Download and/or print a PDF version of my resume here.
jayharrod@gmail.com | 501.920.8006
Dallas-Fort worth metro area
25+ Years of Experience in Relationship Building, Selling Intangibles
Experience includes work as a journalist, for state and federal government, as a private consultant, and for the world’s largest environmental non-profit organization. Adept at digesting complex technical concepts and explaining and delivering them in succinct, easy-to-understand and engaging ways.
Extensive experience in media relations, which is successfully selling story ideas or suggestions for professional interviews to reporters or editors with newspapers, magazines, or TV or radio stations. Over the course of my career, I’ve sold stories or interviews that have an “ad equivalency” that surpasses several million dollars.
CORE SALES COMPETENCIES
- Selling story ideas to media outlets
- Building relationships with journalists and partners
- Developing and delivering key talking points
- Consultative selling and trust development
- Persuasive storytelling and presentations
- Managerial experience
- Customer needs assessment
- Partnership development and account growth
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS II, The Nature Conservancy (TNC). 2005-2025.
Served as communications lead for TNC’s freshwater in North America and beyond. In these roles, I: served on executive management teams to assess “customer” needs and develop and track strategic goals; developed and implemented comms plans; managed marketing professionals; created persuasive key messages to help increase budgets and secure partner buy-ins; pitched media stories; and planned and led media trips. (Began working for TNC as Senior Media Relations Manager and was promoted to Associate Director of Marketing I in 2010. In 2024 I was promoted to Associate Director of Marketing II.)
- Key player in securing multimillion‑dollar commitments by building trust with stakeholders, growing the Sustainable Rivers Program budget from $500K to $7M annually.
- Generated 25,000+ positive media stories worldwide, effectively “selling” a conservation breakthrough to diverse audiences.
- Key player in launching America’s Watershed Initiative, driving national awareness and engagement through persuasive messaging that resulted in 2,500+ news stories.
- Directed website and video campaigns that attracted thousands of new users, demonstrating ability to convert interest into engagement.
- Negotiated coverage in the Engineering News‑Record, landing a six‑page feature and cover story that elevated organizational credibility with technical audiences.
- Trusted to lead communications for new initiatives, consistently chosen by directors to influence stakeholders and secure buy‑in.
- Built rapport and trust with multiple editorial boards and successfully persuaded them to completely change the once-negative way they had previously reported the use of prescribed fire that improves forest health.
COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR, Arkansas Parks and Tourism (ADPT). 2001-2004.
To grow tourism sales and revenue in Arkansas, I worked with ADPT leadership and its ad agency to create strategic and comprehensive marketing and communications plans; managed a team of seven staff; planned and led media tours; and oversaw the major redesign of Arkansas.com and the addition of arkansasmediaroom.com and arkansashotdeals.com.
- ADPT leader in boosting Arkansas.com into a top-five performing tourism site nationally, increasing visitor engagement and through improved UX and persuasive content.
- Sold Arkansas as a destination to the Society of American Travel Writers, successfully pitching and hosting the 2004 U.S. Convention, resulting in dozens of travel stories nationwide.
- Guided media tours and presentation, building trust with travel writers and securing coverage that increased tourism sales and tax revenues for the State of Arkansas.
ADDITIONAL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
OWNER, Maxfield Communications. 2004-2005.
Within the year I owned this business, I built trust with and sold my services to 10 clients. The clients I provided public relations and Internet marketing services in Arkansas and Texas included Mountain Harbor Resort & Spa, the Red Apple Inn & Country Club and the Greers Ferry Lake & Little Red River Regional Tourism Association.
GS-11 LOGISTICS & COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST, U.S. Army’s Computer Security and Logistics Activity. 1997-2001.
Transitioned from logistics into communications, where I represented the organization at trade shows, planned conferences and produced persuasive collateral. Built trust with external partners through consistent, reliable communication and follow-through.
STAFF WRITER, Sherwood Voice. 1996-1997.
As a full-time staff writer, built relationships and trust with businesses and the police department as I covered local business spotlights and the police beat. I did so while also attending college full-time during my senior year and serving as the Arts and Entertainment Editor for the university’s newspaper.
EDUCATION, VOLUNTEER & ADDITIONAL INFO
Bachelors Degree in Professional & Technical Writing, University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Ark. 1993-1997.
- Recipient of a four-year full academic scholarship
- Summa Cum Laude Graduate with an overall 3.97 overall GPA, achieved while working full-time throughout my time in college
- Served as a tutor in the University’s Writing Center and as A&E editor for the school’s newspaper
- Purchased my first home at the age of 20 while attending college
Volunteered for the Christian-based Kairos Prison Ministry for years and for the Christian-based “No Excuses” mentor program for inner-city youth for six years but still maintain a close relationship with this young man who is now in his early 30’s.
“I purchased my first home at the age of 20 while attending college, using money I’d saved while working in high school to help with the downpayment. In high school, I was a lifeguard during the summers, and–also during summers and other seasons–I went door-to-door offering automobile cleaning and waxing services. This is when I learned the value of referrals and “word-of-mouth” advertising. I held these ‘jobs’ while maintaining grades that secured a full-time academic scholarship to college, and while a ‘starting’ member of my high school’s varsity football team. I saved nearly every penny I earned in the ‘auto industry.’ Some may think highlighting work ethics from such a long time ago is irrelevant. I, however, share this to show I am a man who’s worked extremely hard and with much dedication since my early teens. — Jay G. Harrod
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