Experience

My work experience is a glimpse into 20 years of team work, listening, learning, professional growth, responsibilities and accomplishments. My “job” experiences come together to create a compassionate, committed communicator who has been around the block a few times. Every trip around the block, I pick up new tools, new strategies, new knowledge that feeds a growth mindset and propels me into my next opportunity.

What you won’t see on my resume. The people, clients, co-workers,  team members, stakeholders – they may not be listed specifically, but they contributed to the professional that I am today. I truly believe a rising tide lifts all ships. . . and I see every professional connection as an opportunity to listen, learn and uplift. I believe if we combine trust with a growth mindset and a community of determined professionals – anything is possible.

When it comes to working with my clients – it means I’m going to learn everything I can about you, your constituents, your stakeholders, your goals – so that I can pull up a chair at your table and serve you in a way that adds value and gumption to whatever we’re working on together.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Owner, Writer, Web Specialist
BIDWELL-CLARKE COMMUNICATIONS
January 2008 – Present

Most recent work 2022-2023

Work prior to 2022:

  • Write content for Metro Parks Tacoma volunteer newsletter, At the Park
  • Write newsletter content and press releases for the City of Federal Way
  • Develop communication plan for the Port of Tacoma
  • Write feature articles for the Washington Farm Bureau
  • Copy editing and PR advising for ChamberMax
  • Assist Tacoma Public Utilities with transition to new Web site
  • Write press releases, develop media lists for The Bear Creek School
  • Speech writing for the Mayor of Tacoma and the City Manager for conventions, groundbreakings and celebrations
  • Develop new navigation/information architecture and wrote Web content for three City of Tacoma Web sites: Surface Water, Solid Waste and Wastewater
  • For more detailed examples of work, please see my portfolio and my client list

Founder and Owner
RAMONA ROSE CO Boutique
November 2015 – 2022

A Pacific Northwest online boutique specializing in products created by small businesses – especially those in the Pacific Northwest

  • Daily operation of a boutique serving thousands of customers nationwide – totaling more than $2 million in retail sales
  • Source and manage inventory and products from small businesses, especially those based in the Northwest
  • Receive, process and ship products nationwide to customers
  • Conduct Facebook Live events to connect with customers (and sell inventory)
  • Grow and manage Ramona Rose Facebook group community with nearly 10,000 members
  • Grow and manage Ramona Rose Co Facebook page with 4,000+ followers
  • Stock and manage vintage retail space in downtown Olympia at Courtyard Antiques – featuring vintage and secondhand inventory
  • Style, set-up for in-person live sales at local vintage fairs
  • Compile and file monthly B&O/Excise tax returns

Founder and Editor
QUEENBEETODAY.COM
October 2009 – Present

A website designed to help people be good stewards of their time and money. 

  • Daily blog posts on the topic of saving money at QueenBeeToday.com with 2 million page views since 2009
  • Grow and manage Queen Bee Today Facebook page with reach of 182,000 people
  • Grow and manage daily Queen Bee newsletter to 7,000+ recipients
  • Grow and manage Queen Bee Today Instagram account with reach of 2,400+
  • Grow and manage Queen Bee Today Pinterest page with 21.4K followers and 226.2K monthly views
  • Grow and manage Queen Bee Today Twitter with 3,401 followers
  • Build brand partnerships with Northwest and Nationwide brands – including but not limited to – Amazon.com, International Delight, Fred Meyer (Kroger), Black Friday FM, Papa Murphys, Skamania Lodge, DreamCloud, Safeway, Lucerne, Silverwood Theme Park, Evolution Fresh, Disney, Adrift hotel, more

Tacoma/Pierce County HOV Program Communications Manager
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
June 2006 – December 2007

Managed communications for $1.4 billion transportation program consisting of 22 projects:

  • Member of the senior management team responsible for program delivery
  • Advised management team on information needs of the legislature, media and public
  • Supervised two full-time employees and part-time consultants
  • Monitored and tracked communications budget and delivery of work products

Managed all public outreach/involvement and media relations:

