PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY

As a Journalism Communications (Marketing/Public Relations) professional and humanitarian, my goal is to continue serving in a leadership capacity providing exceptional messaging and content creation. With over fifteen years of proven enthusiastic marketing and polished program coordination, while utilizing my strong verbal and written communications skills as well as my ability to effectively problem solve and lead teams to success, this has been proven through my consistent work ethic. I’ve also shown timely delivery of results as the Career Development Specialist at Savannah State University and in record sales at Cumulus Media as well as WJCL- The Coastal Source as well as proven marketing and morale boosting as Culture & Community Relations Liaison of Mike Hostilo Law Firm. I've also raised over $10,000 within three months granting me significant scholarships among other awards for my sales performance and business-securing ability. This all ties back to my positively influential communication style and skills.

EDUCATION

Georgia Southern University (Degree Received: May 2019)

Master of Arts, Professional Communication & Leadership

Savannah State University (Degree Received: May 2011)

Bachelor of Arts, Mass Communications *Cum Laude 3.04 GPA

Savannah Arts Academy (Diploma Received: May 2007)

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Marketing & Communications Coordinator February 2022-Present

Savannah-Chatham County Public School System

Manage District-wide Volunteer Portal

serve as liaison between portal helpdesk and 56 schools Primary & Secondary Site Coordinators, Schedule trainings for school counselors, Info specialists, Parent & Community Coordinators, Family Engagement Facilitators, etc. at each school, Create handbook for rebranding, Create social media campaign, redesign pull-up/retractable banner, lead rebranding rollout for volunteer portal

Lead of annual Instructional Support Person of the Year (ISPY) Reception

emailing guidelines, timeline, and application to all Principals, receive and record nominee names, receive application packets, schedule reader/reviewers to meet finalist deadline, score application rubrics, book venue, schedule catering and photography, sound and lighting, etc.

Munis Financial System

completing check requests, requests for purchase, vendor file maintenance, purchase card reconciliations, budget transfers and more.

Fundraising and Sponsorships/Donations for Supt. Student of the Month and Teacher of the Year

Secured donors for floral arrangements, sweet treats, gift cards, tote bags full of retail merchandise (totaling approx. $3500) and established an ongoing working relationship for future events with SCCPSS

Superintendent’s Student of the Month Process

selection process of student honoree, initial email notifying principal, follow up with monthly sponsors, order plaque, order books, schedule photography, pick up photos, deliver photos, post to social and web, deliver books

Overseeing seasonal Intern

assign and manage projects, advise on productivity, aid intern in keeping schedule, aide intern in making contact with other members of community

Promoting Peachjar as a preferred medium for sharing community and SCCPSS/non-SCCPSS related programming and events

Communications division approves flyers to be posted via various schools’ Peachjar portal

Culture & Community Relations Liaison October 2021-October 2022

Mike Hostilo Law Firm Savannah, Augusta, Macon, Columbus, Charleston, Aiken

Manage internal engagement by arranging monthly lunches with chiropractic and/or

funding company partners, boost morale by highlighting occasions such as Women’s History Month firm-wide, Mother & Father’s Day and through team building

Identifying opportunities for service-based branding such as Greenbriar Children’s gift wrapping, Habitat for Humanity home project builds and creating cards for residents of Ronald McDonald House

Produce monthly newsletter to include photography and videography of monthly events taken

and edited by me, produce press releases for community events such as the Mike Hostilo Law

Firm 2021 Book Bag Drive Tour to include planning, contacting vendors and completing

reimbursements for items needed to execute events

Social Media management, content creation for all markets (13 locations)

Attend Bi-Weekly Market Strategy & Operations meetings, participate on Firm Meeting

committee and Quarterly Meeting Board, gather details to submit Litigation report from Chief Legal Counsel & more

Additional Director of Career Services duties September 2021-October 2021

Career Development Specialist October 2014-October 2021

Savannah State University, Student Affairs

Responsibly assists students and alumni with creating resumes and cover letters

Help clients to sharpen their professional communication skills by conducting mock interviews and pinpointing need for improvement in diction and word usage

Added over fifty-five students to our Career Retention & Coaching Track program within first full year employed

Increase professional awareness of students and community members through, presentations and public speaking avenues (panel discussions, program implementations, etc.)

