JUDITH (JUDY) SCHMIDT

SENIOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS LEADER  

Award-winning storyteller and brand champion with extensive experience in corporate communications. Skilled in developing and executing high-impact strategies and driving results for business goals while motivating and mentoring teams with empathy and empowerment. Background across a variety of industries: aerospace and defense, financial services and healthcare. Exceptional organization and interpersonal skills. Results-driven critical thinker and change agent expert at working in cross-functional, matrixed environments. Strategic communications advisor to executives. Core competencies include:

Leadership | Public Relations | Executive & C-suite Communications | Crisis Communications | Internal & External Communications | Media Relations | Content Strategy & Development | Social Media | Strategy

EXPERIENCE

Jomax Branding & Communications, LLC, Orlando FL      July 2024-Present

Communications Consultant

Provide brand consultations and public relations for businesses of diverse sizes. Deliver writing and editing services; PR strategy and execution; crisis communications counseling; and social media content strategy, execution and community management solutions across a variety of industries.

·      Strategic PR support for Legacy Events for Education (Central Florida nonprofit); media relations strategy and counsel resulting in key local earned media including “The 407” on Fox35 and feature in The Local

·      Provide AMA style medical writing for Amplity Comms division in support of newly launched media platform In Practice; site offers medical news and trends for community practice oncologists

·      Crafted brand messaging document and thought leadership profile (including bio, headshots) for leadership of Equality in Arms to grow brand awareness and leader expertise particularly in Central Florida; executed opportunities with The New York Times (January 2026), LGBTQIA+ journalist Baxstar Jonmarie Fergueson (Well Beings News, January 2026), Watermark Out News (cover story, February 26, 2026)

·      Increased client French Toast’s Facebook and Instagram followers by 55 percent and engagement by 10.78 percent (between May 1 and Sept. 30, 2025) for the brand’s 40th anniversary and back-to-school campaigns. Provided crisis counseling services for delayed orders including media and social media messaging, content and sentiment monitoring and reporting (May-September 2025)

·      Developed and executed content strategy campaign on home and commercial property preparation during hurricane season for Central Florida-based Central Florida Building Inspectors, resulting in top-performing social media posts and web content (June 2025-October 2025)

·      Ghostwrote book chapters featuring expert opinion on behalf of a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and cybersecurity professional (Fall 2024)

·      Current member of professional organizations including ICology; member of business organizations including the West Orange Chamber of Commerce and The Pride Chamber of Commerce Orlando

Lockheed Martin, Orlando, FL                  August 2018 – August 2024

Communications Manager

Led, coached and empowered Mission Systems communications team providing strategic, integrated (internal communications, external communications, marketing) support for the Sensors & Global Sustainment (S&GS) product line of business ($2B+, 6,000+ employees) at Missiles and Fire Control (MFC).

·      Leadership branding and internal communications support for various VPs and Deputy VPs of S&GS including a global sustainment integrated strategy (won the company’s highest award for this work)

·      LinkedIn thought leadership content strategy, creation and reporting for VPs and Deputy VPs of S&GS

·      Competitive research to find the opportunity for brand ownership in niche markets; results driving strategies for product and line of business external communications

·      Led internal and external rebranding of S&GS 2023-2024, including new business messaging, internal communications and engagement, purpose and mission statement rollout, and new visuals to reenergize employees and to promote the vision of Lockheed Martin externally through S&GS expertise

·      Built relationships with Sensors and Integration Testing Center to communicate internal and executive messages to unwired/frontline employees

·      Drove communications strategy and execution for industry trade shows leading to media and social media coverage on behalf of Missiles and Fire Control (i.e. AAAA 2024, AUSA Global Forces March 2023, Air     Force Association Air, Space and Cyber Conference 2021)

·      Developed and executed results-based, integrated communications and marketing strategies supporting the overall S&GS business focused on promoting products like Sniper® Networked Targeting Pod as key to Lockheed Martin business goals and company vision of 21st Century Security

Other roles held:

Communications Associate Manager, Rotary Wing and Ground Systems, S&GS (leadership role; external, internal, executive, marketing, social media and crisis communications)

TD Bank, Mt. Laurel, NJ                            January 2010 - August 2018

Head of Corporate Media Relations

Primary corporate spokesperson, led crisis communications, served as counsel to C-Suite leadership on crisis management (i.e. Dakota Access Pipeline financing, diversity in lending, Penny Arcade). Directed CEO media relations and led, developed and empowered the corporate communications team supporting the corporate and social responsibility portfolio (financial services, community relations, environment).

·      Stood up the bank’s media relations metrics system, developed accountability with 10% annual performance objective across team to ensure results and metrics-driven strategies

·      Led crisis communications team, acting as bank spokesperson on most reputational issues; collaborated across internal stakeholders and executives up to C-suite to raise awareness, form messaging and strategy, and to provide counsel for crisis management. Developed proactive responses for anticipated issues on social media based on current political/cultural environment

·      Developed and executed strategic executive media relations strategy for TD Bank CEO leading to an appearance on CNBC Squawk Box and coverage in Bloomberg in first week of execution

·      Directed PR agency of record on behalf of Corporate and Public Affairs department, providing oversight of execution on behalf of the bank, collaborating on major strategies (i.e., Environment campaign), managing billing and crisis planning

·      Managed annual budgets to provide strategic communications support for crisis plan development, and various line of business communications activities (i.e., TD Bank Checking Experience Survey)

Other roles held:

Consumer Bank Communications (leadership role; internal, external, crisis, executive and social media communications)

Small Business Banking Communications (leadership role; external, internal, executive and crisis communications)

Media Relations (Led external, executive and crisis communications)

Head of Commercial Banking Communications (Led internal and executive communications)

EDUCATION

MA, Writing & BA, Journalism                                                                  Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

AWARDS

“Spotlight Award” recognition from F-35 Sensors Leadership           2024

“Spotlight Award” recognition from Apache Sensors Leadership      2022

Lockheed Martin NOVA Award (highest LM honor)                          2021

Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control “Comms Ninja”             2020

TD Bank WOW! Star                                                                       2018

VOLUNTEERISM

The LGBT+ Center Orlando (State-certified HIV Counselor)      2024-present

Dr. Phillips Little League      2026-present