  • Developed strategic communication and public outreach plans for each project in design
  • Served as principal contact for all media inquiries
  • Compiled extensive program stakeholder database
  • Served as lead for publications, Web site updates and other informational pieces

Managed internal communications efforts:

  • Developed internal communication plan for 125+ program employees
  • Created internal newsletter, facilitated internal partnering meetings and conducted monthly all staff meetings

Interactive Communications (Web Team)
WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
November 2004 – June 2006

  • Wrote human-interest stories for and about WSDOT employees for statewide intranet site that reached 6,500 WSDOT employees.
  • Taught Content Management System (CMS) training course to WSDOT employees and consultants
  • Helped develop WSDOT Web Manual
  • Updated statewide external home page as needed based on news priorities
  • Served as liaison and resource for nearly 300 Web content providers
  • Assisted WSDOT communicators with OneDOT messaging, Web usability, technical questions
  • On-call for emergency Web updates

Community Relations Specialist: Employee Communication/Special Events
CITY OF TACOMA
January 2004 – November 2004

Managed employee communication for more than 2,300 City employees

  • Wrote and distributed weekly employee newsletter that I transformed from a print piece to an interactive Web site
  • Wrote and distributed special edition employee news for breaking news or sensitive issues
  • Wrote letters and speaking points from the City Manager directed to employees

Managed city-sponsored special events

  • City of Destiny Awards: Managed citizen committee, planned logistics, wrote video/speaking scripts, created and mailed invitations and nomination forms for awards program that honors community volunteers
  • Bank to Bay Fun Run: Served with community and City executives on both marketing and general event committees for an event that brings nearly 3,000 people to Tacoma each year

Other responsibilities

  • Served simultaneously as Media Relations Specialist for six months until position was filled

Community Relations Specialist: External and Media Relations (Interim)
CITY OF TACOMA
October 2003 – December 2003

Managed all external communication under the direction of the Community Relations Supervisor

  • Wrote and distributed weekly news advisory and press releases
  • Wrote and designed City “Best of 2003” Web publication
  • Wrote speeches for Mayor, City Council and department directors, many times with short notice and little background information
  • Updated City home page with news headlines and photographs
  • Assisted with Town Hall Meetings
  • Led the effort to implement AccessLine, a telephone messaging system for citizens

Community Relations Assistant: Environmental Services
CITY OF TACOMA
June 2002 – October 2003

Provided marketing and public relations support to Environmental Services Community Relations

  • Webmaster for Environmental Services Web pages
  • Wrote articles for EnviroTalk, a quarterly newsletter distributed to 52,000 households
  • Wrote articles for award-winning 2001 and 2002 Environmental Services Annual Reports
  • Co-designed and implemented an award-winning public education effort, “Mercury Matters:”
  • Designed logo, Web structure and Web content for Tacoma Services, a Web site for utility customers to pay utility bills online, request City services and many other customer tools (no longer used)
  • Provided support to the EnviroChallenger program, the City’s environmental education program
  • Designed award-winning Web site that includes an online scheduling option for teachers
  • Created basic design structure for educational environmental website for kids (no longer exists)
  • Coordinated nearly 1,000 EnviroChallenger lessons for Tacoma teachers, grades K-5

EDUCATION

Pacific Lutheran University
BA, Communications and Public Relations, 1998 – 2002
Minor in Business/Marketing

I’m also a mom of two amazing kids (12- and 15-years old) and a wife to a hard-working devoted public school teacher. I live on a quaint corner lot near downtown Olympia, Washington in a house built in 1890. When I’m not working, you’ll find me gardening (weeding, really), corralling my five backyard chickens, porch sitting with my friends/family, and stocking my Little Free Library for my neighbors. I’m ridiculously obsessed with my two dogs and I love antiquing, cooking from scratch, and traveling.

In fact, I love traveling so much that back in 2015 we sold everything and moved into an Airstream to travel the United States for nearly 18 months – I shared about it at TakeThatExit.com – it was one of the scariest and most fulfilling things I’ve ever done in my life. You’ll find I’m not scared to do big things. If I believe in it – I’ll find a way to make it happen.