Vance Hickin
Director, Digital Strategy at Calbright College- Claim this Profile
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Bio
Courtnee Crystal
I reported directly to Vance while he was Digital Director at California Forward. His leadership and ideas for improvement consistently inspired the team, myself included, to achieve great things. He worked tirelessly at developing from scratch and integrating California Forward's brand and digital infrastructure. Vance takes tremendous pride in ensuring that he does his work so well that when he leaves an organization, that organization will benefit from his thoughtfulness and foundation for years to come, just as he did at California Forward.
Stacy C.
It was a complete pleasure to work with Vance from Day One. Having Vance as the State Digital Director and a close colleague on our Obama campaign leadership team in California was extremely important to me as the Field Director. The work he did supported the field staff and grassroots volunteers throughout the state, getting the word out about our program and bringing in untold new volunteers to help get President Obama re-elected. Vance was a very responsive and communicative colleague who constantly sought updates on the field program so he could exploit the digital resources to the fullest to grow our capacity and increase our impact. He consistently invented new and highly creative ways in which to use digital tools, the email program and social media to tell the story of our campaign and engage volunteers. On a personal level, no one was as relentlessly positive and supportive as a colleague. Vance is collaborative, humorous, charming and generous, and extremely good at what he does. I learned a great deal from him about the power of digital organizing and how critical it is to a campaign because it's how people are increasingly getting their information. I sincerely hope that on future campaigns I will be lucky enough to have such a wonderful and supportive digital colleague to partner with and organize together.
Courtnee Crystal
I reported directly to Vance while he was Digital Director at California Forward. His leadership and ideas for improvement consistently inspired the team, myself included, to achieve great things. He worked tirelessly at developing from scratch and integrating California Forward's brand and digital infrastructure. Vance takes tremendous pride in ensuring that he does his work so well that when he leaves an organization, that organization will benefit from his thoughtfulness and foundation for years to come, just as he did at California Forward.
Stacy C.
It was a complete pleasure to work with Vance from Day One. Having Vance as the State Digital Director and a close colleague on our Obama campaign leadership team in California was extremely important to me as the Field Director. The work he did supported the field staff and grassroots volunteers throughout the state, getting the word out about our program and bringing in untold new volunteers to help get President Obama re-elected. Vance was a very responsive and communicative colleague who constantly sought updates on the field program so he could exploit the digital resources to the fullest to grow our capacity and increase our impact. He consistently invented new and highly creative ways in which to use digital tools, the email program and social media to tell the story of our campaign and engage volunteers. On a personal level, no one was as relentlessly positive and supportive as a colleague. Vance is collaborative, humorous, charming and generous, and extremely good at what he does. I learned a great deal from him about the power of digital organizing and how critical it is to a campaign because it's how people are increasingly getting their information. I sincerely hope that on future campaigns I will be lucky enough to have such a wonderful and supportive digital colleague to partner with and organize together.
Courtnee Crystal
I reported directly to Vance while he was Digital Director at California Forward. His leadership and ideas for improvement consistently inspired the team, myself included, to achieve great things. He worked tirelessly at developing from scratch and integrating California Forward's brand and digital infrastructure. Vance takes tremendous pride in ensuring that he does his work so well that when he leaves an organization, that organization will benefit from his thoughtfulness and foundation for years to come, just as he did at California Forward.
Stacy C.
It was a complete pleasure to work with Vance from Day One. Having Vance as the State Digital Director and a close colleague on our Obama campaign leadership team in California was extremely important to me as the Field Director. The work he did supported the field staff and grassroots volunteers throughout the state, getting the word out about our program and bringing in untold new volunteers to help get President Obama re-elected. Vance was a very responsive and communicative colleague who constantly sought updates on the field program so he could exploit the digital resources to the fullest to grow our capacity and increase our impact. He consistently invented new and highly creative ways in which to use digital tools, the email program and social media to tell the story of our campaign and engage volunteers. On a personal level, no one was as relentlessly positive and supportive as a colleague. Vance is collaborative, humorous, charming and generous, and extremely good at what he does. I learned a great deal from him about the power of digital organizing and how critical it is to a campaign because it's how people are increasingly getting their information. I sincerely hope that on future campaigns I will be lucky enough to have such a wonderful and supportive digital colleague to partner with and organize together.
