Christopher Dobens Email & Phone Number

New York, Ny

Reporting to the Executive Director and serving as a member of the Executive Team, I provide the full spectrum of communications support and services - including communications counsel, digital communications, experiential communications, media relations, and thought leadership support - for this membership-driven grassroots nonprofit that addresses environmental justice issues through research, organizing, advocacy, and policy initiatives at the city, state, and federal levels. I raise awareness of issues, events, programs, and campaigns through earned media coverage and digital channels as well as foster thought leadership and support fundraising efforts. I design and produce content and collateral and support multiple events each month. I manage and populate the website as well as all the social media channels, including Facebook (@weactforej), Twitter (@weact4ej), & Instagram (@weact4ej). And I write and produce a weekly email newsletter for nearly 10,000 recipients.

New York, Ny

I rebuilt my freelance business, providing a variety of marketing and corporate communications services for entrepreneurs and businesses as well as subcontracting for other agencies. With an emphasis on content marketing, copywriting, digital communications, and media relations, my work included writing and producing bios, direct mail, marketing collateral, press materials, print and email newsletters, social media, and websites as well as some strategic planning. I did work for Asphalt Green, a dozen Douglas Elliman real estate agents, and subcontracted to two public relations agencies, Sohmer Associates and William Morrison Communications, supporting their consumer electronics and healthcare brands. Looking to return to the nonprofit world, where I find more meaning to my work, I wound down my business once I discovered an opportunity to serve as the Director of Communications for an environmental justice nonprofit.

New York, Ny

I served as the Marketing Director for this $13-million sports and fitness nonprofit, where I was responsible for promoting paid memberships and fee-based classes for children and adults as well as free programs for underserved communities. I revitalized both the brand and the communications function for this complex organization, with 300 employees across seven departments. Managing the four-person communications department and its budget, I created and implemented an integrated, holistic, data-driven marketing plan to increase the visibility and understanding of the organization’s brand, mission, and programs and to support its fundraising efforts. As a result, I helped draw an average of 700,000 annual visitors to its 5.5-acre campus and set multiple records for membership and program sales (much of which came via e-commerce), with around half of the growth coming from new customers. Despite this success, I eventually chose to resign due to a combination of factors, one of which was the opportunity to spend a month down in South Africa with my brother and his young sons for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

New York, Ny

The success I achieved in the first 12 years of my career afforded me the opportunity to run my own consultancy, working directly with select businesses as well as subcontracting for other marketing and public relations agencies. My focus was primarily on public relations and copywriting. Clients ranged from the Desmond Tutu Peace Centre and Fordham University to a management & training consultancy and an eBay entrepreneur. I also did work for consumer electronics, environmental, healthcare, and marketing brands as a subcontractor. I decided to close up shop when presented with a chance to serve my community as the Marketing Director of a local nonprofit.

New York, Ny

I helped forge, launch, brand, market, and drive sales for Havas-owned Magnet Communications, a $26.6-million integrated communications agency created in June 2000 when Creamer Dickson Basford acquired three other firms. I led the national marketing and sales efforts, attracting and retaining both top talent and clients. I was also responsible for fostering internal communications, shaping the corporate culture, identifying and instilling best practices, creating and managing an in-house professional development program, serving as the liaison to both our domestic and global networks, and representing the firm to a variety of constituencies. I resigned after 10 years with the company due to a sudden change in leadership.

New York, Ny (And 3 Years In Southern California)

Joining as an Account Executive, I worked in the business-to-business, consumer, corporate, and technology practices at Havas-owned Creamer Dickson Basford (CDB), a full-service public relations agency, where I developed my expertise in brand building, change management, internal communications, media relations, and product/service launches as well as client, team, and project management. I eventually went on to start-up and manage the agency's first West Coast office – as Director, CDB California – before returning to the New York headquarters to serve as the Chief Cultural Officer & SVP/Director of Marketing, where I was tasked with revitalizing the brand and culture as part of a turnaround effort. My duties included leading the national marketing and sales efforts to attract and retain both top talent and clients as well as fostering internal communications, shaping the corporate culture, identifying and instilling best practices, creating and managing an in-house professional development program, serving as the liaison to both our domestic and global networks, and representing the firm to a variety of constituencies. In less than 12 months, our turnaround effort had proven so successful that our parent company, Havas, decided to make a significant investment in accelerating the growth of the business, which led to the formation of Magnet Communications. Clients supported include Advanced Elastomer Systems, Air Products, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, AST Computers, CIDCO, Coors, Disc Manufacturing, Epoch Internet, Franklin Covey, Hershey’s, Hoechst Celanese, Inca Computer, Monsanto, Panasonic, Paragon Steakhouses, Pizza Hut, Prudential, and Pure Air.

I quickly learned the ropes while handling the public relations, advertising, direct mail, and collateral development for key clients at this integrated business-to-business marketing communications agency. I resigned when presented with an opportunity to work for a larger firm, with greater potential for growth and development. Clients supported include Avery Dennison, S.C. Johnson Wax, Sealed Air, Sonoco Products, and Windmoeller & Hoelscher.