Suzanne K. Dawe

Lumen Technologies | Black Lotus Labs | Denver

  Senior Communications Manager | July 2021 - Nov. 2023

  Senior Contractor | April 2020 - June 2020

• Oversaw the communications strategy, and proactive and reactive media relations efforts for Black Lotus Labs (Lumen’s threat intelligence team), all security product teams (SASE, DDoS Mitigation, Application Protection, Managed Services, Consulting), and the corporate security team.

• Edited threat research blogs and reports (e.g., the quarterly DDoS and Application Threat Report) for clarity, tone, grammar, punctuation, syntax and AP Style.

• Leveraged strong internal relationships with subject matter 
  experts to understand complex security information and distill it into compelling stories that resonated with the media, customers, partners and employees.

• Established and maintained very strong relationships with 
  journalists covering security and tech; generated significant earned coverage with CNN, AP, Reuters, the Wall Street Journal, Wired, Krebs and all major trade publications.

• Secured thought leadership opportunities and conducted media 
  training for product leaders and threat researchers; wrote internal stories and talking points for product and threat research announcements.

• Collaborated with internal colleagues in product development, 
  marketing, analyst relations, legal and others, and with external 
  counterparts at partner companies including Microsoft, Zoom, Cisco, VMware, Fortinet and ThreatX.

 

Self-Employed | Denver

Communications Consultant | Oct. 2013 - present

• Served as editor of the book "Body & Soul: A Partnership of Architecture and Academics at the University of Colorado Boulder".

• Developed content for and edited a major change-management document distributed to IBM employees worldwide.

• Pitched a charity event to the local ABC affiliate; coordinated coverage including a pre-event package and live remote from the event. Efforts resulted in more than double the planned attendance and funds raised.

• Wrote a suite of sales sheets, website copy, the corporate sustainability brochure and code of conduct for a building-products supplier.

• Help research, write and edit the Regis University Highlander newspaper and commemorative magazine.

• Serve as a professional adviser to and guest lecturer for the journalism department at Colorado State University.

• Provide sub-contracted writing and editing services to numerous independent contractors as needed.

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Coalfire Systems | Westminster, CO.

Senior Communications Manager | Sept. 2015 – Sept. 2016

EXTERNAL AUDIENCES

• Partnered with executives to write scripts, blogs and presentations that positioned them as thought leaders.

• Led a rebranding project that produced a new logo, color scheme and messaging targeting six buyer personas.

• Managed a media relations function that created one press release per week and generated 8 – 10 media hits per month; prepped SMEs for interviews with the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes and others.

• Wrote key messages for and served as spokesperson during a politically charged event that generated 120 national media mentions; successfully positioned company as a politically neutral video-forensics expert.

INTERNAL AUDIENCES

• Conducted research and used the data to develop a plan to engage 350 employees using email, FAQs, talking points, webcasts and newsletters.

• Developed a cascading strategy that scored 3.0 out of 3.0 for effectiveness.

• Informed, motivated and aligned employees around corporate priorities by writing messages related to vision, strategy, and HR and change programs.

• Collaborated with the CEO to write answers to questions submitted to him via the “Ask Larry” mailbox.

• Helped develop and implement a robust and comprehensive new-employee orientation program and onboarding process.

• Rebranded the disesteemed IT department, and created and delivered a presentation about the value of internal, external and personal brands.

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​ProBuild Holdings, Inc. | Denver

Employee Communications Manager | Aug. 2011 – Oct. 2013

Marketing Writer (Contract) | June 2009 – Nov. 2009

• Created and distributed content designed to engage 10,000 employees in 35 states using tools such as emails, FAQs, talking points, the intranet, all-hands meetings, manager summits, roundtables and newsletters.

• Managed communications from the executive and HR teams.

• Managed a town hall series that elevated the CEO’s credibility.

• Proposed and implemented a popular peer-to-peer recognition program that the CEO publicly acknowledged for creativity.

• Created a cascading communications process that was deemed both useful and effective by 93% of managers.

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TeleTech Holdings | Englewood, CO.

Global Employee Communications Mgr. | 2009 – 2011

• Developed and distributed HR-related content to 45,000 employees in 14 countries using email, talking points, newsletters, intranet, FAQs, cascading messages and all-hands meetings.

• Managed the successful branding and launch of a health and wellness program that helped save $100,000 in its first year.

• Planned/executed wellness events averaging 75% participation.

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​CH2M HILL | Englewood, CO

Employee Communications Director (Interim) | 2006

Employee/Investor Communications Mgr. | 2002 - 2007

• Promoted to interim director and supervisor of four while the incumbent director was on a nine-month assignment.

• Managed CH2M HILL’s award-winning investor communications program, which informed 25,000 employee-owners about the company’s internal stock market and ownership culture.

• Led the research, development and delivery of the “Employee Ownership Roadshow” presentation.

• Wrote executive messages, including financial reports from the CEO and business updates from group presidents.

• Collaborated with technical experts to write content.

• Led the development and distribution of all HR-related content.

• Appointed as managing editor of the company’s most visible marketing piece – an annual report distributed to 30,000 clients.

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Rhythms NetConnections | Englewood, CO.

Employee Communications Manager | 2001 -2002

Six Sigma Communications Specialist | 2000 -2001

• Promoted to manager to create the employee communications function from the ground up.

• Exceeded all communications objectives by conducting quantitative and qualitative research, and using the data to create an award-winning communications plan that engaged 2,400 employees in 35 states.

• Managed communications during several major crises including a violent crime that occurred on-site, layoffs and bankruptcies.

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JohnstonWells Public Relations | Denver

Associate | 1997 - 1999

• Developed media materials, managed live remotes, and coordinated press tours for the opening of NikeTown and the Colorado Women’s Open.

• Managed the full production of an award-winning, 16-page newsletter distributed to 2,300 employees in seven states.

• Conducted award-winning labor-relations research for US WEST.