J. Erik Olvera Email & Phone Number

Served as chief communications architect and on-the-record spokesperson for the legacy racial justice organization, overseeing a team of more than 50 people across advertising, creative, digital, earned media, editorial, email, marketing, multi-media, and social media disciplines. Developed, administered, and managed a $12M budget. Successes include: • Designed and managed the communications strategies for more than 50 national campaigns, more than 450 high-profile legal cases and more than 350 pieces of legislation and public policy at the local, state, and federal levels. • Established a comprehensive public relations and communications program that increased visibility among key audiences from 35,000 media hits to more than 750,000 hits or 35 billion impressions (the equivalent of $175M in paid advertising) in less than a year.• Enhanced the volume and quality of appearances and placements in the media to include Anderson Cooper 360, Morning Joe, Good Morning America, National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Time, and others.• Launched a millennial engagement program that included polling, strategic messaging and a mix of digital advertising, earned media, social media and celebrity influencers to reach a younger, more diverse audience about the issues SPLC works on.• Collaborated on a documentary-style podcast, Sounds Like Hate, to reach new audiences; created the communications and marketing strategy that resulted in more than 250,000 podcast subscriptions across platforms in its first three months.• Trained more than 100 people for media interviews, panel discussions, and keynotes.

San Francisco Bay Area

Served as chief public relations and communications architect for environmental philanthropist Tom Steyer’s organization responsible for his political and public policy initiatives, including Need to Impeach. Developed, hired, and supervised a cross functional team of more than 20 employees responsible for all organizational marketing and communications strategies, including earned media, editorial, multimedia and social networks. Served as on-the-record spokesperson and primary media contact. • Built Steyer’s brand and raised his profile 15-times over in less than a year.• Improved organization-wide efficiencies by streamlining systems, project management, and collaboration.• Designed a comprehensive public relations and communications program that increased visibility among key audiences from 50,000 media hits to more than 950,000 hits or 45 billion impressions in less than a year.• Enhanced the volume and quality of appearances and placements in the media to include Anderson Cooper 360, Meet the Press, Morning Joe, Samantha Bee, National Public Radio, The New York Times, The Washington Post, Rolling Stone, Time, and others.• Designed scripts and the rollout strategy for a series of national TV commercials and digital ads targeting key audiences (more than two-dozen TV commercials and more than 500 online ads).• Trained Steyer and more than 150 others for media interviews and keynotes.

San Francisco Bay Area

Oversaw a transformation of the legal organization’s public relations and communications department amid a period of rapid growth and increased political urgency. Created strategies and tactics to achieve company goals. Developed, administered, and managed a $6M budget.• Created the tactics and established protocols to elevate visibility for the organization’s legal cases and key programs through earned media, thought leadership, social networking, and multi-media.• Managed a team overseeing more than 450 national campaigns focused on raising visibility, shaping public discourse, and securing legislative and judicial wins.• Managed regional and national public education projects highlighting attacks on oceans, national monuments, clean air and water, and endangered species.

San Francisco

Directed communications, public relations, and public education campaigns for the national legal and public policy organization. Developed messaging, prepared press releases and speeches, and authored articles and OpEds. Created strategies and tactics to achieve company goals. Serve as on-the-record spokesperson and primary media contact. Developed, administered, and managed a $1M budget. • Designed the multi-year strategy that helped shift public support for marriage equality and influenced the U.S. Supreme Court to hear and rule in favor of marriage equality.• Maintained a solid success rate for case work and legislative work through effective public education campaigns, narrative strategies, and long-term campaign plans.• Produced and led campaigns for more than 350 high-profile lawsuits and more than 200 pieces of legislation and public policy at the local, state, and federal levels.• Created more than 36 national public education initiatives to focus public opinion on key issues.• Developed the #BornPerfect campaign that became a model for state leaders when introducing bills to ban conversion therapy. Model used by more than 36 states to date.• Conducted media training for more than 1,500 people, including clients and state and federal lawmakers.

Managed marketing and communications campaigns for the international organization devoted to workplace diversity. Developed strategies to reach and engage new audiences. Prepared content to raise awareness and increase membership and donations. Created advertising, collateral, direct mail campaigns, and videos. Created strategies and tactics to achieve company goals. Served as on-the-record spokesperson and primary media contact.• Increased funding 25% and membership more than 30% in less than three years.• Improved attendance 10% for the world’s largest conference devoted to workplace diversity.• Achieved 45% growth in training program enrollment in only two years.• Conducted media training for more than 250 people.

Served as an editor and immigration policy reporter for media outlets including Knight Ridder, Media News, Scripps Howard, Gannett, and McClatchy. While at McClatchy, I went undercover as a farm laborer for nearly six months for an award-winning investigation. Earned more than 50 national and international journalism awards and honors, including AP, Inter America Press Association, Livingston Award, and nominated for the Pulitzer Prize twice.