Clara Owen

Communications Director at Metropolitan Alliance of Connected Communities
  • Claim this Profile
Contact Information
us****@****om
(386) 825-5501
Location
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, US
Languages
  • English Native or bilingual proficiency
  • Spanish Full professional proficiency

Topline Score

Topline score feature will be out soon.

Bio

Generated by
Topline AI

5.0

/5.0
/ Based on 1 ratings
  • (1)
  • (0)
  • (0)
  • (0)
  • (0)

Filter reviews by:

Erin Noel Braaten, SHRM-SCP, MA-HRIR

Clara is exceptional! I've worked with Clara for the last three years. She is an excellent synthesizer, and a wonderful coworker. She is creative, passionate, hardworking and brilliant. I would work with her again in a heart beat.

You need to have a working account to view this content.
You need to have a working account to view this content.

Experience

    • United States
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Communications Director
      • Jul 2019 - Present

      • Developed social content and engagement strategy and launched MACC’s first ever social media channels. • Expanded organization communications capacity by creating the Communications Specialist role. Brought an equity lens to the candidate experience, including developing an equity statement that is now used on all MACC job postings. • Conducted a thorough needs analysis and market scan to identify and select a new marketing automation platform to elevate MACC's member engagement and communications. • Provided strategic leadership of MACC's response to the murder of George Floyd and the uprising that followed. In the two years following, revolutionized MACC's approach to centering DEI in our communications. Additionally: ---Co-Developed and advocated successfully for a fully-paid parental leave policy for MACC. ---Collaborated with a small work group to help MACC staff expand their understanding of gender intersectionality by co-developing an educational series with local expert Justin Toliver. ---Developed a continually evolving Land Acknowledgment practice to be used at all MACC events. • Developed and executed a multi-dimensional communications strategy that positioned MACC as a confident leader and resource to support our network of nonprofits through the pandemic: ---Led MACC through internal and external crisis response communication during the transition to fully remote work. Ensured continuity and confidence in MACC's workflow and support for our network. ---Created the design, operations, and marketing of a new virtual convenings series "MACC Zooms In" to connect our network around resources and experts as issues arose through the pandemic. Hosted over 30 unique virtual events with over 700+ total attendees ---Co-Developed, marketed, and built the web infrastructure for "Ask MACC" a pandemic initiative to help our network get expert help on-demand answers to their COVID questions. Show less

    • United States
    • Non-profit Organizations
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Communications Manager
      • Aug 2017 - Sep 2018

      • Improved the new employee experience by leading a collaborative team to ensure effective on- boarding across all MACC departments. Developed a suite of tools and processes for managers to ensure self-efficacy, role clarity, social integration, and knowledge of culture for all MACC new hires. • Improved member engagement by leading the development of a core competency model to improve the communications skills of MACC’s Management team. Created and operationalized a model for ongoing peer learning for our management/leadership team.• Provided thought leadership and coaching for management by creating clear and effective frameworks for crisis and change management communication. • Re-imagined MACC's traditional, print Annual Report and created a new web-based format that allows for fun, interactive, visually impactful storytelling. Show less

    • Communications and Technology Specialist
      • Jul 2015 - Aug 2017

      • Supported the development and launch of a new brand for a newly merged organization. Developed and executed a plan to launch the new plan as well as supporting visual and content updates for marketing materials and web properties.• Worked collaboratively with a consultant to develop a Strategic Communications Plan to advance the mission of the newly merged and re-branded organization. Operationalized the strategies in the plan by developing, executing, and managing a shared work plan.• Redesigned and redeveloped (front-end) our Member Database to ensure our team had the actionable and accurate data that would support effective communication and engagement with key network stakeholders.• Established internal IT coordination and administrative support including new process establishment, critical outage triage and communications, billing management, redesign of user creation and termination process, and inventory tracking and management. Show less

    • Office Manager
      • Feb 2014 - Jul 2015

      • Established administrative support for an organization with no existing administrative structure. Conducted a thorough needs assessment and worked collaboratively to establish processes and systems that ensured effective operational and administrative support.• Worked in collaboration with Human Resources to design and develop an online portal to support Open Enrollment for MACC and its member organizations by efficiently sharing and managing benefits enrollment information.• Led a cross-department, UX focused project to integrate multiple, enterprise level platforms and automate communications to enhance the experience of new employees by ensuring accurate and efficient data sharing across departments and systems. Show less

    • United States
    • Individual and Family Services
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Administrative Assistant
      • Oct 2013 - Feb 2014

      •Served as main receptionist and customer service first point of contact for clients and visitors •Managed appointment scheduling for therapists, worked to resolve scheduling conflicts with clients •Obtained client/participant information to provide services or make referral •Verified client insurance coverage using statewide database to ensure services were billed accurately to clients and on behalf of the organizaiton •Cross-checked and verified daily client visit data and ensured accurate data entry in behavioral health management system Show less

