https://leeoconnell.com/

*Took an intentional pause from a fulfilling career to take a self-designed sabbatical to rejuvenate myself after an especially intense period of caregiving and allow myself to pivot to a new career with energy and enthusiasm.*Used this time to take online courses and expand and enhance my skillset.

Raise over $150,000 for annual fund yearly. Write all communications for annual fund campaigns across multiple channels--e.g. direct mail, email, social media, and web copy--& created content marketing strategy for Fund Development to deepen relationships & build member support. Areas of responsibility:Building Beyond Tomorrow/Giving HERsday*Drafted & executed the council's largest fundraising campaign in only 2 months in response to COVID-19*In the first year, raised $98,000, nearly double the goal. Campaign consistently exceeds its goal yearly*Create & execute a robust, multi-channel communications plan based on rich storytelling, including increased use of video. Research potential story subjects, schedule interviews, & craft content.*Planned & implemented the council's first giving day, consistently setting council records for the highest number of donors in a day. Giving HERsday's success has inspired other councils to run their own.*Collaborate with multiple departments for successful campaign delivery*Train, encourage, & incentivize volunteer fundraisers, who typically acquire 40%+ of total donorsGirl Scouts Give*Create & edit a variety of training & program materials for Girl Scouts & volunteers*Train, encourage, & incentivize volunteers*Elevate stories of participating troops in social media or blog posts*Create digital marketing touchpoints to build campaign awarenessGirl Scout Sustainers*Took recurring donations from a payment method to a branded giving society*Deliver stewardship touches & update communications to foster engagementGirl Scout Holiday Wish List*Survey members annually about their fundraising priorities*Craft a wish list from those items to encourage year-end giving*Execute multi-channel appeal that has successfully re-engaged donors and increased giving amountsStewardship*Surprise & delight donors with touchpoints like anniversary or Valentine's emails, postcards, special gifts, & thank-you notes

Annual fund planning and implementation-Utilized engaging surveys to obtain more accurate patron data-Wrote compelling appeals and heartfelt stewardship pieces to increase donor retention by 9% in one year, achieving the organization's highest retention rate in several years-Planned and implemented RLT's first #GivingTuesday campaign in several years, raising 274% of goal.-Plan and execute year-end and fiscal year-end appeals, including segmented, multi-channel digital and direct mail content and the increased use of video. In 2017, increased new donors and new recurring donors to year-end appeal.-Created a branded recurring gifts program.-Lead the board Stewardship Committee on stewardship initiatives throughout the year.Annual fundraising event-Crafted and edited communications, including event and auction marketing, guest communications, sponsor signage, and show program-Assist, advise, and encourage volunteer fundraisers. Write extensive training materials to support their efforts-Solicit sponsorships and auction donations-Coordinate reception logistics-Manage all other streams of revenue, including raffle and live and silent auctionsDonor recognition and stewardship events-Manage event logistics, invitations and invitation lists, and donor appreciationMajor gifts-Track major gifts and pledges -Write and issue pledge renewals and reminders-Deliver donor benefitsCorporate partnerships-Steward existing partners and fulfill activations-Research, solicit, and procure new partnershipsGrants-Execute all grant applications, contract requirements, and final reports for RLT-Research programs to ensure applications are robust and compelling, and that final reports convey an accurate sense of impactPlanned Giving-Advise on language and marketing for planned giving program-Track pledged gifts-Implement annual legacy society breakfast

Executed successful annual "friend-raising" event. Decreased event budget by procuring food donations from local businesses. Exceeded budget goal of breaking even by procuring nearly $600 in donations.Instituted systems for donor management and donation tracking.Supported all aspects of office operations, such as finances, mailings, file maintenance, and data collection/tracking.Oversaw social media (Twitter/Facebook/Instagram), website, and monthly e-news to promote events and services and provide relevant content on arts, inclusiveness, accessibility, and disability. Attended, supported, and assisted with workshops, audits, and training events.Assisted with grant writing and fundraising events. Participated in community functions to promote Arts Access services by distributing information about the organization, answering questions, and collecting information to grow contact base for the mailing list.Responded to information and advocacy requests from cultural arts organization and people with disabilities through phone calls, emails, and individual meetings.

Provide assistance to Executive Director, Development Manager, and Associate Education Director.Engage with audience on Twitter via HootSuite and oversee Facebook pages to promote upcoming shows. Crafted one of their most successful tweets to date.Reinstated company’s Instagram page; create and manage content. Increased followers by 33% in the first five days.Conduct research and outreach on new technologies and grant opportunities to identify local groups potentially interested in new accessibility technology for theatre performances; assisted Development Manager. Procured and launched Google Ad Grant.

