Phillip Witzke

I am a retired military journalist with more than 30 years of experience in journalism, mass media, and copy editing. I currently work as a teacher in the Topeka, KS, school district.

Certified Social Studies Teacher at Highland Park High School, USD 501 (2022-08 – Present)

Contract Teacher at USD 501 Topeka Public Schools (2021-08 – 2022-07)

Local Veteran's Employment Representative at Kansas Department of Commerce (2020-11 – 2021-08)

Conducts outreach to employers in the area to assist veterans in gaining employment, including seminars for employers and in conjunction with employers, conducting job search workshops and establishing job search groups. Facilitates employment, training and placement services furnished to veterans under the state employment delivery system.

Mardel Books and Gifts (2020-08 – 2020-11)

Substitute Teacher at USD 501 (2020-01 – 2020-03)

Student at Washburn University (2017-08 – 2019-12)

Site Manager at Right Time Right Place Staffing, Simmons Pet Foods (2016-07 – 2017-03)

Coordinated 200+ temporary employees at corporate client location, managing 24-hour operations.

• Acted as the central contact for managers and human resources.
• Managed advertising and web posting
• Built and evaluated staffing strategies and plans

Staffing Clerk, GS4 (step 2), Chief Business Office-Work Force Management at Department of Veteran's Affairs (2014-12 – 2016-07)

• Made tentative job offer to prospects
• Acted as a liaison between staff and applicant after tentative offer was made
• Developed security packages for background checks of all applicants
• Acted as Payroll Clerk for Department

Communications Coordinator/Readiness NCO and 1st Sgt. at 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment (2009-10 – 2014-08)

Developed, wrote, and published Kansas Sentinel Magazine, an internal publication for Kansas Army National Guard, which was voted the number three electronic publication in the country for 2014 by the Thomas Jefferson Media Award Board (Defense Media Awards). Led the National Guard internal and external Public Affairs effort during deployments to Louisiana for Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

• Managing Editor and release authority for all communications for the 105th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment to include a Public Affairs archives, request for Freedom of Information Act materials, and a speakers bureau
• Developed communications strategies, plans, materials, and reports to enhance retention and to communicate the goals of the Commander and Senior Enlisted Advisor of the Kansas Army National Guard

Marketing and Communications Director at Recruiting and Retention Command (2005-05 – 2009-10)

• Provided direct advertising support to Recruiters with the primary purpose of lead generation and accessions
• Developed and executed communications plan to include collateral materials, web and social media content, direct marketing materials for the state recruiting force with direct support to the Director, Assistant Director and Senior Enlisted Advisor
• Conducted state-level market analysis as a basis for the development of marketing strategies, lead generation, and lead fulfillment utilizing nationally supplied and locally obtained census reports and demographic data.

Master of Arts in Teaching – Kansas State University

Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media–Public Relations and Journalism Emphasis – Washburn University

– Defense Information School of Journalism, Fort Meade, MD

– Oak Ridge National Laboratories