DANIEL WALLACE

stackspk@gmail.com

• Accomplished DEI, Communications, and Human Resources professional with over 15 years of experience at Fortune 50 companies.
• Professionally trained in journalism and broadcasting, encompassing story development, production, broadcasting, and voiceover.
• Proven track record in forging strategic partnerships, both internally and externally, especially within the diversity and multicultural portfolio, to amplify business impact and community involvement.

Director, Multicultural Marketing

Stellantis | Auburn Hills, Mich. | Feb. 2024 – Present

Oversee the creation and implementation of diversity marketing and advertising strategies for marquee brands including Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Alfa Romeo, and Fiat. Partner with diversity agencies to develop targeted plans that boost brand engagement and expand market share. Evaluate and share insights on how multicultural consumers influence sales performance while managing creative briefs, project timelines, and performance metrics. Contribute to annual marketing plan development and direct integrated campaigns across TV, print, digital, social, mobile, CRM, and experiential channels.

• Increase and amplify social engagement among growth audiences on branded channels.
• Led the launch of the company’s inaugural Multicultural Marketing Summit to showcase the strategic importance of growth audiences to the company’s bottom line.

 

Vice President, DEI and Corporate Communications, HR

MMGY Global | Detroit, Mich.  | April 2023 – 2024

Championed the company's global DEI strategy by taking charge of its execution. Directed and supervised a spectrum of activities, including development and training programs, and forged strategic partnerships to strengthen diversity and inclusion initiatives. Collaborated closely with senior leadership throughout the organization, offering expertise and consultation on campaigns, DEI programming, employee development, and change leadership. Developed reports and other documentation linked to DEI accountability and transparency. Served as the company's representative on external DEI panels. Led the charge in internal communication initiatives to inspire and engage employees around company news. Also, served as the senior leader of the Detroit Office, overseeing operations and logistics.

• Elevated diverse employee engagement from 65% to 85% through DEI programming. Improved global workforce belonging to 92%, and diverse employee satisfaction from 75% to 90%
• Received the 2023 Best Inclusion and Diversity Initiative award from the US Agency Awards, marking the company's first recognition for its internal DEI efforts.

 

Director, DEI and Corporate Communications, Human Resources

MMGY Global | Detroit, Mich.  | April 2022 – 2023

Led the development of the company’s global DEI vision, strategies, plans, and measures. Developed the company’s first formal DEI strategy focused on workplace diversity, workplace inclusion and marketplace accountability. Partnered with senior leaders across the organization, brand leaders, and HR/Recruiting teams to provide expertise and consultation in change leadership, DEI programs, talent management, and development. Led internal communication efforts for global announcements and crafted compelling story narratives about the company and its employees.

• Established consistent DEI programming through our Employee Resource Groups and Diversity Council, which resulted in an enhanced presence of DEI in our company culture and key company events.
• Revamped the company's intranet site to develop content pages that are better organized, user-friendly, and promote company news and features.

 

Diversity Outreach Manager, Human Resources

WarnerMedia | Detroit, Mich. (Remote Position) | Aug. 2021 – March 2022

Led a team within Talent Acquisition that executed the company’s diversity recruiting strategy. Managed relationships with external national partners focused on developing diverse talent and created specialized programming to attract diverse candidates to roles within WarnerMedia’s vast portfolio of brands. Oversaw career conversations that featured thought leaders across the enterprise including Business Support, Revenue Distribution, Global Tech, and Creative Content. Led communication and branding efforts for diversity outreach initiatives.

• Enhanced the recruiting strategy by pursuing external recognitions to give the company more visibility with BIPOC talent. Five diverse executives were awarded for their STEM leadership in entertainment.
• Created the team’s external brand persona to maximize exposure and presence at partner conferences and activations.

 

Diversity & Inclusion Initiatives Manager, Human Resources 

General Motors Limited | Detroit, Mich. | Nov. 2016 – July 2021

Managed GM’s African American portfolio, which was the largest budgeted diversity expenditure. Responsible for driving the engagement strategy for diversity programming, defining philanthropic spend, building brand awareness through national programs and measured ROI. Maximized budget and cost reductions with increased quality to programming. Identified venues to highlight GM’s talent, consulted on awards, and responded to external surveys that measured diversity progress. Provided communications support to GM’s Global Chief Diversity Officer, and other members of GM’s executive team.

