JUSTIN ALBERS

812-350-9739 | thejustinalbers@gmail.com | linkedin.com/in/justinalbers

 

Senior Communications & PR Leader

Accomplished communications professional with 15+ years of experience driving messaging strategy, brand reputation, and executive communications across Fortune 500 and government organizations. Known for delivering high-impact communications under pressure, serving as a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, and guiding strategic messaging that elevates corporate reputation and fosters organizational alignment. Expert in PR strategy, speechwriting, crisis communications, digital engagement, and leading cross-functional teams through complex change.

Key Achievements

▪ Served as one of the chief communications architects for the most significant organizational merger in Toyota Material Handling history, delivering five C-suite speeches and all stakeholder messaging in under three weeks.

▪ Trusted strategic advisor to executive leadership during company-defining initiatives and crisis scenarios, including COVID-19 and regulatory matters.

▪ Increased Toyota’s industry share of earned media from 14% to 51%—the highest in company history.

▪ Received spot bonus and personal recognition from the CEO for contributions described as “adding immense value to our organization.”

▪ Led 700% growth in earned media impressions over four years without additional budget spend.

Professional Experience

TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING NORTH AMERICA | Columbus, IN

Senior Communications & PR Lead (2025-2025)

Helped lead all corporate communications and PR efforts across Toyota Material Handling North America and its top brands, Toyota and Raymond. Partnered with C-level executives to define messaging strategies for organizational changes, crises, acquisitions, and brand storytelling. Directed teams across three locations and manage multiple external creative and PR agencies.

▪ Served as a strategic communications leader on the most important project in company history in 2025 when we combined our two companies (Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation) into one organization under the Toyota Material Handling North America name.

▪ Co-led all internal and external stakeholder communications for historic company merger, delivering five C-suite speeches in under three weeks during a holiday shutdown.

▪ Received a spot bonus from the company and a personal letter from the CEO citing “we could not have accomplished this project without you” and “you add immense value to our organization”. 

▪ Acted as a chief communications advisor to the executive team during organizational restructuring, while simultaneously managing project timelines and messaging strategy.

▪ Managed three creative agencies. 

 

TOYOTA MATERIAL HANDLING – Columbus, IN

Senior Communications & PR Manager (2021–2025)

Corporate Communications & PR Specialist (2018–2021)

Led all corporate communications, public relations strategy, paid media, and crisis communications efforts for Toyota Material Handling prior to the 2025 integration between Toyota Material Handling and The Raymond Corporation under the name Toyota Material Handling North America. Partnered with C-level executives to define messaging strategies for organizational changes, crises, acquisitions, and brand storytelling. Managed multiple external creative and PR agencies.

▪ Oversaw internal/external crisis response communications for COVID-19 and emissions compliance issues; met daily with executive leadership to shape and deliver messaging.

▪ Achieved record-setting media coverage, growing earned media share to 41% in 2024 (up from 14% in 2020) and reaching 239.4M impressions – a 700% increase over four years.

▪ Led cross-functional leadership teams in creating the company’s first-ever Corporate Sustainability Report and served as senior communications lead for the Toyota group sustainability task force.

▪ Developed digital ad strategy yielding a 40% increase in impressions and 38% lift in CTR with no budget growth.

▪ Played a key role in the company's largest product launch in 2021, managing content strategy for 22 electric models.

 

PEERLESS TECHNOLOGIES (NSWC CRANE) – Crane, IN

Strategic Writer, Corporate Communications (2017–2018)

▪ Supported executive leadership at Naval Surface Warfare Center with communications strategy, VIP event scripting, and national editorial placement.

▪ Pitched and published a technical article in the Naval Engineers Journal and received a 16% merit pay increase in under six months.

 

MCKEAN DEFENSE (NSWC CRANE) – Crane, IN

Lead Journalist, Corporate Communications (2016–2017)

▪ Led internal and external communications; launched a Women in Leadership campaign that became a base-wide lecture series.

▪ Doubled social media following and translated technical content for broad audiences.