    • United States
    • Education Administration Programs
    • 1 - 100 Employee
    • Summer Reads Literacy Associate - Americorps VISTA
      • Jun 2013 - Aug 2013

      • Improved Summer School students’ literacy skills and engagement through one-on-one and small group tutoring • Assessed and tracked students’ Oral Reading Fluency and Sight Word recognition • Created lesson plans and activities tailored to student needs for small group and whole class sessions • Tracked student data to monitor engagement and improvement in literacy skills • Created an online digital literacy resource for parents and educators as part of a special project • Improved Summer School students’ literacy skills and engagement through one-on-one and small group tutoring • Assessed and tracked students’ Oral Reading Fluency and Sight Word recognition • Created lesson plans and activities tailored to student needs for small group and whole class sessions • Tracked student data to monitor engagement and improvement in literacy skills • Created an online digital literacy resource for parents and educators as part of a special project

    • Lead Teacher - Reader's Theater
      • Oct 2012 - May 2013

      • Directed, choreographed, costumed and created sets for after school theater program for 1st-3rd grade students • Designed theater curriculum and planned lessons to increase students vocabulary and knowledge of theater • Coordinated 3 staff members who assisted with the theater program as well as parent volunteers • Directed, choreographed, costumed and created sets for after school theater program for 1st-3rd grade students • Designed theater curriculum and planned lessons to increase students vocabulary and knowledge of theater • Coordinated 3 staff members who assisted with the theater program as well as parent volunteers

    • United States
    • Primary and Secondary Education
    • 100 - 200 Employee
    • Leader Professional Learning Group
      • Aug 2012 - May 2013

      • Lead a Professional Learning Group of Americorps members with the goal of facilitation discussion and enhancing their year of service• Planned and led group members in professional development activities• Provided professional development materials to members

    • Volunteer Coordinator
      • Aug 2011 - May 2013

      • Recruited, trained, and placed more than 80 ongoing literacy volunteers and 50 one-time event volunteers• Coordinated more than 60 volunteer literacy tutors from Target Corporate for a twice weekly after-school reading program• Created and hosted 15 literacy events to support student learning and generate excitement around reading• Formed partnerships with local companies to donate over 300 books to Waite Park students• Created a monthly Community Bookwagon program to bring parents into school to check out books and iPads with their children and checked out over 200 books and lent iPads to more than 30 different Waite Park families• Conducted frequent evaluations to measure volunteer satisfaction and overall success of the volunteer program Show less

    • Social Media Chair Communications Committee
      • Aug 2011 - May 2013

      • Led a committee of Americorps members in promoting the Minnesota Reading Corps with the goal of Recruiting over 1,000 tutors• Created and published content for traditional and social media outlets, including Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, designed to increase awareness of the Minnesota Reading and Math Corps• Created the Reading Corps LinkedIn company page and published content to generate more than 370 followers

    • United States
    • Higher Education
    • 700 & Above Employee
    • Office Assistant, Graduate School Admissions
      • Jun 2010 - Sep 2010

      • Processed and filed graduate program applications • Digitized and organized admissions materials • Processed and filed graduate program applications • Digitized and organized admissions materials

    • United States
    • Government Administration
    • 200 - 300 Employee
    • Intern, Representative Rick Hansen (DFL)
      • Feb 2010 - May 2010

      • Addressed constituent concerns through in person meetings, phone calls, and response letters • Contacted experts to testify at House Committee hearings • Researched and prepared documents for use during committee meetings • Monitored media coverage of Representative Hansen and key issues • Researched key concerns and talking points for Bills and legislative initiatives • Addressed constituent concerns through in person meetings, phone calls, and response letters • Contacted experts to testify at House Committee hearings • Researched and prepared documents for use during committee meetings • Monitored media coverage of Representative Hansen and key issues • Researched key concerns and talking points for Bills and legislative initiatives

    • Intern, Volunteer
      • May 2008 - Sep 2009

      • Helped plan, set-up, and staff ARC conferences and fundraising events such as: SAM (Self Advocates of Minnesota) Regional Conference and ARC’s Celebrity Mulligan Golf Tournament • Greeted clients, answered phones, assisted with mailings and filing office documents • Helped plan, set-up, and staff ARC conferences and fundraising events such as: SAM (Self Advocates of Minnesota) Regional Conference and ARC’s Celebrity Mulligan Golf Tournament • Greeted clients, answered phones, assisted with mailings and filing office documents

Education

  • University of Minnesota
    BA Journalism, Spanish, Journalism, Communication, Spanish
    2006 - 2010
  • Universidad de Málaga
    Exchange Student, Literature, Art History, Spanish Grammar
    2009 - 2009

Community

You need to have a working account to view this content. Click here to join now