Nonprofit Management and Communications

Community Conscious

Because I believe that life is a journey and not a destination, I have regularly used my skills and talents to help improve the communities where I live. I’ve done this by increasing awareness for the organizations I serve or by achieving or exceeding their fundraising and membership goals. I also remain active in politics and will continue to support the candidates and issues I believe in.

Skills include: 

  • Nonprofit Management
  • Membership Development 
  • Fundraising (including major donors)
  • Media Relations
  • Public Affairs
  • Community Outreach
  • Marketing Communications, and 
  • Special Events

The following are highlights of my nonprofit marketing and executive leadership achievements:

Professional Nonprofit Experience and Accomplishments

River Place Student Theatre (RPST) (September 2007 – October 2013)

RPST is a non-profit 501 (c) 3 which provides students who attend River Place Elementary the opportunity to be part of a professional musical theatre experience.

Founder and Executive Director (September 2007 – October 2013)

  • Identified need for life enriching children’s theatre in the community.
  • Drove public interest, recruited volunteers, and managed fundraising and ticket sales to fund and fuel the theatre, quadrupling funding and operating budget in the first year.
  • Led the establishment of the Theatre into an independent, 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization.
  • Functioned as producer, chief fund-raiser, director of communications and chief set designer/builder for productions.
  • Led program for nine years, increasing the operating budget to $24,000 supported by more then 80 parent volunteers. 
  • Successfully transitioned program to new leadership with continued success, now in its 12th year with an estimated budget of $34,000 annually.

Self Employed PR Manager (March 2001 – February 2007)

  • American Cancer Society
    • Planned and implemented public relations strategies for ACS’ 17th annual “Courageous Kids Day.” 
    • Led a volunteer promotional team of five to create visibility for the event in local television, radio and print media.
  • Greenbelt Alliance
    • Spearheaded effort to plan and promote San Jose’s historic, first environmental issues forum held May 15, 2006 that attracted five of the six 2006 mayoral candidates.

KTEH Public Television, San Jose, CA (January 1998 – May 1999)

Director, Special Events

  • Negotiated media partnerships between Empire Broadcasting, the San Jose Mercury News and Eternelle Magazine for “Speaking of Women’s Health” (a women’s health conference held January 23, 1999 at the Fairmont Hotel) to guarantee steady media coverage leading up to the event.
  • Directed a successful three-pronged promotional strategy using KTEH television spots, KARA, KLIV and KRTY radio public service announcements and strategically placed promotional ads in the San Jose Mercury News and Eternelle Magazine to attract more than 700 attendees, 5 major corporate sponsors and raised $117K for the station.

The Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS) (May 1996 – November 1996)

Assistant Director, Membership & Major Donors

  • Managed all membership and fundraising communications between ACUS, its individual donor-members and select members of the international relations community.
  • Created compelling stories to increase membership fuel donations from existing ACUS members.
  • Played key role in fundraising, development and implementation of “NATO in the Interim,” a grand gala held in 1996, celebrating 35 years of international dialogue.