Experience

Make-A-Wish Metro New York and Western New York

• United States
• Philanthropic Fundraising Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Marketing Officer

  • Jan 2016 - Present

• Senior Director of Communications and Marketing

  • Jul 2015 - Dec 2015



F + S Consulting Group

• Co-Founder & Principal

  • Aug 2011 - Aug 2015

  •Make-A-Wish - Metro NY – Conducting communications audit for capacity building throughout MNY chapter to enhance and increase fundraising capacity. •Hospices of Hope – Bucharest, RO – Building communications platforms and development capacity in US. •Hocus Pocus - Constructed capacity-building framework for NY-based youth-enrichment foundation to expand mission, create communications platforms, build advisory board, and diversify resource base. •UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) - Provided research and analysis for monitoring and evaluation on aid effectiveness with a focus on gender equality in Emergency Transit situations. •Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY – Engaged to develop donor appeals, newsletters and external documents in line with new development strategy.•Centrade, Kubis & Chainsaw, Bucharest, RO - Contracted to develop content for corporate websites and write employee manual.A former colleague and I started F+S Consulting in response to the mounting challenges smaller non-profits and foundations face building robust development operations capable of fueling their growth; or, in the case of foundations, identifying how to most effectively deploy their resources to ensure a meaningful impact.Our approach is to help organizations going through growth or transition to leverage their unique strengths, shore up weaknesses and refocus scarce resources, so they are better positioned to expand their share of the philanthropic pie in pursuit of their mission. To that end, we work with clients to:• Shape their message into a persuasive case for support;• Build and position key volunteer and professional leadership; and• Develop appropriate and targeted fundraising strategies that foster capacity building and sustainability.



The AHA Foundation

• Consultant for Development & Advocacy

  • Apr 2014 - Sep 2014

  Retained to evaluate, develop and implement and annual communications plan across AHA’s audiences to achieve strategic and operational objectives and to attract and retain donors during foundation’s transition to new leadership.• Develop content and manage the development, distribution, and maintenance of all communications collateral including promotional materials, newsletters, brochures, educational materials, website content and social media channels. • Audit documents and materials to ensure consistency and adherence to standards, language and style. Provide guidelines to allow staff and third party partners to express the organizational brand accurately and effectively to external audiences.



UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

• Switzerland
• International Affairs
• 700 & Above Employee

• Lead Project Manager

  • Apr 2011 - Jul 2011

  UNHCR – United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees – Timisoara, Romania/Geneva 2011Engaged to produce an advocacy film to highlight the crisis of the emergency resettlement of refugees. The film highlighted the efforts of the first such “model” of resettlement and led to increased funding and promised scale-up by the international community. Led international team and coordinated all aspects of documentary film “In State of Transit” for UNHCR Bucharest Emergency Transit Center. Conducted research and interviews, wrote script and voiced-over 12-minute film. Film available on Linked-In profile.



Links Communications

• Consultant

  • Apr 2008 - Jun 2010

  LINKS ASSOCIATES – Bucharest, Romania 2008–2011ConsultantRetained to communicate the benefits of a controversial mining project that was opposed by local and international NGOs, and more than twenty legislative initiatives and government regulations seeking to discredit and halt the project. • Community Outreach, Media Relations and Public Affairs. The public perception of the complex issues surrounding the project led to a hostile environment. We conducted a public, media relations and legislative communications program to address patrimonial, environmental and displacement issues.



Saatchi&Saatchi

• Director of Communications

  • 1994 - 2009

  Relocated to Romania to launch and lead new division providing strategic communications and media relations for clients navigating a developing market. Recruited and trained eight-member multi-cultural staff. Directed research and analysis of Romanian privatization and EU accession policies for clients including World Bank, Procter & Gamble, BAT, Daewoo, and REBU.• Media Program. Developed team capacity to perform media research and monitoring; built broad network of media contacts. • Opinion Shaping. Envisioned and executed strategies to forge favorable public opinion among target European countries to promote Romania’s EU accession.• Internal & External Communications Program. Strengthened new brand of recently privatized and acquired Romanian waste management firm and fostered a new workplace culture with clear internal communications that outlined goals and values.



Sawyer/Miller Group

• Associate

  • Jan 1989 - Aug 1992

  AssociateConducted diverse range of communications activities for political and business clients, including media relations, public affairs, issue management, and crisis communications. Orchestrated government relations efforts for telecommunications companies and auto manufacturers, working with regulatory agencies and associations. • Political Campaigns. Conceptualized research-based PR strategy and wrote press releases for presidential campaigns in Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru.• Crisis Communications. Contributed to crisis communications strategies and pieces for several high-profile bankruptcies to mitigate negative opinion.• Media Training. Sharpened clients’ presentation skills for corporate videos and congressional testimony.