Member of a newly-formed committee responsible for spearheading the New York division of the 68 Cent Crew Theatre Company's productions.Collaborate with other committee members to determine scope, format, venue, and publicity for upcoming 68 productions.Serve as part of a reading committee to select material for production.With suggestions and guidance from the Production Committee, Theatre 68 NY was able to put up its first full-length production.

Co-produce an independent, non-profit web series.Organized a benefit concert to raise funds for filming costs for the trailer.Spearheaded an Indiegogo campaign and personally captured 85% of donors and 62% of funds collected.Generated a comprehensive production calendar to map out scheduling from pre- to post-production.Create and distribute agendas for production meetings.Maintain Facebook page to create awareness and interest for the project. Full season available here: https://vimeo.com/search?q=mr.%20sparklzz

In addition to previous duties as a Sales Lead:Maximize the sales performance of all sales associates by coaching to exceeding sales and KPItargets, motivating and role-modeling expected behaviors dailyOptimize conversion and basket size by securing the use of the Pandora Way of Selling with allsales associatesSupport Store Manager in planning and prioritizing the daily responsibilities, tasks, and staffingaccording to traffic flow and planning toolsUnder direction of the Store Manager, motivate and develop all employees individually and onthe team level to improve performanceAssist in store staffing by recruiting, interviewing, and developing the best candidates by roleAssist in and execute all HR functionsCoach to continuous high level of knowledge with all staff in regards to target groups, nationalproduct strategy, product range, and selling argumentsSupport the optimal flow of goods from purchasing to customer work and sales orders bycontinuous control, organization, and follow-upAssist in managing inventory by keeping appropriate stock level of product and POS suppliesContinuously keep an overview of work- and paper-flow and set up administrative routinesaccordinglyEnsure optimal use of all IT tools by ensuring all staff are well-informed of the tools and updatesUnderstand and help set targets for the main KPIs of the store and follow up individually and on ateam level regularly. Report relevant KPIs to the appropriate personsCollaborated with the Store Manager to create most of the foundational documents for both the store and the franchise, including training programs for all employee levels and the Employee Handbook. Developed a Policies and Procedures manual for the store.

Promoted to a full member of management.In addition to responsibilities as Key Holder:Process all POS, supply, and merchandise orders, as well as damaged product.Work with management team to brainstorm ideas to keep staff and store moving forward.Liaise with outside vendors for store maintenance and repairs. Receive new merchandise into the store's inventory system.Handle employee and customer issues with tact and diplomacy.Proactively devised a user-friendly organizational system for POS supplies on the sales floor to make them more easily accessible and make inventory more accurate.Perform the bulk of the store's administrative tasks.

Promoted to part of the management team.Assisted with administrative and operational tasks.Distributed, sorted, and reviewed incoming and outgoing mail.Managed all customer e-mail correspondence. Responsible for customer invitations to in-store events, including compiling invitation lists and writing invitation and thank-you note copy.Assisted with the organization and running of promotional events.

Recipient of the President's Club award for sales over $750,000 in 2011. Sales totaled over $880,000.One of only two associates in the department ever to exceed her clienteling goal. Maintained a database of over 200 clients. Using exceptional follow-up, kept regular phone, e-mail, and mail correspondence.Initiated a new stockroom organizational scheme to increase efficiency and accuracy in selling and displaying Tory Burch merchandise.Trusted to train new associates.Requested to serve on the new Customer Service Leader panel in 2012. Observed customer experiences in the store in order to facilitate improvements.Selected as the department captain for Bloomingdale's October breast cancer fund-raising drive in 2012.Recipient of the Golden B award in 2011 for the associate with the most astounding performance in a six-month period.Recipient of several quarterly awards, including multiple awards for opening the most credit accounts and the B the Best Personality Award.Answered phones and routed calls to the appropriate employee or department.

Responsible for updating a financial printing company’s archives, as well as providing general office assistance.Restructured library of printing samples and kept files in order.Continued work on archival library, labeling and filing samples of the company’s work.Organized incoming and outgoing packages.

Worked as a temporary telemarketer for two separate projects on behalf of HP.Trusted by the firm to work from home in addition to working in their office.Made thousands of phone calls to HP clients all over the world in both English and Spanish.Used Sales Force program extensively to track calls and responses.Prioritized calls to various accounts in order to accomplish goals.Maintained client database by updating information and correcting inaccuracies.