Mike Machak is an experienced corporate communications professional with over 15 years of experience in public relations, media relations, crisis communications, and social media. He has held director and VP level positions at organizations such as the Tennessee Department of Mental Health, CCA, Dollar General Corporation, and Crye-Leike Realtors. He is skilled at developing communications strategies, managing media relationships, distributing press releases, and enhancing organizational reputation through multiple communication channels.

1. MIKE MACHAK
484 Summit Oaks Drive | Nashville, TN 37221
615-440-2814 | machakmike@gmail.com
Corporate Communications Professional
Director, Corporate Communications | VP, Public Affairs | Director, Public Relations
Award-winning B2B and B2C business communicator, skilled at developing effective strategies in
promoting positive news through multiple media channels, reputation management, crisis
communication, and internal communications. Proven written and oral communication skills, with
the ability to use those skills to influence outcomes, gain the confidence of others, advance
organizational change and implement both strategic and tactical plans. Known for taking
measured risks and driving innovative strategies and messaging through media and other venues.
Possesses strong interpersonal skills, maturity and good judgment, and capable of communicating
with a wide range of individuals. Highly skilled in working across functions and leading an
executive team to drive change in a positive, collaborative, and transparent way. Demonstrates
creativity and innovation, while using best practices to create messaging. Effectively manages
outside communication and vendor relationships to achieve organizational objectives
CORE COMPETENCIES
Corporate Communications • Media Relations • Crisis Communications • Social Media
AP Style News Writing • Press Release Distribution • Internal Communication
Reputation Management • Media Spokesperson • Leadership • Organization
Interpersonal Skills • Project Management • Event Management
NOTABLE ACHIEVEMENTS
Tennessee Department of Mental Health
• Generated consistent news media interest based on well-written news releases and one-
on-one reporter outreach and successfully engaged with news media on a daily basis.
• Enhanced department’s image through engagement efforts: redesigned the quarterly
newsletter, generated news releases that got the media’s attention, including Tennessee
AP, and, most notably, brought the department into the social media age by developing a
presence on Facebook, providing meaningful information, resources and impactful stories
on a daily basis. Reached more than 900 likes, organically, within a year.
CCA / Corporate Communications
• Improved brand reputation management through timely and responsive messaging and
research-based promote strategies that target specific media representatives, generating an
increased and sustained level of positive news coverage.
Crye-Leike REALTORS
• Achieved a substantial increase in company and associate visibility in traditional print and
broadcast media outlets, as well as in social media.
• Through regular collaboration with regional marketing directors, and direct engagement
with Realtors, served as an agent of change, introducing a new industry “best practice”
and demonstrating how Public Relations impact a Realtor's bottom line.
Dollar General Corporation
• Posted a 67% increase in news coverage of new Dollar General store openings and
increased brand visibility across all media channels including Internet, TV, print, social
media sites and blogs, based on mutually beneficial news media relationships.
• Co-led highly received Black History Month program for corporate headquarters staff, as
well as an evening, semi-formal gala, held in Nashville.
• Conceived, scripted, and associate produced a successful 'recruitment video', which is still
prominently featured on the corporate website.

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SELECTED AWARDS
• 2013 Gold Award, Media Relations, Int’l Assoc. of Business Communicators (IABC)
Nashville, Tennessee Chapter, GOLD AWARD: CCA Metro Dollhouse Workshop
• 2009 Gold Award, Media Relations, Int’l Assoc. of Business Communicators (IABC)
Nashville Chapter, GOLD AWARD: Crye-Leike, REALTORS Save The Dream Campaign
• Florida Emmy Award, Jacksonville, FL, Crack Cocaine Epidemic Documentary, WJXT-TV
• News Media Award, Jacksonville, Florida, Environmental Protection Board, WJXT-TV
• Best Public Affairs Reporter, El Paso, Texas Press Club, KTSM-TV
PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
COMMUNICATIONS STRATEGY
• Plans external and internal information programs by identifying audiences, determining
informational needs, and customizing specific media approaches.
• Informs public and employees by developing and disseminating information, including
fact sheets, news releases, newsletters, photographs, films, recordings, and personal
appearances.
• Responds to media inquiries by recommending information strategies to management;
planning responses; providing information; arranging interviews and tours; editing copy;
and coaching responders.
• Provides opinion, offers support, and gathers information by representing the
organization at public, social, and business events.
PUBLIC RELATIONS / PUBLIC AFFAIRS
• Manages strategic planning and execution for PR campaigns and partners with other team
members to contribute to broader communications efforts, including events, tours,
product briefings, and other touch points with media/influencers.
• Leads messaging development to support announcements, initiatives, and issues with the
goal of educating target audience groups.
• Oversees the development of compelling written materials, including fact sheets, Q&As,
press releases, media alerts, blog posts, and backgrounders.
• Facilitates/coordinates briefings between Company executives and media or analysts,
ensuring that executives are prepared and media trained as needed.
• Leads PR activities including media relations execution, trade show support, awards, and
speaking opportunities, all while maximizing ROI.
• Provides post mortem analysis of PR activities and oversees coverage tracking/reporting.
MEDIA RELATIONS / CRISIS COMMUNICATIONS
• Responsible for cultivating relationships with reporters in key outlets (trade, mainstream,
consumer) across the country, with the goal of supporting local, state and national efforts.
• Collaborates with and provides guidance and direction to colleagues on message
development and audience targeting through earned media.
• Manages reactive media inquiries, in addition to generating proactive coverage, and
serves as an on-the-record spokesperson when appropriate.
• Leads planning for certain high profile media events, and generates appropriate collateral
material (press releases, media advisories, talking points, etc.) in a timely and organized
manner.
• Supports crisis communications and rapid response efforts.

