Award-winning public affairs and development professional with more than 30 years experience in marketing, public relations, publishing, media relations, fund development, editing and special events.
Principal Peyton & Associates Consulting November 2000 to present
Strategic planning, fund development, new release development and dissemination, and website/publication production for educational, corporate and nonprofit clients, including the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), American Productivity & Quality Center (APQC), University of Houston, Channel 8 PBS, University of Oklahoma, Gateway Design, Theatre Under the Stars, The Cowboy Solution, University of Texas System, Woodlands Symphony Orchestra, and Woodlands Science and Arts Center. Editor for APQC(publisher) Closing the Achievement Gap: No Excusesby Patricia Davenport and Gerald Anderson and editor8 Steps to Student Success by Mary L. Barksdale. Director of Public Affairs (and later Vice President for Public Affairs) Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) October 1990 to November 2000
Planned and executed all public affairs and fund development activities for a $15 million nonprofit, university-linked scientific organization. Projects ranged from producing annual reports, films, capabilities brochures, press releases to writing proposals for new programs.
President Peyton & Associates, Inc.(Delaware and Texas) January 1986 to November 1990
Owned and operated full-service public relations/advertising firm in Newark, Delaware, and Victoria, Texas with primary client: The DuPont Company. Developed cost-effective communications programs and collateral pieces for corporate, business and nonprofit clients. Managed all finances, including budgeting, government reporting, billing and payroll. Director, Office of Information University of Houston-Victoria January 1984 to November 1985
Planned and executed media and community relations activities, including press releases and conferences, publications and advertising.Published monthly newsletter, produced slide shows, PSAs, and coordinated special events. Contributed strategies to increase enrollment and win legislative support.
Information Specialist Division of Continuing Education - University of Delaware July 1977 to November 1981 Published 48-page, quarterly Continuing Education bulletin and coordinated its statewide distribution and related advertising. Promoted professional education programs and conferences for regional and national audiences. Coordinated and promoted educational travel program.
Director of Communications Houston Grand Opera October 1974 to October 1975
Promoted all regular season, summer and touring performances through newspaper, radio and television advertising, media releases and press conferences, posters, billboards, public service announcements, rotogravure sections of the newspaper and brochures.Published four-color, monthly program magazine.Served as liaison with local, national and international media representatives and local talk shows.Assisted with fund raising activities.(Directed advertising agency personnel; supervised assistant, volunteers and photographers.)
Editor Information Services, Rice University February 1972 to January 1974 Covered campus news through publication of monthly news tabloid, High Emprise, distributed to faculty, staff, parents of students and donors. (Won topnational Award of Excellence - IABC.) Also wrote media releases and served as media liaison, coordinated press conferences.(Supervised two secretaries, student reporters and photographers.)
Education
B.A. degree, journalism and English, University of Houston. Graduate studies marketing, communications and education, University of Houston and University of Delaware