Experience

Kirkhaven

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

• Vice President, Community Engagement

  • May 2021 - Present



Volunteers of America Upstate New York

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

• Director Of Development

  • Jan 2018 - Dec 2020



National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter

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

• Vice President, Chapter Resource Management

  • Oct 2008 - May 2017

   Provide strategic leadership and direction as part of the Executive Management Team of a $3.5 million non-profit organization. Create, implement, manage and oversee the operational and strategic development plans with responsibly for fundraising and marketing communications.  Provide strategic direction and leadership to a team of development professionals in multiple offices across Upstate New York to successfully implement special events including, Walk MS ($1.5 million), Bike MS ($300,000), Monster Scramble 5K/10K ($130,000), luncheons in Buffalo, Rochester and Albany and other leadership events ($150,000). Direct all traditional development campaigns including annual direct mail membership campaign, major gift solicitations, planned giving, prospect research, donor recognition and memorial/miscellaneous giving. ($350,000) Partner with President, Board of Directors and other volunteers to identify potential donors, develop cultivation plans and engage in major gift solicitations.  Create all direct mail fundraising appeal letters, acknowledgements and other correspondence.  Prepare grant proposals for foundations, corporations and individuals.  Lead volunteer engagement and marketing communications including, content development, social media strategy. crisis communication, media relations and donor relations.  Oversee all chapter community engagement and institute programs to increase agency awareness. Prepare and review news releases and public service announcements and serve as source of information for the media and other external publics. Coordinate production of all agency publications including quarterly newsletter, client publications, annual report, brochures and increased Society presence on social media outlets resulting in improved content, visibility and functionality. Develop social media strategy to increase engagement, participation and awareness.



Norman Howard School

• United States
• Primary and Secondary Education
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Development and Public Relations

  • Sep 2002 - Feb 2007

   Member of Senior Management Team; collaborated with colleagues to create and implement policy and resolve issues and concerns.  Directed fundraising activities including annual direct mail campaign, major gift solicitations, auction event, planned giving, prospect research, donor recognition and memorial/miscellaneous giving.  Prepared and reviewed grant proposals for foundations, corporations and individuals.  Crafted direct mail fundraising appeal letters, acknowledgements, etc.  Managed parent and staff volunteers, increasing the number of donors and total funds raised by 50%. Handled all public relations including, preparing news releases and public service announcements.  Coordinated production of all agency publications including newsletters, admissions and other brochures. Served as editor of newsletter and other publications – wrote, edited and proofread copy, selected photography, designed layout and worked with printers and graphic designers to ensure quality.



National MS Society Upstate New York Chapter

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

• Director of Development and Public Relations

  • Nov 1992 - Jun 2002

  Served as one of six top administrators of the agency. Responsible for creating and implementing operational plan, strategic plan and directing all fund raising and public relations activities with a $2.7 million budget. Successfully assisted with the consolidation of three Society chapters into one organization.  Prepared the development and public relations operational plan and three-year budgets for new chapter territory, which expanded from four counties and one office to 27 counties and three offices. Directed all traditional development campaigns including annual direct mail membership campaign, major gift solicitations, planned giving, prospect research, donor recognition and memorial/miscellaneous giving.  Partnered with President, Board of Directors and other volunteers to identify potential donors, develop cultivation plans and make major gift solicitations.  Wrote all direct mail fundraising appeal letters, acknowledgements and other correspondence.  Prepared and reviewed grant proposals for foundations, corporations and individuals. Coordinated donor-based special events (galas, golf tournaments, etc.) and supervised staff coordinating participant-based mass-market special events (MS Walk and MS Bike Tours) raising over $1 million annually.  Worked closely with community volunteers on all aspects of planning, implementation and evaluation of special event fund raising activities. Handled all marketing communications and public relations duties including crisis communication, media relations, and donor relations. Prepared news releases, public service announcements and served as source of information for the media and other external publics. Provided creative direction for collateral development.