Added over 200 followers to our Career Services social media site within my first six months of working in the Office of University Career Services

Train Career Ambassadors (student workers/student employees) to work in our office for the academic year

Impressum School of Social Graces (J. Enterprises, LLC) January 2016

Founder/CEO

Create curriculum and manual as well as workbooks on dining, proper sitting, professional development, etc. for four-hour sessions which take place two Saturdays each month for five months consecutively

Manage two etiquette instructors, training them in social graces instruction and evaluating their progress after three months

Planning and implementing/organizing finishing ceremony for all students enrolled to receive Certificates of Completion after perfect attendance all five months and successfully proving retaining of taught information

Miss Georgia US Ambassador December 2015-Jan 2017

State Pageant Director

Recruiting and identifying local delegates to not only participate in the annual scholarship pageant but to also represent the brand of the national pageant and compete in the State pageant each Fall

Construct acceptance and rejection letters as well as sponsorship letters in order to raise funds for pageant production, pageant weekend host hotel, transportation and meet and greet guest speaker(s)

Award $1500 in scholarships to a winner of the MISS and TEEN title each October

Department Business Manager

Dillard’s, Inc. April 2013-Oct 2014

Served as department leader for foundation wear

Created associates’ monthly schedules and attended frequent trainings to become educated on new brands

Planned and led annual Fit for a Cure event for Breast Cancer Awareness month

Responsibly and creatively displayed new and discounted items, inventory and markdowns to move merchandise to being sold

Account Executive June 2012-March 2013

WJCL/WTGS: The Coastal Source

Established meaningful and lasting connections with business owners by creating promotional television ads

Excelled in time-management and quality follow-ups, setting up appointments with decision-makers for business promotions

Certified Marketing Consultant June 2011-June 2012

Cumulus Broadcasting

Logged over $2500 in sales during first quarter

Arranged appointments with business owners

Created commercial script and quickly closed sales for on-air advertising

INTERNSHIPS

Intern Spring 2019

Mike Hostilo Law Firm

Created deliverables for social media campaigns that engaged followers to become potential clients of MGH when/if necessary

Partnered with NOY Media to edit web content, to include usage, verbiage and consistency in

writing style

Enhanced knowledge on search engine optimization and keyword use for top marketing standards

Intern Spring 2011

Carriage Trade Public Relations & SCORE

Developed a social media site and gained substantial following

Created comprehensive media list

Formulated informative and timely press releases

Intern Spring 2009

Savannah Tribune Newspaper

Shadowed editor at business workshops

Submitted stories on community events

Compiled a book of local businesses

Prepared the bi-weekly paper

HONORS & AWARDS

Certified Corporate Etiquette Instructor 2016 (American School of Protocol)

Georgia Outstanding Citizen’s Award 2015

SSU Influential Alumnus of the Year, SSU National Alumni Association 2014

JoAnne Robinson Memorial Scholarship, Scripps-Howard News

Who’s Who Among Students in Colleges & Universities

Miss Black Georgia USA 2013

Miss Savannah State University 2010-2011

Ebony Fashion Fair Scholarship

Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Certified*

Certificate of Appreciation: Keynote Speaker, Youth Advocate Program

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT (just to name a few)

GEAR UP Summer Program Career Services Information Presenter

SSU Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference Committee Member 2017

SSU Inaugural Women’s Leadership Conference Panelist 2016

Savannah State University Graduate Studies Program Panelist

Youth Intercept Summer Law Camp Etiquette Presenter

Advisor of Delta GEMS Youth Group, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

E.93 Cumulus Radio: CRCT Tour Motivational Speaker

Toastmasters International: Savannah Legacy Builders VP of Membership

West Broad Street YMCA Fall Festival Queens Coalition volunteer

Upward Bound Summer Program Youth Program Coordinator (Mr. & Miss UB)

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Coastal Empire

Tiger’s Roar- Student Newsletter Publication (Writer, Editor, Reporter)

Savannah Union Mission: Donor

Chatham Humane Society: Volunteer and Donor

SKILLS

Proficient in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook)

Public Speaking

Editing

Effective Marketing creativity

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