• Diversity subject matter expert for the company. Authored GM’s annual Diversity & Inclusion Report.
• Created community engagement opportunities that aligned with company pillars. Integrated GM’s African Ancestry Network (GMAAN), which was one of the company’s largest employee resource groups (ERG).

 

Assistant Manager, Diversity Communications

General Motors Limited | Detroit, Mich. | Aug. 2015 – Nov. 2016

Fostered relationships with diverse media, and integrated influencers into hosted brand experiences. Increased coverage of GM’s diversity initiatives with relevant pitches. Managed activation planning aimed at enhancing consumer perceptions of GM’s brands with diverse consumers. Oversaw contract resources for diversity projects, which offered unique cultural experiences. Strategically positioned GM executives and diverse talent on external panels with partner organizations, and drafted accompany messaging to connect with audiences.

• Used storytelling to humanize the company and its values with inspiring people stories. These narratives helped elevate the conversations around professional excellence, corporate leadership and social change.
• Increased GM’s online diversity presence with relatable social media content.

 

Account Supervisor, Diversity Communications       

Weber Shandwick | Birmingham, Mich. | June 2014 – July 2015

Produced diversity themed stories and videos published on GM’s internal and external websites. Collaborated with 12 culturally diverse ERGs to unearth contemporary topics that reinforced cultural values. Managed and supported African American programs, which included drafting messaging and securing media coverage. Engaged social media audiences with inspiring diverse content that humanized the company.

• Through enterprising journalistic means, uncovered interesting diversity stories, which became examples of GM’s inclusive culture and diverse framework.
• Served as a subject matter expert regarding diverse messaging and action items.

 

Communications Specialist, Retiree/Internal Communications

Entrega Systems Group, Inc. | Troy, Mich. | Mach 2011 – June 2014

Managed GM’s retiree website, www.GMRetiree.com, which was visited by more than 120,000 users. Wrote feature stories that profiled the interests and accomplishments of GM retirees. Engaged online users with multimedia content, which included videos and webchats. Managed projects designed to reenergize retirees around company initiatives and products. Advocated internally for information and resources to keep retirees in the know and aligned with company messaging and positioning.

• Transformed an aggregated website for press releases into an online community that featured relatable store lines and interactive engagement with subject matter experts. These activities rallied retirees around company initiatives, so they could effectively serve as external advocates for the company and influence vehicle sales.
• Led regional campaigns to boost online users with steady quarterly growth.

 

Diversity and Community Relations Intern

Daimler Financial Services | Farmington Hills, Mich. | August 2009 – February 2010                                                       
Wrote stories and developed internal communication strategies to promote diversity and community relations. Worked with several diversity committees to raise awareness of multicultural issues in the workplace. Led community service events with nonprofit partners. Managed a modest philanthropic budget, and consulted on diversity projects.

• Created employee engagement experiences for teams in Fort Worth, TX and Farmington Hills, Mich., that fostered camaraderie and yielded goodwill for the community.
• Because DFS was one of the founding companies of the Michigan Diversity Council (MIDC), I was responsible for developing communication and marketing materials to promote programming and solicited new members.

 

Multimedia Business & Environmental Reporter         

Democrat and Chronicle | Rochester, N.Y. | Feb. 2007 – April 2009

Beat reported in the areas of food, beverage, telecommunications, and the environment. Reported stories on a variety of platforms that included print, photography, audio and video. Cultivated community relationships to enterprise stories that highlighted trends, new developments and immediate business news. Contributed to special sections that included Health, Home & Real Estate and Successful Businesses. Featured in promotional marketing campaigns for the newspaper.

• Headlined a multimedia business column, “On the Ladder”, that profiled up and coming young professionals. The column was frequently listed on the newspaper’s top 10 weekly stories. The success of “On the Ladder” led to other opportunities including an environmental site branded with my likeness.
• Responsible for enterprising centerpiece weekly articles for the business section and quarterly articles for the front page.

 

Reporter

Ford Motor Company | Dearborn, Mich. | September 2004 – January 2007                                                              

Researched, interviewed, shot photos and wrote articles that were published on Ford's internal and external news sites. Topics included automotive technology, health, customer encounters and general company news. Also wrote, field produced, and reported on-camera for Ford's internal broadcast. Worked with Ford’s African American employee resource group, F.A.A.N, on diversity initiatives and programs, where I assisted in communication strategy, press releases and other production activities.

• Recognized for enterprising human-interest stories from an engineering organization.