Lori Schaefer Email & Phone Number

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Minneapolis, Mn, Us

Marketing that Matters delivers strategic, integrated marketing and communications solutions and creative campaigns for mission-driven organizations and businesses. With a focus on empowering brands to "be known for good," we help clients thrive in today’s competitive marketplace through results-driven strategies.Whether you're seeking a fractional Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Communications Officer, or support with a campaign or ongoing project, we offer tailored solutions to elevate your brand.Key Accomplishments:Strategic Leadership: Founded and grew Marketing that Matters from a solo consultancy to a full-service agency, achieving nearly $500K in gross revenue at its peak, with a team of 15 employees and contractors.Client Success & Retention: Delivered high-impact, mission-focused marketing plans and solutions for 50+ clients across various sectors, achieving a 99% client retention rate.Integrated Marketing Leadership: Led multi-channel marketing initiatives across digital, social, print, and broadcast platforms, driving measurable results in client growth, engagement, and visibility.Creative & Data-Driven Strategies: Guided creative teams in executing marketing campaigns informed by data-driven insights, ensuring profitability and success for a diverse portfolio of clients.Agency Evolution: In 2019, strategically scaled back the agency to a consultancy model, adapting to market demands and the founder's vision, while maintaining excellence in client service and outcomes.

Bar Harbor, Me, Us

As the Chief Communications Officer, I spearheaded development and implementation of the organization's first strategic communications and marketing plan to grow and diversify membership, elevate and amplify the brand and its impact, promote stewardship of Acadia National Park, and strengthen advocacy for national park conservation efforts. The plan is on track to increase membership by more than 35% and diversify it by 15% within three years, including significant growth in younger demographics.•Strategic Communications Leadership: Led a high-impact team to enhance organizational visibility and boost member/donor engagement and support through strategic communications initiatives and impactful storytelling, furthering Friends of Acadia's mission, objectives, and strategic priorities.•Public Relations Excellence: Fostered media relationships and managed public relations strategically, improving positive media representation and community support for conservation, and establishing Friends of Acadia/Acadia National Park as a leader in conservation.•Advanced Digital Marketing: Directed development of a digital content strategy and digital campaigns across multiple platforms, increasing engagement and optimizing the use of resources.•Community Engagement: Fostered strong partnerships with community leaders, policymakers, and media to support conservation initiatives.•Crisis Communication: Spearheaded communication strategies during critical moments, ensuring clear and effective messaging in collaboration with the National Park Service.•Budget and Performance Management: Oversaw the communications and marketing budget, allocated resources efficiently, and introduced tracking systems for data-driven decisions and effectiveness assessment.

Helped develop and co-lead a nonpartisan public policy think tank (501(c)(3)), dedicated to pioneering innovative policies that drive statewide economic growth and social justice simultaneously.Leadership: Championed the development and execution of forward-thinking public policy ideas in collaboration with the Founder and Executive Director, positioning the organization as a key player in shaping state-level economic and social policy.Community Engagement: Led outreach initiatives, forging strategic partnerships with local and regional businesses, policymakers, community leaders, and nonprofits to advance impactful policy changes.Marketing & Communications: Oversaw all marketing communications, including the creation and management of the website, reports, email marketing, events, media relations, and public relations efforts, effectively amplifying the organization's voice and mission.Operational Oversight: Directed daily operations, including managing staff, volunteers, and advisers, ensuring seamless execution of initiatives and programs.Fundraising & Development: Drove individual and corporate fundraising efforts, including prospecting, grant writing, event coordination, and investor relations, successfully securing financial support to sustain and grow the organization.

Saint Paul, Mn, Us

Strategic Policy Development: Working in collaboration with the Speaker and leadership staff, spearheaded the creation and execution of comprehensive policy agendas, driving legislative initiatives and ensuring alignment with legislative goals.Legislative Management: Successfully managed and tracked key legislation for the Speaker of the House and House Democratic Leader from inception to implementation, ensuring effective execution and compliance with policy objectives.Message & Media Strategy: Developed and executed targeted messaging and media plans, enhancing public and stakeholder engagement and improving visibility of legislative priorities.Media & Community Relations: Cultivated and managed media relationships, orchestrated community outreach programs, and oversaw constituent relations for the Speaker and House Leader, resulting in increased public support and informed stakeholder engagement.Leadership Liaison: Acted as the primary liaison to newly elected legislators, facilitating smooth transitions and building strong working relationships to advance legislative agendas and enhance constituent relations in their respective districts.Operational Oversight: Directed the operational and administrative functions of the Minnesota House of Representatives on behalf of the Speaker of the House, optimizing efficiency, internal communication, and ensuring the effective management of resources and staff.

Bachelor'S Degree, Organizational Management & Communication

Journalism