Dr. J. Rodríguez

José I. Rodríguez, PhD

Creating Messages that Matter | Consultant, Trainer, Professor & Thought Leader

 

 

SUMMARY

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Sometimes you need another opinion. A new perspective. A different point of view.

 

Let’s get real. There are times when you need an outsider to drive your inside game.

 

Especially when it comes to communication, because messaging can be a real pain in the rump. Figuring out what to say and how to say it is a beast. Discovering the best way to engage your employees, captivate your customers, and connect with the world that exists outside of your organization feels like a mind-numbing maze.

 

I mean, you know the response you want, right? You want customers to love your brand and buy your products or services. You want leaders to surprise you with standout performance. You want employees to beat your sky-high expectations.

 

This is where I come in.

 

With the mind of a data scientist and the heart of coach, I talk the talk and walk the walk in ways that will take your business or project to the next level.

 

Through customized workshops, presentations, seminars, assessments, and consulting sessions, I’ll help you discover what works and doesn’t work for your unique situation. And I’ll help you develop bold strategies and compelling stories for marketing, sales, customer loyalty, relationship development, and crisis management.

 

A master educator and recognized expert in message development for brand building, leadership presence, and audience engagement, I have been coaching on the art and science of communication for 20+ years. I have worked with corporations, higher education institutions, and I’ve even had the distinct privilege to work with homeless women who are survivors of sexual abuse.

 

If you could use an outside perspective, please reach out today. I can’t wait to hear your story and help you come up with original strategies and solutions that work for you.

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EXPERIENCE 

 

California State University, Long Beach

Professor | Educator | Workshop Facilitator – Communication, Messaging, Organizational Behavior

1995 to Present

 

Here’s my background in a nutshell: I’m a scholar, researcher, and communication scientist who consults with businesses and engages deeply in the community.

 

For over two decades, I’ve been exploring the nuances of messaging and its ability to change minds and behaviors. I’m relentless in my quest to understand and reshape communication—and passionate about using clear, concise messages to drive change from the highest corporate and government offices to the streets of our cities.

 

As Professor of Communications Studies at Cal State, Long Beach, I design and deliver training programs and courses that engage, educate, and empower diverse audiences. I’ve worked with 10,000+ students and workshop participants to explore real-world insights, concepts, and trends in language and communication—igniting ideas, advancing research, and constructively challenging the status quo.

 

At Cal State, my work extends beyond typical teaching roles. I have researched, developed, and facilitated messaging-based programs in ethical communication that focus on preventing rape on campus and assisting survivors of sexual assault.

 

I have worked with diverse audiences to provide training, coaching, inspiration, and support. I advise leaders and professionals on creating flexible talking points, bold stories, and soundbites that sell ideas, propel research, and inform the public.

 

Also, in my role as Coordinator of Multicultural Innovation, I develop training programs and provide cutting-edge insights that open the eyes and improve the capabilities of on-campus mentors, who empower and educate the next generation of scientists, researchers, and teachers.

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“José’s instructional approach and assessment research are truly groundbreaking.” – Chair, CSULB Department of Communication Studies

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Private & Public Organizations Nationwide

Consultant – Creating Messages that Matter

1996 to Present

 

Messages matter. Words have the power to inspire, engage, influence, and move people to action. Or simply hit you where it hurts.

 

As a professor, consultant, and deep-rooted member of the community, I have crossed industry boundaries for 20+ years, crafting and fine-tuning communication strategies for individuals and groups in education, financial services, petroleum, non-profit, and other fields.

 

Whether I am delivering a seminar for a large corporation or consulting with a grassroots organization, I listen attentively, perform critical assessments, and create customized programs that help participants break through barriers for brand building, leadership presence, presentation impact (audience engagement), interpersonal communication, and conflict resolution.

 

Here are a few stories:

 

• Designed and led a training program that educated employees on connecting with customers, promoting their products, and creating B2C email messages with higher response rates, resulting in increased brand awareness and customer engagement (via PHP Agency).

 

• Positioned a school in the Montebello Unified School District ahead of the curve (and far beyond current trends) by consulting with senior administrators on creating and adopting a new system to measure student learning.

