Resume

Career Summary

Award-winning, nonprofit professional with over 20 years of marketing communications experience: including integrated marketing strategies, data-driven decision-making, public relations, strategic planning, strong research and project management skills, solid design aesthetic and ability to inspire teamwork and shared leadership within cross-functional teams.

Experience

  • Greater Lowell Community Foundation • Lowell, MA
    VP of Marketing, Programs & Strategy                                          2019 to present
    • Programs
      • Oversight of $2 million + of grant programs to 21 communities
      • Collaborate with CEO, executive team, and board to refine strategic priority funding areas and set funding impact goals.
      • Design, implement, and lead the Foundation’s community grants and scholarship programs.
      • Build and maintain a high level of knowledge of local nonprofit organizations and community needs.
      • Maintain a deep understanding of all grants, including their history, fit with mission, and impact.
      • Communicate with grant applicants and grantees and serve as the Foundation’s principal contact with grantees funded within the community grants program.
      • Oversee and conduct due diligence for all portfolio grants.
      • Conducts in-person site visits with grantees and potential grantees as needed.
      • Recruit, train, manage independent grants and scholarship review committees.
      • Administer online grants and scholarship software program.
      • Lead the monitoring and evaluation of the effectiveness of grants awards.
      • Prepare Board, internal, and community reports on results of Foundation grant initiatives.
      • Work with Board members and committees to carry out the grant-making goals of the Foundation.
    • Marketing & Community Relations
      • Develop a comprehensive communications plan promoting the Foundation’s impact and supporting strategic and advancement initiatives.
      • Maintains the Foundation’s branding, awareness building, and community relations initiatives.
      • Assist senior leadership with message development.
      • Works toward achieving balanced media coverage, developing relationships with local reporters, and pitch stories about the Foundation’s achievements and initiatives.
      • Maintain a database of key media contacts.
      • Manage website, social media sites, Constant Contact communications, and other digital communication channels.
      • Manage ad campaigns including budget.
      • Promote Foundation events through coordinated marketing campaigns.
      • Oversee creation of annual report, promotional, and other marketing collateral to support advancement efforts and fundraising campaigns.
      • Evaluate effectiveness of communications channels through data analytics.
      • Strengthen the organizations brand recognition and identity among constituents.
      • Creates campaigns to increase support and investment in the Foundation.
      • Work with Board members and committees to carry out the communications and community relations goals of the Foundation.
    • Operations
      • Provide oversight and direction to employees in accordance with the Foundation’s policies and procedures.
      • Maintain appropriate staffing levels and work flow to support programs and initiatives.
      • Coach, mentor, and develop staff, including overseeing new employee on boarding and providing career development planning and opportunities.
    • Strategy
      • Develops strategic plans to carry out program goals.
      • Facilitates and manages the strategic vision and day-to-day implementation of grant-making programs.
      • Provides direction for the organizational strategy.
  • Middlesex Community College • Bedford, MA
    Dean of Marketing Communications                                           2012 to 2018
    • Develops, implements and evaluates marketing that supports the mission and strategic goals of the college and raises Middlesex’s public profile and enhances its positioning.
    • Develops, expands and enhances the public understanding and interest of the college’s activities and programs as well as its’ impact on the community and economy.
    • Supervises all planning, implementation and resource management of the college communications integrated marketing strategy including: press releases, media relations, advertising (print and digital), publications, event design, and social media.
    • Utilizes both qualitative and quantitative research to make data-driven decisions: surveys, focus groups, interviews and analytics.
    • Consults and works with the President, Provost, Vice Presidents, Deans and other key administrative personnel regarding the college’s marketing communications.
    • Member of the two person web management team, that includes the Chief Technology Officer, responsible for administrative oversight of the College website and mobile app.
    • Oversees continuity and consistent messaging and image in production of all key marketing communications materials.
    • Responsible for institutional media buying. Negotiates most efficient rates and opportunities for maximum exposure/impressions for print and digital media placements.
    • Establishes and maintains positive relationships with local, regional, and national media through news releases and other communication.
    • Oversees media relations including the development of media releases and prompt follow-up of media inquiries
    • Provides communication support for the Office of the President, as requested.
    • Responsible for the project management of multi-channel Annual Giving communications, including overall planning, concept creation, design, messaging, and on-time delivery.
    • Develops annual, measurable goals and objectives for the college’s integrated marketing strategy.
    • Leads nine-person professional team to produce strategic communications spanning print, web, direct mail, email and social media, as well as effectively liaison with consultants, designers, printers and media.
    • Member of the president’s cabinet.
    • Certified social marketer that manages the strategies for the official college social media channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and Youtube.
    • Develops and manages marketing communications budget with a demonstrated return on investment.
    • Supervises the creation of more than 1600 print and online projects, as well as hundreds of news releases annually for one of the largest colleges in Massachusetts.
    • Maintains contact with the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education and Massachusetts Community Colleges Executive Office on a variety of local, state and federal marketing/public relation initiatives.
    • Serves as backup to the Public Information Officer and assists with crisis communication.
    • Participates as a member of the college’s emergency management incident command staff.
    • Editor of PROFILES magazine, a biannual publication that raises community, college and alumni awareness about the people, programs and partnerships of Middlesex.
    • College Leadership: Member of Cabinet/President’s Council, Chair of ACME (Advisory Council for Middlesex Events); Chair of Academic Arts Center Events; Steering Committee for Title 3 Grant; Served as Co-chair for NEASC Accreditation Committee
  • Assistant Dean of College Communications                                     2007 to 2012
    Responsible for managing the college brand and the creation of our institutional Style Guide, art direction of all external and internal publications including the web site. Manage a six-person creative staff in the Office of Marketing and Publications. Initiated and managed the photo archive for the college. Responsible for web content production and management. Evaluate current technologies and communications initiatives and make recommendations to the college.Additional responsibilities include, work with print vendors, mail houses, photographers, and freelance designers. Develop social media marketing for the college.
  • Art Director                                                                              2000 to 2007
    Lead design and coordination of all educational marketing pieces. Managed a staff of three designers, interns. Designed and maintained the college’s marketing website. Maintained communication with printers. Designed award-winning logos, course schedules, catalogs, 4-color materials, posters and invitations. Created multimedia presentations.
  • Senior Graphic Designer                                                              1997 to 2000
    Management and coordination of educational marketing material in a high volume setting. Managed a staff of two designers, interns, and an administrative assistant. Designed and maintained the college’s website. Created GIF animations. Wrote print specifications and maintained communication with printers. Designed award-winning logos, course schedules, catalogs, 4-color materials, posters and invitations. Copyedited marketing pieces. Managed freelance photographers.
  • Middlesex Community College Bedford, MA
    Adjunct Faculty                                                                           1997 to 2004
    Credit and Noncredit Courses included: Production and Layout, Illustrator, Photoshop and Mac Basics
  • Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE)              Boston, MA
    Graphic Designer                                                             1996 to 1997
    Designed marketing pieces in a high volume, deadline-oriented setting. Wrote bid/print specifications and maintained regular communication with printers. Designed and produced catalogs, self-mailers, invitations and informational brochures. Managed freelance designers and photographers.

