As a consultant for Munson and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, my focus is on developing and strengthening promotional partnerships, contributing to marketing strategy, and managing annual advertising plans and goals. Additionally, I've written the narrative and marketing plans for successful Empire State Development and I Love NY grant funding for promotional activities in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

For the renowned multidisciplinary arts center and Pratt Institute-affiliated art school, I oversaw all aspects of marketing and communications including identity and brand, media relations, advertising, publications, general web content, electronic communications, social media on multiple platforms, and marketing analytics. I led the team that implemented a new brand identity for the legacy organization during my tenure.

Culture Rally is a New York State-certified Women Business Enterprise (WBE).I specialize in thoughtful and proactive PR strategy and execution for clients, including arts and culture organizations, nonprofits, educational institutions, destinations, and municipalities. Other services I offer include writing, editing, content creation, marketing, social media, publication development, and brand management. I'm a creative problem-solver who is skilled at seeing the big picture and how to best meet goals. Recent and/or current groups I work with include Munson Museum of Art and Pratt Munson College of Art and Design, Chesapeake Shakespeare Company, Iroquois Museum, Charm City Fringe, City of the Hills Festival, Foothills Performing Arts and Civic Center, Custom Electronics, Coppin State University, The Oneonta Theatre, Visit Baltimore, Cardinal Art Gallery, Submersive Productions, Fells Point Corner Theatre, Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance, and Visit Baltimore, among others.As a freelance journalist based in Baltimore and upstate New York, I write about arts, entertainment, travel, and other topics related to lifestyle and culture for various outlets, including The Washington Post, Baltimore magazine, Baltimore Fishbowl, BmoreArt, and others. Find some samples of my work at https://cassandramil.journoportfolio.com/

I am a lecturer in the Communication and Media Studies Department at SUNY Oneonta, as well as an adjunct professor in the English Department. The subjects I have taught at the college level include interviewing, journalism, public relations, human communication, composition, and arts administration at institutions including Hartwick College, Towson University, Loyola College, Goucher College, and Johns Hopkins Peabody Institute.

The Catskill Symphony Orchestra (CSO) was founded in 1953 by a committee of concerned citizens for the purpose of providing access to live symphonic music to area residents, who otherwise would have to travel great distances in order to enjoy such performances. In 1974, the committee filed for articles of incorporation, applied for tax-exempt status, and oversaw the transition from a volunteer community orchestra to a professional organization that has grown steadily in the quality of its musicians and programming. Maestro Charles Schneider served as the orchestra's conductor from 1973 until 2017. In 2020, after an extensive international search, Maciej Żółtowski was appointed the new Music Director.

After being hired as a marketing consultant, I moved into the role of managing director, where I was responsible for the interdisciplinary art hub's artistic and financial success through strategic planning, community partnerships, marketing, resource development, financial management, and general administration. I oversaw the team responsible for programming and operation of the black box theater, Showroom bar and café, West Bay performance and meeting space, and the first-floor art gallery, and led a 200% increase in both attendance and revenue during my tenure.

For the city of Baltimore's tourism marketing entity, Visit Baltimore, I created and managed content to promote Baltimore and its attractions and events through paid advertising, print publications and digital communications.CONTENT MANAGEMENT + PRODUCTION• Directed and implemented a strategic content plan that aligned with marketing and public relations efforts and supported Visit Baltimore’s mission• Created engaging editorial content for the website, e-newsletter and social media • Led a content team of social media, video and web producers, and freelance writers and photographers• Edited content across all of Visit Baltimore’s public marketing and communications channels• Served as producer and writer for Visit Baltimore editorial video projects• Built and nurtured relationships with tourism partners throughout the city to best tell Baltimore’s storiesPUBLICATIONS• Managed production of all major publications, including the Official Visitor’s Guide, Meeting and Event Planner Guide, LGBTQ Guide, and the African American Heritage Guide • Developed editorial plans for each publication • Wrote and edited articles for each publication• Directed the visual design of each publication• Coordinated with vendors, including publishers, printers and agencies, to ensure publications were completed by established deadlinesMARKETING + PUBLIC RELATIONS• Directed production of advertising pieces, including print ads, TV spots and digital ads• Wrote and edited copy of advertising pieces in coordination with agencies• Proofed all marketing pieces for factual and grammatical accuracy• Provided feedback and input for marketing campaigns• Contributed pitch ideas and content to support public relations efforts• Represented Visit Baltimore at community meetings and events

For The Washington Post's daily free print newspaper, Express, I created content for and edited daily Entertainment and Blog Log pages, adhering to AP style. I selected the most relevant national entertainment news and trending topics for publication; worked with publicists to secure entertainment and culture stories; and, as a contributing writer for Express and The Washington Post's Fine Arts section for five years, wrote feature articles related to art, music, theater, and culture.

