Brenda Wong Murphy Email & Phone Number

Beverly, Ma, Us

Essex County, Massachusetts, United States

As a long-time Board Member of Beverly Main Streets, I am committed to promoting and enhancing Beverly’s downtown economic vitality, cultural and historic resources, and overall quality of life. My involvement spans various committees, including the visionary Downtown 2030 committee, which drives strategic planning and initiatives.Current Role:• Downtown 2030 Committee: Actively contribute to Beverly's downtown's strategic vision and planning, collaborating with other committees to ensure cohesive and impactful initiatives.• Support for Beverly Main Streets: Participate in various committees and projects that promote economic and cultural development to assist in advancing the organization's mission of promoting and enhancing Beverly’s downtown economic vitality, cultural and historic resources, and overall quality of life.Past President (July 2020 - March 2022):• Economic Revitalization: Focused on creative economic revitalization strategies to support local businesses and cultural initiatives, fostering community engagement and new perspectives during challenging times.• COVID-19 Response: Guided local businesses through COVID-19 restrictions and protocols, assisting with grant opportunities, outdoor dining solutions, and re-opening processes to ensure business continuity.• Community Events:- "Bass in the Grass": Organized an Art in the Park event to generate funds and support local businesses and artists, providing a safe and uplifting community experience.- 'Sidewalk Poetry' and 'Blooming in Beverly': Launched these projects in 2021 to connect the community through public art, literature, and intergenerational engagement.- Event Adaptation: Re-imagined traditional events to adhere to safety protocols, including an online Halloween Pumpkin Contest and Virtual Beverly’s New Year’s Eve.

Current Chair (2023 – present)As the current Chair of the Beverly Cultural Council, I lead our Local Cultural Council (LCC) in alignment with Mass Cultural Council (MCC) guidelines.• Leadership & Strategy: Develop yearly workflows and agendas, guiding the council through each grant cycle.• Grant Management: Oversee an average of 50 grant applications annually, distributing $20-25K in grants to about 35 applicants based on community priorities.• Community Engagement: Conduct annual Community Input Surveys to align grant distribution with community needs. Raise awareness of grant opportunities through social media, online platforms, and in-person events.• Representation: Represent the Cultural Council on the Beverly Cultural District’s Advisory Panel and at meetings with the Massachusetts Cultural Council and other cultural events.• Communication & Administration: Collaborate with council officers to ensure effective communication between the LCC, grant applicants, and the public. Maintain accurate accounting and records.• Membership Cultivation: Actively recruit and cultivate council membership to ensure a well-balanced and effective team each grant cycle.Secretary (2017 – 2022)As secretary, I ensured the council remained organized and mission-focused, supporting all aspects of grant management and community communication.• Organizational Management: Scheduled and organized council meetings, prepared detailed agendas and maintained focus on the council’s mission.• Communication: Managed all communications between the council, grant applicants, the public, and the municipality.• Grant Management: Oversaw an average of 35 grant applications per year, distributing $15-25K in grants to approximately 20 applicants.• Awareness & Representation: Raised awareness of grant opportunities through social media and online presence. Represented Beverly in meetings with the Massachusetts Cultural Council.

North Shore, Massachusetts, United States

As the Special Events & Communications Coordinator at Pathways for Children, I play a key role in supporting our Department of Institutional Advancement team with a primary focus on donor-focused event coordination and a secondary focus on social media and agency drives.• Event Coordination: Plan, execute, manage, and promote all aspects of our annual gala & auction, including venue research, Gala Committee formation, vendor management, event material design, social media marketing, auction solicitation, décor, and volunteer coordination for events with 250+ guests. Successfully managed event budgets and workflows with a fundraising target of $250K+ through sponsorships, live and silent auctions, fund-the-future campaigns, raffles, and ticket sales.• Additional Events: Plan and execute other key events, such as the annual golf outing and donor appreciation receptions.• Social Media & Communications: Collaborate with the Communications Officer on social media campaigns and graphic design projects to enhance our agency's presence and outreach.• Community Engagement: Connect with regional contacts for holiday toy drives and other company drives, fostering strong relationships with donors and the community.• Mission Awareness: Actively engage with the community to share and promote the mission of Pathways for Children.I am dedicated to creating impactful events and engaging communication strategies. I aim to nurture and strengthen the relationships between our organization and its supporters.