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SOCIAL MEDIA
• Develops and executes comprehensive social media strategies and campaigns, integrating
both online and offline marketing efforts.
• Develops, coordinates, and executes innovative promotions internally and with partners
for use across social media and web channels.
• Interacts with users, while shaping brand presence, to maintain consistent brand voice for
community engagement and discussion.
• Serves as the digital “eyes and ears” of the brand and continues to build an overall
reputation that is aligned with company branding guidelines and policies.
• Forges strong and trusted relationships with key brand evangelists and encourages
interaction across brand channels.
• Works with others to organize, generate, and deliver creative content to online audience.
• Utilizes familiarity with social media monitoring tools to proactively analyze and report
community feedback and social media data.
RELEVANT EXPERIENCE
TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, Nashville, TN 2014 – 2016
The department is responsible for planning, setting policy and quality standards, system monitoring
and evaluation, and advocating for persons who have mental illness or substance abuse disorders.
Director of Communications
Responsible for creating a weekday news summary for leadership of notable events in the
areas of mental health and substance abuse, and offering subject matter experts immediate
awareness of events, developments, incidents and opportunities in which to respond in
Tennessee and nationwide. Additional duties included developing media response
statements in instances where a department was involved in a crisis or related incident, and
regularly engaging with the governor’s communications staff.
CCA / CORPORATE CORRECTIONS OF AMERICA, Nashville, TN 2011 – 2014
America’s Leader in Partnership Corrections, with more than 16,000 associates in more than 60
facilities nationwide. Served all stakeholders, including shareholders and government partners.
Public Affairs Manager
Responsible for developing strategies to respond to daily inquires from local, national, and
international news outlets, effectively promoting positive news opportunities to targeted
media, and managing and supporting Public Information Officers at the facilities nationwide.
DOLLAR GENERAL CORPORATION, Goodlettsville, TN 2010 – 2011
The largest discount retailer in the United States, by number of stores, with over 11,000 neighborhood
stores in 40 states.
Communications & PR Team
Enhanced news media relations strategy, with a focus on exceeding the requests and
deadline demands of reporters, editors, and producers nationwide. Through a more targeted
outreach, new store announcements were distributed more widely and more frequently.
CRYE-LEIKE REALTORS, Brentwood, TN 2007 – 2010
The nation’s 6th
largest real estate company in the U.S., with 3,500 sales associates and 800 employees
at more than 130 corporate and franchise office locations across a nine-state region in the U.S.
Director of Public Relations
Responsible for managing media relations, news releases, social media, podcasts, marketing
and branding messages, corporate website newsroom, writing and designing monthly
employee and customer e-newsletters and creating content for a quarterly internal magazine.

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Earlier Journalism Positions
WSMV-TV (NBC) / MEREDITH CORPORATION, Nashville, TN
Weekend Anchor / News Reporter
WFTV-TV (ABC) / COX COMMUNICATIONS, Orlando, FL
News Reporter
WJXT-TV (CBS) / POST NEWSWEEK STATIONS, Jacksonville, FL
News Reporter / Consumer Reporter
EDUCATION
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY, Las Cruces, NM
Bachelor of Arts, Journalism
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
International Association of Business Communicators, (IABC Nashville Chapter)
2014 Gold Pen Awards Chair, Immediate Past President
2011-2013 Chapter President
2010 Vice President Programs
Member since 2007
SOFTWARE PROFICIENCIES
MS Word • Excel • PowerPoint • Cison PR • Vocus Marketing