I am Ray E. Coleman, a communications professional with over 17 years of experience in communications, public relations, and content creation. Over the years, I have gained extensive senior leadership and managerial experience, including serving in executive staff roles across various Mississippi state agencies. I specialize in strategic communications, media relations, and creative content production including videography and podcast hosting. I have led communications efforts for state agencies such as the Mississippi Veterans Affairs, Mississippi Attorney General's Office, and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. I am passionate about telling impactful stories, particularly those that benefit veterans. In addition to my leadership roles, I bring hands-on skills in videography, photo editing, and speechwriting, which help me effectively push the messaging and mission of the organizations I serve.

Ray E. Coleman

I am Ray E. Coleman, a communications professional with over 17 years of experience in communications, public relations, and content creation. Over the years, I have gained extensive senior leadership and managerial experience, including serving in executive staff roles across various Mississippi state agencies. I specialize in strategic communications, media relations, and creative content production including videography and podcast hosting. I have led communications efforts for state agencies such as the Mississippi Veterans Affairs, Mississippi Attorney General's Office, and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. I am passionate about telling impactful stories, particularly those that benefit veterans. In addition to my leadership roles, I bring hands-on skills in videography, photo editing, and speechwriting, which help me effectively push the messaging and mission of the organizations I serve.

Available to hire

I am Ray E. Coleman, a communications professional with over 17 years of experience in communications, public relations, and content creation. Over the years, I have gained extensive senior leadership and managerial experience, including serving in executive staff roles across various Mississippi state agencies. I specialize in strategic communications, media relations, and creative content production including videography and podcast hosting.

I have led communications efforts for state agencies such as the Mississippi Veterans Affairs, Mississippi Attorney General’s Office, and Mississippi Emergency Management Agency. I am passionate about telling impactful stories, particularly those that benefit veterans. In addition to my leadership roles, I bring hands-on skills in videography, photo editing, and speechwriting, which help me effectively push the messaging and mission of the organizations I serve.

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Language

English
Fluent
Spanish; Castilian
Beginner

Work Experience

Director of Communications – Executive Staff Spokesman of the Agency at Mississippi Veterans Affairs (VA)
June 1, 2020 - Present
Lead strategic communications initiatives to enhance brand awareness and engagement for the agency. Manage social and traditional media communications, serve as media relations liaison, and oversee all creative elements conveying the agency's mission. Lead videography, photography, and editing projects. Creator and host of the Mississippi Salute Podcast, which focuses on programs benefiting veterans and shares personal veteran stories from Mississippi.
Director of Communications Division – Executive Staff Spokesman of the Office at Office of the Mississippi Attorney General
June 1, 2020 - August 23, 2025
Coordinated public information and media relations for the office. Managed internal communications and worked as a speechwriter to support agency leadership messaging.
Director of External Affairs – Executive Staff Spokesman of the Agency at Mississippi Emergency Management Agency
January 1, 2020 - August 23, 2025
Directed external affairs including strategic communications for traditional and social media. Developed key messages reinforcing the agency's mission and coordinated emergency and life safety outreach messaging. Served as congressional liaison and lead videographer/photographer. Managed fiscal and budgeting activities for the Office of External Affairs. Graduated from the Advanced External Affairs Officer Program at the Emergency Management Institute.
Sports Director at 16 WAPT Television
May 1, 2016 - August 23, 2025
Led sports anchoring and reporting for the television station. Responsible for gathering and producing all sports content for daily broadcasts including videography, editing, and script writing. Created and managed all sports-related social media content for the station.

Education

Bachelor of Arts at The University of Southern Mississippi
August 1, 2002 - May 1, 2006

Qualifications

Graduate of Advanced Public Information Officer Program
January 1, 2017 - August 23, 2025
Graduate of Advanced External Affairs Officer Program
January 11, 2030 - August 23, 2025

Industry Experience

Government, Media & Entertainment, Non-Profit Organization
    uniE603 Mississippi Salute Podcast Episodes
    voiceover vocal podcast leadership military editing