Beverly, Ma

As the Community Outreach Coordinator at Endicott College's Walter J. Manninen Center for the Visual & Performing Arts, I was dedicated to enhancing and increasing community awareness of our arts programs and events. My role involved engaging internal and external constituents to offer meaningful arts experiences, particularly those with limited access to the community.Key Responsibilities:• Community Engagement: Conducted outreach with public and private schools, arts agencies, senior centers, and social service organizations within the greater Boston area to promote participation in our arts programs.• Event Coordination: Coordinated all logistics for events, workshops, and group visits to our campus, accommodating up to 250 participants. This included planning transportation, scheduling, and on-site event management.• Artist Collaborations: Connected with artists and performers to conduct master classes and discussions during group visits and organized professional workshops at schools and agencies.• Marketing & Communications: Worked closely with the Center’s Community Outreach Team on all marketing and communication efforts, including event photography and detailed documentation for each semester's events.Through my role, I aimed to bridge the gap between the arts and the community, ensuring broader access and engagement with our visual and performing arts programs.

Rocky Neck Gloucester Ma

In my role as Social Media Manager & Gallery Associate, I was instrumental in cultivating and maintaining close customer relationships for a high-end, globally inspired hand-crafted 18K gold jewelry, art, and antiques collection. My responsibilities spanned social media marketing, customer engagement, and gallery management.Key Responsibilities:• Social Media Marketing: Developed and executed marketing strategies for the gallery and jewelry collection on Facebook and Instagram, successfully increasing the online following and engagement.• Website Management: The website is regularly updated with events, new products, and content to keep customers informed and engaged.• Promotional Materials: Created online and print advertisements, postcards, and business cards to enhance the gallery's marketing efforts.• Gallery Operations: I assisted the Gallery Manager with day-to-day operations, ensuring the smooth functioning of the gallery. I also managed all aspects of the gallery during the manager’s leave of absence.• Customer Relations: Cultivated and maintained strong relationships with customers nationwide through in-person interactions, phone calls, and emails.My role allowed me to blend creative marketing strategies with operational management, ensuring the gallery's success and fostering meaningful connections with our clientele.

Beverly/Middleton Ma

Appleseed's; Cut & Sew and Sleepwear 2014The Tog Shop; Wovens, Cut & Sew, Sweater, Sleep 2007-2014Appleseed's; Casual Cut & Sew and Wovens 2004-2007Freelance; 2001-2004As a Senior Designer for Appleseed’s and The Tog Shop labels, I specialized in designing, developing, and managing customer-focused products from ideation through to completion for online, catalog, and retail sales. My role required a blend of creativity, technical skills, and strong inter-departmental collaboration.Key Responsibilities:• Product Development: Led the design and development process for customer-focused products, ensuring each product met the highest standards of quality and appeal from concept to completion.• Global Collaboration: Worked closely with domestic and international factories and vendors, traveling as needed to oversee production and ensure quality standards were met.• Team Collaboration: Collaborated effectively with various departments, including marketing, merchandising, and production, to ensure a cohesive and successful product launch.My extensive experience in the apparel design industry has equipped me with a deep understanding of the design and production process and the ability to work effectively within cross-functional teams.

Beverly, Ma

Owner - Full service design studio for apparel industry providing design work, fashion and technical illustrations, and concise spec and art packages.Clients:Appleseed's Inc.Pink Ribbon Collection/Legends & HeroesTJX/Marmaxx GroupSusan Bristol, Inc.MariposaSigrid OlsenNewport KidsportIbex Outdoor Clothing; Design development for start-up business (1997)MAST IndustriesCambridge Dry GoodsStudio C; Authentic Fitness (ski wear), Bennetton Sports Systems (golf & tennis), Reebok (NFL pre-season wear, Frank Thomas, Shaquille O'Neal), Medalist, American Horse Association, Bull & Finch, D.M. Management, Wickers, B.N. Gear, Lion Rock International, Le Coq SportifBennett & Company: Victoria's Secret, Cacique, private labels

Boston, Ma

Casuals Division

Beverly/Wakefield Ma

Freelance Design/Illustration - 1993-2000In-house Product Manager - SSP Activewear & Segrets cut & sew lines 1990-1993

Adjunct Professor - Apparel Design