James Evans - Vigneron

Experience

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  Innerlight Surf & Skate

  Jan 1990 - Jan 1992

  General Manager
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  United States Air Force

  Jan 1990 - Jan 2000

  Public Affairs, Marketing and Communication Manager

  • Oversaw acquisition portfolios for communications and IT related programs in excess of $180M • Authored communication strategy and policy documents impacting all DoD personnel • Executed public relations and internal communications programs for multiple AF organizations • Chief knowledge manager; records management, lessons-learned documents, FOIA • Provided direct administrative leadership to organizations of up to 400 employees

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  Flora-Bama Lounge & Oyster Bar

  Jan 1991 - Jan 1992

  Bar Staff
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  Bud & Alley’s Waterfront Restaurants

  Jan 1998 - Jan 1999

  Server
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  Air Force Special Operations Command

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2001

  Director of Instructional Technology and Presentation Services; Joint Special Operations University

  • Developed requirements for LMS/SIS acquisition; integrated simulation tech into curriculum • Provided oversight of $3M IT portfolio; four discrete networked learning environments• Supervised audiovisual, multi-media and web services for 8K student campus

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  University of Tennessee

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2005

  Assistant Professor | Admissions Director

  • Directed the recruiting, education and training of 150 AFROTC students; $610K budget• Provided 500+ hours of lecture podium time; student assessment 10% higher than mean• Increased Dept enrollment by 100%; recruiting best-practices benchmarked nationally • 200+ speaking engagements; college & job fairs, parent orientations, community events • Twice rated “Outstanding” on AF Compliance Inspection; 2002 AFA Recruiter of the Year

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  Air National Guard

  Jan 2007 - Jan 2012

  Director of Public Affairs and Instructional Technology

  • Led creative team of 25/$4M budget; responsible for video production/broadcast operations • Program managed $2M commercial SATCOM contract; corp comm/training to 550K people• Steered $6M modernization of the DoD’s flagship broadcast facility • Produced daily Minuteman Report news break; aired 95x per day/120 countries/25M homes• Documented NG operations; B-roll to 500 media outlets; award-winning production/news• Launched social dashboard; aggregated conversation - 25M mentions p/month analyzed• Galvanized ANG Social Media; 2500+ strategic messages; 200% increase year to year • Directed mobile in-house production team; 20 national conferences & Inaugural Ball• Produced/broadcasted distance learning content--175K students reached Show less

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  Florida National Guard

  Jan 2012 - Jan 2017

  Director of Public Affairs

  • Directed Florida National Guard public affairs enterprise; 100 cross-functional professionals • Advised Governor & Adjutant General on strategic communication issues; spokesperson• Led successful media relations in five top-50 media markets; informed national debates• Published 950 articles; supported 800 community events reaching 20M Floridians• Unified digital properties; increased social engagement by 80%; award-winning blog• Planned First Muster events-component of St. Augustine's 450th Anniversary; 100K visitors• Chaired Communication Synchronization Board; recommended sr leader comm strategies• Senior Advisor on ANG Public Affairs Advisory Council; established national priorities Show less

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  United States Air Force

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2015

  Sr. Strategic Communication Advisor; HQ Air Force - Pentagon

  • Authored Air Force Congressional report; briefed Capitol Hill staffers, responded to Congressional queries and prepared the Secretary of the Air Force/ AF senior leaders for Congressional testimony • Senior strategic operations planner; managed a portfolio of 78 human capital initiatives aimed at better integrating the Air Force active and reserve components impacting 550,000 employees

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  United States Air Force Academy

  Jan 2015 - Jan 2017

  Associate Director of Communication & Marketing (Interim Director: Aug 2015- Jul 2016)

  • Served as the chief communication and marketing official for the #3 ranked public university• Member of the President’s executive leadership team; advised on national strategic issues • Established 100-person cross-disciplinary marketing office; Administered $3M+ budget • Emmy Award winning producer; Air Force Academy PSA earned 4 national awards• Delivered first-ever brand book, integrated marketing strategy & internal comm guide • Created crisis communication plan library; directed media engagements w/national outlets• Directed redesign/integration of all web properties; aligned with brand guide; responsive • Oversaw AF second largest social platform-550K followers; out-performed peer institutions • Social strategy increased followers by 35K/10 mos; 5M views in YouTube influencer campaign• Initiated Communication and Marketing Symposium – synched campus messaging strategies• Supported collegiate licensing office; policies protected national brands• Introduced thought leadership program; amplified core messages in global conversation• Published branded Visitor Guide; 1M visitors at Colorado’s #1 man-made attraction• Justified $3M historic planetarium renovation; STEM outreach centerpiece f/30K students• Architect of $500K broadcast studio upgrade; reoriented KAFA mission to support brand • Authored campus-wide digital signage masterplan; multi-year acquisition strategy Show less

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  The Air University

  Jan 2017 - Jan 2019

  Director of Finance and Administration

  • Provides fiduciary leadership, insight and direction of fiscal and human resource operations to five colleges and five academic research centers, executing annual budgets in excess of $40M• Drives institutional strategic planning processes, enabling learning of 32,000 students• Directs campus operations to including human resource, environmental health, safety, & facilities services

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  The Farmstead on Pullens Mill

  Jan 2019 - now

  Co-Farmer and Vigneron
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  Workpress Collectives

  Jan 2019 - now

  Founder
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  U.S. Census Bureau

  Jan 2019 - Jan 2020

  Senior Partnership Specialist
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  Farmstead Community Market

  Jan 2020 - now

  Proprietor
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  Wines in the Fork Tasting Room

  Jan 2020 - now

  Proprietor
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  Vintage Winery

  Jan 2020 - Jan 2022

  Proprietor
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  Farmstead Roots

  Jan 2022 - now

  Founder
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  Farmstead Cellar

  Jan 2022 - now

  Proprietor