Mandy Stark Culbertson

About Mandy Stark Culbertson

I specialize in helping organizations move from reactive messaging to proactive narrative leadership so they’re not just responding to the moment with messaging, but shaping worldviews to create real change. From shared narrative frameworks and messaging systems to editorial strategies and campaign architecture, I focus on telling the values-based stories that matter for organizations. Narrative strategy is where my brain lives, at the intersection of storytelling, power analysis, and systems change.For more than 15 years, I’ve helped organizations shape how complex issues are understood, contested, and acted on, translating policy, science, and institutional dynamics into stories that move people and build durable alignment.My background spans nonprofit, government, academic, and private-sector settings, combining hands-on communications leadership with high-level strategic planning. That blend has allowed me to lead integrated narrative, media relations, and messaging efforts in issue advocacy, often amid high-stakes situations where clarity, credibility, and timing are essential.As someone with hearing loss, I bring a lived understanding of disability, access, and inclusion, insights that shape how I approach systems thinking, leadership philosophy, and organizational communications.Specialties: Narrative strategy, strategic communications, messaging frameworks, integrated media campaigns, writing and editing, public relations, brand and voice development, organizational storytelling, team leadership, cross-sector collaboration.

Experience

1. Communications Director

   Wildlife For All

   Aug 2024 — Present

   Lead national communications strategy for a grassroots advocacy organization working to reform state wildlife governance and build a more democratic, science-based system. Designed and implemented strategic communications plans for core campaigns, including wildlife commissioner reform, mountain lion protections, and wolf policy. —Serve as primary spokesperson and lead media engagement, including earned media strategy, rapid response, and coalition messaging coordination, drafting talking points, reporter outreach, and media list maintenance—Developed and implemented a comprehensive organizational brand and style guide to ensure consistency in written and visual communications. —Manage and execute organizational social media strategy. Grew social media following from 4,300 to more than 34,700 in one year—a 706% increase—through targeted content strategy, narrative clarity, and platform optimization—Consistently produce and launch video storytelling campaigns. —Lead production of digital advocacy toolkits, website content strategy, and email campaigns to grow supporter base and mobilize action. Draft and implement thought leadership pieces for the blog and executive leadership—Directed coordinated crisis communications strategy in response to adversarial campaigns and public records disclosures, ensuring accurate framing, media engagement, and partner alignment under time-sensitive conditions—Conceptualized, wrote, designed, and produced the organization’s first-ever annual report, establishing a new cornerstone for donor and supporter communications—Researched, authored, and co-led stakeholder workshops to refine and roll out the organization’s Theory of Change, a shared strategic foundation for long-term movement building— Support execution of multiple fundraising and development campaigns. Led the successful migration of organizational data to a new CRM and email/action platform, improving supporter engagement tracking and campaign execution.

Education

• Universidad LCI Veritas

  Study abroad, Environmental science, ecotourism, intensive Spanish language coursework

  2006 — 2006

• Kansas State University

  Agricultural Communications and Journalism, Environmental option, Environmental Science, Journalism

  2003 — 2007

Skills

• Press Releases
• Nonprofits
• Television
• Budgets
• Community Outreach
• Graphic Design
• Social Media
• Social Media Marketing
• Marketing
• Leadership
• Blogging
• Research
• Event Management
• Advertising
• Public Relations
• Internal Communications
• Media Relations
• Microsoft Office
• Sales
• Photography
• Editing
• Newsletters
• Writing
• Sustainability
• Social Networking
• Strategic Communications
• Email Marketing