Steven D. Smith

Experience

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  WIUX 99.1 FM Bloomington, Indiana

  Dec 2006 - May 2010

  Sports Broadcaster

  I created and hosted a weekly sports talk show focused on Indiana University sports, and other collegiate and professional sports from around the world. Researched weekly issues and stats, then organized into a coherent radio format in order to write a script for an hour long talk show. I also broadcasted Indiana University Varsity football, basketball, and soccer games.

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  Interfraternity Council of Indiana University

  Jan 2009 - Dec 2009

  Director of Recruitment Publicity

  Created and executed the publicity campaign for the 2008 Spring and 2009 Fall formal recruitment which generated the largest Fall (2009) recruitment attendance in Greek History at Indiana University. Managed the budget for the publicity committee of IFC and served on Presidents council creating policy for the Greek community of Indiana University.

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  Valassis Communications

  Jun 2009 - Aug 2009

  Sales and Marketing Intern

  Worked on the Valassis - Procter & Gamble Sales/Strategy team to analyze and create strategy reports for 2010 coupon planning with the P&G brandSaver coupon books. Organized secondary data from 2009 brandSaver into a structured database in order to cross-reference with sales records and make strategic recommendations for 2010 direct mail campaign. I shadowed associates to learn the Valassis advertising and media operations across different clients and retailers in order to better understand general business practices and operations. Show less

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  U.S. House of Representatives

  Apr 2011 - Jan 2020

  Communications Director for Congressman French Hill (AR-02). Senior advisor on communications strategy, press relations, and strategic brand management. Created and implemented integrated brand strategy: “Arkansas’s Reliable, Voice of Reason” focused on increasing name ID in Little Rock, AR suburbs. Resulted in year-over-year increases: Facebook Page “likes” +16.5%, Twitter followers +56.9%, local news coverage +11.5%. Guided communications plan for launch of House FinTech Task Force, House Artificial Intelligence Task Force, and House Entrepreneurship Caucus. Acted as official Spokesman, speech writer, and media liaison for all press inquiries including pitching and booking local, national, and DC-based interviews including Morning Joe, Squawk Box, and Washington Journal. Managed $20K annual media budget for Facebook ads, print materials, and franked mail. Show less Served as Communications Director for Representative Ed Royce of California. Senior advisor on communications strategy, press relations, and strategic brand management. Acted as official Spokesman and media liaison for all press inquiries including pitching and booking local, national, and DC-based interviews. Managed $65,000 annual media budget including forecasting for digital campaigns, print materials, and franked mail. Designed all print materials in-House, saving office over $10,000. Completed overhaul of previous website while incorporating new logos and branding strategies aimed at building local constituent engagement. Designed all graphics, logos, and videos for all official Congressional work using Adobe Creative Suite. Show less Served as Communications Director and Spokesman for Congressman Paul Gosar of Arizona. Combining my background in advertising, politics and policy, I built a unique political brand for Congressman Gosar that reflects the values and priorities of Arizona's 4th Congressional district. I managed all official social media strategies and press relations. Additionally, I designed (in-house) all graphics and logos for all official Congressional work. During my time as Communications Director the total reach of Rep. Gosar's official Facebook page has increased by 594% over the previous year, and increased total twitter engagement by 12%. Show less I served as a Staff Assistant in Speaker John Boehner's leadership office in the US Capitol Building. I supported the policy team by attending legislative hearings and briefings on various issues, including finance and healthcare, in order to create summary reports used for policy research. I helped organize and log constituent hard mail and faxes using Intranet Quorum software. I assisted with supervising special guests with the Speakers leadership staff for the 2013 State of the Union address. I also operated a phone line to answer constituent questions in the leadership office communication center. Show less I served as Staff Assistant and Legislative Correspondent for Congresswoman Jean Schmidt (OH-2) in her Washington DC office on Capitol Hill. My responsibilities included supporting the office with the handling of constituent relations and the tracking, record keeping, facilitation, research and response to legislative letters, e-mails, faxes and telephone calls. I coordinated with research staff, and have aided with research on policy, including agriculture, foreign affairs, and transportation and infrastructure issues. In May of 2011 I created and implemented a new constituent connection system named “Pulse of the Constituents” in order to improve the relationship between constituents of Ohio’s 2nd district and the Congresswoman. Show less

  • Communications Director

    Jan 2019 - Jan 2020

  • Communications Director

    May 2017 - Jan 2019

  • Communications Director

    Jun 2014 - May 2017

  • Legislative Correspondent

    May 2013 - Jun 2014

  • Staff Assistant

    Jan 2013 - May 2013

  • Legislative Correspondent

    Apr 2011 - Jan 2013
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  Team Ohio

  Oct 2012 - Nov 2012

  Volunteer

  Campaigned with Team Ohio in 12 different cities across the state of Ohio for the final 9 days of the 2012 presidential election for Governor Mitt Romney and various other Ohio candidates.

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  House Republican Conference

  Jan 2020 - Mar 2021

  National Press Secretary

  National Press Secretary for House Republican Conference Chairwoman Liz Cheney. Senior staffer on the Conference Communications Team responsible for crafting and coordinating messaging strategy for the 200+ members of the House GOP Conference. Acted as official Spokesman and media liaison for all Wyoming press inquiries including drafting statements, press releases, and message guidance for Rep. Liz Cheney. Developed a daily newsletter for Wyoming constituents at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic to promote resources and guidance for preventing spread of coronavirus. Managed social media accounts for Rep. Liz Cheney resulting in a 33.2% increase in Twitter followers and a 9.3% increase in Facebook followers. Show less

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  The Herald Group

  May 2021 - now

  • Vice President

    Jan 2023 - now

  • Senior Director

    May 2021 - Feb 2023