Amber Bockhorst Email and Phone Number

This position supports all Department Specialists, Supervisors and Coordinators in all of their specific marketing needs, ensuring that the numerous programs/events offered by the Parks and Recreation Department are properly featured to inform the community thoroughly and in a timely manner. Ongoing coordination and management of all aspects of the planning, layout and execution of the production of Play Cape!, a nearly 50 page program guide distributed seasonally in print across the community and online to market various leagues, classes, camps and events to the community. Regular updates of information on the Parks pages of the website, submitting event details and crafting press releases for various media outlets, designing graphics that are used in print, TV ads, social media, flyers and distributed via other channels in a uniform manner with the aim of to increaseing community exposure and engagement. Ensuring all weather related closures and programming changes are properly posted on the related outlets for maximum exposure for the affected department(s). Submission of event details to local community calendars, event photography, creation of a monthly Utility Billing Insert that is distributed throughout the area. Verification of proper representation of program sponsors for each event or league. Updating league schedules and standings on the website. Creation of flyers, brochures, etc. featuring various aspects of the Department’s offerings. Recently implemented a system for information submission and recording that will save both time in processing and benefit the department financially while also keeping accurate records of submissions from various coordinators. Creation of billboard campaigns, eye catching graphics and marketing for all types of media. Daily assessment of all incoming emails to the general Parks email, either responding to or routing those to the necessary party, aiding event planning and execution. Creating needed prints for each event.

The primary focus of this position was to increase community engagement and garner additional support for the organization. This was achieved via detailed planning of various creative marketing campaigns to increase exposure of the mission of the organization as well as donations aiding in the support of local foster children and recruitment of qualified volunteers. Rewrote the training program for the incoming volunteers as well as reworking all internal branding and marketing materials to reflect a uniform appearance. Overhauled several internal systems from the website to the process for data collection, to storage of donated items for the clothing closet that was offered benefiting area foster children. Maintained records of the number of families helped, sent acknowledgment letters for all donations both monetary and items donated to the clothing closet. Managed employees in conjunction with a nationwide nonprofit providing employment opportunities for seniors, tracked their hours and conducted interviews for incoming candidates. Trained and evaluated multiple interns throughout their tenure with the organization. Coordinated and planned volunteer projects with several corporations in the area from smaller businesses up through national chains. Organized a Christmas Sponsorship Program in conjunction with local Family Services Units resulting in providing gifts for more than 200 local children. Assisted with several holiday events for the children to participate in as well as promotional events to expand exposure of the program. Actively gained funding via grants written for various projects. Successfully wrote a St. Louis Cardinals Care grant to benefit the associated children’s home and ran a campaign with the St. Louis Blues, Power Play for Kids generating untapped exposure throughout the state. Was a member of a team consisting of our organization as well as a similar one in St. Louis working on a Federal Grant to tackle to opioid crisis in our region.