Lauren Wesley, M.A., M.Ed. Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Manage $20M in advertising and PR accounts including Black McDonald’s Operators Association, Get Covered IL (via the Illinois Department of Insurance) and Mental Health Parity (via IDOI)• Maintain client satisfaction resulting in budgetary increases year over year including a multi-year contract extension from $2M to $6M (each year)• Lead advertising strategy, messaging and creative approach for a statewide multicultural campaign through a multi-channel approach including broadcast, digital, OOH, social media, cinema, experiential, radio and audio• Oversee strategy, messaging and campaign execution for Illinois’ first statewide campaign focused on the Mental Health Parity law• Direct PR and experiential efforts for the regional McDonald’s AACM stores and the Black McDonald’s Operators Association (BMOA) stores• Developed a media buying strategy for the BMOA resulting in lower CPM rates and increased added value• Expanded community engagement for the BMOA through a three-pronged screening process that deepens operator connections to the community while ensuring appropriate alignment with the BMOA mission• Act as lead PR contact for the NASCAR Chicago Street Race activation resulting in coverage of a McDonald’s crew member on Nightly News with Lester Holt, a face-to-face meet and greet with NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick and a social contest leading to a 64% increase in followers• Increased BMOA store app downloads through the execution of product sampling at festivals throughout Chicago including Silver Room Block Party, Hyde Park Summer Fest, African Festival of the Arts and others• Created “next-gen” influencer campaign featuring upcoming local influencers such as Ahmad Ferguson from Showtime’s “The Chi”

Chicago, Il

• Provide critical context, prioritization and management for multiple accounts including healthcare, government, nonprofit and corporate clients• Established a project management system to manage more than 30 current and pending agency accounts • Lead a wide variety of events across the state in a range of industries including real estate, healthcare, retail, government and nonprofit • Execute coordination of event logistics including budget management, design, volunteer management, venue selection, registration, silent auction, awards presentations, run of show creation, speech writing and seating arrangements• Creat standard operating procedures to streamline project management, business development, billing and time tracking processes• Manage multiple community, philanthropic and corporate accounts to ensure timely completion of deliverables• Advise philanthropic strategy through stakeholder and community engagement activities and partnerships resulting in increased visibility, community buy-in, cause awareness and cross-community connections• Provide coaching and direction for account team members as they shape and execute communications strategies

Greater Chicago Area

• Direct and oversee both development and marketing/communications departments for NLEN and Sweet Beginnings, LLC• Lead responsibility for annual signature fundraising event tasked with raising $400,000+ • Create event materials for signature fundraiser and other organizational campaigns• Lead responsibility for smaller fundraising events that also serves as a lead-in to annual signature event • Responsible for managing $5,500,000 in annual grants from both public and private sources including government contracts, foundations and corporations. Maintain effective grants management system; write and prepare grant letters of intent, proposals, and reports; serve as main contact for grant funders; and coordinate and participate in funder site visits • Research new funding prospects from foundation, corporate, event, and individual sources • Manage and post to NLEN & Sweet Beginnings social media accounts • Creation of monthly e-newsletters, all organization digital communications and marketing materials• Manage organization website • Manage and execute all organizational media strategies including press releases, media advisories, interviews, messaging and media training for staff• Support NLEN’s Board Committees by attending monthly board meetings, keeping board informed of NLEN fundraising and social media activities, and coordinating annual recognition and stewardship of members • Maintain Salesforce donor database, receive and acknowledge gifts, and manage donor pledges • Produce quarterly fundraising reports, create and manage development calendar, and create, oversee, and maintain fundraising budget and set annual fundraising goals

Greater Chicago Area

• Wrote school and community-based curricula based on the promotion of healthy gender ideology and sexuality for African-American and Latino adolescent males • Revised curriculum and training materials for Illinois Subsequent Pregnancy Program, a curriculum based program focused on the prevention of a subsequent pregnancy for adolescent mothers

Greater Chicago Area

• Planned, coordinated and implemented annual agency signature event along with all other agency-wide events • Prepared budget recommendations and oversaw expenditures for special event• Supervised event staff, volunteers and interns • Managed agency social media, website and digital presence• Implemented and managed agency’s public relations campaign including agency’s brand, image and media coverage

Greater Atlanta Area

• Researched, sourced products and provided creative marketing ideas for clients• Contacted vendors for new products and conducted client/vendor relations

Greater Atlanta Area

• Planned annual events for the magazine including Salute to Minority Business Entrepreneurs, Gourmet Gents, Moving Your Business Forward business conference, diversity roundtable and the scholarship golf tournament • Created monthly e-newsletter for the publication detailing all events, current news and marketing updates • Wrote press releases, sponsorship proposals and client correspondence • Acted as spokesperson for magazine at trade shows, conventions and other exhibitor events

Greater Atlanta Area

• Arranged media clips for monthly clip book reports, drafted media lists, pitched media • Composed biographies for various clients • Researched consumer products for press releases • Planned events and handled logistics • Wrote media advisories, press releases, photo cut lines and alerts

Master Of Education (Med), Human Sexuality

Master Of Arts, Clinical Psychology, Counseling Specialization

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Political Science And Government