City of Lexington: Marketing & Communications Manager

March 2024 - Present

- Leads the City's public relations initiatives which includes maintaining professional relationships with local media outlets and developing press releases on City news such as grants awarded to City departments and economic development.

- Diligently maintain marketing & communications files including documents and media for the purpose of public record retention.

- Orchestrates and disseminates communication for and on behalf of public officials and City departments to the news media.

- Conduct professional and administrative work to compose and maintain City digital communications including our intranet, website and social media.

- Serves as the Public Information Officer for public safety departments which include the Lexington Police Department and the Lexington Fire Department.

- Curates content for and manage the City's social media accounts (including police and fire) with a focus on increased video content and high-resolution photography.

- Strategizes department marketing & communications efforts with leadership across all fourteen departments.

- Produces, edits and disseminates the City of Lexington's first podcast. Being solely responsible for producing the podcast has included writing scripts, facilitating interview scheduling and preparing guests, utilizing audio equipment and training guests on interview etiquette and distributing among all major podcasting platforms.

- Introduced and produces the Mayor Community Update, a monthly video newsletter created to keep the residents of Lexington up to date on what's happening with the City.

- Develops communications policies such as media policies, branding guidelines and crisis communication protocols.

- Coordinates crisis communications management on behalf of the City of Lexington.

- Preserve digital public records created through social media to practice state law regarding public records.

- Collaborates with City departments to develop internal communication plans for employees.

City of Winston-Salem: Senior Community Educator

City of Winston-Salem/ Winston-Salem Fairgrounds

January 2019 - March 2024

  • Effectively manage paid media buys for events year-round, through tv, radio, print, paid social media campaigns and community partnerships

  • Responsible for the advertising of the Carolina Classic Fair with a budget of $250,000

  • Fostered relationships with local media outlets, sponsors and community partners

  • Served as the director on commercial production shoots

  • Manage social media pages owned by Winston-Salem Fairgrounds & Carolina Classic Fair

  • Create & nurture community partnerships & sponsorships

  • Primary spokes person of the Carolina Classic Fair which included TV interviews & coordinating media efforts.

  • Book year-round events held at the Fairgrounds, which include selling facilities to potential clients.

  • Maintain wsfairgrounds.com including SEO optimization, updating event calendar and content marketing.

  • Created and operate the official online retail store of the Fairgrounds

City of Winston-Salem: Marketing Intern

City of Winston-Salem Marketing & Communications

May 2017 - December 2018

  • Assistant to the City of Winston-Salem's Director of Marketing Director on projects revolving around strategic planning and raising public awareness on city-related campaigns.

  • Managed City of Winston-Salem & Fairgrounds Farmers Market social media pages to promote the farmers market, build an audience and drive awareness.

  • Coordinated special events to engage existing customers while attracting new customers and vendors.

  • Conducted interviews with vendors to educate customers on vendor products.

  • Shot photography for farmers market weekly shadow video production team on projects such as city park ribbon cuttings, police/fire graduations & special city events.

  • Served as an on-camera personality to interview vendors and be the voice of the Fairgrounds Farmers Market.