RANDY D. GIBSON, MA

Public Relations/Communications

1343 Maple Lane, Provo, UT 84604  •  Phone: (918) 718-1320. •. randy@randydgibson.com

SUMMARY

Highly motivated degree holding professional who works well under pressure in competitive and fast-paced business climates.  Diverse background in many areas within all forms of mass media as well as experience in teaching media and public relations at the university level and demonstrated skills in strategic planning, marketing, promotions, grant writing, meeting planning, contract negotiation, budgeting, grassroots lobbying, fundraising, membership development, supervision and management.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 RDG Communications Group, LLC        

2019 – Present Full Time/Freelance since 2012

Owner/CEO

Freelance public relations, marketing and advertising company consultant.  Responsible for the development and oversight of political and promotional campaigns, advertising design, media buying, strategy planning, social media, website development, promotional items, marketing, public speaking and more for local and national and international clients Winner of PRSA Upper Case and MarCom Gold and Platinum awards.

Cherokee Nation                                    2005 – 2019

Program Liaison/Tribal Communications Manager

Serve as the Program Liaison and Director of Health Media for Cherokee Nation Health Services Group.  Directly responsible for promoting a positive image for the prevention programs as well as health centers, the hospital and other health programs.  Responsible for developing media campaigns, advertising buys, earned media, program promotions and activities, graphic design projects, all print, radio and television ads, media interviews and media training sessions. As the program liaison, responsible for building relationships and partnerships with media, businesses, other tribes and governmental organizations and other entities.  As part of the tribal Communications Department management team, was directly responsible for management of staff, including news writers, graphic designers, radio show hosts, and television production crew.  Also served as part of the crisis communication team.

Tahlequah Chamber of Commerce          2002 – 2005

Executive Director

Served as the Executive Director of a community Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Council.  Directly responsible for all aspects of the organization, including marketing, media relations, fundraising, grant writing, all staff supervision and membership development.  Work closely with area businesses, city and county government officials, Board of Directors and volunteers.

Texas State Rifle Association                    1998 – 2002

Executive Director

Served as the Executive Director for this 49,000+ membership organization which was the largest state chapter of the National Rifle Association.  Was directly responsible for all aspects of the organization, including marketing, promotion, media relations, fundraising, grant writing, membership development, member relations, convention and special events planning, grassroots lobbying, budgeting, and working closely with the Board of Directors and the volunteers. Served as the spokesperson in Texas.

• Responsible for developing and monitoring the annual budget of the organization, including the organization’s investment funds.
• Responsible for all media relations, including interviews at the local, state, national and international levels.
• Supervised the lobbying staff and assisted the Board in development of legislative strategy and testimony to elected officials, including the Texas Legislature.

• Recipient of two national “Association of the Year” awards while serving as the Executive Director.

 

Association of Energy Service Companies             1996 – 1998

Director of Membership and Meetings

Served as the Director of Membership and Meetings for this national oilfield trade association.  Members were 850 – 900 companies in the oilfield energy business, with each employee in the company being considered an AESC member.

• Responsible for coordinating conferences, symposia and chapter meetings nationally.  Negotiated contracts with hotels, conference centers, airlines, and other off-site vendors.  Increased yearly meeting profits consistently.
• Developed marketing and membership campaigns, increasing membership by 45% nationally.  Responsible for developing and organizing chapter operations nationwide.
• Worked closely with the Board of Directors, Chapter Chairs, members and other volunteers in promoting membership as well as the two conferences, the annual trade show and the annual safety symposium.
• Created organization’s marketing materials, newsletters, and marketing presentations.  Advertised events and prepared articles for publication in Well Servicing magazine as well as other industry publications.
• Responsible for designing the company’s first web site.
• Supervised staff and volunteers during conferences and special events.
• Directed a corporate name change for the organization from the Association of Oilwell Servicing Contractors to the Association of Energy Service Companies.

Ground Water Protection Council           1991 – 1996

Director of Communications and Meetings

Served as the Director of Communications and Meetings for this national ground water and underground injection environmental association.  Members of this organization included state and federal regulators and representatives of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, state water and oil and gas regulators, major oil and chemical companies, and other environmental organizations.

• Coordinated conferences and symposia nationally, statewide and locally. Negotiated contracts with hotels, conference centers, airlines, and off-site vendors. Streamlined conference budgets while consistently increasing attendance and maintaining high quality.
• Developed and coordinated organizational grants and budgets in excess of $1.5 million.
• Created the public relations and communications department for this organization.  Worked with media outlets of all types on the international, national, state and local levels.  Directed a corporate name change for this national organization, from the Underground Injection Practices Council to the Ground Water Protection Council.  Responsible for preparing, implementing and presenting organizational public relations, advertising, marketing, business and crisis plans.  Launched membership campaigns that increased membership by 28% nationally.  Served as the editor of the organization’s newsletter, the Underground News and the Journal of Ground Water Protection.
• Responsible for the creation and distribution of all marketing and promotional materials.  Prepared and presented organizational promotional plans to the Board of Directors at national conferences.
• Assisted in lobbying and working with lawmakers and legislative issues, including writing state and federal congressional testimony.
• Supervised support staff and volunteers at conventions and trade shows.

OTHER RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Westwood One/Compass Media Networks

Game Day Radio Crew                                                    2014 – Present

Serve as a spotter and behind the scenes information member for the live broadcast crew for various Division I college football games.

Safe American Family Education Foundation                   2001 – 2005

Incorporator/Founding Director

Volunteer director and Incorporator for this 501(c)(3) foundation that teaches safety and crime prevention techniques for women, children and families.  Responsible for marketing, promotion and grant writing of the organization and its activities.

University of Texas-Arlington                                          1999 – 2001

Adjunct Professor

Responsible for the instruction of public relations and advertising students at the university level.  Instructed students in all areas and methods of advertising and public relations, including an in-depth study of public relations, advertising and market research methods, crisis management action and corporate case studies.  Instructed three separate classes—Introduction to Public Relations, Introduction to Advertising and Public Relations Case Studies, a senior-level class.

EDUCATION

UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA

            Master of Arts in Journalism-Media Management   GPA 4.0 (Graduate Assistant in teaching and research)

            Bachelor of Arts in Journalism-Public Relations   Major GPA 3.5

            Kappa Tau Alpha Honor Society – Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band – Kappa Kappa Psi Fraternity (President)

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

MarCom International Awards: 1 Platinum Award, 2 Gold Awards

CDC Media Campaign Resource Center – Board Member 2013-2019

Public Relations Society of America – Upper Case Award Winner

American Society of Association Executives – National Association Communications Certification

Dallas/Fort Worth Society of Association Executives – Former Chair, Public Relations Committee

Meeting Professionals International

PUBLICATIONS CONTRIBUTED TO

CDC Best Practices for Comprehensive Tobacco Control Programs 2014
CDC Best Practices User Guides – Health Communications in Tobacco Prevention and Control 2018

COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Tahlequah Board of Education Foundation – Board Member/President

University of Oklahoma Band Alumni Association – Board Member/Current Executive Officer

Former Volunteer, Graduated Sanctions Court/School Program For Teens (Oklahoma)

Former Volunteer, Mesquite (Texas) Pee Wee Football Association

Parks Board Commissioner, City of Norman (Oklahoma)

Representative, City of Norman (Oklahoma) Transportation Board

Former Volunteer, American Red Cross Disaster Communications Committee, Oklahoma City (Oklahoma)

Adjudicator, university and regional public relations competitions

Former Board Member, Rotary Club – Tahlequah (Oklahoma)

REFERENCES

Professional and personal references are available upon request.