My resource development and public relations career has been about connecting with all levels of stakeholders for measurable impact. On May 1, I became the first Director of Major Gifts for Alamo Colleges Foundation, and see it as a perfect career fit. From grant writer to public relations director and recently donor relations coordinator, my decade within Bexar County’s community college district has resulted in millions of dollars of community partnerships, external funding for capital projects, prime news media attention, and numerous employee and community donations for scholarships and programs. Director of Major Gifts is precisely the kind of challenge I welcome.I am passionate about education and am excited to further support the district’s mission to empower our diverse communities for success. Here’s to moving onward and upward!

Drawing on over 20 years of professional experience, D. Martin Communications is a small, minority, woman-owned business that specializes in public relations consulting and freelance writing services to increase clients’ market share with effective marketing strategies and positive and cohesive communications.My specific skills include:• Public relations consulting• Grant writing• Special event coordination• Writing content for the web, magazines and newsletters • Traditional and social media marketing campaignsContact: Deborah M. Martindmartincommunications@gmail.com(210) 216-6493LinkedIn: Deborah M. MartinTwitter: @DMartinComm

TED (Technology, Entertainment, Design) is a nonprofit organization devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. In that spirit,TEDx is a program of local, self-organized events that bring people together to share a TED-like experience. Our all-volunteer organization is licensed by TED to hold San Antonio’s full-fledged TEDx event. Our goal: Open the minds, hearts and spirits of the Alamo City to the most intriguing science, art, literary, technological, social justice and environmental ideas – inspiring participants from all parts of the city to initiate big changes and empowering them to continue the conversations beyond the walls of the event. With a theme of “Ideas in Action,” the fifth annual TEDxSanAntonio will be held at Rackspace Global Headquarters on Saturday, October 18, 2014. Visit http://TEDxSA.com for details.

Raising money for scholarships and program support, I engage with board members and community leaders to identify prospects and strategize for introduction and cultivation meetings; plan stewardshipevents; connect donors and students; improve internal and external communications activities;and resolve unexpected issues to satisfy all parties involved.

As the Senior Vice President for Mission Advancement at the YMCA of Greater San Antonio, I worked with and managed marketing/PR and financial development teams - eight total professional staff - to develop and implement successful marketing/membership campaigns, community wellness events, grant applications and an annual fund-raising campaign. I also offered public relations consulting to local Y branches.

As PR Director for San Antonio College, I led a team of four professional staff to successfully plan and implement strategic marketing/communications campaigns. My duties also included media relations, internal communications, public relations consulting and financial development. Prior to the director position, from Nov. 2004 to August 2008, I was the SAC Public Information Officer. I worked to generate news about the institution, coordinate special events, and develop and implement award-winning advertising campaigns for the college.

Working to secure external funding, I researched funding sources and wrote, edited and submitted grant proposals. One, to the U.S. Economic Development Administration, was funded at $1.3 million for construction of PAC’s Applied Technology Center. In addition to other grant awards, I helped establish advancement partnerships including membership into the American Council on Education’s International Consortium and the Lumina Foundation’s Achieving the Dream initiative. I also served as coordinator of PAC’s Employee Charitable Giving Campaign and increased participation by over 50 percent.

Clients included: Earth Share, Canyon Eco-Travel, JEL Video Productions, peaceCENTER-SA, Bayou City Art Festival, Celebration Computers, Little House of Horror and The Haunted Hotel.

A liaison between radio sales and programming, I coordinated on-air and on-site station and client promotions; wrote sponsorship liners, proposals, recaps and news releases; maintained a contest winners database; and organized the 2000 Tour de Tots, a Toys for Tots bike benefit.

I handled media relations, marketing and advertising for the local Y association, including layout and editing for collateral materials, and public relations consulting with the Y branches. I also assisted the Marketing VP with association-wide fundraising and membership marketing. I trained in presentation delivery, group work and volunteerism to be certified a YMCA Director.

My duties included media and community relations, corporate communications and news writing for Fortune 500 energy companies and non-profit clients. I played a lead role to conduct a public affairs campaign to revitalize downtown, including communications to generate public excitement and legislative approval for a new Houston Astros baseball stadium. Additionally, I helped lead The World's Largest Human Rainbow, a 1997 United Way event that attracted 6,500 people and was recognized by national news media and the Guinness Book of World Records.

I managed promotions and advertising for advance-ticket sales to concerts, sporting events, performing and visual arts, family shows, and theme parks. I partnered with media outlets to coordinate sales promotions for clients, event sponsors and retail ticket centers locally and around the state.

For retail, restaurant and non-profit public relations clients, I provided public relations consulting services and handled media relations, corporate communications and special events coordination. During the first six months of my employment, as an agency intern, I worked with teams in each department: Public Relations, Account Management, Media, Traffic, Finance and Creative.