Robert C. Owen
4029 Castlebridge Lane, Lexington, KY 40509, Ph (606) 325-8389 Fax (606) 325-2389

December 1998 to Present Owen Communications / Learning Through Laughter

• Marketing Analysis

• Advertising

• Public Relations

• Media Relations

• Meeting Facilitating (Strategic plans, economic development, downsizing, product development)

• Communications Reorganization

• Crisis Management

• Humorous motivational keynote addresses

• Training Workshops

January 2000 to August 2002 Shawnee State University

Executive Director of University Advancement – Newly created position responsible for public relations, marketing, government relations and public affairs, resource development, printing and graphics, and admissions.

• Developed marketing strategy for the university and expanded efforts to regional and national focus

• Created regional and local advertising campaigns

• Developed a crisis management program and media strategy

• Instituted a marketing analysis to better define admissions and retention efforts

• Developed a Speaker’s Bureau

• Expanded printing department to four-color process

• Developed a community relations

• Developed strategy for alumni development

• Centralized campus marketing and advertising efforts

April 1984 to December 1998 Ashland Inc., a Fortune 500 Company

Manager – Corporate Community Relations (1994) – Responsible for development and integration of corporate public relations and community relations activities; development of corporate Speaker’s Bureau. Developed and coordinated corporate activities with media and public relations representatives, as well as national associations, industry trade groups, chambers of commerce and other organizations. Organized corporate outreach and education programs.

• Developed and executed promotional activities for an award-winning, six-state environmental cleanup program. The River Sweep began in 1989 and has expanded to the Ohio River and eight tributaries. Responsibilities included recruiting businesses for financial support, recruiting volunteers, and arranging a series of news conferences announcing the annual event. The Sweep now attracts more than 22,000 volunteers.

• Developed local, state and national projects for Ashland Inc. in support of education, which was made a corporate priority in the early 1980s. Educational emphasis included dropout prevention, school-to-work, and teacher recognition.

• Developed the corporate Speaker’s Bureau. Responsibilities included not only making presentations and conducting workshops, but recruiting employees as presenters. Personally made national and regional presentations for Ashland Inc.

Manager, Regional Public Relations Corporate Communications Department (1991) – Responsible for planning and implementing external communications programs.

• Developed media strategy for special projects, as well as day-to-day activities

• Developed and executed full-scale public relations campaigns for company programs

• Researched, wrote and distributed news releases/news advisories

• Responded to media inquiries concerning all aspects of the company and its divisions

• Arranged and conducted news conferences

• Presented programs on crisis communications and company programs

Manager, Corporate Advertising (1988) – Responsible for managing and administering corporate education campaign; liaison with external creative agency; developing supplemental educational programs; writing and presenting speeches.

• Created and developed print and broadcast advertising for a four-state campaign: Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Minnesota. As the program expanded, responsibilities included managing advertising agency involvement.

• Created and developed educational programs, including “Day on Campus” program in Kentucky and West Virginia, which promoted students staying in school; and “Recipes for Self-Esteem,” daily activities building student self-esteem, given to 3,000 teachers in four states.

Senior Advertising Representative, Corporate Advertising (1984) – Responsibilities included developing advertisements for corporate education campaign; creating brochures, broadcast and print advertisements and developing other promotional plans for several Ashland Inc. Divisions.

March 1979 to April 1984 Blue Grass Automobile Club

Public Relations Manager

• Developed and executed public relations programs, media relations and advertising; edited AAA member publications; developed multimedia programs; and served as a lobbyist for state transportation issues.

• Developed a complete public relations program and strategy to create regional awareness of the Blue Grass Automobile Club and worked on developing member services.

• Developed public relations function to compliment its sales efforts and member services.

• Developed and executed innovative publicity campaign, including a No-Proof Mix Off at Christmas in which bartenders competed to create nonalcoholic drinks and a public breathalyzer demonstration to show the effects of alcohol.

• Developed public policy issues strategy and began state legislative lobbying. Developed the AAA Traffic Network which provided traffic condition reports twice daily.

• Edited the AAA monthly magazine, developed multimedia program for public presentation and conducted news conferences.

1970 – 1979 Kentucky Utilities Company

Media Coordinator – Responsible for advertising and media relations. Directed advertising agencies in creating advertising concepts and executing their development; handled daily news media inquiries; and edited consumer publication. Editor, Employee News Responsible for writing, layout and photography for the monthly employee magazine.

1969-1970 Council of State Governments

Public Information Associate – Responsible for writing and editing quarterly newsletters for affiliated associations and preparing news releases on special reports. The Council is an organization supported by all states to research and issue reports on governmental concerns.

1968-1969 Cynthiana Democart and Shelby Sentinel

News Editor, Newspapers Inc. – Wrote stories concerning local and regional news, developed feature articles and took all photographs.

Education

University of Kentucky; BS Journalism, 1968