Career Profile

I am a communications and outreach professional and community builder, committed to using my 14 years’ experience for mission-driven work. My strengths lie in connecting with people; writing and editing; working with policy and technical subject matter experts; planning and executing events; driving strategic program support; creating and enhancing visual design; and developing and strategizing engaging digital content on social media and the web.

Government & Nonprofit Professional Experience 

Digital Campaigner, Workers’ Rights Project at NC Justice Center, October – Present (Contract, PT Temp)

  • Social media strategist – manages and creates digital content for NCWorkers Twitter, NC Families Care Coalition Facebook, NC Justice Center YouTube and websites. Collect, analyze, and report social media metrics.
  • Monitor daily news coverage of workers’ rights equity issues and share on social media in regular team reporting.
  • Use strong conceptual skills to create visuals with strategic branding in graphic design and video editing.
  • Wrote a communications plan for educating stakeholders on the NC and federal Unemployment Insurance system.

Census Taker / Enumerator, U.S. Census Bureau, August – October 2020 (Contract, PT Temp)

  • Conducted household surveys, quality assurance analysis, and proxy interviews to verify demographic data.

Communications Strategist, Freedom For All Americans, May – August 2020 (Contract, PT Temp)

  • Provided writing and communications expertise for LGBTQ nondiscrimination advocacy for priority states.
  • Acted as state communication lead in WV, NC, FL, GA, MI, TX and UT, working with partner organizations on earned media strategies (LTEs, Op-Eds, etc.) and press events to move public opinion for nondiscrimination.

Campaign Launch Strategist, Congressional Campaign, December 2019 – January 2020

  • Advised candidate through campaign launch in branding, messaging, media relations strategies, policy priorities, visuals and web content until campaign relocated to district.
  • Collaborated with graphic designer to create mockups of logo, palm card and website.
  • Created campaign communications: Facebook and Twitter social media, and campaign content guidelines. Set up media relations process for requests, tracking and contacts list; facilitated media responses.

Advocacy Trainer & Volunteer Grassroots Organizer (Volunteer), RESULTS, Jan. 2014 – Present

  • Founder/Leader of RESULTS Raleigh U.S. & Global Poverty group, launched 2015 https://resultsraleigh.wordpress.com/
  • Partnered with community organizations, such as CARE & NAACP, to address health, education & equity policy issues
  • Promoted advocacy with community events and speeches, social media marketing, and digital fundraising via Salsa Engage
  • Researched U.S. and global poverty issues, communicated policy with government, media, advocacy groups, public
  • Applied anti-oppression, equity and inclusion values to organize grassroots advocates across all levels, especially youth
  • Trained grassroots advocates and spoke publicly on how to advocate for health, education, and inequality issues
  • Utilized digital and traditional media outreach: designed a website, wrote blogs, pitched op-eds on global health for the News & Observer, published an LTE on U.S. health policy, and created social media content
  • Traveled to Zambia to lead education and action meetings with citizens for self-empowerment, working with government, working with media, and working within the community to improve global health and other areas tied to poverty

Communications Project Manager, NC Dept. of Health and Human Services, Raleigh, NC, March 2019 – Dec. 2019

  • Prepared and coordinated responses to news media inquiries and information. Monitored daily press coverage.
  • Supported executing press conferences, media and public events, tours, interviews and media availability for dept. leaders locally in Raleigh and during travel around the state
  • Maintained a working knowledge of relevant health issues and policy to turn complex healthcare, public health and regulatory policy into easy to understand messages
  • Developed talking points, speeches, media advisories, press releases and background briefings
  • Proactively created interactive content for social media (Facebook/Twitter/YouTube), blogs, email newsletters, video, graphics, fact sheets, brochures, PowerPoint presentations, print and web
  • Worked collaboratively with leadership and team members to provide strategic engagement for health policy priorities and to produce accessible materials and engagement opportunities on issues the programs promote

Community Outreach Liaison (Volunteer), Mayor & City Council Campaigns, Raleigh, NC, May 2019 – Oct. 2019

  • Assisted in citizen engagement to liaise with media, groups, and the broader community to win municipal election
  • Canvased targeted neighborhoods, distributed candidate signs, co-hosted meet’n greet events, and attended community and fundraiser events to deliver messaging about candidate, inform public of election and assess community concerns

