Experience

Harris County Elections Department

• United States
• Government Administration
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Communications

  • Jun 2023 - Present

• Interim Director of Communications

  • Jan 2023 - May 2023

• Deputy Director of Communication and Voter Outreach

  • Sep 2021 - Jan 2023

  • Work with leadership on messaging and build out talking points • Complete interviews and media requests for broadcast TV and radio, and print and digital publications• Create opportunities to explain complex processes to media and public (i.e. annual Open House before November Elections at Central Count to demonstrate changes made to the Election Night processes and set expectations for when results will be tabulated) • Manage a team of six to build, as well as brand, accessible and visually appealing content for voters, stakeholders and media in English, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese• Train in-house subject matter experts in public speaking/media interviews• Monitor environment with digital tools (i.e. Cision, Sprout Social, Google Analytics) and reports from other offices to build materials and messaging • Create and implement branding guidelines for new office• Manage redesign of www.HarrisVotes.com, intranet, and social media content• Manage advertising budget and creative for each upcoming election, working with large English-language broadcast channels to smaller Black, Latino, Vietnamese, and Chinese outlets Show less



Harris County Public Health

• United States
• Government Administration
• 400 - 500 Employee

• Communications Specialist

  • Jan 2018 - Sep 2021

  [COVID-19 Response Tasks as Deputy of the Technical Specialist Unit] • Work directly with Deputy Director to develop strategy for creating content and disseminating internal communication for staff activated for the response, as well as those in continuing operations • Serve as liaison between Center for Disease Control and facilities in Harris County to pilot software that automates the reporting process • Schedule and lead weekly team meetings, represent team in organization-wide meetings • Handle logistics of media projects and work on shot lists, coach subject matter experts on talking points, and then compile interviews and B-roll footage into a digital folder for local news stations [Pre COVID-19 Response Tasks as Communication Specialist of the Technology and Innovation Unit] • Collaborated with executive leadership on presentations to elected officials • Built relationships and worked on special programming with Harris County Public Library, Harris County Emergency Corps, and Harris County Juvenile Probation Dept. • Created digital, interactive, and online materials for manuals used by staff • Developed printed materials, lists of potential speakers and topics, and participant activities for annual One Health Conference • Coached epidemiologists on presenting and created digital versions of their materials on LiveStories so the information would be accessible and interactive for participants • Coordinated and documented Sitting is the New Smoking Campaign, using virtual reality and active gaming to engage and educate a variety of audiences Show less



Hakim Creative

• Founder and Creative Brain

  • May 2014 - Dec 2018

  • Educate clients in effective branding techniques and typography • Consultations in presentations, user experience, and social media campaigns • Provide services in graphic and web design, and photography • Clients include: Middle East Institute (Washington, DC), U.S. National Park Service (Washington, DC), West Alabama Animal Clinic (Houston, Texas), Hiptipico (Panajachel, Guatemala), Flone Initiative (Nairobi, Kenya), Dubai Medical Village (Dubai, UAE) • Educate clients in effective branding techniques and typography • Consultations in presentations, user experience, and social media campaigns • Provide services in graphic and web design, and photography • Clients include: Middle East Institute (Washington, DC), U.S. National Park Service (Washington, DC), West Alabama Animal Clinic (Houston, Texas), Hiptipico (Panajachel, Guatemala), Flone Initiative (Nairobi, Kenya), Dubai Medical Village (Dubai, UAE)



Hiptipico

• Guatemala
• Retail Apparel and Fashion
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Digital Media Strategist

  • Oct 2015 - Oct 2016

  • Created branding strategy for the organization • Redesigned and launched ecommerce website Hiptipico.com • Compiled content and created graphics for weekly online newsletter • Increased @HiptipicoMarket Instagram followers 210% in six months • Organized documents and correspondence for B Corporation Certification • Worked with Mayan artisan women to document traditions and craft • Created branding strategy for the organization • Redesigned and launched ecommerce website Hiptipico.com • Compiled content and created graphics for weekly online newsletter • Increased @HiptipicoMarket Instagram followers 210% in six months • Organized documents and correspondence for B Corporation Certification • Worked with Mayan artisan women to document traditions and craft



Middle East Institute

• United States
• International Affairs
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Development and Outreach Specialist

  • Jan 2013 - Mar 2014

  • Identified potential individual, foundation, and corporate donor support • Assisted in the development of new fundraising approaches • Prepared proposals, letters of inquiry and project plans • Produced web and print materials for publicizing forthcoming events, describing membership benefits, promoting the annual banquet and conference, etc • Produced correspondence, grant applications, reports, and original content for publication • Developed and implement a strategy for individual and corporate recruitment • Managed and update potential donor databases Show less



Near East Foundation

• United States
• Philanthropy
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Communications Officer

  • May 2012 - Dec 2012

  • Worked on multimedia documentation of the organization’s Olive Oil Without Borders project, which facilitates economic cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian olive farmers, mill operators, and traders • Created and edited reports for use by the organization, including workshop summaries to USAID and headquarters in Syracuse, NewYork • Liaised between headquarters in Syracuse, New York and the field office in Nablus • Documented and analyzed participant surveys using SPSS statistical software • Developed a public relations campaign aimed at the Next Generation in the Atlantic Coast Conference Show less



Newhouse School, Syracuse University

• Higher Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Research Assistant for Professor Ken Harper

  • Jun 2012 - Aug 2012

  • Wrote proposals to companies for non-profit organizations Together Liberia (www.togetherliberia..org) and New Narratives (www.newnarratives.org) • Articulated the narrative for these organizations to complete requests for online software training videos, funding, and traveling vouchers • Worked on fundraising for inaugural trip to Monrovia • Wrote proposals to companies for non-profit organizations Together Liberia (www.togetherliberia..org) and New Narratives (www.newnarratives.org) • Articulated the narrative for these organizations to complete requests for online software training videos, funding, and traveling vouchers • Worked on fundraising for inaugural trip to Monrovia



Point of Contact Art Gallery

• Syracuse, New York Area

• Graphic Designer

  • Jan 2012 - May 2012

  • Designed annual literary publication featuring submissions from local poets • Created artist catalogues for exhibitions, which included versions for print and online (www.issuu.com/pointofcontact) • Designed all promotional material for all gallery-sponsored events during tenure • Designed annual literary publication featuring submissions from local poets • Created artist catalogues for exhibitions, which included versions for print and online (www.issuu.com/pointofcontact) • Designed all promotional material for all gallery-sponsored events during tenure



Lydia Baehr Public Relations

• Houston, Texas Area

• Public Relations Intern

  • Oct 2009 - Oct 2010

  • Promoted events and classes hosted by clients in the Houston area via social networking, press releases, and announcements on the company’s website (www.ltbaehr.com) • Generated reports and organized clipbooks of online, print,TV, and radio coverage for clients • Digitally archived all coverage in the firm's server • Created press kits, collateral material, and copy, while editing all information in accordance to AP guidelines • Promoted events and classes hosted by clients in the Houston area via social networking, press releases, and announcements on the company’s website (www.ltbaehr.com) • Generated reports and organized clipbooks of online, print,TV, and radio coverage for clients • Digitally archived all coverage in the firm's server • Created press kits, collateral material, and copy, while editing all information in accordance to AP guidelines