I am a passionate communications and marketing professional looking to use my skills in storytelling, digital media, and community engagement to help organizations grow and make a real impact. I enjoy building strong partnerships, collaborating with teams, and finding creative ways to connect with people and communities.

Chardonnay Thomas

(318) 936-1662 | CharThomasTV@gmail.com | LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/CharThomas

Strategic Communications & Media Relations Leader | Nonprofit | Corporate | Journalism

Strategic communications professional with 7+ years of experience driving brand visibility, media relations, storytelling, and executive communications across nonprofit, healthcare, and broadcast media sectors. Proven ability to develop compelling narratives that advance organizational priorities, secure earned media, guide crisis communications, and support executive leadership with speeches, messaging, and talking points. Adept at cross-functional collaboration, digital storytelling, and strengthening stakeholder engagement to amplify impact across community-focused initiatives involving economic development, workforce, education, quality of life, and public policy.

Core Competencies

  • Media Relations & Spokesperson Support

  • Executive Messaging & Speechwriting

  • Strategic Storytelling & Content Development

  • Crisis Communications & Reputation Management

  • Website, Blog & Digital Content Management

  • Staff Advocacy & Social Media Champions Programs

  • Editing, AP Style & Quality Control

  • Cross-Department Collaboration

  • Event Communications & Onsite Media Mgmt

  • Public Policy & Community Narrative Development

    Professional Experience

    David Raines Community Health Centers — Community Development Coordinator

    April 2022 – Present | Shreveport, LA

  • Lead communications strategy supporting healthcare access, workforce development, economic mobility, and community quality-of-life initiatives across multi-regional markets.

  • Serve as primary contact for local media outreach, relationship-building, media pitching, and press coordination to elevate organizational priorities and accomplishments.

  • Write feature stories, executive communications, press releases, blog content, internal newsletters, and community messaging aligned with organizational strategy.

  • Partner with leadership to develop talking points, speeches, and presentations for public forums and community events.

  • Direct digital campaigns (website, social media, email marketing) resulting in 40% growth in community engagement.

  • Manage communications logistics for high-profile special events, supporting spokesperson preparation and onsite media coordination.

  • Curate photography and multimedia assets to support storytelling across digital platforms.

  • I regularly audit website content, ensuring messaging accuracy, relevance, and alignment with organizational priorities.

    United Way of Central Louisiana — Interim Communications Director (Contract)

    February 2024 – September 2024 | Alexandria, LA

  • Led comprehensive communications operations including media relations, storytelling, website management, employee communications, and executive messaging.

  • Developed and executed crisis communication strategy, protecting organizational reputation during critical periods.

  • Served as lead editor for marketing, donor communications, impact reports, and press communications.

  • Managed brand voice across all platforms to ensure consistency and engagement.

  • Collaborated with SVP and executive leadership on speeches, campaign messaging,

    newsletters, and presentations.

  • Developed community-facing stories illustrating organizational impact across workforce

    development, education initiatives, and quality-of-life efforts.

ABC 31 News — Senior Reporter / Producer

April 2017 – April 2021 | Alexandria, LA

  • Produced, reported, wrote, and edited daily broadcast and digital news content for diverse audiences.

  • Built strong working relationships with media partners, government officials, business leaders, and community stakeholders.

  • Exercised real-time news judgment under deadline pressure, managing breaking and sensitive coverage.

  • Conducted live interviews and served as an on-air spokesperson.

  • Supervised production teams and coordinated daily newsroom assignments to meet

    editorial and broadcast schedules.

    Education

    Bachelor of Arts – Mass Communications Wiley University | Marshall, TX | 2014-2016

    Certifications

  • Google — Foundations of Digital Marketing & E-Commerce (2025)

  • Google — Attract & Engage Customers with Digital Marketing (2025)

  • Microsoft — Copilot for Project Management (2025)

  • Microsoft — Boost Productivity with GitHub Copilot (2025)

  • Microsoft — Generative AI for Developers with Copilot (2025)