VICE PRESIDENT OF MEDIA & COMMUNICATIONS
De Anna Sheffield Ward joined the Rays as vice president, media and communications in January 2022 and transitioned to vice president, communications and broadcasting a year later. In addition to leading the broadcasting department and social media team, she assists with business communications and crisis communications. Ward spent 14 years in various marketing, communications, development and corporate partnership roles with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Tampa Bay. She began her career working in local television as a reporter, anchor and community affairs host in six different television markets, including six years with WTSP-TV Tampa Bay from 2001-07. Ward earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communications from Jackson State University and has certifications in fundraising and diversity, equity and inclusion. She spends time volunteering in the community as a member of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and was named Tampa Bay’s Big Sister of the Year in 2013. Ward and her husband, Rodney, reside in Apollo Beach with their two children, Payton and Jackson.