Unity Breakfast Publicity Chair (Volunteer), Democratic Women of Wake County, Raleigh, NC, March 2019 – June 2019

  • Created a strategic communications plan to lead a team of four to publicize the 50th Annual Unity Breakfast
  • Wrote and distributed press release to local media, designed original promotional graphics, created social media content

Photographed three hour event with 200 attendees, including local, county, and statewide elected officials

Development, Outreach & Communications Specialist (Full-Time, 1 Year Contract), USAID/Zambia, Oct. 2017 – Oct. 2018

  • Collaborated with technical teams, Lusaka U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section, and U.S. agencies, including CDC, PEPFAR, and Peace Corps, to plan, publicize, and support marketing events. Gave social media training to USAID staff and partners.
  • Designed and maintained regular public relations materials, including media advisories, press
    releases, fact sheets, social media kits, graphics, press kits, success stories, weekly reports, and branding of USAID/Zambia’s health, economic development and nutrition, governance, and education policy programs
  • Wrote talking points and official speeches for the American Ambassador, U.S. and Zambian officials representing U.S.
  • Facilitated biannual USAID Implementing Partners meetings, monthly USAID/Zambia events, presented to staff & partners
  • Oversaw and created daily content campaigns for greater impact; monitored social media metrics via Buffer and Hootsuite; identified trending conversations; and increased @USAIDZambia Facebook likes by 61% to 41,700+ fans and Twitter followers by 68% to 6,000+

Communications Specialist (Temp Contract), NC Department of Information Technology, Raleigh, NC, August 2017 – October 2017

  • Wrote and edited daily content, including blogs, fact sheets, press releases, presentations, and Drupal website updates
  • Managed LinkedIn and Twitter social media for department public relations and live tweeting at events
  • Curated and crafted content for two email newsletters, disseminated via iContact, for the weekly “Tech News,” sent to 650 contacts list of DIT Staff and NC Agency CIOs, and monthly internal communications “Connections,” sent to 450 DIT Staff

Nonprofit Board Member, Society for Technical Communication (STC) Carolina Chapter, October 2013 – July 2017

  • Served in roles including Writing Judge, Secretary, Managing Editor of Carolina Communique, Director of Communications
  • Produce weekly announcements, via MailChimp, sent to 459 subscribers; utilize Buffer to strategize social media campaigns for Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter; manage blog and all promotional efforts surrounding content
  • Attend scheduled board meetings, summarize planning notes, coordinate event planning details, contribute to budget plan

Communications & Marketing Consulting & Agency Experience

Independent Communications Specialist, August 2010 – October 2017

  • Consulting with a variety of clientele in order to provide on-strategy, creative, detail-oriented work and understand scope of projects for customer satisfaction and successful product completion
  • Provide on-strategy, creative, detail-oriented work and understand scope of projects for clients
  • Write/strategize content, ensuring communications/digital content are optimized using Google Adwords
  • Wrote all content, designed site, and researched web copy in 2015 – www.obrnc.com
  • Marketing agency ghost writer for SEO/web content: marketing, medical, construction, retail & more
  • Editing and proofreading copy for authors, publications, companies, and educational organizations
  • Blogged for a fitness solutions company to create content for client-focused online copy
  • Advised communications firm on development of their social media strategy
  • Copywriter for SPIN event productions to revise and write an awards submission for an International award; proposal achieved placement in the Top 3
  • Designed, developed, and managed content for nonprofit Models for Charity’s marketing blog using WordPress from September 2012 to April 2013; http://modelsforcharityraleigh.wordpress.com/
  • Grant writer partner with Stop Hunger Now, International Hunger Relief NGO – Jan – May 2014; Consulted with SMEs and research to write content in efforts to acquire hunger relief grant funds
  • Yelp: represent at community events as a Brand Ambassador; engage with users via social media to promote the brand – Sept 2012 to 2014; Write reviews, host/post/promote events as an Elite Reviewer via: http://lindsayks.yelp.com consistently since 2010
  • Offline Media: Wrote and designed consumer-focused content, assessed product’s core messaging, and target audiences/personas; Conducted content audits of site, competitive research, and assisted with user interviews to further develop brand; consultant from Dec 2013 to February 2014 http://get-offline.com/
  • Triangle Downtowner Magazine contributing writer from 2011 to 2014

