Experience counts

Houston Food Bank

Grant Coordinator

August 2022 - Present

By managing a foundation portfolio consisting of 90 prospective and existing donors, this position contributes almost $1 million per year to fulfilling the food bank’s mission of Food for Better Lives. Along with submitting grants and reports according to each foundation’s timeline, this position explores and develops new grant opportunities, as well as being charged with identifying, researching, monitoring, and applying for available funding opportunities that advance the mission of Houston Food Bank and coordinating the administration of and reporting on awarded funds

Freelance and Contract Communications 

March 2022 - August 2022 

Bringing two decades of knowledge and know-how gained in the nonprofit/communications sector, I provide an ad hoc, reliable and committed resource to organizations that need extra capacity for special projects. 

My twelve years of successful organizational leadership experience gives me a unique understanding of the challenges nonprofits face due to limited staff capacity, as well as limited funding.

My focus areas include:

• Website Development and Maintenance

• Grant Writing and Research

• Values-based messaging

• Content Writer

Harris County Precinct One, Commissioner Rodney Ellis

Deputy Director of Communications

July 2018 – March 2022

Clear and consistent communication to Harris County Precinct One’s 1.1M residents is Commissioner Rodney Ellis’ priority. Upon taking office in 2017, Commissioner Ellis expanded the precinct’s communications team and set forth several new long- and short-term communications objectives to better serve constituents. 

As one of the department leaders hired to implement his objectives, I oversaw the design and launch of the new website; built a CRM system and the accompanying constituent email collection process; developed and implemented departmental and inter-departmental processes, which eliminated existing silos while encouraging precinct wide collaboration; created a realistic and obtainable department strategic plan that is aligned with the precinct strategic plan; and developed a robust, compelling, and creative values-based communications plan. The plan is designed to showcase the precinct's achievements, services, community engagement and public policy priorities.

Across multiple platforms, including print, social media, video, speeches, talking points, and branding, Harris County residents receive messaging based on the precinct's core values of justice, equality, opportunity, and fairness.

AIDS Foundation Houston

Chief Development Officer

February 2012 – July 2018

While serving as the agency's CDO, I diversified private funding streams; increased revenue between FY2012 and FY2015 by 40%; reduced the department expenses by 50% between FY2012 and FY2014; and with the help of an outside vendor, coordinated the nation’s first PrEP heterosexual marketing campaign, which captured 28M media impressions and over 40,000 unique website visitors in 6 weeks. 

Leading the organization's Culture of Philanthropy, I developed and managed the fund development systems, volunteer management, external communications to stakeholders, special events, corporate partnerships, and private and public foundation grant funding. Additionally, my senior leadership role included media and agency spokesperson duties, creating communications plans and developing the multi-year strategic plan for the organization. 

During my time at AIDS Foundation Houston, I cultivated and stewarded mutually beneficial partnerships with global corporations such as Chevron, Shell Oil, Marathon Oil, Apache Energy, ExxonMobil, Gilead Pharmaceuticals, Janssen Therapeutics, GlaxoSmithKline, BBVA Compass, Wells Fargo, and Walgreens.

Additionally, I developed partnerships with national and global nonprofit organizations such as Elton John AIDS Foundation, Black AIDS Institute, Magic Johnson Foundation, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

Pinto Ranch – Fine Western Wear

Associate Director of Marketing and Public Relations

January 2011 – February 2012

I successfully helped drive retail clients to Pinto Ranch’s multi-million-dollar stores and online retail website by utilizing numerous communications strategies and tactics, including placing and negotiating $500,000 in media buys in three metropolitan areas and throughout the nation; doubled website traffic using search engine optimization (SEO) and pay per click advertising; managing social media messaging on all platforms; developing email campaigns; pitching and coordinating public relations opportunities with print and television; developing and coordinating marketing strategies; and creating corporate partnerships.

Texans Together Education Fund

Director of Development

October 2009 – January 2011

Creating an identity and online presence was priority #1 for this young nonprofit. Using storytelling-style communications, I was able to clearly convey the vital community-based services the organization provided while celebrating the success stories of the working families who were helped by those services. During my time at Texans Together, I launched a fund development system; coordinated a community engagement program; wrote and designed their first website; built a social media presence; implemented an email collection process; created and wrote a monthly newsletter; researched and wrote grant proposals, and coordinated the agency’s first annual fundraising event, which was attended by Houston Mayor Bill White, and numerous other elected officials.  

Planned Parenthood of Houston and Southeast Texas

Development Officer   

December 2008 - September 2009

Using thorough donor research and in-person meetings, I identified mid-level donors who were good prospects for major gifts donations. Additionally, I raised over $100,000 in donations per year from existing major donors using the cultivation-solicitation-stewardship model. This success was based on tailoring donation requests to each donor while stewarding their interest in the organization. 

Annual Fund Manager 

December 2007 to December 2008

As Annual Fund Manager, I utilized direct mail solicitations, telefunding campaigns, employee giving programs, health center fundraising, online giving, and coordinated an annual donor acquisition event to reach the $250,000 revenue goal assigned to the position. In one year, health center fundraising increased by 150%.

Director of Events

April 2005 – December 2007

Responsible to reaching a revenue goal of over $1M through the coordination and management of the organization’s signature special events, I successfully guided event chairs and their committees through the event process using in-person planning meetings, developing new and creative event themes and branded collateral, including invitations, letterhead, stationary, and décor.

SNAP (Spay and Neuter Assistance Program)

E-Marketing Manager

March 2004 – April 2005

Developed the organization’s website including the structure, navigation, and website pages of www.snapus.org while developing and implementing an online marketing and fundraising program.

Wrote bi-monthly online newsletter; created graphics for website and online campaigns; updated online mobile clinic schedules; developed online fundraising campaigns; planned and organized fundraising events; presented status of online fundraising at Board of Directors meetings