 

FOX SPORTS | Bloomington, IN

Publisher (2015-2016)

Built and managed the Indiana University site for the national digital media company, focusing primarily on basketball and recruiting. Responsible for a 100% increase in traffic to the site and regularly appeared as an expert guest on the Big Ten Network.

▪ Produced various forms of digital content, including news stories, feature articles, videos, and podcasts.

▪ Hired and mentored a student intern and successfully helped him secure a full-time job in the industry upon graduation.

 

INDIANA ELITE AAU | Indianapolis, IN

Director of Marketing and Social Media (2015-2016)

▪ Increased the site’s views by over 400% and grew Twitter following to more than 5,000 for the leading AAU basketball organization in the state of Indiana. 

▪ Won a national social media competition against 47 other Adidas-sponsored programs.

▪ Captured videos and photos and created a variety original content for the organization’s website.

 

FOX SPORTS | Bloomington, IN

College Basketball, Football and Recruiting Reporter (2013-2015)

▪ Produced 75 pieces of unique content per month for the Indiana University site, and broke two major basketball recruiting stories in a highly-competitive media market.

▪ Represented the company as the reporter for the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago.

▪ Promoted to site publisher at the end of the two-year contract.

 

MLB.COM | Cleveland, OH

Associate Reporter (2012)

As the MLB Advanced Media intern for the Cleveland Indians, I published more than 150 articles during a three-month span. 

▪ Covered the Boston Red Sox – one of professional sports' most popular franchises – as the lead reporter for a four-game series.

 

INSIDE THE HALL | Bloomington, IN

Indiana University Basketball and Recruiting Reporter/Analyst (2011-2013)

▪ Helped the site grow its’ monthly page views from one million to two million (100%) in two years.

▪ Wrote a long-form feature on Indiana player Troy Williams that was viewed over 500,000 times.

 

CHICAGO SUN-TIMES | Chicago, IL

Sports Intern (2011)

Wrote news and feature stories on the Cubs, White Sox, Sky (WNBA), Bulls, Blackhawks, Fire (MLS), as well as NASCAR, drag racing, professional softball and youth sports.

▪ Earned a back-page feature story during my last week, a first for a Sun-Times intern.

▪ Worked three shifts on the copy desk each week and never missed a single deadline.

 

Pendleton Ambulance – Pendleton, IN

Emergency Medical Technician (2009–2012)

• Responded to high-stakes emergency calls, administered triage, and provided stabilizing care under pressure.

 

Education & Certifications

Indiana University, Bloomington, IN (2009-2013)

B.A. in Journalism – High Distinction, GPA: 3.87

 

Cornell University – Certificate in Public Relations Strategy (2022)

 

Dartmouth College – Certificate in Corporate Branding Strategy & Reputation Management (2025)

 

Skills & Expertise

• Corporate Communications

• Cross-Functional Leadership

• Executive Messaging

• Crisis Communications      

• Corporate Branding          

• Strategic Communications

• Public Relations Strategy 

• Reputation Management  

• Executive-Visibility Campaigns

 

Professional References (Justin Albers)

 

Jeff Rufener
Former President & CEO, Toyota Material Handling (Retired)
Relationship: Executive leader and long-time mentor; served as CEO during my tenure at Toyota Material Handling (2018-2021)
Phone: 812-341-4559
Email: jroughner@gmail.com

 

Bill Finerty
Former President & CEO, Toyota Material Handling, U.S.A. (Retired)
Former Vice President, Caterpillar Inc. (Diversified Products Division & Americas Distribution Services Division)
Relationship: Executive leader; strategic mentor with Caterpillar background (2018-2025)
Phone: 812-314-1010
Email: bill.finerty@toyotatmh.com

 

Jake Stewart
Director of Marketing, Hive Digital
Former Marketing colleague, Toyota Material Handling
Relationship: Former close colleague and ongoing professional/personal connection
Phone: 765-714-8507
Email: jacstewa@gmail.com

 

Scott Redelman

Vice President of Lean Execution – ProLift Toyota Material Handling (formerly of Toyota Material Handling)

Relationship: Professional colleague who has seen my work on multiple projects over the years; Now works for one of Toyota’s top equity dealers

Phone: 812-350-0680

Email: sredelman@prolifttoyota.com