Digital Marketing Manager, Zift Solutions, September 2016 – December 2016

  • Managed social media content for Facebook, Google+, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter & YouTube, utilizing Buffer & Hootsuite
  • Maintained WordPress website; created editorial calendar of blog content, press releases, and design of email newsletter
  • Strategized content to drive prospects towards webinars, email campaigns, advertising, VIP events, client upsell campaigns

SEO & Content Strategist, O3, June 2016 – August 2016

  • Executed digital audits for social media, website content, Google Analytics, and technical SEO for client accounts
  • Assessed organic search engine performance, goal-setting based on site impressions, CTR, site traffic, ROI
  • Collaborated with multi-disciplinary teams; wrote and edited strategic content, for the O3 brand and 5 client accounts

Marketing and Technical Writer (Contract), Red Hat, Raleigh, NC, November 2015 – March 2016

  • Composed weekly newsletter, promoting technical developments, and used html and Eloqua to deploy Marketing Operations communications to 375+ email recipients
  • Assessed success of email newsletter using metrics, such as unique opens, click-through rates, etc.
  • Wrote and edited content for team, including blogs, emails, documentation, and marketing initiatives
  • Collaborated with designers, researchers, product managers, product marketers, and engineers to serve a global content audience

Internal Communications Specialist (Contract), Lenovo, Morrisville, NC, May 2015 – October 2015

  • Supported HR and IT departments, as well as all aspects of global internal communications team
  • Assisted in design, edits, and writing of articles, blogs, emails, user guides, flyers, and more
  • Contributed to development of social media campaigns, event management, and marketing initiatives
  • Aided development of strategies to support employee infrastructure, as well as global tech clientele
  • Ensured that communications adhere to brand and style guidelines across all media forms
  • Worked with cross-functional teams to help plan and execute communications programs

Junior Content Strategist, Centerline Digital, Raleigh, NC, September 2014 – November 2014

  • Developed content for and participated in new client/project pitches, specifically nonprofits and IT
  • Developed plans and identified tactics to help clients achieve business goals
  • Collaborated with fellow strategists, members of accounts department, designers, and internal creative teams to drive a wide-range of strategies and solutions for prospective, new, and existing clients
  • Uncovered the business goals of current and potential clients through industry and market research; assessed what the competition is doing as well as audiences and personas
  • Worked closely with creative groups on the design and delivery of tactics, in order to ensure the final piece (whether website, survey, or presentation) was aligned with the intended business solution
  • Used the written word, charts, presentations, software, etc. to convey ideas and tactics
  • Completed various tasks to help facilitate client development and growth
  • Participated in regular team meetings and collaborative working sessions

Document Quality Assurance Coordinator (Contract), AICPA, Durham, NC, May 2014 – June 2014

  • Applied technical design and editing skills to confirm publications adhered to Institute’s guidelines
  • Collaborated with Content Management Team to revise accounting & finance course materials
  • Ensured error-free quality in print and online courses by referring to style guides to proof content
  • Assisted with review of eLearning courses and made suggestions for improvements where appropriate
  • Supported the Institute in all aspects of its work internally as needed

Intern, Triangle Downtowner Magazine, Raleigh, NC, May 2013 – December 2013

  • Interviewed people for stories and wrote articles such as Restaurant Profile: Zydeco, Nightlife: London Bridge Pub, Cover Story: Get on the Bus! Green Transportation, Charity Feature: Walk for Hope
  • Copy edited articles, proofed publication and suggested revisions
  • Assisted in monthly magazine distribution and marketing of publication
  • Developed comprehensive media list for ongoing use
  • Compiled calendar listings for events section of print magazine and online copy

Marketing and Sales Representative (Part-Time), Sylvan Learning Center, Cary, NC, April 2011 – July 2011

  • Responded to inquiries in admissions office telephonically and via email by determining potential client needs, describing how education program could meet needs, along with promoting & selling programs
  • Summarized data in reports to monitor communications progress

Paralegal Account Management Professional Experience

Paralegal, Podgorny Law, P.A., Research Triangle Park, NC, July 2011 – August 2013