Education

Master of Science
Applied Communications (concentration in Educational Technology)
Fitchburg State University, Fitchburg, MA
Practicum in Communication Project: Creation of MCC Graphic Standards, Procedures Manual and Style Guide for the Office of Marketing Communications

Bachelor of Arts
Graphic Design
Bridgewater State University, Bridgewater, MA

Arts Management Certificate
Currently pursuing a Certificate in Arts Management
University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Mass.

 

Additional Educational Achievements

  • Community College Leadership Academy (CCLA) Fellow: 2011 to 2012
    Project Title – Marketing Middlesex: A Community College Social Media Strategy
    CCLA project serves as the framework for current social media policy, procedures, and strategy.
  • Certified eMarketer – eMarketing Association (eMA)
  • Certified Social Marketing Associate (CSMA) – eMarketing Association
  • IS-00042 “Social Media in Emergency Management” – Emergency Management Institute (FEMA)

Board Service

Current Board Service

Past Board Service

Awards and Professional Affiliations

  • Recipient of the NCMPR’s (National Council for Marketing & Public Relations) 2017 District 1 Communicator of the Year
  • Recipient of more than 200 regional and national awards for advertising, public relations, marketing and publications including NCMPR (National and District 1), CASE, Higher Education Marketing Report Annual Educational Advertising Awards
  • Member of the Massachusetts Women In Public Higher Education
  • Member of the Massachusetts Community College Marketing Collaborative
  • Member of the Massachusetts Public Higher Education Marketing-Public Relations Collaborative
  • Member of the National Council for Marketing and Public Relations
  • Trainer, NCBI (National Coalition Building Institute)
  • Artist, Indigo Raven Studio, Western Ave. Studios, Lowell, Mass

Presentations

Higher education presentation, please contact me for further details:

Sharing STUDENT STORIES to Boost Enrollment & Reputation
NCMPR National Conference (Las Vegas, NV)
March 19, 2018

The New Social Media Mission
Massachusetts Community College Communications Collaborative
QCC
August 25, 2017

Promoting Pathways to Student Success
NCMPR National Conference (Charleston, SC)
March 28, 2017

Marketing Student Success
Pathways to Student Success Conference
Cape Cod Community College (W. Barnstable, Mass.)
April 1, 2016

The New Social Media Mission
NCMPR 2016 National Conference
St. Louis, MO
March 14, 2016

Creating Social Media Experiences That Build Community
MCC Professional Day
Lowell, MA
April 7, 2014

Digital Asset Management: Archiving 40+ Years of College History
NCMPR District 1 Conference
Mystic, CT
October 20, 2013