Courtnee Crystal
I reported directly to Vance while he was Digital Director at California Forward. His leadership and ideas for improvement consistently inspired the team, myself included, to achieve great things. He worked tirelessly at developing from scratch and integrating California Forward's brand and digital infrastructure. Vance takes tremendous pride in ensuring that he does his work so well that when he leaves an organization, that organization will benefit from his thoughtfulness and foundation for years to come, just as he did at California Forward.
Stacy C.
It was a complete pleasure to work with Vance from Day One. Having Vance as the State Digital Director and a close colleague on our Obama campaign leadership team in California was extremely important to me as the Field Director. The work he did supported the field staff and grassroots volunteers throughout the state, getting the word out about our program and bringing in untold new volunteers to help get President Obama re-elected. Vance was a very responsive and communicative colleague who constantly sought updates on the field program so he could exploit the digital resources to the fullest to grow our capacity and increase our impact. He consistently invented new and highly creative ways in which to use digital tools, the email program and social media to tell the story of our campaign and engage volunteers. On a personal level, no one was as relentlessly positive and supportive as a colleague. Vance is collaborative, humorous, charming and generous, and extremely good at what he does. I learned a great deal from him about the power of digital organizing and how critical it is to a campaign because it's how people are increasingly getting their information. I sincerely hope that on future campaigns I will be lucky enough to have such a wonderful and supportive digital colleague to partner with and organize together.
Experience
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Calbright College
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California, United States
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Director, Digital Strategy
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Jul 2021 - Present
Head of digital for California's first and only statewide, online community college, with labor market-focused, competency-based educational programs serving adult learners. Part of team responsible for >5x enrollment growth in two years. Oversight of web, social, email, and digital advertising programs. Head of digital for California's first and only statewide, online community college, with labor market-focused, competency-based educational programs serving adult learners. Part of team responsible for >5x enrollment growth in two years. Oversight of web, social, email, and digital advertising programs.
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Highway One Consulting, LLC
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Los Angeles, CA
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Principal
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Jul 2003 - Present
Digital consultancy working across strategy, creative development and technical production to conceive and implement successful client programs. AARP Campaign for Action // Garcetti for Mayor 2017 // LA County Yes on Measure M // City Year // Voices for National Service // Move LA // Common Cause // Next Generation // California Forward // Community Partners // Hope Street Group // Russ Reid Company // Motiva79 // First 5 LA // Hershey|Cause // Mindshare/Virilion // Campaign for Real Teen Safety (No on 85) // Sony Connect // Campaign for Mental Health (Yes on 63) // Citysearch // International Hydrogen Drive // Nestle USA // Ogilvy Public Relations // Ruder Finn // Media Arts Group // IMPEX Technologies // Consensus Planning Group Show less
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Annenberg Foundation
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Greater Los Angeles Area
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Head of Digital
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Jan 2018 - Apr 2021
Digital programs lead – responsible for strategy, platforms, and content for the Annenberg Foundation, Annenberg Space for Photography, Annenberg Learner, PledgeLA, and other initiatives. Digital programs lead – responsible for strategy, platforms, and content for the Annenberg Foundation, Annenberg Space for Photography, Annenberg Learner, PledgeLA, and other initiatives.
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Garcetti for Mayor 2017
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Los Angeles, California
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Digital Director
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Dec 2016 - Mar 2017
Head of digital content, organizing and social media on campaign re-electing Mayor Eric Garcetti for a second term with a historic share of over 80% of L.A. voters. Head of digital content, organizing and social media on campaign re-electing Mayor Eric Garcetti for a second term with a historic share of over 80% of L.A. voters.
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Yes On Measure M
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Los Angeles
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Digital Director
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Sep 2016 - Nov 2016
Head of digital and social media for the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, a county ballot measure which passed with over 70% of the vote in one of the largest county-wide campaigns in the nation. Measure M enacts a game-changing investment in transportation, infrastructure, and mobility improvements for Los Angeles. Head of digital and social media for the Los Angeles County Traffic Improvement Plan, a county ballot measure which passed with over 70% of the vote in one of the largest county-wide campaigns in the nation. Measure M enacts a game-changing investment in transportation, infrastructure, and mobility improvements for Los Angeles.