  • Served as liaison between client and company for multiple accounts simultaneously
  • Managed cases, pleadings, filings and discovery preparation for case events, mediations, and trials
  • Attended, filmed and recorded minutes of depositions and mediations
  • Interpreted, consolidated, and synthesized medical data, documentation, and other evidence

Worker’s Compensation Paralegal, Oxner Thomas + Permar, Raleigh, NC, May 2009 – June 2011

  • Regularly managed approximately 60 diverse client accounts simultaneously
  • Served as liaison between client and company; established good relationships with them
  • Composed notices of discovery, representation and other correspondence
  • Coordinated scheduling of meetings, depositions, mediations, and other events

Education & Teaching Experience

Teacher, Administrator, Program Designer, Sylvan Learning Center, Raleigh, NC, Dec 2008 – Nov 2009

  • Taught students in 1:3 small group ratio on variety of academic subjects, heavily concentrated in reading and writing
  • Trained teachers and assisted with center management
  • Administered testing to students, designed education programs according to each individual plan for student and taught students various subjects in small group settings

Long-Term Substitute Teacher, Anchorage School District, Anchorage, AK, August 2007 – May 2008

  • Primarily taught 3rd grade classroom at North Star Elementary School
  • Assumed responsibility for various classrooms in elementary schools, as well as special education

Teacher, Program Designer, Sylvan Learning Center, Anchorage AK, June 2006 – July 2007

  • Taught students in 1:3 small group ratio on variety of academic subjects, heavily concentrated in reading and writing
  • Designed education programs according to each individual plan for student and taught students various subjects in small group settings

Education

M.A. English, concentration in Technical and Professional Communications, 4.0 GPA
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

  • Enrolled in online program for duration of graduate work; graduated with highest honors
  • Copy edited various print and electronic documents utilizing style guides
  • Researched social media methods and communication pertaining to business and civic models
  • Examined policy-related communication practices used by different industry, government, and non-profit organizations, particularly related to utility usage for businesses and consumers
  • Implemented use of color, graphics, and styles where appropriate in print and electronic documents
  • Performed editing and design tasks such as writing procedures and user guides, book designs, travel guides, poster and presentation materials; often creating multiple designs to present a few options
  • Assessed the usability of web design via comparative analysis, creation of a project plan, user interviews, content audits, card sort data, creating personas, composing sketches, and more
  • Designed and conducted a pilot qualitative study on users’ perceptions of products and user guides

Professional Communications Graduate Certificate, 4.0 GPA
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Paralegal Graduate Certificate, 4.0 GPA
North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC

B.S. Elementary Education, concentration in English, 3.69 GPA
East Carolina University, Greenville, NC

Awards

  • U.S. Embassy, Lusaka, Zambia Eagle Award “for exceptional initiative in promoting information and outreach for USAID’s Health Office” in May 2018
  • Society for Technical Communications Carolina Chapter President’s Award for Exceptional Communications Outreach, June 2017

Boards & Councils

Professional Affiliations

Public Relations / Communications Accomplishments

Group Facilitator and Event Planner – 20-30 Something Raleigh Chicks Meetup Group, Raleigh, NC, 2009 to October 2017

  • Organize and maintain the structure of approx. 300 professional women for multiple monthly events ranging from educational, professional and social events

Volunteer Marketing Team Member – Activate Good, Raleigh, NC, May 2014 to July 2014

  • Collaborate for effective social media strategy and marketing for community outreach

Key Caller Volunteer – Fort Richardson Army Base, AK, 2006 to 2008

  • Advocated for and maintained communication of news electronically via email, social media, and telephone for families of deployed soldiers

OTHER CERTIFICATIONS

  • NC Notary Public, expired August 2016

As you may have seen, a number of brilliant people have recommended me! If you’re in need of assistance with content, communications, branding, writing, editing, content strategy, social media, and event or nonprofit planning, please consider scheduling a consultation to discuss how my portfolio experiences and services can meet your needs. I have a variety of interests and qualifications on my resume which may be useful to you and your business. I’m available to work with clients local to Raleigh, Durham, Cary, Chapel Hill and other cities surrounding the Triangle of NC, as well as clients in other states. My work can be done on-site or off-site. Please contact me to get started today!

*All content on this page is copyright Lindsay K. Saunders, December 2020