I’m Ari Adler, a professional communicator and strategist who graduated from Michigan State University with a bachelor’s degree in Journalism. I immediately pursued my lifelong desire to become a newspaper reporter but, after a few years, ambition took me beyond the confines of that profession. I have never shied away from an opportunity to expand my education, qualifications or experience. Here’s a snapshot of what I have accomplished and what I have to offer as an employee, a consultant and an active community participant. (Items in bold are current activities.)
Media Relations
- Director of Communications for Michigan Governor Rick Snyder
- Press Secretary to Michigan Speaker of the House Jase Bolger and Director of Communications for the Michigan House Republican Caucus.
- Helped lead the public and media relations efforts for Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio, and Indiana, as well as the Delta Dental Foundation, via mainstream and social media outlets
- Press Secretary and Deputy Chief of Staff for a Michigan Senate Majority Leader
- Oversaw media relations and training for the Michigan Senate Republican Caucus and Michigan House Republican Caucus
- Served as the spokesman for the Michigan Department of Transportation with statewide and national media
- Moved my way up from Regional Communications Representative to being appointed Director of Communications at the Michigan Department of Transportation by then-Gov. John Engler in just four years
Strategic Consulting
- Director of Communications for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.
- Special Projects Manager for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder and Lt. Gov. Brian Calley.
- Assist the Michigan House Republican leadership team and caucus members with media relations, media training, and public relations.
- Assisted the executive leadership of Delta Dental of Michigan, Ohio and Indiana, and the Delta Dental Plans Association with coordination of messaging and strategic initiatives regarding dental benefits sales, customer service, and government relations.
- Prepare social media review and strategic plan for consulting clients
- Assisted with planning and promotion of Ignite Lansing 3.0
- Helped clients of John Bailey & Associates Public Relations with successful communication strategies on public policy issues
- Counseled a Michigan Senate Majority Leader and the Michigan Senate Republican caucus on effective messaging regarding public policy and political maneuvering
- Oversaw arrangement of special events for the governor, lieutenant governor, and state transportation director while serving as Director of Communications for the Michigan Department of Transportation
Writing
- Wrote and edited thousands of newspaper articles for daily and weekly newspapers as well as online publications, including The Antrim County News, The Holland Sentinel, The Argus Press, The Independent, DOME Magazine and Ragan Communications
- Write blog posts for Here Comes Later and other blogs as a guest.
- Had blog posts featured online at CNN and Ragan Communications’ PR Daily
- Wrote opinion columns for Ragan Communications and Talent Zoo
- Write press releases, speeches, talking points, letters to the editor and op/ed columns for employers and consulting clients
Teaching and Training
- Taught research, reporting, news writing and editing to undergraduate and graduate students at Michigan State University
- Taught media relations, social media and public relations to undergraduate students at Michigan State University
- Served as professional adviser for Public Relations Student Society of America at Michigan State University
- Taught media relations to graduate students at University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Train CEOs and rank-and-file workers on media relations, social media, presentations and networking in audiences ranging from one to several hundred
- Coordinated, produced and directed automated phone call program for Michigan political candidates
- Provided media counseling as well as training and debate preparation for Michigan Senate Republican candidates
Management
- Serve on Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce Economic Club Committee, helping to coordinate speaker series
- Supervised a staff of 15, coordinating internal and external communication activities for the Michigan Department of Transportation
- Supervised a staff of eight in the production and distribution of news releases, press conferences, talking points, speeches, photography, radio news and video news for the Michigan Senate Republican caucus
- Improved the Michigan Senate Majority Communications Office’s abilities and reputation for service with the Republican caucus, substantially increasing use by senators
- Coordinated and improved public communications for clients of The Corradino Group nationally as Technical Vice President
- Elevated The Corradino Group’s public profile on Michigan transportation projects
Presentations
- Conduct presentations at local, regional and national conferences regarding media relations, social media, networking and presentations
- Moderated health care reform panel discussion for the Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce
- Emceed events for the Michigan Department of Transportation and the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials
Awards & Recognition
- Elected as President-Elect and then President of the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America
- Received letter of commendation for teaching from the University of Michigan-Dearborn
- Won the inaugural Ignite Lansing presentation award
- Recognized by Capital Gains magazine in “10 People to Follow on Twitter.”
- Received PACE award for op/ed writing from the Central Michigan Public Relations Society of America
- Received two Team Leader Excellence Awards from the Michigan Department of Transportation
- Received the Simply Super Service Award at the Michigan Department of Transportation (nominated by Governor’s Office)
- Received Pathfinder Team Leader Excellence Award from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- Earned first place award for Website from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- Earned first place award for Video News Release from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
- Named Communicator of the Year by the Association of West Michigan Communication Professionals
- Earned first place award for Breaking News from The Associated Press
- Received the Richard L. Milliman Award for Outstanding Journalism Student from Michigan State University School of Journalism
With Sparty at a Relay for Life
Here Comes Later 