Resume

Communications professional and graphic designer with an extensive and broad-based background of diversified responsibility and accomplishment within the public relations, communications, education and non-profit sectors.  Well-established knowledge in many facets of design, volunteer and intern management, and creative, public relations, and journalistic writing. Demonstrated ability to work independently and with others to accomplish marketing goals using Content Management Systems, Social Media, Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and HTML (Mac and PC).  Demonstrated co-creative and collaborative efforts to achieve organizational outcomes, ability to flourish in a multi-cultural work environment and disciplined work habits with the ability to handle multiple projects and meet required deadlines.

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

GIRL SCOUTS OF SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN
Detroit, MI  | 2014-present

GSSEM is the premier leadership organization for girls in the southeast Michigan region.

Director of Communications

Lead the creation, development, and execution of comprehensive communications plans that support the strategic goals, mission, outreach, and image of Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (GSSEM).  Manage a team of creative professionals and utilize various forms of media to implement and manage campaigns that promote Girl Scouts to internal and external audiences, build relationships with the community, and achieve the council’s communications goals.  

 

• Promoted from Communications Specialist to Director of Communications.

• Manage a full Marketing and Communications team of employees, contract employees, and vendors to ensure all aspects of public relations, marketing projects, and campaigns are executed accurately, on time, and within budget.

• Oversee day-to-day communications activities including collateral materials development, social media content development, media relations, PR and marketing events, photography/videography, and other communications functions.

• Interface with other Girl Scout councils and GSUSA on national public relations and advocacy initiatives.

• Work closely with Chief Marketing Officer to serve as a liaison with external agency to provide information and support to the retained agency in its earned media and other communications efforts on behalf of GSSEM

• Manage an electronic creative request procedure for entire council to streamline the Marketing and Communications department’s workflow and better meet expectations and deadlines.

• Ensure that diversity and pluralism are embraced and incorporated into the work of the council.
• Develop and maintain an editorial calendar for the Marketing and Communications department to use to better manage the communications surrounding all council events.

• Organize and properly categorize and store all council photography in one online site.

• Work with volunteers to supply communications needs for events, meetings.

• Designed flyers, brochures, catalogs, invitations, logos, signage, and other materials for the council as needed.

• Write and design materials so that they protect the integrity of the Girl Scouts brand, and use consistent signature look and language throughout.

• Wrote and distributed press releases for events, awards, and milestones.

• Worked with area print and on-air reporters for special interest stories.

• Try not to eat my weight in Girl Scout cookies.

 

FERNDALE PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Ferndale, MI  | 2012-2014

Ferndale Public Schools is a full service, public school district in Southeast Michigan.

Webmaster & Communications Specialist

Worked directly with the Director of Public Relations to maintain the District's website, be a point of contact for communications and photography requests for all District employees and Board of Education members, and coordinated all design and printing collateral for the Ferndale Public Schools.

 

• Worked with administration, parent volunteers, affiliated organizations and school personnel to maintain and build content for the website.

• Facilitated the transition to a Content Management System for the FPS website from Dreamweaver.

• Managed the content and design of the District's weekly electronic newsletter, "eNews."

• Designed and output informational flyers for each of the District's schools.

• Designed print advertising for news publications.

• Served as District photographer for events throughout the year including meetings, classroom activities, sporting events, marching band, concerts, staff portraits, commencement and award ceremonies.

• Wrote stories for eNews and press releases for local media.

• Maintained Social Media sites for District daily during the school year.

• Worked closely with vendors to produce materials on budget including calendars, brochures, postcards, large mailings, and signage.

 

AMERICAN RED CROSS, SOUTHEASTERN MICHIGAN CHAPTER
Detroit, MI  | 1997-2010
American Red Cross is a volunteer-led humanitarian organization that helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Graphic Design Specialist

As the sole graphic designer for the Southeastern Michigan Chapter, designed print and electronic marketing materials for several departments concurrently, and assisted with the development of Chapter-wide and departmental marketing plans and the creation and authoring of documentation for use in public relations.

 

• Created a familial, consistent, and professional look to all graphic materials by solely designing all of the Chapter’s printed collateral for more than a decade.

• Served as the Marketing Liaison between Chapter and Blood Services marketing departments to improve the two sectors’ knowledge of each other’s marketing efforts and to explore opportunities to share resources and co-brand missions.

• Assisted with the conceptualization and execution of fundraising events with save-the-date postcards, invitations, programs, photography, logistics planning, signage, volunteer and vendor management, logo development, merchandise design, and print and web advertising, to ensure that all marketing efforts were on time, attractive, communicated effectively, and preserved the integrity of the Red Cross identity: its cross. 

• Developed the first electronic newsletter for staff, volunteers, and Board members resulting in the Red Cross family being more interpersonally connected, and could serve as informed Chapter ambassadors when in public.

• Assumed the “unassigned” role of printer, software and computer technology supporter for colleagues requiring assistance in execution of organizational projects.

• Conceptualized, planned, organized and executed the publication and distribution of electronic and print publications to educate the public about the American Red Cross and to raise funds.

• Wrote and distributed Request for Quotation for each multi-media project to at least three vendors, and reviewed and selected bids based on vendor quality, experience, and cost effectiveness; effective at soliciting fast turn-around times when deadlines were tight, and in-kind donations of services when budgets were exhausted.

 

HERITAGE MULTI-MEDIA

Southgate,MI | 1996-1998

Provider of typesetting, prepress, and pagination services for several Down River clients, including Heritage Newspapers.

Graphic Designer / Typesetter                                                             

Part of a team of graphic designers and typesetters, worked closely with advertising sales and editorial staff members to quickly create and output display advertisements, weekly circulars, and editorial copy to appropriate specifications.

 

• Utilized strong and swift editing skills to become a valued typesetter by designing and proofreading advertisements for the sales staff and meeting all daily deadlines.

• Managed a cooperative and respectful relationship with all members of a varied staff in a high-pressure atmosphere including sales associates, vendors, colleagues and pre-press technicians.

 

MIRROR NEWSPAPERS

Royal Oak, MI | 1994-1995

Weekly community newspaper covering several key suburbs in Southern Oakland County.

Beat Reporter         

Covered events related to residents, business owners, the school board, and other city business to determine stories to be reported and published each week. 

 

• Utilized skills as the editor of the University newspaper and as a journalism student, to creatively seek and report approximately five stories a week.

• Worked directly with a freelance photographer to conceptualize and schedule all photography to accompany news stories to ensure a complete submittal to the editors.

 

 

EDUCATION

Candidate, Web Design Certification, College for Creative Studies
Detroit, MI | 2010

 

Candidate, Web Design Certification, Baker College
Auburn Hills, MI | 2009

 

Bachelor of Arts, Communication: Public Relations and Print Journalism, Minor: Sociology
University of Michigan, Dearborn | 1997

 

 

MEMBERSHIPS / AFFILIATIONS

 

First Aid/CPR Certification

 

Girl Scout, Girl Scouts of the USA | Since 2009

 

Volunteer, Eagles Pledge (educational organization)
Ferndale, MI  | 2014-2015

 

Choir Programs Designer, Clarkston Public Schools

Clarkston, MI | 2012-2014

 

Publications Officer, Bailey Lake Elementary School PTA,
Clarkston, MI | 2010-2011