12+ audience) and TSL (time spent listening), while
tripling the overall ratings. KLIF went from losing $1 million annually to earning
more than $3 million a year in sales revenue.

o Successfully negotiated a market exclusive deal for the Fox News Channel brand,
along with a cross-promotional partnership with local Fox 4 News. Conceived and
organized outreach programs with a variety of civic, community, school and non-
profit groups (USO, Dallas and Fort Worth ISDs, Tarrant County Food Bank and the
American Red Cross).

Other Relevant Experience

 Segment producer and field producer, “Two On The Town," a weekly half-hour
magazine show with Connie Chung and Steve Edwards on KCBS-TV/L.A.

 As Operations Manager for Amaturo Broadcasting in Santa Rosa, California, I

inherited four struggling radio stations losing $800,000 annually. Managing a staff of
75, I helped create the market’s most listened-to and profitable group in the North
Bay. Properties sold in 2000 for the highest price ever paid for any California media
property north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

 News director, morning news anchor and reporter, KJMZ-FM, Dallas. Won UPI-Texas
awards for writing (best newscast) and feature.

 Producer and writer of sports reports for “News At Ten,” KTLA/L.A. Won CAPTRA
(California AP TV-Radio Award) for best local TV sports segment.

 Sports and feature writer, Santa Monica (Calif.) Evening Outlook and Harte Hanks
newspapers (Dallas).

 Sports Information Director, West Los Angeles College. Researched and wrote media
guides for basketball and football teams. Wrote news releases and feature stories.
Media liaison.
EDUCATION
BA in liberal studies from California State University, Northridge.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Member, Arts and Culture Board, City of Georgetown, Texas. Voting judge for National
Association of Broadcasters (NAB) annual Marconi awards. Regional coordinator of judging for
International Radio Festival of New York awards.