Ann Andrews Morris

Applying for: At-Large Director

Managing Director, Association Communication
AAA National
Washington, District of Columbia

Biography

Ms. Morris is an accomplished, strategic, and award-winning global communications executive with more than 20 years of experience in national news media, international public relations, and corporate communications. She possesses a unique blend of expertise in strategic communications, new media, branding, media relations, and crisis communications in the nonprofit and private sectors.

Her strengths include working with senior level clients, strategic planning, and being a coalition-building team leader among diverse global stakeholders who focuses on generating measurable results.

Specialties:
• Nonprofit strategic communications
• Crisis communications
• Brand and reputation management
• Strategic counsel to C-Suite
• Social media

Managing Director, Association Communication
AAA National
May 2016 – Present (2 months)
Based in AAA’s Washington D.C. office, Ann manages internal and external communications for the AAA National Office.


AndMore Communications, LLC
2012 - 2016
Principal
Responsible for all aspects of running the company, from new business development to client management, providing clients worldwide with award-winning results in strategic communications, social media, crisis communications, public relations, print and web development, media relations, writing, editing, and more. Clients include: Larta Institute, CS&A International Risk and Crisis Management, the Center for Mind, Body Medicine, The United Nations Development Program, and the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition.
-- Created strategic communications plan for a client event which increased their social media presence by more than 25 percent and resulted in eight reporters attending the three day event. This led to interviews with key spokespeople and news coverage that generated more than half a million impressions in the targeted agricultural press.
-- Earned creative awards for a client magazine and collateral materials.
-- Increased social media presence and outreach by more than 50 percent for European client.
-- Frequent speaker at numerous communications, media relations, social media, and branding conferences and seminars.

World Food Program USA
2011 –2012
Vice President for Communications and Outreach

Ms. Morris directed the organization’s communications and outreach activities and department, served as a member of the senior management team that leads the overall strategy and operations of WFP USA, a nonprofit organization that builds support in the United States to end global hunger. The communications and outreach team provides strategic guidance to public policy, private sector fund-raising, branding, and other WFP USA activities.
-- Led organization through rebranding process, earning five creative awards for strategic planning and organizational and event materials.
-- Worked with corporate donors including UPS, YUM! Brands, Cargill, and Monsanto to promote their corporate social responsibility efforts.
-- Increased organization’s social media presence, including increasing Facebook following by 350 percent.
-- Generated more than $2 million through online fundraising efforts in 2011.
-- Generated earned media in outlets including Harvard Political Review, Politico and the NonProfit Times.
-- Organized WFP USA’s 2011 award ceremony, working directly with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, and corporate donors to ensure proper donor stewardship and recognition. Worked with honorees (Mr. Gates and Mr. Buffett) and speakers — including Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and Greg Page, chairman and CEO of Cargill — and internal stakeholders to help nearly double fundraising goals and generate at least 100 million media impressions from outlets including 60 Minutes, The Huffington Post, US News & World Report, and Bloomberg.

AndMore Communications, LLC
2006-2011
Principal

Work with AndMore Communications generated industry awards for planning and creativity. Clients include: the American Heart Association, National Geographic Books, Research!America, Terrafina, and Ashoka.
-- Earned planning award for work done with the American Heart Association.
-- Conducted a job share with the vice president of communications at Research!America, focused on increasing awareness about the importance of health research, helped manage global health ambassadors, and supervised media outreach.

Global Rights
2003 – 2006
Communications Director
As organization’s first communications director, developed and implemented strategic communications and re-branding efforts for the organization’s operations in countries including: Afghanistan, Algeria, Burundi, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Brazil, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Mongolia, Morocco, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Tunisia, and the United States. Responsible for all aspects of external and internal communications which included: media relations, publications, electronic communications as well as executive positioning. Managed staff and departmental budget. Earned seven communications industry awards.


United Way of America 2000 - 2003
Vice President, External Communications
Led all aspects of external communications efforts for one of the nation's largest nonprofit organizations. Served as a team leader in the Brand Strategy and Marketing Group. Developed and implemented organization's strategic communications plan. Oversaw media and public relations as well as field communications. Served as national spokesperson. Managed small staff and provided strategic counsel to communicators in 1,300 local United Ways. Managed $2 million departmental budget.
-- Led crisis communication response efforts to national and local issues, including the events of 9/11, providing strategic communications guidance, media relations counsel and executive support.
-- Directed projects for and managed budgets and performance of outside PR agencies. Projects included: the NFL/United Way partnership, executive positioning, and major national initiatives.
-- Generated a multitude of proactive media placements about the organization, its leadership and initiatives, reaching tens of millions of Americans about subjects that include: new accountability standards; The September 11th Fund; and the arrival of the organization's new president. This media coverage helped to increase awareness about and improve public perception of the organization.

Ogilvy Public Relations
2000
Vice President, Health and Medical Group
Supervised media relations efforts for a major pharmaceutical company within Ogilvy's award-winning Health and Medical Practice.


The American Red Cross
1997 - 2000
Media Relations Manager
Managed the development and execution of public relations and crisis communications plans for internal and external clients at the national headquarters of the nation's best-known humanitarian organization. Developed and managed relationships with major corporate donors including the Indy Racing League and GTE. Served as national spokesperson. Extensive domestic and some international travel for media events, conferences and disaster assignments. Managed staff of 10 and served as counsel to field communicators in hundreds of Red Cross chapters.