Caron Laird Email & Phone Number

Los Angeles, Ca, Us

Long Beach, California, United States

Navigate the department through its third leadership transition while maintaining smooth daily operations for a team of 18, overseeing major projects, and providing a proactive marketing strategy to the Chancellor's Office. Determine brand purpose and goals, while telling a compelling story through strategic branding and visual identity. Lead interdepartmental collaboration to shape perceptions, sentiments, and advocacy for the 23-university system.• Partner with a third-party consultant on research to improve brand sentiment and enrollment management• Engage with campuses, partnering on video presentations featured at the board of trustees' meetings• Increase efficiency by establishing processes and standard operating procedures• Negotiate with vendors and procurement experts, effectively leveraging buying power and purchasing expertise to save costs and align the campuses, providing master agreements and standardizing processes

Long Beach, California

Lead an eight-person team through planning and implementing the department’s strategic communications efforts. Oversee the day-to-day operations in Marketing Communications and provide strategic operational, administrative, and personnel guidance to the department’s leadership.• Manage over 50 projects at any given time, ensuring milestones are met, and deliverables exceed expectations• Serve as internal marketing and communications consultant, employing various tools to help partners reach their target audience with effective and consistent messaging• Develop plans that showcase value-add and impact on the state of California through strategic communications, innovative marketing approaches, and capitalizing on the internal talent available within the university system• Actively manage and optimize multiple department and project budgets totaling up to $2 million

Long Beach, California, United States

Steered the department through a leadership transition, ensuring projects moved forward, service continued without interruption, and the department maintained its reputation for providing quality, award-winning work. Worked with division leadership to develop communications strategy, objectives, and plans aligned to organizational goals.• Oversaw staff responsible for all areas of marketing communications including editorial, design, operations, print, and web services• Strengthened relationships with stakeholders by reestablishing trust and improving rapport before transitioning leadership to the new Assistant Vice Chancellor• Developed and drove internal communication strategies working in collaboration with CSU executives and staff from 5 divisions and 32 departments• Gathered client feedback and led debrief sessions to understand our performance and areas of opportunities

Long Beach, California

Marine Conservation Research Institute (MCRI)• Provide the public with information about ocean-related research, connecting them to the scientific community• Disseminate information to aquarium audiences on complex matters such as aquaculture and climate change• Record the minutes of all board of directors' meetings and distribute the agenda and relevant meeting materials• Coordinate meeting schedules and manage action items in conjunction with board members• Support community outreach initiatives, engaging with underserved communities to establish a pathway to marine science and conservation• Contribute to strategic planning efforts, including educational initiatives and scholarships for local studentsDevelopment, Aquarist and Education Volunteer, Charter Volunteer• Supported the care and feeding of over 10,000 different animals native to the Pacific Ocean• Identified, researched, and analyzed prospects for major gift cultivation and solicitation• Collaborated with senior development staff, handled sensitive information with appropriate discretion and paid close attention to detail in support of development team goals• The aquarium also offers a great way to stay connected with local and regional environmental efforts focusing on a variety of areas such as kelp restoration, sustainability and community science Additional highlights include:• An understanding of coastal aquatic ecosystems and habitats such as kelp forests, coral reefs, the open ocean, estuaries and the intertidal zone• An understanding of water quality as it pertains to aquariums• Familiarity with the public's perceptions of multiple ocean-related issues• Expertise and dedication to disseminating accurate information to the public regarding the ocean, its inhabitants and ecosystems

Long Beach, California

Promoted twice from Administrative Assistant to Senior Communications Manager, 2001-2005.• Led a 5-person team in the support and implementation of all strategic communications campaigns, overseeing daily operations of editorial, design, marketing communications, print, and web service areas• Managed internal marketing and communications, including department traffic, account management, client consultations, and measurement efforts • Planned, organized, and managed events and other programs designed to promote brand awareness• Conducted public outreach events, which resulted in increased engagement with underserved communities• Oversaw the request for proposal process (RFP), negotiation, and management of all department contracts• Developed proposals and presentations to secure resources from the business community for nationally distributed marketing pieces targeting prospective students

Long Beach, California

Led a 20-person team of talented communications professionals through a leadership transition. Throughout the transition we told the story of the CSU through strategic communications, marketing and branding, web strategy and design, grit and determination. The CSU's story is one that everyone should know and we committed to telling it every day.- Planned and directed the work of the communications department staff and established priorities for the direction of the department- Worked with division leadership and senior staff to develop and recommend communications strategy, objectives, plans and specific tactics to be pursued in each area of responsibility in support of organizational goals- Led, motivated, coached and evaluated communications department staff in editorial, design, marketing communications, operations, print and web service areas- Oversaw the development of comprehensive communications plans that are targeted to our various audiences, positioned the CSU in the marketplace, promoted the brand and told our story- Built brand awareness and promoted the CSU's brand essence through brand education and training, internal communication strategies, web content strategy and storytelling- Developed and drove internal communication strategies working alongside and in collaboration with CSU executives and staff in over 5 divisions and 25 departments- Actively engaged in gathering client and employee insight, feedback and measurements. Led debrief and brainstorming sessions that provided an understanding of performance and opportunities for improvement

Mpa, Public Administration

Ba, Public Administration, Sociology Minor

Activities and Societies: Sigma Kappa, American Society for Public Administration