Seasoned communications professional with specific experience in public/media relations, marketing and fundraising strategies for corporate and nonprofit organizations.

 

Specialties: Project Management, Strategic Planning, Public Relations, Marketing, Communications, Individual Donor Management, Special Events, Writing, Social Media

 

Special Skills

• Working with nonprofit organizations to promote worthy causes, deepen public investment, forge new relationships and create stronger connections throughout communities

 

• Marketing and Public Relations – developing marketing and communications plans, branding and brand alignment, media buying and strategy, market research and analysis, government relations, social media strategy including live event coverage; photography; graphic design elements for newsletters, presentations, and events

 

• Fundraising and Special Events – experience with all aspects of development work including special events/galas, auctions, in-kind and major donor solicitation, online fundraising, telefundraising, direct mail, and database management

 

• Writing/Editing- skilled with press releases, media materials, social media postings, strategic plans, budgets, proposals, speeches, scripting, annual reports, programs, fundraising campaigns, newsletters, magazines, social media postings and exhibition signage

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Professional Experience

 

Advisor- Ryan Communications
2006- present

 

Projects for clients including media relations, media events, marketing plans and strategy, development strategic planning as well as writing for various needs.

 

Projects include: Communications audits, event planning, and management, writing, media relations, fundraising, corporate sponsorship, project management, writing, editing and design for digital/print material

 

Director of Communications and Events- United Way of Thurston County

July 2016 - June 2017

 

Job responsibilities:

• Develop and implement integrated marketing and communications strategies, timelines and activities that promote United Way and it's community initiatives including duties overseeing and managing the production of all public relations efforts and assisting managing directors in developing strategies for communications programming activities and accomplishments with the community • Create, manage and implement all social media and website functions

• Write and edit media releases, newsletter articles, brochure copy, pledge forms, and other materials as needed. Create promotional video, infographics and digital media as needed.

• Develop and manage a department budget

• Manage and coordinate all aspects of two major annual events- Straight from the Heart and Spirit of Giving which includes working with staff, board, community volunteers and vendors to deliver on time and one budget events that meet/exceed expectations

• Track, assess and report on marketing outreach strategies and continually improve our performance

 

Specific Accomplishments

• Increased web traffic 300% in nine months with a new digital strategy

• Planned and executed annual gala fundraiser with live and silent auctions which grossed an all-time peak of $190,000

 

 

Director of Marketing and Communications- Museum of Glass

January 2013 - June 2016

 

Job responsibilities:

• Manage all marketing and communications functions with specific emphasis on brand consistency and short and long-range communications strategies

• Lead development efforts including online fundraising; direct mail appeals

• Identify and solicit corporate sponsors; and solicit, secure and develop relationships with in-kind donors and media sponsors

• Oversee a variety of cross-departmental events and projects including special and private events and exhibition openings

• Manage all internal communications and media relations

• Develop annual marketing strategy, place all advertising, develop innovative marketing strategies to increase visibility and audiences

• Writing and editing for the web, newsletter/magazine, event scripts, annual fund campaigns, presentations to the board and government entities

• Represent the Museum at local and regional events and organizations

• Develop and manage department budget and staff

 

Specific accomplishments:

• A key member of the team to develop and implement the Tacoma Museum Pass, driving over 1,000 tourists and overnight stays to Tacoma/Pierce County • Solicited and obtained over $100,000 in media sponsorship for programs and exhibition, over $80,000 in in-kind goods and services and several major corporate sponsors

• Created and managed marketing partnerships and collaborations with over 20 local and regional organizations or businesses 

• Conceived and produced Hot Shop Live Show which featured acclaimed visiting artists working in the Hot Shop with special guest contributors

• Designed and produced the first online giving campaign for the Museum through Power2Give

 

Zumba Instructor – Olympia YMCA and Olympia Center

2009 - 2011

 

Owner – Wai Baby

2007 - 2009

 

Independent small business owner specializing in natural baby products with a focus on cloth diapers, baby carriers and helping new parents navigate eco-friendly choices for their families

 

Individual Giving Manager – Seattle Children’s Theatre

2003 - 2004

 

Job responsibilities

• Management of individual fund development with the annual goal of over $500,000

• Oversee direct mail and tele-funding campaigns

• Marketing and management of special events

• Develop and design of annual report and event invitations

• Solicit in-kind solicitations and assist with major gift solicitation

• Board relations

• Database management

 

Public Relations Manager – Museum of Glass

2001 - 2003

 

Job responsibilities:

• Lead the public relations efforts for the opening of a new museum including international, national, regional and local media relations

• Develop and create all public relations materials including messaging, branding, and talking points for executive staff and board

• Coordinate with construction crew and architects for community and media tours of the site under construction

• Manage all community relations including various public speaking appearances at community organizations

• Hire and train interns

 

Specific Accomplishments:

• Managed press previews in New York City, Los Angeles, and Vancouver B.C.

• Managed press opening and coordination with partners including architect Arthur Erickson, artists Dale Chihuly and Howard Ben Tre, the City of Tacoma and other museums stakeholders

• Gained the Museum 161 million impressions and drove over 80,000 in attendance in the first two months of the Museum’s opening

• Formed Tacoma's first public relations roundtable for arts nonprofits

 

Public Services Planner – DDB Worldwide Communications

1999 - 2001

 

Job responsibilities

• Conduct outreach for a national client with in-person visits to over ten major U.S. markets to place pro-bono advertising

• Research and write client proposals

 

Clients: EPA Energy Star Program

Marine Stewardship Council- Sustainable Seafood brand launch

Lifelong AIDS Alliance

 

Special Exhibits Coordinator – Woodland Park Zoo

1998 - 1999

 

Job Responsibilities:

Description:

• Organize and manage the Zoo's historical collection

• Develop and write copy for the centennial exhibition, nocturnal house, and Butterflies and Blooms exhibit

• Assist with the creation and management of the centennial celebration

 

Education

University of Washington- M.A. in Museology (1998)- emphasis on nonprofit marketing & fundraising

 

Master’s Thesis Exhibition at Shoreline Historical Museum "Fresh Voices from the Community: Korean American Youth"

 

University of Wisconsin at Madison- B.A. in History (1995)

 

Professional Associations

Board Member- Washington State Museum Association (June 2015 to present)

Co-Chair & Founder- Market the Arts Roundtable Pierce County (2014 to present)

Co-Chair- Tacoma Museum District (2013 to present)

 

Professional Presentations

Museum Marketing on a Shoestring- session moderator and presenter at Washington Museums Association 2016 conference

 

Building Bridges: Museums and the Military- session moderator at 2015 Western Museum Association conference

 

Event Marketing for Millennials- presentation at Market the Arts Roundtable 2015

 

Putting People First- session moderator at 2015 Washington State Museum Association conference

 

Heh! Look at Us!- session speaker at 2014 Western Museum Association conference

 

Guest Speaker on Green Parenting Topics- Bates Technical College 2007-2008
 

Guerrilla Marketing in Launching a New Museum- session speaker at 2002 Western Museum Association Conference

 

Community Involvement                 

Girl Scout Leader (2010-2016)

Co-President- ORLA Montessori (2012)

Board Member- Olympia Family Theatre (2010-2012)

Board Member- Tacoma Metro Parks Community Arts and Culture (2006 - 2008)

Founder- Holistic Mom’s Network Tacoma Chapter (2009)

Auction Chair- North Orchard DeLong Preschool Coop (2008)