Business Development and Team Coordinator, Profit Non-Profit Solutions at Streetsense

• Jul 2021 - Present

Tourism Development Director Punta Gorda/Englewood Beach Visitor & Convention Bureau

• Jan 2019 - Jun 2020

Leverage marketing, communications, PR, advertising, and media relations skills along with experience working with the Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Offices to lead tourism development activities. Fully accountable for coordinating a program of tourism promotion and development for Charlotte County’s tourism industry and implementing its national and international marketing, advertising, and public relations programs. • Lead all marketing activities including creating campaigns and developing integrated marketing, advertising, media, and PR strategies. Identify tourist demand/forecasts, monitor competition, and develop needed product. • Coordinate with Visitors and Convention Bureau (VCB), area hospitality partners, business community, and VCB advertising, PR, and social media agencies to develop an effective annual marketing and advertising plan. • Utilize excellent interpersonal skills to communicate with county officials, business leaders, hospitality partners, destination management organizations, and area residents and to coordinate cooperative marketing programs. • Serve as the primary spokesperson for tourism in Charlotte County including media interviews and presenting on a variety of topics involving tourism. Prepare and present programs as requested for service and business. • Manage a staff of nine in a manner that inspires confidence, fosters performance excellence, and generates both energy and personal commitment among team members to the organization’s mission, strategies, and objectives. Show less

President

• Jan 2016 - Jan 2019

Assume full accountability for executive leadership and management ensuring that the overall mission and strategies of the organization are consistently implemented and maintained. Coordinate and execute solutions for business needs/challenges while overseeing all administrative, operating, and marketing functions. Develop and implement effective strategies, policies, and processes for the continued growth/expansion of the organization. • Maintain collaborative working relationships while reporting to Board of Directors and delivering advice and recommendations to the Chairman of the Board, the Board of Directors, and other committees as designated. • Oversee the financial management of the organization, direct the preparation of the annual budget, and manage the creation of financial reports and annual audit reports. • Accountable for developing and supervising the implementation of annual operating and marketing plan. Execute creative strategies designed to promote the county to local, state, regional, national, and international audiences. • Establish and maintain effective ongoing communications and relationships with community and government leaders, business and cultural institution leaders, convention and event planners, and the local tourism industry. • Attend Board meetings and other designated committees in an advisory, non-voting capacity as well as represent the DMO at local, state, regional, and national conventions that foster the betterment of the DMO’s mission. • Coordinate, develop, and maintain effective organizational policies, processes, and procedures and ensure that all Bureau activities are implemented within the established policies, guidelines, laws, and ethical standards. • Hire, train, supervise, and evaluate personnel, oversee implementation of discipline and termination procedures, coordinate staff training, establish goals for individual departments, and assist staff with meeting those goals. Show less

Marketing and Communications Director

• Nov 2011 - Dec 2015

Directs the CVB’s marketing and communications efforts and sets strategic direction for the organization’s website, visitor information services, publications and public/media relations efforts. Responsibilities • Ensure all marketing communications are integrated and strategic, support CVB marketing plan objectives, maintain brand position and platform, adhere to brand standards and effective expenditures of resources • Develop and implement strategies for positioning the organization and its reputation, relevance and value within the community (elected officials, citizens) as the official destination management organization for Prince William & Manassas • Develop strategies for partner development marketing and sponsorship programs and opportunities • Direct development of marketing initiatives, including promotional campaigns, advertising, and other special projects designed to generate leisure visitor and/or meeting & event attendee room nights • Identify and cultivate collaborative relationships, cooperative and grant opportunities in marketing and advertising with industry partners and funding sources • Direct the development and production of meeting, leisure, sports and organizational marketing/communications materials, including but not limited to the Official Visitors Guide, annual Year In Review, Annual Marketing Plan, E-newsletters (Visitor, Meeting, Sports and Partner) and Visitor Map • Direct development, continued innovation and content maintenance of the CVB website • Direct all organization PR strategies and activities including press releases, social media and blogs. • Pentrovide marketing skills and expertise to industry partners by building, developing, leading and managing expected marketing strategies and goals • Maintain accurate statistics and data on ROI of marketing programs and efforts, for regular reporting and analysis of marketing plan and associated activities and programs Show less

Publicist

• Dec 2006 - Nov 2011

• Publicity: Implement and execute publicity and promotional efforts for entertainment industry clients. Handle major motion picture studios accounts (Paramount Pictures, New Line Cinema, Lionsgate Films, Screen Gems). Develop innovative campaigns garnering coverage in print online, TV, radio and social media avenues, including Facebook and Twitter. • Event Management: Brainstorm, plan and implement local events, advanced screenings, contests, celebrity appearances and costume character tours to support of theatrical releases of films; consistently work on films opening in top three box office sales. Work with individual event budgets of up to $20,000 and drawing several thousand attendees. Coordinate and manage press tours. • Cross Promotions: Research and develop relationships with new promotional partners in various mediums. Develop cross promotional campaigns with third-party retailers (recently including Vitamin Water, CW television network and MovieFone). Maximize product exposure by negotiating advertising trades with television, radio, print and online partners, including demographically targeted local blogs and websites. • Public Relations: Cultivate relationships with dozens of media contacts – including critics, columnists, feature writers, bloggers, editors, TV/radio hosts, producers and reporters –to secure coverage of new films an special events. Write press releases, newsletters, media kits and web content; monitor and report on coverage. Show less

Marketing Manager

• Aug 2006 - Dec 2006

• Promotions: Developed special promotional campaigns for advertising division of Cox Cable. Collaborate with sales force to brainstorm and run campaigns and special events for cable network advertisers. Planned and ran golf tournament for top advertisers that resulted in future advertising commitments. • Business Support: Provided resources to account executives and sales managers to attract new business, retain existing business and by developing targeted client and category-specific marketing strategies. Show less

Senior Event Marketing Representative

• Apr 2006 - Aug 2006

• Event Planning: Invited to join event team following hospital-related fundraising successes at previous job. Commuted nearly weekly to meet with staff in Memphis, TN, to plan events and promotions, including regional “radiothon” fundraisers generating $3-4M annually. • Public Relations: Traveled extensively to present radiothon program and other hospital information to targeted radio stations within key markets, third-party organizations and volunteer committees. Made presentations on behalf of hospital at fund raising events and through print media, television and radio. Show less

Promotions Director/WMZQ

• 2000 - 2006

Event Planning: Created and managed country music radio station-sponsored concerts, community events and fundraisers. Organized and site-managed WMZQFest concert that drew 19,000+ attendees. Produced radiothons generating $1M+ in donations for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital for two consecutive years. • Promotions: Developed on-air contests and special promotions. Established promotional program with Turkey Hill Ice Cream & Beverages, resulting in distribution of 200K+ samples at events annually. • Leadership: Supervised two full-time promotional assistants and 20 part-time events staffers. Show less

Promotions Director

• Jan 1998 - Aug 2000

• Event Planning: Developed and executed all station special events, including award-winning public service activities and off-site live broadcasts. Won national award and garnered state-wide television and newspaper coverage for creation of Habitat for Humanity House community service project; effort involved soliciting all supplies and coordinating work of large team of volunteers to construct single-family home. • Leadership: Supervised, mentored and evaluated six-person promotional department. Led company in twice being named top-rated radio station for community involvement as rated by Arbitron. • Public Relations: Built and maintained media contacts throughout state. Wrote press releases, solicited prizes from local and national businesses. Developed relationships with artists and record companies. Show less