Lashonda Curry Email & Phone Number

St. Petersburg, Florida

• Led communications strategies to strengthen audience engagement and promote the MFA as the premier arts destination in the Tampa Bay area; Collaborated with Executive Director and Marketing, Membership, Development.
• Oversaw media outreach efforts including writing press releases, crafting and distributing media kits and managing media events; Media prep and coaching with public-facing staff members; Consistently created.
• Researched, planned and created content for Facebook and Instagram accounts, as well as monitored and responded to engagement from followers; Attended events/programs to photograph and post on social media platforms.
• Oversaw e-communications for all departments, and reviewed and edited all mass emails prior to distribution to ensure branding, voice and messaging is consistent; Developed, wrote and scheduled weekly e-newsletter.
• Managed Marketing & Communications Internship Program, and interviewed, hired, trained and supervised interns

• Wrote and edited press releases, online content, email marketing campaigns and promotional collateral for events such as fliers and postcards in accordance with Foundation’s Strategic Direction, mission and philosophy.
• Managed social media platforms daily by creating custom content or finding relevant content and driving engagement for the Foundation’s Facebook and Twitter accounts; Increased number of Facebook followers by 76 percent
• Responsible for ongoing website content management via contracted web developer; Created new content for website and made significant updates to copy and design for existing web pages to reflect Foundation’s current.
• Led email marketing via Constant Contact by developing, writing and scheduling bi-weekly newsletter, event reminders and post-event surveys; Created landing pages and registration forms for events; Spearheaded the.
• Provided effective and efficient support to Operations and Events team with communications needs and planning to ensure timely and organized setup and execution of events, ranging from 40 to nearly 200 attendees
• Supervised vendors for the Communications Department — managed their accounts, proofed and approved their work and handled invoice management

Gainesville, Florida

• Same responsibilities as the Editor position (listed below) in addition to the following:Provided editorial leadership and content development for the magazines of six (6) Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
• NCHR Review: http://www.naylornetwork.com/nsh-nxt/
• Virginia Human Resources Today: http://www.naylornetwork.com/vsh-nxt/
• Michigan HR Connections: http://www.naylornetwork.com/mhr-nxt/

Gainesville, Florida

• Served as the primary contact and liaison for nearly 20 of Naylor’s association clients to produce quality and engaging print and digital content to support the association's brand and serve as a resource for members.
• Developed and managed yearly editorial calendars for magazines; assigned and managed network of freelance writers and created a database of industry experts to contribute content; Edited articles, selected stock.
• Served as a liaison between Naylor’s production department and the association to ensure production schedule remained on target, as well as managed the publication’s distribution
• Prepared potential leads and a timely content plan to Sales team that were used to generate advertising revenue and contribute to the growth of the project
• Managed multiple projects and deadlines, both with external clients and internal peers, to stay in accordance with Naylor’s publication schedule and ensure prompt completion and delivery of publicationsPORTFOLIO:
• The Voice: http://www.naylornetwork.com/cpc-nxt/

Gainesville, Florida

• Features writer
• As sole features writer, developed story ideas and wrote lifestyle, pop culture and arts & entertainment stories for the Features sections of the Sun and Ocala Star-Banner newspapers
• Collaborated with editors, page designers, videographers and photographers to create engaging and eye-catching story packages for print publication and Gainesville.comFashion editor and writer, "Gainesville Magazine"
• Developed concept/theme for style feature, selected models and location for fashion shoots and worked as art director during shoots; Also successfully negotiated with local and national retailers to loan apparel and.
• Created “The Fashion Notebook,” the second most-read blog on Gainesville.com about style, shopping deals and celebrity fashion
• Organized and led the comprehensive coverage of the inaugural Gainesville Fashion Week and subsequent seasons, which included preview articles for print publication and nightly blog posts, video stories and photo.

Ocala, Florida

• Features writer, 2004-2008
• Wrote narrative and descriptive stories in the areas of art, music, pop culture, fashion, religion and home & garden
• Spearheaded in-depth coverage of exclusive exhibition of the late Princess Diana’s gowns at local museumCity desk reporter, 2001-2004
• Started as general assignment reporter, then assigned to cover city of Ocala beat, and later worked as the healthcare reporter; Wrote special report on homeless students in public school system