The American Red Cross of Illinois is pleased to announce that Brian Williamsen has joined the organization as the new Communications Manager. He will be focusing predominantly on media relations for the Red Cross in central and southern Illinois including Red Cross chapters in the Quad Cities and West Central Illinois (Davenport/Rock Island/Moline and Quincy/Hannibal-Keokuk), Central Illinois (Peoria/Bloomington) and South Central Illinois (Springfield/Decatur/Champaign).
Brian brings 20 years of strong communications experience to the Illinois Red Cross. A graduate of Bradley University in Peoria, Brian began his career as a reporter at WICS ABC 20 in Springfield. He worked as a reporter and morning news anchor at WPDE ABC 15 in Myrtle Beach and later became the public information officer for the city of North Myrtle Beach. Brian then moved back to Illinois where he spent years in communications and public affairs with the Illinois Department of Transportation and managed communications for a former governor. Most recently, Brian worked for the state of Illinois in employment security. Brian is based in the Peoria area, but will cover communications and public affairs for all Red Cross locations in central and southern Illinois.
“We are thrilled to welcome Brian to our Illinois Red Cross team,” said Joy Squier, chief marketing and communications officer for the American Red Cross of Illinois. “Brian’s strong communications expertise, coupled with his storytelling ability and news acumen will be an asset to the Red Cross. His deep roots in the Central and Southern Illinois area enable him to understand and communicate community needs for our area.”
Media can reach out to Brian directly via email at Brian.Williamsen@redcross.org or via his cell phone at (309) 204-7655. Both Brian and the entire Illinois Red Cross communications team can also be reached via the Illinois Red Cross 24/7 media line (312) 907-0520.
Media partners can also follow activity of the Illinois Red Cross via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter @RedCrossIL
About the American Red Cross of Illinois
The American Red Cross of Illinois serves 12.4 million people in 88 counties in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri including Adams, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cook, Coles, Christian, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, De Witt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jasper, Jefferson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermillion, Warren, Washington, Whiteside, Will, Williamson Winnebago, Woodford. Iowa: Lee, Muscatine, Scott and Van Buren. Missouri: Clark, Lewis, Marion and Ralls.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit the Illinois Red Cross at Redcross.org/Illinois or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @RedCrossIL
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