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I am a communications and media relations professional with a track record of helping government agencies and associations communicate complex topics to the public and policymakers. I have served as a direct point of contact for congressional aides across multiple states, handled inquiries on IRS topics, arranged subject-matter expert briefings for quarterly nationwide calls, and monitored congressional hearings to inform filing-season readiness and policy priorities. My career includes roles as an IRS spokesperson and as a communications leader for Florida trade associations. I have led award-winning programs, trained executives in media relations, and built stakeholder engagement strategies that translate policy and regulatory topics into clear, credible storytelling. A highlight for me was coordinating a press conference with Gloria Estefan related to boating legislation, demonstrating my ability to bring together policymakers, media, and key stakeholders to advance public-interest goals.…I am a communications and media relations professional with a track record of helping government agencies and associations communicate complex topics to the public and policymakers. I have served as a direct point of contact for congressional aides across multiple states, handled inquiries on IRS topics, arranged subject-matter expert briefings for quarterly nationwide calls, and monitored congressional hearings to inform filing-season readiness and policy priorities. My career includes roles as an IRS spokesperson and as a communications leader for Florida trade associations. I have led award-winning programs, trained executives in media relations, and built stakeholder engagement strategies that translate policy and regulatory topics into clear, credible storytelling. A highlight for me was coordinating a press conference with Gloria Estefan related to boating legislation, demonstrating my ability to bring together policymakers, media, and key stakeholders to advance public-interest goals.

Lea Crusberg

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I am a communications and media relations professional with a track record of helping government agencies and associations communicate complex topics to the public and policymakers. I have served as a direct point of contact for congressional aides across multiple states, handled inquiries on IRS topics, arranged subject-matter expert briefings for quarterly nationwide calls, and monitored congressional hearings to inform filing-season readiness and policy priorities. My career includes roles as an IRS spokesperson and as a communications leader for Florida trade associations. I have led award-winning programs, trained executives in media relations, and built stakeholder engagement strategies that translate policy and regulatory topics into clear, credible storytelling. A highlight for me was coordinating a press conference with Gloria Estefan related to boating legislation, demonstrating my ability to bring together policymakers, media, and key stakeholders to advance public-interest goals.…I am a communications and media relations professional with a track record of helping government agencies and associations communicate complex topics to the public and policymakers. I have served as a direct point of contact for congressional aides across multiple states, handled inquiries on IRS topics, arranged subject-matter expert briefings for quarterly nationwide calls, and monitored congressional hearings to inform filing-season readiness and policy priorities. My career includes roles as an IRS spokesperson and as a communications leader for Florida trade associations. I have led award-winning programs, trained executives in media relations, and built stakeholder engagement strategies that translate policy and regulatory topics into clear, credible storytelling. A highlight for me was coordinating a press conference with Gloria Estefan related to boating legislation, demonstrating my ability to bring together policymakers, media, and key stakeholders to advance public-interest goals.

Available to hire

I am a communications and media relations professional with a track record of helping government agencies and associations communicate complex topics to the public and policymakers. I have served as a direct point of contact for congressional aides across multiple states, handled inquiries on IRS topics, arranged subject-matter expert briefings for quarterly nationwide calls, and monitored congressional hearings to inform filing-season readiness and policy priorities.

My career includes roles as an IRS spokesperson and as a communications leader for Florida trade associations. I have led award-winning programs, trained executives in media relations, and built stakeholder engagement strategies that translate policy and regulatory topics into clear, credible storytelling. A highlight for me was coordinating a press conference with Gloria Estefan related to boating legislation, demonstrating my ability to bring together policymakers, media, and key stakeholders to advance public-interest goals.

Skills

Copywriting

Podcast Production

Experience Level

Copywriting

Expert

Podcast Production

Intermediate

Language

English

Fluent

Work Experience

Legislative Affairs / Congressional Liaison at Internal Revenue Service

January 1, 2017 - April 1, 2025

Served as the direct point of contact for congressional aides representing members of Congress in Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Responded to constituent inquiries on IRS topics including lost or stolen refunds, refund traces, payment plans for back taxes, identity theft, passport revocation, COVID-19 tax credits, processing tax-exempt applications, whistleblower claims, disaster relief, opportunity zones, residential energy credits and Electric Vehicle tax credits. Met regularly with congressional aides to discuss programs and services for their constituents on filing-season readiness and other topics of interest. Secured IRS SMEs to speak during quarterly nationwide conference calls for congressional aides and served as primary moderator. Monitored House and Senate congressional hearings related to IRS issues.

