Welcome to Brazen Careerist!

About Me

Creative, energetic communications professional with a background in marketing. Experienced in project management, content strategy, and community development. Loves walking the fine-line between marketing and customer service.
- Self-motivated problem solver who excels in leadership roles on the ground floor of new initiatives. Passionate about utilizing content as a marketing tool to tell an organization's story across the web.
- Thrives when building relationships, working with people, and leveraging social networks to achieve business objectives.
- Excellent written and verbal communicator who thrives in a challenging, fast-paced environment fueled by creative collaboration.

Work History

• Jolkona Foundation
• Director of Communications & Social Media (volunteer)
• Febuary 2010 to Present

• Responsible for telling the story of Jolkona through social media while managing a team of volunteers. Developing and implementing the social media strategy to align with the foundation's key success metrics for 2010. Building and implementing an action-oriented plan for engaging donors across social networks and building relationships with key influencers. Measuring our impact and adjusting the plan based on weekly and quarterly metrics and analytics.

  Managing and cultivating Jolkona's web content, including website, http://www.jolkona.org, and online networks:
  - Twitter Profile: http://twitter.com/jolkona
  - Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/jolkona
  - Jolkona's Blog (role: editor, administrator, and contributor): http://www.jolkona.org/blog/
  - YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/jolkonafoundation

• Autosport Labs
• Marketing Consultant/Social Media Coach
• October 2009 to November 2009

• Client: Autosport Labs, developer of automotive performance technology.
  Project: Developed the marketing and social media strategy for their corporate-sponsored race team and trained the company partners in the best practices of social media.

• Hartley & Marks Publishers
• Field Sales Manager, U.S.
• August 2007 to September 2009

• Grew field retailer business by 5% during the worst economy in the company’s U.S. distribution history through marketing and sales leadership of up to 90 sales representatives. Regularly analyzed territory performance and worked with reps to increase line visibility and achieve individual sales goals. Trained new reps. Streamlined outbound communication with the reps, which increased lead follow-through and seamless implementation of new marketing initiatives and programs.

  Maintained and cultivated relationships with assigned key accounts, negotiated terms, and developed strategies for growth. Represented the company at national and regional trade shows; implemented marketing strategies to achieve individual show’s goals, trained sales reps, and managed show décor and budget.

• Boone Bridge Books
• Business Development
• May 2006 to June 2007

• Defined market focus of the wholesales division, developed business opportunities, and established a customized marketing pitch and client management strategy for a diverse group of buyers. Finalized the design, functionality, and merchandising of company's e-commerce website, www.boonebridgebooks.com.

• Ooligan Press
• Project Manager/Publishing Generalist
• September 2005 to June 2007

• Leadership and Project Management
  - Managing Editor for "You Have Time for This," an anthology of flash fiction. Maintained positive relationships with the volume editors. Researched and commissioned artist for photographs to complement the text.
  - Design and Production Manager for "Artless," a political memoir. Pitched cover concept and used original artwork in design, designed interior text layout. Requested and reviewed printer bids, prepared print-ready files, inspected printer proofs, and ensured on-time delivery.
  - Marketing Manager for "Dreams of the West," co-published with the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of Portland (CCBA). Created the marketing plan, planned and implemented the book launch, organized press coverage, and acted as a liaison with the CCBA.

• Wordstock Book Festival
• Author Coordinator
• September 2004 to May 2006

• Developed and created key responsibilities for leadership role within the structure of the festival during the first and second seasons, 2005 and 2006. Solely responsible for building relationships with authors, publicists, agents, sponsors, and volunteers to arrange booking and logistics for the talent of Wordstock, approximately 250 authors, annually. In 2009, this position was shared by four Author Coordinators.

Education

• Portland State University
• MA in Publishing
• 2006 - 2008

• Focus in manuscript acquisitions, editing, design and production, front and back list marketing and promotion, and project management. The Publishing Program is housed within the Writing and English department.

• Portland State University
• BA in English
• 2004 - 2006

• Graduated cum laude with a focus in English literature, publishing, and media studies.