Monique Farmer, APR leads Avant Solutions. She has devoted more than 20 years to building her expertise as a communication strategist and adviser. Her experience spans internal and external communication, leader communication, issues management, reputation management, crisis communication, media training and media relations. For her leadership and performance during historic flooding on the Missouri River, Farmer was awarded the second highest award of the Department of the Army Honorary Awards for Department of the Army Employees, The Superior Civilian Service Award.
She is an alum and honors graduate from the Department of Defense Information School's Public Affairs Qualifications Course and has earned multiple national communication awards including a PRSA Silver Anvil Award (Missouri River, regional flood response) and a Gold Medallion Award (brand and reputation strategy) from the National School Public Relations Association. The Gold Medallion is the highest honor awarded by NSPRA.
As part of her commitment to advancing the profession, she developed an online web platform designed to aid professional communication experts in the development of communication strategies (Anvil Ready). Her work in the field has garnered invitations to speak at Ragan Communications’ Crisis Conference and PRSA's International Conference.
Farmer currently teaches PR Management and Case Studies, PR Techniques, Strategic Writing and served as the faculty advisor for the 2021 PRSSA Bateman Competition Team in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska at Lincoln. The team earned national recognition, landing second place for their strategic communication plan, The Civility Effect. Farmer previously served as the Director of Communications for Nebraska's largest school district, Omaha Public Schools. Prior to that she worked in Corporate Communications for ConAgra Foods and served in a Public Affairs Officer role for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Her research insights into the frameworks and models school districts can use to approach rebranding initiatives were published in a study conducted by the national research group, Hanover Research.
Additionally, Farmer’s co-authored research on Crisis Communication was published in the peer-reviewed academic journal, Newspaper Research Journal. She also writes industry articles for PR Strategies & Tactics, the monthly newsletter published by the largest public relations membership association in the country, the Public Relations Society of America. She holds a Master's Degree in Public Administration (Public Management), a Master's Degree in Journalism and Mass Communications (Media Studies) and a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism (Advertising and Public Relations). In March 2022, she presented at the International Crisis and Risk Communication Conference in Orlando, Fla.
Farmer is the President of PRSA Nebraska and the Vice President of Membership for the Omaha (NE) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. She also serves on the Project Harmony and EPIC for Girls boards.