In my role as Creative Director, I am able to marry my passion for bettering the community with 15 years experience communicating with a broad audience.This position also gives me the opportunity to play a direct role in expanding United Way of Northeastern Minnesota's reach. I know our region and therefor understand not only how critical UWNEMN's work is but the need for a holistic approach to connect with all people in every corner of every community.I will work closely with each member of UWNEMN's team and take the lead on each step of the outreach process - brainstorming, planning, creating, distributing, and ultimately tracking results to ensure our messaging and our programming are making the bold local impacts we intend.

In my time as Community Impact Director, I worked closely with changemakers in the UWNEMN office and outside of it to address issues like dental and childcare shortages, improving mental well-being, and increasing volunteerism in our region while also supporting our incredible UWNEMN team and network of partner nonprofits. I'm proud to have played a role in creating the Youth United Contest and NE MN Dental Task Force, working alongside Wilder Research on a regional youth mental health needs assessment, and bringing the Unmasking Mental Health summit to our region.I've also been proud to work with so many leaders in the community on such important issues and look forward to doing my part to continue to amplify your efforts in my new role!

United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN) serves individuals and families across the region not only by supporting local agencies but also through its own programming - led largely by community requests. UWNEMN programs address local veterans’ needs, home emergencies, childhood hunger, and early literacy. In this role I created promotional materials for annual campaigns, fundraising events, and UWNEMN programs; was responsible for internal and external communications; developed monthly print and digital newsletters for multiple audiences; managed UWNEMN's social media, website, and advertising; represented UWNEMN in meetings and community events; and worked closely with every member of UWNEMN's team.

In this role I continued my administrative and media duties for the Iron Mining Association of Minnesota and furthered my work on membership outreach and workforce development.

The IMA represents Minnesota's iron mines and 150+ companies that supply goods and services to the iron mines. The association recently expanded to include businesses, organizations, and individuals who do not work directly in the industry but want to show their support for this vital Minnesota industry.As Media Manager, I helped represent and promote these members in the following ways:Managed association's media presence (including media releases, brochures, promotional items, web sites, and social media). Created/gave input on print, radio, and television advertising locally and statewide. Organized membership events (including golf outing, curling event, and annual dinner). Represented Minnesota's iron mining industry at local, regional, and statewide events, including (but not limited to): ground breakings, fundraisers, trade shows, and conferences.Managed communications internally for IMA members. Produced a weekly newsletter and frequent email blasts to keep IMA member companies updated on the iron mining industry and membership events. Connected current members, potential members, board members, producers, those interested in the industry, those looking for careers, politicians, and media with the IMA president (and others outside the IMA office as necessary). Kept up-to-date on the iron mining industry on a regional, national, and international level.Scheduled, took notes for, and occasionally headed meetings on topics including: environment, safety and health, public information, workforce and education, government affairs, and membership.Managed the association's office (tasks include basic daily office procedures including: scheduling, light accounting, handling mail and phone calls, filing, etc.).Assisted in the update of a 6th grade curriculum and implementation of the statewide "imagine liFe without iron" media campaign. Promoted from Administrative Assistant to Media Manager in 2014.

I reported on the following regular beats: Nashwauk City Council, Nashwauk PUC, Social Services, and Non-profits. I wrote a column a month as well as a weekly profile on a local artist. I also wrote obituaries and "person of the day" blurbs. I took photographs and video, and I wrote captions and headlines. Helped manage the newspaper's first social media presence.

The Northeast Minnesota Office of Job Training has a government-funded work program each summer for disadvantaged teens in the area. As a summer intern, I visited the work sites and wrote press releases for local papers in order to gain exposure for the program. I set up meetings with job counselors, attended youth work orientations, and visited worksites - where I interviewed employers and the youth employees. I also wrote safety reports for each site that were sent to the state. Each summer, I visited more than 100 sites in 7 NE MN counties. At the end of the summer, I designed a booklet of press releases that was published and sent to local and state politicians.

I wrote/edited several freelance pieces for W.A Fisher Printing and Advertising Co. in Virginia, Minn. The pieces focused on the growth of the Iron Range and were published in trade magazines in the area.