MEDIA + ARTIST RELATIONS• Actively sought out new opportunities for coverage that supported Center Stage’s reputation and brand• Pitched stories about productions, programming, and Center Stage staff to media outlets• Coordinated and staffed interviews and appearances by Center Stage staff and visiting artists• Created talking points and prepped artists for interviews• Wrote press releases, website content, and other copy as needed• Developed PR plans for productions and special events• Maintained and built positive relationships with media contacts• Oversaw photo and video shoots related to productions and eventsMARKETING, PUBLICATIONS + SOCIAL MEDIA• Managed social media accounts – in particular, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram • Provided editing support for show programs, newsletters, etc.• Researched and wrote features for show programs• Contributed to marketing branding planning PUBLIC RELATIONS• Served as a liaison to community and interest groups• Represented Center Stage at community events and on community committees• Served as the primary point person for gathering, distributing, and responding to patron feedback• Fulfilled requests by outside parties for institutional or programmatic information• Supervised year-long marketing internEVENT MANAGEMENT• Staffed all Opening Night events by serving as the primary press liaison• Coordinated with Audience Relations team to plan and manage Opening Night receptions and other Marketing events, such as LGBTQ receptions, family shows, etc.Center Stage is one of America's premier regional theaters. It is an artistically driven institution committed to engaging, educating and expanding the horizons of diverse audiences through challenging, bold, thought-provoking classical and contemporary theater. Led by Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah OBE and Managing Director Stephen Richard, Center Stage is the State Theater of Maryland.

WRITING, EDITING + PUBLICATIONS• Researched and wrote news articles on regional issues (health care, technology, sustainability, education, transportation, business and policy)• Wrote GBC President and CEO Don Fry commentary for publications such as The Daily Record and Center Maryland, as well as the weekly State House Update• Planned, designed and produced a weekly electronic newsletter, The GBC Leader, to distribute to a 5,000-member email list• Coordinated with GBC directors, associates and board members to produce news stories, press releases and other posts for social media, The GBC Leader and emailsWEBSITE MANAGEMENT• Selected and developed content for website that promoted transparency and membership value• Coordinated with directors to ensure accuracy and clarity on committee pages and topic coverage• Managed all website content and postings through a WordPress siteSOCIAL MEDIA• Curated news articles, photos and other posts for Facebook page• Used analytics to produce engaging status updates for Facebook• Live tweeted at events such as the governor's State of the State address and the Legislative Forum• Tracked Twitter and Facebook interaction, and use information to produce the most pertinent content for GBC members and usersMARKETING• Developed and executed a strategic marketing and communication plan that focused on membership attraction and retention and GBC brand recognition• Designed and created a recognizable GBC brand, focusing on consistent fonts, colors, logos and style, as well as a clear voice for the organization• Selected effective advertising venues for GBC events and membership, and designed eye-catching ads

While I was the community editor of The Daily Star, my publisher tasked me with creating a new publication for the newspaper group to attract new audiences. I designed and founded The Scene, an alt-weekly for the Leatherstocking and the Catskills regions of upstate New York, where I managed a team of freelance writers and photographers; produced story ideas; designed the 32- to 40-page weekly publication, including cover; wrote feature articles, music and film reviews, and a weekly column; conceptualized and executed creative marketing initiatives, promotions, and sponsored events; edited stories; and developed contacts in the arts, culture and business communities.

After temporarily filling in as lifestyle editor, I joined The Daily Star full-time as its community editor before creating the weekly arts and lifestyle publication, The Scene, for the newspaper's parent company, CNHI.As a section editor, I edited copy and created layouts for the daily newspaper using InCopy and InDesign. I also contributed featured articles, profiles and hard-news stories for The Daily Star and the quarterly regional magazine, Upstate Life Magazine.

I taught English as a second language at schools in the Czech Republic (Prague), Italy (Milan and Bologna), New York City and Baltimore.