About Me

HI, I’m Ben.

I am a strategic communicator who helps organizations move from vision to execution.

I love communication. Turns out I love strategic planning and execution, too.

My career began in communication production- graphic design, web design, photography, and video. As I learned more about public relations, advertising, and social media, I have been able to think more strategically and broadly about the communications I craft.

In my work at Washington State University, I was responsible for the university’s strategic plan. I found a passion for processes and execution that brings transparency and results.

What sets me apart today is the balance I bring: I can think strategically with leadership and then roll up my sleeves to build the pieces that move the plan forward. My focus is always on clarity, creativity, and results.

I’ve built my career at the intersection of creativity and strategy.

Each step of my career has built on the last—combining creativity, communication, and leadership.

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Strategic Communication

I have a strong foundation as a graphic and web designer, creating visuals and digital experiences with strong, clear messages. With broad understanding of advertising, public relations, and social media principles, I am able to build communication plans with strategies that are driven to produce results.

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Teaching

For 10 years, I taught university-level courses in design, advertising, social media, and web. Teaching kept me grounded in industry standards while giving me the opportunity to mentor and develop future professionals.

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Strategic planning & execution

At Washington State University, I facilitated systemwide planning processes, helping leadership define goals and move them into action. I specialized in execution and reporting—building dashboards, tracking progress, and working directly with leaders to keep strategies on course.

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MY SKILLS

I’ve grown from designer to strategist, building a wide range skills that bridge both worlds.

I’ve developed strengths that range from communication strategy and planning to creative design and media production. This breadth allows me to adapt, collaborate, and deliver results at every level.

Communication Production

Adobe Creative Cloud

InDesign, Illustrator, Photoshop, Lightroom, Premiere Pro

Microsoft Office

Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Teams

Web design & development

WordPress
CSS/HTML

Social media strategy & content

Hootsuite, Mailchimp, Meta

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Strategic Communications

Planning & Strategy
Communication Planning
Messaging
Stakeholder Engagement

Media & Channels
Public Relations
Advertising
Social Media Strategy & Content

Engagement
Public Speaking
Event Planning
Presentations

Strategic Planning

Strategic Planning
Development
Aligned & Integrated Planning
Processes
Stakeholder Engagement
Communication

Implementation
Processes
Dashboards
Executive Reports and Presentations
Software

Stakeholder Engagement

Environmental Scanning

Teaching

Instruction
Taught university courses in design, advertising, PR, social media, web, & public speaking.

Mentorship
Guided students and professionals through creative development, providing feedback, coaching, and support to help them grow.

Leadership
Planned and coordinated a 2 day conference, led creation of a student production suite, and set up additional student support services.

Experience you can measure. Skills you can see.

My career has given me the chance to wear many hats- designer, teacher, communicator, strategist- and each role has added to the skills and accomplishments I bring today. From mastering Adobe tools to leading systemwide strategic planning, I’ve learned how to balance creativity and execution in a way that drives real results.

years in communication and design

years teaching in higher ed

Facilitated implementation plans

Creative projects delivered

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Certifications and Awards

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Strategic Planning Institute

Society for College and University Planning (SCUP), 2023

– Completed all phases of SCUP’s Planning Institute, focused on integrated strategic planning, change management, and alignment best practices

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Oaks Academic Technology Teaching Award

Washington State University, April 2021

– Recognized for innovative use of technology to transform teaching and learning; nominated for leading the Murrow Adobe Lab’s virtual transition and expanded student support

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Honorable Mention- UCDA Design Awards

University & College Designers Association, 2023

– Honored for my website development for WSU’s Strategic Plan; recognized among top in-house digital design entries nationwide

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Comfort in Adobe Programs

  • InDesign 85% 85%
  • Illustrator 90% 90%
  • Photoshop 72% 72%
  • Premiere Pro 65% 65%
  • Lightroom 78% 78%

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