Clare Venegas · Strategic Communications
The Journalist Who Never Stopped Reporting — Or Writing Other People's Best Lines
A 25-year career moving between newsrooms, boardrooms, and the public square — always with a reporter's instinct for what actually matters.
My career began where all good communications work should: at a newspaper. Covering city government for the Orange County Register gave me something no marketing course can teach — a journalist's instinct for what's actually newsworthy, and deep respect for an audience's intelligence.
From there I moved into corporate communications, public affairs, and nonprofit leadership — managing media relations for a global manufacturer, overseeing communications for Southern California's largest toll-road system, directing a high-profile political membership organization, and leading a network of women's health clinics.
At Curt Pringle & Associates I advised public and private-sector clients on strategic positioning and built relationships with elected officials statewide. Most recently as VP and Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at the University of Dallas, I led enterprise-wide brand transformation, launched the institution's first crisis communications plan, and secured national placements from the Wall Street Journal to Fox News.
The tools keep changing. The principles don't.
25+
Years in communications
$500K
Cost savings delivered
WSJ
Among placements secured
3×
Industry benchmarks exceeded
Career
University of Dallas · Irving, TX
Vice President, Marketing and Communications
2020 – 2026
Led enterprise-wide brand transformation, crisis communications, and earned media strategy for the President. Secured placements in the WSJ, Dallas Morning News, Fox News, EWTN, and national Catholic outlets. Drove record undergraduate applications while delivering $500K in cost savings by bringing enrollment marketing fully in-house.
Curt Pringle & Associates · Anaheim, CA
Vice President
2018 – 2020
Advised public and private-sector clients on strategic communications and public affairs. Built relationships with state and local elected officials, policymakers, and business leaders. Drove business development and client retention through targeted strategic messaging.
Obria Medical Clinics · Southern California
President & Executive Director
Earlier career
Provided executive leadership for Southern California's largest network of life-affirming women's health clinics. Oversaw administration, communications, community partnerships, and organizational growth across multiple locations.
Lincoln Club of Orange County · Tustin, CA
Executive Director
Earlier career
Led strategic growth of a high-profile political membership organization with deep ties to senior business and community leaders. Managed government affairs, advocacy, member engagement, and relationships with elected officials at state and local levels.
The Toll Roads/TCA · Orange County, CA
Communications & Public Affairs Manager
Earlier career
Managed communications and public affairs for Southern California's largest toll-road system, navigating complex stakeholder relationships, government relations, and media strategy for a major regional infrastructure organization.
QSC Audio Products · Costa Mesa, CA
Public Relations Representative
Earlier career
Managed all media relations for a global audio technology manufacturer. Placed bylined and ghostwritten articles in international trade publications. Produced press campaigns for five major tradeshows. Built the company's first online press room.
Orange County Register · Santa Ana, CA
Reporter & Editor
Earlier career
Covered city government and local news, building the reporting instincts and editorial discipline that continue to shape her strategic communications work today.
"As Vice President of Marketing and Communications, Clare was instrumental in elevating our institutional brand and sharpening how we communicate our mission to diverse stakeholders."
— President Jonathan J. Sanford, University of DallasCore Competencies
Strategic Communications
Media Relations & Earned Media
Executive Ghostwriting
Thought Leadership
Crisis Communications
Public Affairs
Government Affairs
Brand Management
Content Strategy
Stakeholder Engagement
Reputation Management
Coalition Building
Executive Media Training
Nonprofit Communications
Digital Platforms & Analytics
Team Leadership
Video & Multimedia Production
Internal Communications
Portfolio
Executive Communications · Higher Education
Presidential Brand & National Earned Media Strategy
Transforming a university president into a recognized national voice — from WSJ op-eds to Fox News to Relevant Radio.
Developed and executed a comprehensive earned media strategy for a university president, personally drafting op-eds, expert commentaries, and contributed articles for national and regional publication. Built the executive's LinkedIn presence from zero to 5,000+ followers. Placements spanned the Wall Street Journal, Dallas Morning News, American Mind, National Catholic Register, EWTN, Fox News, and Relevant Radio — all within a single academic year.
Brand Strategy · Enrollment Marketing
Enterprise Brand Refresh & In-House Creative Build
Bringing enrollment marketing in-house, redesigning the brand, and rebuilding the website — with record results at half the cost.
Directed the transition from external enrollment vendors to an in-house model, delivering $500K in cost savings while driving undergraduate applications to record levels through integrated communications and strategic positioning. Led a website redesign that increased traffic 50% and reduced bounce rates on key admission pages.
Content Strategy · Social & Digital
Content Ecosystem Growth: 104% Audience Increase
Building a content operation from the inside out — with engagement growth that beat industry benchmarks by 3x.
Built and led a cross-platform content strategy, doubling year-over-year organic social content production and growing video output 3x in a single quarter. Produced an internal institutional newsletter averaging a 57% open rate across 12 editions — well above industry benchmarks — and launched a prospective family newsletter platform with audience engagement 3x higher than platform benchmarks.
Public Affairs · Government Relations
Stakeholder Strategy Across Public, Private & Nonprofit Sectors
Two decades advising organizations through complex political, regulatory, and community stakeholder environments.
Across roles at Curt Pringle & Associates, the Lincoln Club of Orange County, Obria Medical Clinics, and the Southern California toll-road system, built deep experience in public affairs strategy, government relations, community outreach, and advocacy communications across all three sectors.
Writing Samples
A sample of ghostwritten op-eds, expert commentary, and media appearances secured across outlets.
Dallas Morning News
AI Is Revolutionizing Business — But It Can't Form the Leaders We Need ↗
Ghostwritten op-ed · Dec. 2025
National Catholic Register
Renewing America Begins with Renewing Catholic Universities ↗
Ghostwritten op-ed · 2026
North Texas Catholic
Born in Fire: The Story of Pentecost and Why It Still Matters ↗
Freelance · 5.20.26
Services
01
Executive Ghostwriting
Op-eds, thought leadership, LinkedIn content, speeches, and expert commentary — in your voice, placed in the outlets that matter to your audience.
02
Media Relations & Earned Media
Strategic pitch campaigns, editor relationships, press releases, media training, and full-service earned media strategy for executives and organizations.
03
Brand & Content Strategy
Brand positioning, messaging frameworks, language and brand guides, editorial calendars, and content ecosystems built for long-term growth.
04
Crisis Communications
Crisis plan development, messaging frameworks, stakeholder communications, real-time response support, and post-crisis reputation strategy.
05
Public & Government Affairs
Stakeholder positioning, coalition building, elected official relationships, advocacy communications, and public affairs strategy across sectors.
06
Video & Multimedia Content
Concept, scripting, production oversight, and editorial direction for video series, podcasts, testimonials, and campaign content.
Get in Touch
Ready to tell your story?
Whether you need an op-ed ghostwritten, a crisis plan built, or a full communications strategy — I'd love to hear about your goals.
clarevenegas@gmail.com