Matthew A. Young Email & Phone Number

Lake Charles, La, Us

Lake Charles, Louisiana, United States

Lake Charles, La

• Develop and provide oversight for the City's Department of Cultural Affairs, staff, historic properties, cultural programs, and city-wide events• Manage operations at two City properties including Historic City Hall, a 7,500 sq/ft arts and cultural center with rotating traveling exhibitions, as well as Central School, an 18,000 sq/ft incubator for arts and humanities organizations including the Mardi Gras Museum, Lake Charles Symphony, and numerous theater, dance, and visual arts organizations. • Coordinate city-wide festivals including Downtown at Sundown, July 4th Celebration, and Light Up the Lake, as well as hire staff and execute fundraising activities to ensure the success of multiple free community events.

• Function as spokesperson to media for accurate reporting of City government issues.• Provide media trainings, write speeches and issue clear and compelling news releases, pitch letters, and by-lined articles for the Mayor and City officials. • Direct implementation of the City’s public relations programs for all City Departments, including Fire and Police Departments.• Operate as Mayor’s liaison to the Armed Forces Commission and other veterans groups, as well as plan the City’s Veterans Day celebration and Vietnam War Veterans event.

• Managed budgets and demonstrated campaign ROI through visibility in print, broadcast, TV and online media outlets. • Identified media trends, news cycles and editorials calendars and cultivate relationships with key business journalists in national, trade and regional publications.• Developed programs to create favorable public image for multiple clients, including the Port of Lake Charles, Magnolia LNG and McDonald’s.

Lake Charles, La

• Lead the Council and the arts community as the spokesperson for the importance of the arts to community and economic development. • Provided leadership and information to the Board in policy making, fundraising, financial and strategic planning. • Hired and supervised appropriate staff to carry out the Council’s membership development, financial management, facility management, communications, and program functions. • Functioned as advocate for the arts with high level municipal, state, and national governmental bodies and organizations.