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Strategic communications leader with 30+ years of experience in corporate affairs and narrative development for high-stakes, high-growth organizations. I navigate regulatory context and issues management to protect brand reputation during rapid scale and disruption, and I build scalable communications systems that keep messaging consistent across channels and markets. I specialize in stakeholder management, crisis/spokesperson work, and executive-facing communication strategy—including Chief of Staff support, narrative development, and ghostwriting. I’ve led communications for mission-driven organizations, startups, and regulatory-navigating enterprises, ensuring clarity, credibility, and confidence through change.…Strategic communications leader with 30+ years of experience in corporate affairs and narrative development for high-stakes, high-growth organizations. I navigate regulatory context and issues management to protect brand reputation during rapid scale and disruption, and I build scalable communications systems that keep messaging consistent across channels and markets. I specialize in stakeholder management, crisis/spokesperson work, and executive-facing communication strategy—including Chief of Staff support, narrative development, and ghostwriting. I’ve led communications for mission-driven organizations, startups, and regulatory-navigating enterprises, ensuring clarity, credibility, and confidence through change.

Susan Nefzger

PR Freelancer, Writer, Brand Strategist, +2

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Strategic communications leader with 30+ years of experience in corporate affairs and narrative development for high-stakes, high-growth organizations. I navigate regulatory context and issues management to protect brand reputation during rapid scale and disruption, and I build scalable communications systems that keep messaging consistent across channels and markets. I specialize in stakeholder management, crisis/spokesperson work, and executive-facing communication strategy—including Chief of Staff support, narrative development, and ghostwriting. I’ve led communications for mission-driven organizations, startups, and regulatory-navigating enterprises, ensuring clarity, credibility, and confidence through change.…Strategic communications leader with 30+ years of experience in corporate affairs and narrative development for high-stakes, high-growth organizations. I navigate regulatory context and issues management to protect brand reputation during rapid scale and disruption, and I build scalable communications systems that keep messaging consistent across channels and markets. I specialize in stakeholder management, crisis/spokesperson work, and executive-facing communication strategy—including Chief of Staff support, narrative development, and ghostwriting. I’ve led communications for mission-driven organizations, startups, and regulatory-navigating enterprises, ensuring clarity, credibility, and confidence through change.

Available to hire

Strategic communications leader with 30+ years of experience in corporate affairs and narrative development for high-stakes, high-growth organizations. I navigate regulatory context and issues management to protect brand reputation during rapid scale and disruption, and I build scalable communications systems that keep messaging consistent across channels and markets.

I specialize in stakeholder management, crisis/spokesperson work, and executive-facing communication strategy—including Chief of Staff support, narrative development, and ghostwriting. I’ve led communications for mission-driven organizations, startups, and regulatory-navigating enterprises, ensuring clarity, credibility, and confidence through change.

Skills

Branding

Leadership

Copywriting

Experience Level

Branding

Expert

Leadership

Expert

Copywriting

Expert

Language

French

Intermediate

English

Fluent

Spanish; Castilian

Intermediate

Work Experience

Owner at AWARENESS UNLIMITED, LLC.

January 1, 2018 - Present

Provide chief-of-staff level interaction with high-level executives, delivering narrative development and ghostwriting to support a coherent and confident voice during leadership transitions and scaling phases. Design and publish long-form corporate affairs collateral and instructional guides, establishing trusted authority in a disruptive publishing marketplace.

Author & Publisher at Awareness Unlimited, LLC

January 1, 2018 - Present

Author and publisher of self-awareness books and accompanying 'how-to' guides for implementation, designed for use by individuals or in group teaching. Conduct marketing and promotional events. Authored and published, “A Practical Guide to Living Fearlessly,” “A Practical Guide to Awareness,” a step-by-step guide to finding fulfillment through self-awareness, plus companion guide for use in online course work, coaching, motivational speaking events. Provide ghost writing, freelance writing and mentoring for nonprofits and others.

Freelance/Remote at S. Nefzger PR & Web Marketing

January 4, 2004 - Present

Specialist in public relations, content marketing, business writing, freelance writing, coaching. Supported nonprofits, business-to-business, and business-to-consumer technology, healthcare, and hospitality. Facilitated projects with teams of nonprofit and healthcare industry vendors in the U.S. and overseas for website development, content marketing, video production, communication and marketing collateral, media relations and crisis communications. Developed and created Cancer Answers 123.com, a first of its kind oncology patient information news and clinical trial aggregate, subsequently sold by the owner. Successful nonprofit branding, mentoring, and startup facilitation with key contacts and grant writing, plus negotiating of budget/funding mechanisms for nascent cancer services and support foundation.

Owner at S. NEFZGER PR

January 1, 2004 - Present

Design and deliver complex communications planning for teams of nonprofit, hospitality, and healthcare vendors, navigating multi-national regulatory context to ensure narrative consistency across U.S. and overseas markets. Shape brand identity and external perception for Beyondish.com, steering narrative development to drive engagement and stakeholder trust. Steer stakeholder management for high-growth startups and nonprofits by building scalable communications systems and providing strategic branding to support successful market entries and organizational launches.

Communications Manager (Contract) at Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District

January 1, 2003 - January 1, 2004

Directed all aspects of community relations, marketing, crisis communications and customer service. Implemented a system of customer service response programs. Created and designed all marketing collaterals and video for the organization. Created and disseminated public education campaign for voting system changes including marketing/educational collateral.

Communications Director at Planned Parenthood of Palm Beach County

January 1, 2001 - January 1, 2002

Served as spokesperson, media and public relations leader, and crisis communications director. Raised visibility during a time of public confusion and highlighted the role of the organization in the community. Solicited support through effective grant writing.

Start-Up Team/Spokesperson/Public Information Director at Georgia Lottery Corporation

January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1996

Shape foundational narrative and corporate affairs strategy for a 14-member start-up team for the Georgia Lottery. Design and implement scalable communications systems and external relations departments to maintain organizational confidence and coherence during rapid scale and regulatory navigation. Steer marketing and communications for thousands of retailers, delivering complex narrative updates via national call centers and newsletter platforms to align diverse stakeholders with the mission.

Start-Up Team/Spokesperson/Public Information Director at Georgia Lottery Corporation

December 31, 1992 - December 31, 1995

Key member of the 14-member management and operations team that started the Georgia Lottery. Directed media relations and subsequently developed, hired, and implemented three separate departments for external communications. Led marketing and communications for lottery retailers including newsletters, ticket printing, customer service, and the 1-800 National Call Center Hotline and the Customer Relations/Correspondence Unit for Customer Service.

Communications Director at American Red Cross, Palm Beach County, FL

January 1, 1991 - January 1, 2001

Triage and execute critical issues management and crisis communications as primary spokesperson during national tragedies, maintaining a trusted corporate narrative under extreme scrutiny. Steer strategic planning to design robust operating systems for national communications response, ensuring coherence across media and policy functions. Lead stakeholder management across volunteer staff, media, and emergency management agencies, coordinating infrastructure policy updates and energy-dependent logistics communications.

Communications Director at American Red Cross, Palm Beach County

January 1, 1991 - January 1, 2001

Spokesperson and crisis communications expert during the tragedy of September 11th, and prior, helping guide the organization and public through an event that was a turning point in the reputation of the organization on a national level. Strategic Planning Committee member. Provided a local media and community relations support mechanism for positive relations resulting in large amounts of effective media coverage. Managed volunteer staff, media, emergency management, response and all communications.