Experience

AgeWell Services of West Michigan

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Advancement Specialist

  • Oct 2020 - Present

  I manage a variety of fundraising campaigns and events to raise the revenue needed for this organization. Responsible for all gift entry, donor communications and event planning. Analyze data to predict trends and create actionable cultivation plans. Write and edit a quarterly donor newsletter, "Behind the Wheel" and launched the first electronic version in December 2022. In the last year, I assumed many duties of the advancement director role for two distinct stints while the director took leaves of absences. Show less



Grand Valley State University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Adjunct Faculty

  • Aug 2021 - May 2022

  As an adjunct, I taught the advertising and public relations capstone course in the School of Communications. As an adjunct, I taught the advertising and public relations capstone course in the School of Communications.



InVerve Marketing, Inc.

• United States
• Advertising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Specialist/Writer

  • Jan 2020 - Mar 2020

  Created content for ads, web pages, blogs, social media and video scripts for a variety of clients using critical key words and reflecting the voice of each client. Sadly, the Coronavirus negatively impacted the business' bottom line, and my position was eliminated as a cost-saving move. Earned certifications from HubSpot in Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing and Email Marketing, along with completing SEMRush's SEO courses. Created content for ads, web pages, blogs, social media and video scripts for a variety of clients using critical key words and reflecting the voice of each client. Sadly, the Coronavirus negatively impacted the business' bottom line, and my position was eliminated as a cost-saving move. Earned certifications from HubSpot in Inbound Marketing, Content Marketing and Email Marketing, along with completing SEMRush's SEO courses.



Sparrow Foundation

• United States
• Hospitals and Health Care
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Officer - Annual Fund

  • Apr 2019 - Oct 2019

  Developed an extensive employee giving campaign to boost annual giving that targeted all levels of the system from front-line staff to board leadership. Served on the Care for Caregivers Committee, which approved funds for staff experiencing an unexpected loss of income. Developed an extensive employee giving campaign to boost annual giving that targeted all levels of the system from front-line staff to board leadership. Served on the Care for Caregivers Committee, which approved funds for staff experiencing an unexpected loss of income.



Big Brothers Big Sisters Michigan Capital Region

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Director/Community Liaison

  • Aug 2018 - Apr 2019

  Using the Benevon fundraising model, created and conducted Point of Entry tours to build donor engagement. Organized the annual BIG Breakfast to increase multi-year pledges. Developed annual appeals and coordinated third-party event fundraisers. Using the Benevon fundraising model, created and conducted Point of Entry tours to build donor engagement. Organized the annual BIG Breakfast to increase multi-year pledges. Developed annual appeals and coordinated third-party event fundraisers.



St. Vincent Catholic Charities

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Development Specialist

  • May 2016 - Aug 2018

  Managed six direct mail campaigns, all gift acknowledgement processes and donor society communications. Responsible for donor database, donor segmentation and ensuring the integrity of the database. Also responsible for daily and monthly accounting reconciliations between DonorPerfect database and agency accounting. Managed six direct mail campaigns, all gift acknowledgement processes and donor society communications. Responsible for donor database, donor segmentation and ensuring the integrity of the database. Also responsible for daily and monthly accounting reconciliations between DonorPerfect database and agency accounting.



Michigan State University College of Law

• United States
• Higher Education
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Communications Officer

  • Jul 2014 - Sep 2015

  Supported advancement and admissions with strategic communications and creative storytelling. Served as editor of alumni magazine "Amicus" and bimonthly e-newsletters. Maintained website news, upcoming events and alumni profiles. Worked with University media relations and managed the College's social media accounts. Supported advancement and admissions with strategic communications and creative storytelling. Served as editor of alumni magazine "Amicus" and bimonthly e-newsletters. Maintained website news, upcoming events and alumni profiles. Worked with University media relations and managed the College's social media accounts.



Women's & Children's Alliance

• United States
• Individual and Family Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Manager

  • Mar 2012 - Mar 2013

  Responsible for internal communications, media relations, social media, website, print and electronic publications, outreach/fundraising events and donor communications. Supervised two interns and volunteers. Responsible for internal communications, media relations, social media, website, print and electronic publications, outreach/fundraising events and donor communications. Supervised two interns and volunteers.



Florida Department of Transportation

• United States
• Civil Engineering
• 700 & Above Employee

• Deputy Communications Director

  • Mar 2010 - Nov 2010

  Managed daily operation of the public information office including supervising staff and project management. Developed Secretary’s speaking points and maintained speech calendar, approved district PIO releases and managed the department’s social media accounts. Prepared communications reports for the governor’s office from District PIOs and Central Office. Managed daily operation of the public information office including supervising staff and project management. Developed Secretary’s speaking points and maintained speech calendar, approved district PIO releases and managed the department’s social media accounts. Prepared communications reports for the governor’s office from District PIOs and Central Office.



State of Michigan

• United States
• Government Administration
• 700 & Above Employee

• Communications Representative - Michigan Department of Human Services

  • Jul 2006 - Nov 2009

  Provided external communication support, including pitching stories, placing op-eds and serving as media spokesperson. Also responsible for website content, multimedia and social media. Provided external communication support, including pitching stories, placing op-eds and serving as media spokesperson. Also responsible for website content, multimedia and social media.



Michigan Department of Natural Resources

• United States
• Government Administration
• 200 - 300 Employee

• PR and Marketing Coordinator

  • Feb 2003 - Jul 2006

  Responsible for internal and external communications in the Parks and Recreation Division including printed and electronic publications, Internet and intranet development, large scale event planning, media relations and marketing promotions. Responsible for internal and external communications in the Parks and Recreation Division including printed and electronic publications, Internet and intranet development, large scale event planning, media relations and marketing promotions.



Washtenaw Community College

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Editor in Charge/Manager of Student Media

  • Mar 2002 - Dec 2002

  Managed the community college's student newspaper and on-line radio station. During my tenure, "The Voice" won 13 Michigan Collegiate Press Association awards for writing, design and advertising, including a student reporter named “Journalist of the Year.” Managed the community college's student newspaper and on-line radio station. During my tenure, "The Voice" won 13 Michigan Collegiate Press Association awards for writing, design and advertising, including a student reporter named “Journalist of the Year.”



Western Michigan University

• United States
• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lead Teacher of Basic Writing/Graduate Instructor

  • 1997 - 1999

  Supervised 15 undergraduate education senior students as they taught the department’s remedial writing courses, developed the course curriculum, a Basic Writing Handbook for new instructors and a training video on effective writing conferences with students. Supervised 15 undergraduate education senior students as they taught the department’s remedial writing courses, developed the course curriculum, a Basic Writing Handbook for new instructors and a training video on effective writing conferences with students.


Michigan Manufacturers Association
• United States
• Government Relations Services
• 1 - 100 Employee
• Assistant Director of Communications

  • 1989 - 1990


Lansing State Journal

• United States
• Newspaper Publishing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Night Cops/General Assignment Reporter

  • Jan 1988 - Oct 1989

  Earned Second Place award in 1988 from the National Newspaper Association for Spot News Coverage. Earned Second Place award in 1988 from the National Newspaper Association for Spot News Coverage.