Brian L. Smith Email & Phone Number

Houston, Tx, Us

Houston, Texas, United States

Houston, Texas, United States

• As the first communications director in the 39-year history of the chapter, built the foundation of the department without any previous templates. With the leadership team, developed strategic goals and KPIs for the department on 12-, 24-, and 60-month timelines.• Proactively pitched stories through press releases and personal outreach to local, regional, and national media; from January 2022-January 2024, this resulted in 266 media articles and 1.08 billion impressions, with a retail ad value of $9.21 million.• Responded to all media inquiries and cultivated media contact lists for each market within the chapter’s territory and served as media spokesperson in absence of CEO.• Rejuvenated chapter social media platforms through diversity of content and frequency of posting, with YOY gains of 96 percent in Facebook reach and 52 percent in Facebook visits; 274 percent in Instagram reach and 134 percent in Instagram visits; and 27 percent in chapter website visits and 19 percent in page views.• Drafted speeches for CEO and all Vice Presidents for public appearances and corporate events.• Ensured brand consistency in local voice and tone, and compliance with national guidelines, by writing or reviewing every external and internal communication piece. Modified content to provide appropriate information to variety of stakeholders (board of directors, volunteers, corporate sponsors, and donors).• Created and implemented integrated public relations, marketing, and fundraising campaigns around crucial drive periods (World Wish Month, Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and Holiday/End-of-Year).• Acted as primary liaison with Make-A-Wish America national communications staff and other chapters.• Asked to lead peer group of communications staff of 17 chapters across southern region of the United States in order to share best practices and create cross-chapter strategies to amplify the impact of external messaging.

Houston, Texas, United States

• Assumed command of the organization’s lowest-performing division and transformed it into the most efficient in one year, managing a team that fluctuated between 7-15 direct reports.• Coached three direct reports to promotions within the company.• Coordinated key external and internal messages and communications flow by writing and editing all communication pieces for the company, including several regional and national items for the CEO.• Trained executive leadership on media relations best practices.• Responded to all media/customer inquiries as spokesperson and proactively distributed positive news items through press releases, press kits, and newsletters to the appropriate outlets and stakeholders.• Created a new, comprehensive protocol manual, which increased staff knowledge, competency, and efficiency in the communications/dispatch division.• Established new templates and performance metrics for evaluation of tasks assigned to the team, increasing data entry accuracy by 82 percent and unit on-time arrival percentage by 71 percent.• Counseled other managers regarding appropriate and effective resolution to employee, customer, and shareholder concerns.

Houston, Texas Area

• Pioneered the launch of the Springfree Trampoline brand in the Houston market, from conception to the then-present level of nearly $750,000 gross annual revenue (a 154 percent increase in three years). • Refined several existing processes and best practices and established new training and customer relationship protocols that were adapted nationally within the organization.• Crafted brand story and connected brand to community stakeholders and prospective customers through media outlets, social influencers, and civic partners, which increased lead generation by 40 percent in three years.• Designed and coordinated staff volunteer projects to help charitable and community organizations in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.• Created and implemented the strategic vision of the company, including writing and executing the integrated marketing communications plans, with a heavy emphasis on digital and social media; this increased Facebook followers by 200 percent and website traffic by 102 percent.• Accounted for every aspect of the day-to-day operations of the company, including budget planning, acting as primary spokesperson, logistics and operations, staffing, public relations, and achievement of sales goals.• Developed and implemented customized year-round plans for public relations and brand activations at the most impactful community events, establishing synergy between Springfree and the public.

Houston, Texas Area

• Negotiated a joint partnership between the three largest event-sanctioning bucking bull organizations in the United States, which expanded the reach of the company from four states to nationwide.• Appeared as spokesperson at all community and shareholder events, including appearances on local television and radio shows and key public events throughout the country. • Managed development of project guidelines, objectives, and deliverables for all external marketing campaigns. • Wrote, edited, and published all external and internal corporate communications.• Maintained and updated all web content for company websites, including creating and managing social media calendar.• Identified strategic branding opportunities and implemented integrated marketing communication plans for each, increasing revenue by 12 percent.• Acted as a liaison between the company and venues and managed staff for large events, including planning logistics for marketing activation contracts at concerts, sporting events, and other high-visibility community activities. • Provided alignment of Exclusive Genetics brand with established media and corporate partners of the PBR and American Bucking Bull, Inc. (ABBI).

Odessa/Midland, Texas Area

• Managed multiple cross-functional teams across several departments to facilitate strategic project execution, including supervising and mentoring junior staff members (six direct reports) and hiring/supervising additional game night staff.• Served as the primary spokesperson and liaison between local and national media for the RockHounds and Sockers FC players and coaches, by writing and editing all official team communications, making media appearances, conducting interviews, managing media requests, and planning press conferences. • Developed media relations best practices training platform for players, coaches, and executive management.• Created, developed, and managed all elements of community relations mission, focusing on education initiatives with regional school districts, such as “Scoring in Schools” campaign which annually reached 10,000 elementary students.• Budgeted and scheduled Club advertising campaigns with all regional newspaper, television, and radio outlets, which resulted in the franchise setting single-season attendance records multiple times.• Increased coverage of the teams by more than 30 outlets and a 100-mile radius from the ballpark by cultivating local and national media contacts.• Directly led logistics, operations, and communications efforts for all high school and collegiate events hosted at the Club’s stadiums (baseball, softball, football, and soccer).• Facilitated Club’s annual charity banquet and golf tournament, which annually raised more than $100,000 for the Scott Seator Foundation and other organizations.• Led the Club’s involvement with military programs, including the annual Gold Star Heroes Night at the ballpark.• Drafted and launched new integrated marketing communications (IMC) plans while managing content for all Club websites and social media platforms, increasing Facebook followers by 79 percent.• Maintained official statistics and record books for RockHounds and Sockers FC franchises.

Master Of Education (M.Ed.), Sport Management

Bachelor Of Journalism, Broadcast Journalism

Activities and Societies: University of Texas Diving Team