Carolyn spent four decades in the nation’s capital, serving on Capitol Hill, in the executive branch, in the Reagan White House, in two international public relations firms and as an owner of her own business. Her last position in DC was partner in Porter Novelli, where she ran the firm’s DC office. She also served as the firm’s global public affairs leader and managed public affairs operations in Sacramento, Irvine and San Diego, CA.
She also worked in DC for Burson-Marsteller for 11 years, chairing and building the firm’s worldwide environmental practice, focused primarily on chemical and asbestos-related issues. As an owner and general manager of Goddard Claussen’s Washington, D.C. office, Carolyn worked on the highly acclaimed Harry & Louise campaign. Among her other major achievements are leading the communications campaign for the successful legislative efforts that secured national class action reform and permanent normal trade relations with China. She also served as senior strategist on the national “Depression Is Real” campaign and led communications efforts aimed at solving the asbestos litigation crisis.
Her public service includes significant time in the Executive Branch and on Capitol Hill, including three years in the Reagan White House, where she helped lead efforts aimed at improving corporate responsibility and volunteerism as director of communications for the President’s Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives. As a deputy director of intergovernmental affairs for the Department of Commerce, she dealt directly with the nation’s governors, mayors and county officials, and as a deputy press secretary, she provided communications support to a Member of Congress.
In 2009, Carolyn moved to Naples, Florida and founded entrePReneur Communications, where she focused on clients with issues of particular interest to her. She managed communications surrounding a major environmental crisis, provided communications counsel to a client involved in a significant proposed mining project and ran a national awareness campaign for palliative care. She has also held senior positions in a number of local political campaigns.
Carolyn is a recipient of the John Holliman Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award from the University of Georgia’s Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communications and a National Colby Award for Lifetime Achievement in Public Relations from Sigma Kappa sorority. While in DC, she was named PR News Public Affairs Executive of the Year and Washington PR Woman of the Year by Washington Women in PR.
She currently serves on the Board of Trust for the University of Georgia’s Grady College, where she has established a Public Affairs Communications chair. She is also on the nation board of directors for the Alzheimer’s Association. A member of the Sigma Kappa Foundation Board of Trustees, Carolyn has led a major fundraising effort in support of Alzheimer’s research. Locally, she is a Board Trustee of the Shelter for Abused Women & Children and also chairs the Shelter’s communications committee. Carolyn is a member of Greater Naples Leadership and previously served as a member of the Board. She has also served as a member of the SWFL Harry Chapin Food Bank’s Collier County Action Group and is a sponsor of the Southwest Florida Women’s Foundation.
Carolyn is a journalism graduate of the University of Georgia. She lives with her husband Elliott Brown and their Welsh terrier Miss Kirbie.