Danny Blanton

Experience

• 

  Mississippi Military Department

  Jan 1998 - Jan 2007

  Public Affairs Officer

  • Managed command information products produced and disseminated from the Public Affairs Office.• Wrote and edited text for printed publications, scripts for radio and television production, advertising copy, news releases, brochures, speeches, and other presentations.• Developed executive communications for the Adjutant General to include speeches, presentations, and opinion pieces.• Served as Editor-in-Chief of Guard Detail magazine.• Served as the senior editor for written material produced for the mass media and many military publications.• Planned the homecoming celebration for the 155th Brigade Combat Team as the soldiers returned from Iraq, the veteran’s memorial in downtown Jackson and other special events.• Represented Public Affairs on various committees throughout the Mississippi National Guard and National Guard Bureau.• Established and maintained close working relationship with representatives of various civic, media, veterans, and community groups, as well as state and local government officials and defense contractors.• Wrote bill summaries, legislative resolutions and proclamations, and tracked legislation on military issues. Show less

• 

  Entergy

  Jan 2007 - Jul 2010

  Manager, Nuclear Communications

  • Interfaced with media representatives, administrators, and staff to generate positive attention for Entergy Nuclear Service, Inc.• Oversaw the strategic, timely, accurate, and effective production and dissemination of materials about the company to all internal and external audiences.• Developed speeches and presentations for nuclear executives.• Served in senior leadership role at Entergy Nuclear, managing communications, including personnel, budgets and projects, at four nuclear plants in three states.• Provided editorial leadership and direction for four site communications specialists. Worked with the team of specialists to develop original story ideas and assignments to generate support for the company.• Set staff priorities based on departmental policies and initiatives.• Developed and coordinated strategic communications plans to support internal and external communications and marketing initiatives.• Planned and implemented numerous special events/projects, including all-employee meetings at 11 nuclear plants in seven states.• Working with the Nuclear Energy Institute, developed and implemented a program to advance the renaissance of nuclear energy nationwide.• Worked with outside vendor to create video and print collateral for all-employee meetings.• Served as spokesperson for nuclear-related media queries and represented the company with presentations and speeches.• Streamlined outage communications at each of the sites and coached the site communicators to become more proactive, creative and effective in their communications efforts and increased customer satisfaction scores increased from 3.1 to 4.1 among site vice presidents. Show less

• 

  NATO Training Mission - Afghanistan

  Dec 2010 - Aug 2012

  Advisor to the Afghan Ministry of Defense

  • Developed organizational capability to conduct strategic communications operations, including long and short term planning and budget and supply execution.• Assisted the Minister of Defense and Chief of Staff of the Afghan Armed Forces in development of speeches, presentations, and opinion/editorial submissions to local, regional, and international audiences.• Trained, advised, and worked with the Ministry of Defense (MoD) to develop and publish long-term strategic communication plans, event-specific Public Affairs Goals, and written Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) and policies regarding communications efforts, media relations, community relations and humanitarian aid.• Trained, advised and worked with the MoD to develop, publish and continually update media relations plans with specific goals and timelines.• Advised and coached the MoD to develop effective relationships with Afghan and international media; established credentialing system; facilitated and streamlined media engagements by providing a written example of an SOP for working with the media.• Formalized a written SOP for all public affairs operations, including the news release process, conducting press conferences: solo and joint with other government agencies and the coalition, to include engaging and preparing appropriate MoD subject matter experts to speak with the media; and responding in a timely fashion to media queries.• Trained, advised, and worked with the MoD to develop and publish an updated community relations plan that was continually updated and assessed.• Trained, advised, and worked with the MoD to publicize and promote humanitarian aid missions and other community outreach programs. Show less

• 

  University of Mississippi

  Aug 2012 - Feb 2016

  Director of Communications

  • Manage a staff of 15 public relations professionals, to include communications specialists, social media, web presence and videography.• Expanded the department to include a robust video team to produce marketing and documentary videos, a social media team that has received national recognition and a graphic design specialist to produce infographics and digital marketing.• Transformed the public relations department into a strategic communications vehicle, increasing the earned media rate from 3 percent to 24 percent within the first six months.• Serve as chief spokesperson and the lead for crisis communications for the university• Provide assistance to the Office of the Chancellor for executive communications, talking points, press conferences, and video presentations.• Manage communications campaigns for university initiatives.• Received numerous awards, including selection as a finalist for a Silver Anvil Award by the Public Relations Society of America and receiving Best in Show from the Southern Public Relations Federation.• Managed the development of one of the most respected social media accounts in the nation:• The Ole Miss Facebook page was named one of the most “Engaging Facebook Pages” by Varsity Outreach in January 2013• The UM Pinterest account has grown to become the third largest university page in the country since its launch in 2012 and the page received a 2013 Southern Public Relations Federation Lantern Award• The Ole Miss Instagram account is one of the top 10 most-followed college and university Instagram accounts in the country and was named one of the top 100 most engaging brands in the world on the platform.• Received two PR Daily Awards for Best Use of Instagram and Best Use of Pinterest. We were selected over such national brands as Proctor and Gamble and Elizabeth Arden to receive the accolades. Show less

• 

  DNB Consulting

  Feb 2016 - Aug 2021

  President

  • Provide focused guidance and recommendations to various clients on how to address communications issues as they arise.• Assist in developing strategic and crisis communications plans to address both short-term and long-term goals.• Draft and edit statements, releases, talking points and key messages.• Anticipate and prepare for media questions.• Prepare senior leaders for media interviews and press conferences.• Track and analyze print, broadcast and digital media coverage.• Clients include the City of Tupelo, Jackson State University, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Mike Espy for U.S. Senate Campaign. Show less

• 

  Jackson State University

  Nov 2016 - Aug 2017

  Executive Director of University Communications and Marketing

  • On this time-limited assignment, provided strategic counsel during a financial crisis that affected the university internally and externally• Worked closely with the University President, providing assistance in speechwriting, media relations, messaging, and developing written communications for alumni, faculty, and other key stakeholders• Managed internal and external communications in support of Jackson State University’s mission as a major research institution and the state’s only urban university• Developed long-term and short-term strategic communications plans in support of the university’s goals• Managed a staff of public relations and marketing professionals, including writers, graphic designers, photographers, videographers, social media specialists, marketing specialists and media relations specialists Show less

• 

  Mississippi Department of Human Services

  Sept 2019 - Aug 2021

  Chief Communications Officer

  • Transformed the Division of Communications into a national award winning team within one year.• Increased earned media by 73 percent and tripled social media reach during first year.• Served as strategic communications advisor for the Executive Director and leadership team with regard to crisis communications, preparing for media interviews, and managing internal and external issues.• Provided strategic council in crisis communications during a $94 million embezzlement scandal that resulted in seven indictments, including the former executive director and another employee of the agency.• Changed the narrative from largely negative media tone in the 2nd quarter 2020 to 73 percent positive and 2 percent negative during the 4th quarter 2020.• Oversaw complete rebranding of the agency to include website design.• Served as primary contact in development of executive, internal, and external communications • Wrote and edited press releases, opinion pieces, letters, talking points, and speeches.• Served as primary spokesperson for the agency, handling all media relations.• Developed long-term and short-term strategic communications plans in support of the agency’s goals. • Oversaw brand management, website development and maintenance, digital media strategy, creative services, and development of monthly newsletter to agency staff.• Managed a staff of 5 public relations professionals, to include communications specialists, social media, web presence and videography. Show less

• 

  Self-employed

  Aug 2021 - now

  Communications Consultant