Bruce Dudley
Communications Director, United Way of Broome County, Binghamton, NY
CAST member since 2001
What does your organization do?
The United Way of Broome County raises money from the community each year to fund specific programs that help thousands of people in Broome County.
What’s your role in the company?
I’m responsible for nearly everything that has to do with communications at United Way of Broome County. That includes: managing our relationship with the news media; running press conferences; creating broadcast and print advertising; managing our Web page and printed publications; and developing our strategies for content in all those areas. My job also includes some aspects of communications that don’t normally go with the title: for instance, I was responsible for selecting our telephone system.
Tell us about the special challenges you face in your job.
We’re a small organization with a small budget. In my previous jobs, we had staff to move tables around and set things up for meetings. Here, you do everything yourself. In a corporation, when there’s a problem, they spend the money to have things done. We don’t have that option.
What training and prior experience led you to this point in your career?
I have a BS and MA in public relations from the Ohio University School of Journalism. I’ve held public relations and communications positions at numerous colleges and universities, including Ohio University, Virgina Tech, the University of West Florida, Case Western Reserve, Marietta College, Bowling Green State University and several smaller schools.
Why do you belong to CAST?
As a one-man band, I often run into situations that are new to me, or I find I have to learn my way around new software. I appreciate having other people I can turn to for advice.
At the monthly luncheon meetings, I get a lot of information that I can store in the back of my head and then use at some point when I need it. For example, Steve Craig from Channel 34 talked about some of the changes he saw coming up among the local news media. You store those tidbits away, and later, when you’re working with the news media, you take them into consideration. If you don’t go to the meetings, you don’t know those things.
Final words?Networking with other members of CAST is important. You find out what they’re doing and learn about things that you can relate to your own situation. Or if you suddenly find yourself without a job, as happens in our profession, you can network with people that way, too.
To learn more about United Way of Broome County, call 607-729-2592 or visit www.unitedwaybroome.com.
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