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Mercury
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Los Angeles, CA
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Senior Vice President, Digital
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Nov 2013 - Oct 2014
Senior leader in startup digital division for national public affairs firm, responsible for client engagements including digital strategy, social content creation and channel management, paid social campaigns, influencer marketing, and analytics. Clients included Virgin America, Uber Technologies, The California Endowment, and City Year. Senior leader in startup digital division for national public affairs firm, responsible for client engagements including digital strategy, social content creation and channel management, paid social campaigns, influencer marketing, and analytics. Clients included Virgin America, Uber Technologies, The California Endowment, and City Year.
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Obama for America
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Los Angeles, CA
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California Digital Director
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May 2012 - Nov 2012
Senior staff member, responsible for digital organizing, messaging and content for the California campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama. State focus on grassroots organizing for phonebanks and battleground canvassing trips. Managed digital portfolio, staff and volunteers in directing and producing email, social content, blog content, videos, events and training programs, coordinating with national leadership and battleground state partners. Senior staff member, responsible for digital organizing, messaging and content for the California campaign to re-elect President Barack Obama. State focus on grassroots organizing for phonebanks and battleground canvassing trips. Managed digital portfolio, staff and volunteers in directing and producing email, social content, blog content, videos, events and training programs, coordinating with national leadership and battleground state partners.
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California Forward
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Los Angeles, CA
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Digital Director
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May 2010 - May 2012
Established and expanded the organization's digital platform, designed to grow and activate a statewide network of Californians on governance reform issues. Established and expanded the organization's digital platform, designed to grow and activate a statewide network of Californians on governance reform issues.
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Hope Street Group
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Los Angeles, CA
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Digital Manager
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Oct 2008 - Sep 2009
Senior digital strategist, producer and editor for national policy organization addressing issues of economic opportunity in education and health care. Senior digital strategist, producer and editor for national policy organization addressing issues of economic opportunity in education and health care.
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Ruder Finn
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Los Angeles, CA
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Account Supervisor
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Jan 2002 - Jul 2003
Senior counselor and project lead, creating and implementing client campaigns and leading deep-dive research projects, perception audits and benchmarking analyses. Clients included Deloitte & Touche, Network for Good, Broadband & Internet Security Taskforce and the Middle East Institute. Senior counselor and project lead, creating and implementing client campaigns and leading deep-dive research projects, perception audits and benchmarking analyses. Clients included Deloitte & Touche, Network for Good, Broadband & Internet Security Taskforce and the Middle East Institute.
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Fringe Media Inc.
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Los Angeles and San Francisco, CA
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Director of Marketing Communications
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Aug 2000 - Oct 2001
Media strategist and spokesperson promoting FringeGolf magazine and website, responsible for corporate marketing, event management and investor relations. Media strategist and spokesperson promoting FringeGolf magazine and website, responsible for corporate marketing, event management and investor relations.
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Walt Disney Internet Group
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Los Angeles, CA
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Manager, Communications and Synergy
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Dec 1998 - Aug 2000
Communications specialist and synergy liaison for company-wide Internet marketing programs, cross-marketing Disney, ABC, ESPN and Go Network properties. Communications specialist and synergy liaison for company-wide Internet marketing programs, cross-marketing Disney, ABC, ESPN and Go Network properties.
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Ketchum
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Washington, DC
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Account Executive
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Jun 1996 - Dec 1998
Account lead responsible for client projects and new business development; duties included research, media relations, and content creation. Clients included MCI, Network Solutions, American Management Systems and the Global Internet Project. Account lead responsible for client projects and new business development; duties included research, media relations, and content creation. Clients included MCI, Network Solutions, American Management Systems and the Global Internet Project.
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Education
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The Johns Hopkins University
Master of Arts - MA, Communication -
San Diego State University
Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science -
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars
Academic Internship Semester, Grassroots Lobbying
Community
