Mike Viesca

Austin, TX 5/2008-Present

Burson-Marsteller is a global public relations and communications firm headquartered in New York City operating

67 wholly owned offices and 71 affiliate offices in 98 countries across six continents. The company provides public

relations and advertising services to clients, including multinational corporations and government agencies.

Director - Public Affairs and Crisis Practice

• Currently assigned to a confidential Fortune 100 client

o Provide onsite support to the VP of Corporate Communications

o Advise client on strategic communications plans in response to legal and regulatory challenges

o Work closely with C-level executives and legal staff to create change management messaging

campaigns for internal and external audiences

o Collaborate with client on outreach projects

o Engage third parties to advance client's reputation and legislative agenda

o Lead grassroots efforts in strategic locations across the country as needed

• Account leader for a confidential federal government agency based in Washington, DC

o Managed a $2.2 million contract involving research, public relations services, media relations,

crisis management, web site design and social media development

o Day-to-day client point of contact

o Served as liaison between colleagues and client

o Advised client on media relations and crisis communication issues

• Develop public awareness and education programs for clients using traditional and social media

• Advise Fortune 500 clients on matters involving labor issues and contract talks with employees

Austin, TX 9/2003-5/2008

TDCJ manages offenders in state prisons, state jails and private correctional facilities that contract with TDCJ. The

agency also provides funding and certain oversight of community supervision (previously known as adult probation) and is responsible for the supervision of offenders released from prison on parole or mandatory supervision.

Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff

• Managed a $500,000 budget and oversaw a staff of six Austin employees and one Huntsville, TX

employee, including a manager, two writers, two photojournalists, a graphics artist and a web site

coordinator

• Implemented internal communications program reaching 40,000 agency employees in Austin,

Huntsville, TX and at 110 correctional facilities across Texas

• Wrote legislative briefings and presentations for the Executive Director and Deputy Executive

Director as well as speeches that were delivered to internal and external audiences

• Drafted and reviewed communications to key audiences

Statewide Director of Media Relations

• Managed a $700,000 budget and oversaw a staff consisting of one administrative assistant in Austin

and three employees in Huntsville, TX, including a Deputy Director of Media Relations, a Public

Information Manager and an administrative assistant

• Spokesman for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, the Texas Board of Criminal Justice and the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles

• Developed and maintained solid relationships with domestic and international press

• Anticipated the impact of legislative decisions and events and communicated the agency's position to media outlets worldwide

• Specialized in crisis management, high-profile and politically-sensitive issues

• Developed statewide communications strategies and advised executive staff on key issues and public

affairs

• Provided media training to executive staff members in Austin, Huntsville, TX and the agency's 110

correctional facilities statewide

Austin, TX 5/2001 - 9/2003

The Office of the Attorney General serves as legal counsel to all boards and agencies of state government, issues

legal opinions, sits as an ex-officio member of state committees and commissions, and defends challenges to state

laws and suits against both state agencies and individual employees of the State.

Deputy Press Secretary

• One of three communications officers; designee for responding to all matters related to criminal

justice and death penalty cases, corporate fraud, homeowners and health insurance, homeland

security, open government and legal opinions issued by the Attorney General

• Agency Spokesman for Texas Attorneys General John Cornyn and Greg Abbott

• Responded to press inquiries from media outlets worldwide

• Press Liaison - Worked with internal staff, agency partners and the media to coordinate and manage

news conferences and media availability opportunities for the Attorney General; traveled with the Attorney General during press events held across the state

• Prepared news releases, media advisories and letters to the editor; arranged and staffed visits by the Attorney General to editorial boards across Texas

• Worked closely with the Attorney General's executive staff, division chiefs and the Assistant

Attorneys General to ensure continuity in the agency's messages

• Developed position papers for use at news conferences and debates

• Contacted key constituencies to generate interest and financial support

• Recruited campaign volunteers

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Broadcast News Experience ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Producer Assignments Editor, KVUE-TV (ABC), Austin, TX; Executive Producer Assignments Editor,

KLBK-TV (CBS), Lubbock, TX; Promotions Producer, KJTV-TV (FOX), Lubbock, TX; Executive Producer,

KMID-TV (ABC), Midland, TX; Reporter, Producer Assignments Editor, KAMC-TV (ABC), Lubbock, TX

(Full-time job held while attending Texas Tech University full-time)