 

• Advised and educated individuals on adopting new communication approaches to overcome some of life’s toughest challenges and achieve personal goals (Comstat Communication Consulting).

 

• Conducted workshops, retreats, and one-on-one training sessions on mindful communication, meditation, dealing with turbulent emotions, healing from trauma, and navigating relationship issues (Centerpointe Research Institute).

 

• Trained the next generation of educators by facilitating workshops that helped future and current teachers prepare for teaching exams and earn credentials (The Wright Group).

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California State University, Dominguez Hills

Trainer | Workshop Presenter

2006 to 2015

 

In response to internal assessments that uncovered a need and desire for organizational training at the Dominguez Hills campus, I facilitated workshops for university faculty, staff, managers, and senior leaders in various departments. We covered a wide range of topics, including team building, conflict management, professional communication, and tactful communication.

 

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SKILLS

 

• Audience Engagement

• Brand Building

• Branding

• Coaching

• Communication Strategy

• Conflict Resolution

• Corporate Communications

• Corporate Consulting

• Corporate Culture

• Crisis Communications

• Cross-Cultural Communication

• Organizational Planning

• Education

• Leadership Presence

• Learning & Development

• Listening

• Marketing

• Message Assessments

• Messaging

• People Development

• Presentations

• Relationship Building

• Seminars

• Shaping Communication

• Shaping Conversations

• Strategic Messaging

• Talking Points

• Teaching

• Training Delivery

• Training & Development

• Workshop Facilitator

• Workshops

 

 

 

VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE

 

Project Name: Consultant, Veterans Administration Medical Center in Long Beach

Dates: Click on “Project Ongoing” and skip the month/year sections

Contributors: Skip this section, it will automatically insert your name

Description: Addressed the complex needs of homeless female survivors of sexual trauma, including many combat veterans of Operation Iraqi Freedom, by facilitating 16-week workshops with communication skills training, role-plays, small-group discussions, feedback sessions, proactive interventions, movement exercises, and mindfulness practice.

 

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PROJECTS

 

Project Name: Consultant, Michigan Consolidated Gas Company

Dates: Click on “Project Ongoing” and skip the month/year sections

Contributors: Skip this section, it will automatically insert your name

Description: Collaborated with a team of researchers in assessing needs in the Leak Management Division. Developed and presented procedures to eliminate gaps and improve efficiency, productivity, and goal attainment.

 

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

“Interpersonal Communication for Contemporary Living”

Kendall Hunt, 2014

Description: Authored one of the first-ever digital textbooks on interpersonal communication, with chapters on Philosophy of Communication and Ethical Performance in Relationships—two topics that are critical, and yet largely absent from foundational courses.

 

Exploring Complexities, Nuances, and Opportunities in Communication

Description: Published research in top-tier venues, such as Text & Performance Quarterly, Journal of Multilingual and Multicultural Development, National Social Science Journal, Western Journal of Black Studies, Communication Research, and Communication Education. Articles have been cited 700+ times.

 

Creating Messages that Matter

Description: Presented 38 peer-reviewed research reports on a variety of communication and messaging-related topics at regional, national, and international conferences.

 

Sexual Assault Intervention Effectiveness

Description: Developed the first psychometric measures to assess the effectiveness of sexual assault interventions that use proactive performance to achieve the highest levels of audience participation and collaborative engagement.

 

Improving Sexual Assault Intervention

Description: Created the Ethical Performance Model, a qualitative and theoretical framework to understand how individuals enact ethical behavior in distinctive, proactive interventions.

 

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HONORS & AWARDS

 

Media Interviews/Features

Featured in live, in-studio interview on ABC 7 Eyewitness News and on-location news report for KMEX 34 Univision on the intersectionality of fear-based messages, false stories, and social behavior.

 

Excellence in Training/Education

Highest-ranking presenter for the Road to Success Program at California State University, Long Beach and Dominguez Hills.

 

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EDUCATION

 

Michigan State University

PhD in Communication

 

California State University, Long Beach

MA in Communication Studies

 

California State University, Long Beach

BA in Communication Studies