William (Bill) R. Kula is an accomplished corporate communications professional based in Plano, Texas, seeking a senior public relations role in the Dallas/Fort Worth market. He has extensive experience in strategic communications, crisis management, and media relations, holding leadership positions at Verizon and other notable companies. Kula has a strong educational background in journalism and has received multiple awards for his contributions to public relations and communication excellence.

1. William (Bill) R. Kula, APR
214-789-1644 / billkula21@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/BillKula
Plano, Texas
Award-winning corporate communications professional seeking senior-level public relations
leadership role in the D/FW market where strategic counsel, team collaboration, compelling internal
and external message management skills and exceptional writing supports a growing organization.
• Senior professional who excels in strategic communications, internal communications, media
relations, executive communications, writing, social media engagement, issues management,
community engagement and stakeholder relationship management.
• Trusted relationship cultivator with senior executives who helps leaders communicate
dynamic, consistent messages to internal and external audiences including analysts and
national/regional/trade media representing financial, business, metro and lifestyle beats.
• Composed crisis communicator and creative problem solver with strong history of working
with all employee levels ranging from CEOs, CTOs and CMOs to frontline associates.
• Impactful creator of tailored messages used across business units and departments for
multiple audiences that favorably positions brands, products and services, increase sales,
lowers customer churn, champions culture change and boosts employee pride.
The Kula Group – Plano, TX
July 2014 to Present - Senior Managing Partner
• Strategic communications counselor to clients in multiple industries. Areas involve executive
communications, corporate social responsibility, employee relations, community relations,
messaging, media relations, social media, writing and customer engagement.
Verizon Communications - Basking Ridge, NJ & Irving, TX
2008 to June 2014 - National Director External Communications
February 2010 to May 2010 - Acting Vice President Corporate Communications
2000 to 2008 - Regional Communications Director (Executive/Internal/External duties)
• Strategic communications advisor and business partner to business unit senior leaders,
working directly with all corporate communication functions to exceed business unit
financial, operational and employee culture goals.
• National media spokesman for Verizon’s consumer/small business unit that offers voice,
broadband and TV services to 20+ million customers, representing $40 bb in annual revenue.

2. • Primary interface with multiple public relations firms that provided communications support,
research and measurement services for consumer and multi-cultural markets.
• One of four designated Tweeters for the @verizon account; content manager and most read
blogger for the residential/small business section of the digital Verizon Newscenter.
• Chief architect of Verizon’s FiOS (flagship fiber services) communications campaign
launched in 2004 and expanded to 12 states. Helped drive revenue from zero to $13 billion
annually in 10 years through targeted earned media campaigns.
• Proactively placed more than 2,000 FiOS-related stories, including all major U.S. broadcast
and print outlets, including 100+ front page articles; wrote speeches for 15+ senior
executives. National spokesman for weather outages, service disruptions and crisis matters.
• Served as one of three corporate spokespersons on Sept. 11, 2001, to address Verizon’s
efforts to restore communication services damaged during the terrorist attack at the World
Trade Center, adjacent to Verizon’s world headquarters.
GTE Corp. – Irving, TX
1998 to 2000 - Director Technology & Product Public Relations
1995 to 1998 - Manager Media Relations, GTE Telephone Operations (largest subsidiary)
• Co-lead communications architect of the nation’s largest Y2K communications plan
representing more than $350 million in investment to preserve global systems continuity.
• Creator of corporate speaker’s bureau; led editorial content production for new product
introductions; produced multi-media presentations, internal town halls, news conferences;
managed all executive media and analyst interviews at more than 20 industry trade shows.
• Creator and implementer of comprehensive communications plan that introduced the nation’s
largest deployment of digital subscriber line (DSL) technology that ushered in the broadband
era with a test of thousands of Microsoft employees at its world headquarters.
Greyhound Lines - Dallas, TX
December 1987 to February 1995 - Corporate Manager Public Relations
• National spokesperson for nation’s largest intercity ground transportation company, reporting
to SVP Public Relations, and for two years directly to the Office of the President. Managed
media relations, employee communications, executive communications, event management,
crisis communications and community affairs.
• Manager of all editorial, photography, production, measurement and budget aspects of
award-winning company newspaper and internal communication campaigns.
• Implemented national media relations strategy, including co-management of centralized 24/7
strike news center that helped the company successfully overcome its historic labor dispute
and most violent U.S. strike since World War II.
EDUCATION
University of Texas at Arlington
• B.A. in Journalism. Honors student with PR emphasis; marketing and geology minors
• Recipient, Outstanding Public Relations student award and Dallas Times Herald collegiate
writing award for Texas collegiate newspapers. Section Editor, The Shorthorn newspaper
• President, Public Relations Student Society of America student chapter
MEMBERSHIPS/CIVIC ROLES

3. • Accredited member of Public Relations Society of America (APR). 100% success rate in
mentoring a dozen fellow professionals to earn their accreditation distinction.
• Past Dallas chapter PRSA president, board member and National Assembly delegate
• Past HOA president; current communications chair and designated media spokesman with
news media, nearby developers, corporations, elected officials and civic leaders
• Past president, board member and Advisory Council chair, Plano Symphony Orchestra.
Current member of PSO’s Advisory Council
• Past communications advisory chair, Arts of Collin County
• Knights of Columbus – third degree member and 120-hour per year volunteer
• Guest speaker at Bulldog Reporter Media Relations Summit (NYC) on cultivating long-term
media relationships
• Guest lecturer to graduate and undergraduate PR classes at Southern Methodist University,
University of Texas at Arlington and University of North Texas
• Member of Lewisville ISD, District of Innovation Committee
• Parent volunteer and guest speaker in the Lewisville ISD
• Middle school youth leader and religious education teacher for past eight years at my church
• PR/marketing/social media chair – North Texas Catholic Brothers for Christ
• PR/social media chair – Diocese of Dallas/Dallas Catholic Youth Conference (2016-17)
HONORS/AWARDS
• Recipient of multiple Verizon President’s Leadership awards for revenue generation,
productivity enhancement, brand awareness and campaign management
• PRSA Silver Anvil Award of Excellence, Public Affairs Division (Non-Profit)
• Recipient of multiple public affairs, writing and internal communication awards from the
Dallas PRSA and Dallas IABC chapters