Janelle Darst Email & Phone Number

Cedar Falls, Iowa

Lead all communications strategy with ownership of community outreach, fundraising, stakeholder relationships, and omni-channel advertising. Direct social media approach. Lead all print, electronic, and digital communication development including graphic design. Implement traditional and innovative communication tools to optimize ROI. Write and research grant applications for District. Partner with Cedar Falls Schools Foundation on strategic fundraising campaign, prospect development, special events, Hall of Fame, social media, annual fund campaign, and alumni growth and engagement. Lead all district crisis communications. •Spearheaded campaign to pass $69.9M bond vote for new high school and achieved >60% support for tax increase.•Led six district Return to Learn committees to plan return to school for all students and enable rapid catch-up for learning missed during school closures.•Directed contact tracing and vaccination efforts district-wide.•Built communications from scratch to drive brand engagement across social media and traditional channels.

Remote

Oversaw and implemented a strategic plan that covered digital marketing, public relations, partnerships, and fundraising. Managed and cultivated a portfolio of donors by creating and executing annual donor plans. Designed and evaluated targeted campaigns for individual giving supporters and prospects. Led prospect research and qualification efforts for corporate engagement and sponsorship. Researched, wrote and submitted grant proposals, reports, and solicitations.•Developed key messages and a comprehensive strategy to elevate GSNN’s programs, services, membership, and publications, across its digital marketing channels including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn and ensure that critical messages reach target audiences by identifying and capturing compelling content.•Updated the website and tracked traffic and trends using Google Analytics to inform decisions. Researched and implemented new trends in digital optimization strategies, tools, and tactics. Managed paid advertising campaigns across social, search, and display. Executed media strategy, including proactive amplification of key messaging, and thought leadership.•Partnered with the Educational Partnerships team to develop and support communication strategy, ensuring GSNN school and district network partners feel connected, informed, and valued.•Partnered with the Educational Partnerships team to develop and lead routine communications to the Network.•Devised strategy to amplify the stories and successes of Network partners.

Remote

Developed communications strategy and led conferences and webinars to grow awareness. Collaborated with Community Partnership Manager to lead the design and implementation of Salesforce strategies. Leveraged Salesforce, Zoom, Slack, Cirrus, Namely, and Google Suite in remote role. • Nurtured strategic partnerships with K-12 public and private school systems, universities, community colleges, library associations, corporations, community

Responsibilities included:‬‬‬‬‬‬• Developing, writing, editing and repurposing a wide range of marketing content for various B2B audiences through whitepapers, case studies, press releases, blog posts and other marketing collateral• Developing marketing plan and ramp up guide for new employees• Collecting data and interviewing customers and internal staff, as well as writing and editing• ‪Using social media to develop and deliver targeted messaging, including LinkedIn, Google and Facebook ad campaigns, as well as posts for LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Salesforce.‬‬‬‬• Assisting in developing webinar series and publicizing the series. Assisted VP of Marketing with additional duties

Responsibilities included:• Leading all print, electronic and digital communication development; including all graphic design to create an overall image for the Gallagher-Bluedorn; direct mail, television, radio, print and electronic advertisements, website and electronic newsletter, digital advertisements; have worked with UNI’s University Relations, ME&V advertising agency, MB Marketing and ACES Advanced Computer Engineering Solutions and Spinutech• Developing annual strategic marketing/ticket selling plan for performances; tickets sales generate more than $1,500,000 in revenue per year• Leading all social media for Gallagher-Bluedorn; including Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogging and video blogging• Leading brand management of all fundraising efforts, Kaleidoscope school-time series and all educational and outreach programs• Coordinating and analyzing data; including audience surveys, phone surveys, focus groups, secret shopper program and ROI analysis based on media buys; facilitate needed changes based on the analysis• Leading all public relations and crisis communication activities• Assisting in facilitation and implementation of yearly strategic planning; mission and values, setting goals and expectations and checking routinely to assess effectiveness and measure progress• Serving in the role of Executive Director in the Director's absence, represent the facility as needed• Supervising staff of ten, which includes development, education, technical and events management and six student interns; responsibilities include goal-setting and planning activities with various departments; running weekly staff and show production meetings; hiring, training and evaluating staff; and responsible for team building and motivating

Responsibilities included:• Supervising staff of ten, which includes development, education, technical and events management and six student interns; responsibilities include goal-setting and planning activities with various departments; running weekly staff and show production meetings; hiring, training and evaluating staff; and responsible for team building and motivating• Serving as liaison to building and community partners; UNI School of Music and Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony; include regular meetings to discuss issues and concerns• Serving as staff liaison for the Gallagher-Bluedorn Advisory Board, which includes numerous community and campus representatives• Staff liaison for Friends of the Gallagher-Bluedorn membership organization, which generates over $250,000 each year for the Gallagher-Bluedorn through annual campaign and two special events; Beers to You and Crème de la Crème • Assisting in development of Kaleidoscope education programming including the “A Buck A Kid!” program, residencies, lectures, and tours, serving more than 40,000 K-12 students and teachers• Assisting with volunteer program, includes over 300 volunteers• Assisting in facilitation and implementation of yearly strategic planning; mission and values, setting goals and expectations and checking routinely to assess effectiveness and measure progress• Serving in the role of Executive Director in the Director's absence, represent the facility as needed• Participating in the Flight School Training Series on leadership development• Member of University Accreditation sub-committee on mission• Campus Conversations committee to develop qualities of a leader• Member of CHAS Marketing and Recruitment Committee

Master'S Degree, Philanthropy And Nonprofit Development

Education record

Ba, Communications/Public Relations

Activities and Societies: Public Relations Student Society of America, Homecoming Committee, Communications Student Association