I received my Bachelor’s Degree in August of 2008 from Sam Houston State University (SHSU) with a major in Public Relations (Mass Communication) and a minor in Political Science. While earning my degree, I refined my customer service and computer skills while working for the SHSU Admissions Office and the Law Enforcement Management Institute of Texas at SHSU. As a result, I have extensive knowledge evaluating overall program results through tracking, testing, and modeling activities to ensure maximum customer satisfactions and quality service provided at SHSU.
A great deal of my volunteer experience has been with the American Cancer Society. After volunteering with the local Relay For Life, I became motivated in 2006 to establish the Colleges Against Cancer Chapter at SHSU. With this Chapter, I was able to put in more than sixty hours a year working to educate the campus and raise money for the organization. In addition, I chaired the first SHSU Relay For Life in 2006- and again in 2007. My primary tasks involved advertising for the event, sending out press releases around the community and encouraging students and citizens to participate in the Relay For Life. Alongside my commitment to the American Cancer Society, I became the Foundation Administrator for the Phelps-Glazener HOPE Foundation in Huntsville, Texas. My duties and responsibilities with the foundation allowed me to develop my public relations skills by creating public awareness of the foundation, our goals and our future events that I would be planning. Working with the non-profits increased my need and motivation to stay organized, creative and alert in my surroundings.
After college, I was hired by Ashley Wesp to be the Community Enhancement Coordinator at the Brazos Animal Shelter. This experience allowed me to gain supervisory and volunteer management skills while continuing to enhance my public relations skills. As the Community Enhancement Coordinator, I was responsible for preparing and planning the adoption and fundraising events, managing the foster care program, creating volunteer programs and newsletters, along with managing the volunteers/interns. In addition, I developed and maintained media relationships by preparing press releases, and serving as the Shelter’s spokesperson when appearing on several Bryan-College Station radio stations and KBTX newscasts promoting our Shelter events. Other tasks I maintained at the Brazos Animal Shelter included designing and updating the website and social media. This work added to my knowledge of public relations that included photography, graphic and video design. I organized and created many adoption and fundraising events for the Brazos Animal Shelter. The primary purpose of these activities has been to form a partnership with the community in order to reach our organizational goals.
I currently work with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society as a Campaign Coordinator. With my position my primary focus is on our participants within the Team In Training Flex program. I provide fundraising and logistical support to the participants as they prepare for their upcoming events. Some administrative tasks that I am also responsible for include updating our website with current Team In Training events, creating conversation on the Facebook group and tracking fundraising progress. I am also responsible for recruiting and managing volunteer positions within our campaign.
I also contract services for social media assistance. When moving to the Austin area in the summer of 2012, I began contracting with Hot Dog Marketing. I create newsletters, social media pages and graphics. In addition, I also manage the clients presence in social networking sites including Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pintrest. The contract work allows me to expand my knowledge of social media while assisting clients with key marketing strategies.
To view my complete work experience and recommendations, please view my LinkedIn profile here.
