Jill McGranahan

Jill McGranahan -- sentimentalist, optimist, local music groupie, PR pro, foodie, lover of the Mile High City and Colorado, and learning every day how human we all are.

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Jill McGranahan joined the Arvada Police Department in June 2012 as the new Public Relations Coordinator. In this expanded role, she serves as the public information officer for the department as well as coordinates a comprehensive communications and branding strategy. Jill McGranahan previously worked at the University of Colorado Denver as the community engagement manager and at Denver Parks & Recreation, where she was the director of marketing & public relations. Under her leadership, Denver Parks and Recreation was one of the first city agencies to employ social media as part of its public outreach effort and as such, she was asked to help write the citywide social media policy. Through strategic partnerships, she increased the department'™s recreation guide circulation by 340 percent. Her responsibilities included leading all media relations, crisis communications, public outreach, publications and strategic partnerships. She also supervised the volunteer office and event facilities. Jill McGranahan was the lead spokesperson for Denver Parks & Recreation during the 2008 Democratic National Convention, when protests groups used the various parks for lodging and as demonstration sites. Her other experience includes working in the hospitality and tourism industry for eight years as the Senior Public Relations Manager at the Denver Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau. Here, Jill McGranahan created the first Denver Restaurant Week, one of the Mile High City'™s most renowned culinary celebrations, and was part of the communications team that passed two successful ballot initiatives. Jill McGranahan holds a Masters in Applied Communications from the University of Denver and a Bachelor of Arts in Modern Languages from Metropolitan State College of Denver. She received certification in 2008 for Advanced PIO training from the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Emmitsburg, MD. In 2003, she was named one of 40 under Forty by the Denver Business Journal.

Manager of University & Community Engagement at University of Colorado

November 2011 - June 2012

- Managed University of Colorado Denver internal communications to students, faculty and staff. - Assisted in developing overall strategy to ensure effective communications to internal audiences, utilizing all available vehicles including social media. - Engaged external audiences, including the business and governmental communities, to create greater affinity and opportunity to engage with the University of Colorado at Denver and Anschutz Medical Center.

Director of Communications & Public Relations at University of Colorado Boulder - Law School

January 2011 - November 2011

- Used multiple media strategies to promote achievements and work of the Law School community - Used strategic marketing and advertising to draw audiences to Colorado Law School events - Built relationships with key media correspondents from national and international media outlets - Aggressively managed crisis communication strategy around drop in USNWR rankings to control its impact on the reputation, operational, and financial well-being of the Colorado Law School and University - Published the Law School's semi-annual alumni magazine, Amicus - Used social media including Facebook, Twitter, blogging, and others to communicate - Oversaw the development and maintenance of web presence - Provided media training opportunities for faculty and senior administrators - Developed a media guide for faculty, administration, and students to use as a reference when preparing for a media interview - Oversaw and coordinated alumni relations within the Law School

Social Media volunteer at Mejia for Mayor

January 2011 - May 2011

Helped to direct all social media outreach and create social media buzz among key demographics. Charged with helping to increase awareness and drive voter turnout among 18-24 and 25-36 age groups. The campaign's social media acumen noted in March 9, 2011 Denver Post article.

Public Relations & Marketing Director at City and County of Denver - Parks & Recreation

August 2007 - December 2010

Increased circulation of recreation guide by 344 percent through partnerships with UnitedHealthcare and the Denver Newspaper Agency Placed more than $5 million in media value publicity Secured funding for recreation programs, free summer programs, Movies in the Parks and outdoor recreation Created and executed dog park survey that was the most successful in Denver city history Successful managed communications around several controversial topics, including admission based events and sponsorship of park amenities.

Interim Deputy Director of Communications at Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper

November 2009 - January 2010

Asked to serve as Deputy Director of Communications for Mayor Hickenlooper while his was on maternity leave Fielded hundreds of media calls and coordinated responses when Hickenlooper announced intent to run for governor.

Director of Marketing at Denver International School

September 2005 - September 2007

Established first-ever school marketing & communications department. Streamlined admissions process and established best practices in all areas of customer service. Resulted in a 25 percent student increase and 90 95 percent retention rate of existing students in first year. Through effective advertising and strategic promotions, increased summer camp participation from 110 students in 2005 to more than 350 students in 2006 and increased net profits by 400 percent. Designed and implemented new Web site, www.dischool.org.

Public Relations Manager at VISIT DENVER The Convention & Visitors Bureau

January 1998 - December 2005

Expanded public relations department by writing and implementing first Bureau-wide communications plan. Work included creating overall plan, identifying all audiences, maintaining database, creating all messaging and adjusting through effective dialogue. Helped to write and implement successful strategic public relations campaigns to encourage voters to support the expansion of the Colorado Convention Center and increase lodger's tax for tourism promotion. Project Manager on complete redesign and launch of Bureau Web site, www.denver.org. Responsible for coordinating all outside vendors, acting as chief liaison for each department of the Bureau, writing all content and maintaining timeliness of the site. Served as Bureau's chief liaison with local, national and trade media to place travel and industry stories and act as Bureau spokesperson when president is was unavailable. Coordinated production of all Bureau publications. This work includes included editorial content, design and photo content, establishing timelines and acting as Bureau liaison with outside vendors. Motivated team to achieve departmental goals. Established qualitative and quantitative goals for each member of the department.

Public Relations & Marketing Assistant Manager at Rocky Mountain PBS

December 1996 - January 1998

Designed and carried out plans to capture youth and senior markets for KRMA-Channel Six. Ensured strategic use of media, advertising and message points. Increased overall membership by 1,500 in a 12-month period. Responsible for $300,000 advertising budget. Managed advertising campaigns for radio, print, television and trade publications. Directed graphic design agencies and managed production process for print ads, brochures and newsletters. Planned and executed special events for membership drives, educational campaigns and fundraising efforts.

Editorial Assistant at Rocky Mountain News

1993 - January 1998

Assisted news desk with research and fact-finding. Wrote feature articles for business and lifestyles sections.

Public Relations Coordinator- Arvada Police Department at City of Arvada

June 2012

Provide public information to media in emergency and non-emergency situations and all marketing and public relations material for the Police Department. Utilizes exceptional communication skills in addition to current and emerging media technologies to relay messages to target audiences. Coordinate with command staff to increase internal communications among colleagues in police department as wel as other city agemcies. Responsible for defining and creating consistent brand 'voice' of PD on multiple communication platforms.

University of Colorado at Denver, School of Public Affairs

2012 – 2012

Certificate, Beuchner Institute for Governance

University of Denver

1995 – 2000

Masters; Marketing

Concentration: Applied Communications; Advertising and Public Relations

Metropolitan State College of Denver

1991 – 1995

BA

Concentration: Modern Languages

Faculte Notre Dame

1989 – 1991

Concentration: German and History

running, languages, travel and good food