Laura Vaughan
Summary
Belvidere, IL *****
**********@*****.***
A top producing, highly accomplished, results-oriented professional leader with an outstanding record of achievements offering expertise in sales, marketing, strategic planning, new business acquisition, special-event execution and revenue generation, customer service. quality, human capital development, operational management. grant writing, philanthropic development, fundraising, and volunteer recruitment with exemplary financial acuity focusing on efficiencies and profitability in for- profit and not-for-profit business sectors.
#readytowork
Willing to relocate: Anywhere
Authorized to work in the US for any employer
Work Experience
Independent Consultant
VaughanStrategies LLC. - Remote
March 2014 to Present
• Advise public and private sector clients on strategic communications, including reputation and crisis management
• Advise high-profile political figures, business leaders, government officials and candidates on political messaging, issue advocacy and electoral campaign strategies
• Oversee a political fundraising campaign that raised over $5 million in less than 12-months, and maintains, month-by-month, a $1 million cash-on-hand balance
• Detail-oriented, in-demand event planner and campaign manager at the state and local level
• Effective advocate and government affairs advisor, and liaison with key decision makers
• Create successful marketing and social media campaigns for public and private sector clients
• Handle media inquiries, coordinating press interviews, write Op-Eds, speeches, and pitch stories and sound bites to local media outlets
• Advise and develop fundraising campaigns for public and private sector clients, ensuring compliance with legal reporting requirements mandated by state law Director of Sales & Marketing
Rock River Environmental Services (RRES) - Rockford, IL September 2008 to March 2014
• Developed and led a successful launch of a new corporate image campaign
• Strategic advisor, facilitating the approval of a controversial 222-acre landfill expansion
• Public relations advisor for the largest landfill in Illinois, and 7th largest in the nation
• Liaison to key government agencies: IEPA, DOT, OSHA
• Crisis manager and public relations advisor to the CEO, responsible for drafting presentations, press releases, and speeches
• Maintained relationships with local media, including TV and print to assist with company image
• Scripted and directed television advertising campaigns to enhance the company's public image in the local community
• Responsible for the organization's multi-million-dollar philanthropic outreach campaign, including all budget-related matters
• Maintained all employee training and related hiring documents
• Developed and marketed the company’s first product, The uBag Education
Bachelor's degree in Business Management and Leadership Judson University - Elgin, IL
2010
Bachelor's degree in Human Resources
Judson University - Elgin, IL
2010
Skills
• Social Media
• Email Marketing
• Digital Marketing
• Human Resources
• Public Relations
• Strategic Planning
• Google Analytics
• Computer Networking
• Environmental Services
• Crisis Management
• Grant Writing
• Social Media Management
• Presentation Skills
• Performance Management
• Human Resources Management
• Photography
• Project management
• MailChimp
• SEO
• Press releases
• Benefits administration
• Content creation
• Proofreading
• Branding
• Operations management
• Blogging
• Fundraising
• Content development
• Graphic design
• Web design
• Analytics
• Employee orientation
• Web development
• Public speaking
• Negotiation
• Editing
• Media relations
• Communication skills
• Writing skills
• Legislation
• Marketing
• Budgeting
Awards
Dean’s List
2010
Graduated on the Dean’s List at Judson University. Certifications and Licenses
Campaign Finance College
2014
Graduated Campaign Finance College in Washington D.C. for political campaign strategy and fundraising education and development.
Additional Information
Organizations & Non-Profits
• Past Vice President of IGNITE (Rockford Chamber of Commerce young professionals’ organization)
• Annual Chairman of (three, to date) fundraisers for OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center’s EMS Department (also responsible for social media, “on-camera” interviews, and other such promotions for the events)
• Muscular Dystrophy Association event planning, mailings, and volunteer “Lock-Up” fundraising for MDA
• Local “Safety” and “Back-to-School Awareness”events