Dee Bennett Email & Phone Number

Alexandria, Va Hq

PROFESSIONAL PROFILEI am Dee Bennett, a Social and Behavior Change (SBC) professional with more than twenty-five years’ experience in designing, managing, and implementing SBC programs for the US Government (USAID), UN Agencies (WHO, FAO, UNICEF) the World Bank, Gates Foundation, and other donor and unnamed private organizations. I am the Managing Director of a woman-owned small business, Another Option LLC.My SBC experience has covered the waterfront. I’ve designed SBC programs in global health crisis management, including infectious diseases, i.e., HIV and AIDS, malaria, dengue fever, and pandemics (HIV and AIDS, H5N1, H1N1, Ebola, and Covid), service delivery and health system strengthening, and marketing of new health products and practices, and introduction of fortified foods. The key to SBC is in affecting social and cultural norms through policy and regulatory changes, as well as social and cultural practices that influence behaviors and decisions. In addition to working in global health, I’ve applied SBC theories and strategies to climate change, nutrition- and food-security, education, energy, WASH, and democracy. I’ve served as either senior technical advisor or program director for several USAID forwarding- thinking SBC awards. These range from application of SBC in environment, bio-diversity, and water under GREENCom; early grade reading awards in Nepal, Liberia, and the Asia region; and nutrition- and food-security under USAID’s flagship nutrition programs, MOST, A2Z Program, FANTA, and Gates’ Alive & Thrive, and currently Feed the Future and USAID/Zimbabwe FARM Activity. SBC was applied in the early days of pandemic response to H5N1 and the 2009 H1N1 novel pandemic virus (BCC for Malaria, Dengue Fever, and H5N1: Mekong River Basin, AICOMM, and PREVENT); and energy programs in Egypt (EETP) and Southern Africa. For more information visit Another Option’s website (www.another-option.com) or contact me directly (dee@another-option.com)

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Responsible for the design and management of several USAID-funded marketing programs and establishing partnerships with the commercial and private sector in public health issues, energy conservation and regulatory issues. Project Director for Mekong Infectious Diseases-Behavior Change and Communication (MID-BCC) (www.mekong.aed.org) and responsible for developing the national communication strategy in Lao PDR and Cambodia to reduce the incidents of malaria, dengue fever, and H5N1 virus. Developed extensive quantitative and qualitative research studies and applied the data to the program designed. Project Director for the Nicaragua Media Program, grants program provided technical and financial assistance to independent media to assure alternative information was available to Nicaraguans. (http://www.programamediosnicaragua.org/). Communication technical lead for the USAID global PREVENT Project and its predecessor, AI.COMM Project. For H1N1 pandemic virus she managed a rapid response communication team more than 20 countries on four continents (Asia, MENA, Africa and Latin America) to mobilize governments, civil society, and private sector to respond to the H1N1 pandemic outbreak. Worked closely with WHO, FAO, UNICEF, UNSEC, and OCHA to design and implement communication plans for the community-based and national advocacy activities. Developed training guides on Advocacy, Risk Communication, Applied Communication, and media training. Project Director for Tanzania Marketing and Communication Project (T-MARC), a social marketing initiative focused on family planning and HIV/AIDS. Chief of Party for Energy and Environmental Policy and Training Project (EEPT) based in Egypt. Senior communication advisor for South Asia Region Initiative/Energy (SARI/E), designed and led the communication courses on advocacy, public and customer service, and external communication including branding and risk management and how to monitor and measure impact and effectiveness.

Kamber a public affairs and communications agency that represented clients ranging from Bristol-Myers Squibb to labor unions to major real estate developers. Responsible for developing results-oriented communications strategies on policy issues for several major corporations including environment, public utilities and energy, real estate development, telecommunications and disability rights. Served as brand manager and new product marketing manager for art and environment products. Developed cause-related marketing and affinity marketing components for existing products, and had responsibility for new business development. Managed over 50 accounts and supervised a staff of 15 professional marketing and public affairs specialists.

Washington, United States

SOMARC was a $72-million dollar USAID-funded contraceptive (product) social marketing project that had programs in over 30 developing and emerging markets. Responsible for marketing communication and private sector alliances, oversaw and managed the concept, design, and implementation of the integrated marketing communications strategy. Brokered public-private partnerships and agreements to strengthen the private sector or create a private sector. Communications campaign for Pakistan and Jamaica won Population Institute's 1997 and 1998 Global Award for "Best Combined Media Effort".

Responded to domestic regional media and specialty press inquiries, requests, and research for The White House. Duties include arranging media interviews for White House officials on specialty issues such as health care and budget; researching and gathering background data on key issues; drafting talking points and analysis; and providing support at special media events.

Managed operation and direction of the gallery, a comprehensive interactive multimedia learning center and exhibition gallery designed to showcase prototypes of the newest interactive technology. Donors and contributors included SONY, Philips, IBM, 3M, and Pioneer. Responsibilities included development of exhibitions, education programs, and community outreach; establishing marketing and public relations programs; and fundraising.

SITES is an outreach bureau of the Smithsonian Institution responsible for international and domestic travel of over 100 temporary exhibitions on art, science, history, and technology. Principle fundraiser for the bureau, responsible for securing the underwriting and support from public and private sources for the exhibitions, publications, museum programs, and exhibition technology. Raised over $25 million in financial and in-kind support to the bureau. Established policy and programming direction for the Traveling Exhibition Services and reviewed and evaluated all exhibition and programming proposals. Served as liaison among all exhibition participants including funding sources, program development, artists, and host museums staff. Managed the public relations and communication office's staff and responded to inquires and requests as well as developed press materials for over 100 exhibitions, programs, and events.

Responsible for fundraising and development for exhibitions, publications, and special events; writing and production of exhibition and programming publications; and public relations activities. Funding of several million dollars made possible the museum's exhibitions and museum educational programs and special events.

Washington-based public relations agency specializing in public affairs, government relations, public relations, new product marketing, and grassroots campaigns. Member of the marketing team that launched new products including on-line marketing technologies, the smart card, and environmentally-safe products. Monitored government relations and policy issues for a consortium of environmental product manufacturers, as well as American Express, SONY, and McDonald's. Provided policy and public affairs support to the Environmental Industry Council, a consortium of 18 environmental manufacturers, and conducted grassroots and public relations campaigns directed to Congress and federal agencies to effect national policy.

On behalf of the Senator, was responsible for legislative issues and policy analysis in foreign relations, environmental areas, commerce, trade, and special agencies. Legislative oversight included determining the impact of the Clear Air and Clean Water Acts and federal regulations on the environment and environmental industry. On behalf of the Senator, wrote legislation, testimony, hearing statements, floor speeches, Congressional Record statements, and legislative and policy statements. In special cases, handled constituent issues, as well as oversight of agencies' budgets and appropriations.COUNTRIES OF PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCEWorked in over 40 countries

Ba, English Literature

Education record