Valerie Wickboldt announced as president of Avail Strategies strategic communications
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Avail Strategies announced the launch of its strategic communications practice with the hiring of veteran communications strategist Valerie Wickboldt as its president.
Avail Strategies is a governmental consulting and lobbying firm dedicated to improving the workings of government for the overall benefit of public sector customers and the general public.
Wickboldt will advise clients on navigating state and local government for procurements and contracting to drive business results and improve government while working to refine and elevate the brand promise of the firm’s clients and products, according to a press release from the company.
Wickboldt has nearly 20 years of expertise in the management of internal and external matters for both public and private organizations.
She has operated extensively at the intersection of public relations and public policy, advising top-level executives and navigating complex environments to promote reputation management strategies in support of nonprofits, government agencies, small-to-mid-sized companies and global corporations.
“Valerie is a results-driven, dynamic leader with an impressive record of local, statewide and national consulting and communications experience. We are thrilled to have her as a leader in our firm,” Heath Beach, co-founder and chief executive officer of Avail Strategies, said.
“Her versatility is a key strength bolstered by her work with a multitude of state agencies and private sector organizations. Her experience will bring a new and unique perspective that will greatly benefit our clients and expand our capabilities,” Beach said.
Prior to joining Avail Strategies, Wickboldt was assistant vice president of strategic communications at one of the nation’s leading providers of healthcare services, Tennessee-based HCA Healthcare.
At this Fortune 100 company, she led the North Florida division in the development and implementation of public relations and communications strategies throughout the global pandemic. Her cross-functional team also played an integral role in the launch of HCA Florida Healthcare, the state’s largest healthcare network caring for more than 7.4 million patients each year.
Wickboldt has also collaborated with the majority of Florida’s state agencies on a diverse set of issues including education, public health, the support of children and families, emergency management, business and environmental regulation, consumer services, juvenile justice, and transportation.
Before joining HCA Healthcare, she was an executive at the department of revenue, one of the largest state agencies responsible for administering Florida’s general tax, child support and property tax oversight programs.
“Throughout my career, I have had the privilege of helping organizations focus on their strategic purpose, create operational efficiencies, and communicate effectively to their valued stakeholders,” Wickboldt said.
“There is great synergy amid my personal values, professional career journey, and the vision of Avail Strategies — to make government better today than it was yesterday and even better tomorrow. I am excited to serve our clients and our partners in government in this new capacity,” Wickboldt said.