Media Relations Spokesperson at Internal Revenue Service

May 1, 2006 - December 1, 2016

Served as agency spokesperson for print and broadcast media in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Pitched and secured news coverage of tax-related stories to business, consumer and personal finance beat reporters. Responded to sensitive inquiries from investigative reporters on liens, levies, seizures and hazardous materials mailed to the IRS tax return processing center. Handled media inquiries on the 2010 plane crash in Austin when a taxpayer intentionally flew his aircraft into an IRS building killing himself and an IRS employee. Conducted media relations training in Washington D.C. for employees in executive leadership.

Communications Spokesperson at Florida Restaurant Association

March 1, 1998 - December 1, 2005

Served as Association spokesperson for media covering Florida’s hospitality industry. Wrote and distributed press releases and media advisories, produced content for a bi-monthly magazine, video projects, speeches, planned press conferences and scheduled editorial board visits. Assisted members (Darden Restaurants, IHOP, Outback, Walt Disney World, Firehouse Subs, Anheuser-Busch, Sysco) with communication needs. Attended and monitored Florida House and Senate hearings on proposed legislation impacting Florida’s hospitality industry and conveyed the Association’s position on these issues to the media.

Communications Spokesperson at Florida Home Builders Association

March 1, 1996 - March 1, 1998

Served as Association spokesperson for media covering Florida’s residential construction industry. Wrote press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, speeches, scheduled editorial board visits, and contributed articles to bi-monthly magazine. Attended and monitored Florida House and Senate hearings on proposed legislation impacting Florida’s residential construction industry and conveyed the Association’s position on these issues to the media.

IRS Legislative Affairs (Congressional Liaison) at Internal Revenue Service

January 1, 2017 - April 25, 2025

Direct point of contact for congressional aides representing members of Congress in Texas, California, New Mexico, Arizona, Hawaii, Kansas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Oklahoma. Responded to constituent inquiries on IRS topics including lost or stolen tax refunds, refund traces, payment plans for back taxes, identity theft, passport revocation, COVID-related tax credits, processing tax-exempt applications, whistleblower claims, disaster relief, opportunity zones, residential energy credits and Electric Vehicle tax credits. Met with congressional aides to discuss programs for filing-season readiness and other topics. Secured IRS SMEs to speak during quarterly nationwide conference calls for congressional aides and served as primary moderator. Monitored House and Senate hearings related to IRS issues.

IRS Media Relations (Spokesperson) at Internal Revenue Service

May 1, 2006 - December 31, 2016

Agency spokesperson for print and broadcast media in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana. Pitched and secured news coverage of tax-related stories to business, consumer and personal finance reporters. Responded to sensitive inquiries from investigative reporters on liens, levies, seizures and hazardous materials at the IRS tax return processing center in Austin. Handled media inquiries on the 2010 plane crash in Austin. Conducted media relations training in Washington, D.C. for executives and leadership.

Communications - Spokesperson at Florida Restaurant Association

March 1, 1998 - December 31, 2005

Wrote and distributed press releases and media advisories; curated bi-monthly magazine content; produced video projects, speeches, press conferences and editorial board visits. Assisted members (Darden Restaurants, IHOP, Outback, Walt Disney World, Firehouse Subs, Anheuser-Busch, Sysco and independents) with communication needs. Attended and monitored Florida House and Senate hearings on proposed legislation affecting the hospitality industry and conveyed the Association’s positions to the media.

Communications - Spokesperson at Florida Home Builders Association

March 1, 1996 - March 31, 1998

Wrote press releases, media advisories, op-eds, letters to the editor, speeches; scheduled editorial board visits; contributed articles to a bi-monthly magazine. Attended and monitored Florida House and Senate hearings on proposed legislation impacting Florida’s residential construction industry and conveyed the Association’s position on these issues to the media.