Steven Sommer Email & Phone Number

Lead the implementation of new Salesforce Marketing Cloud instances and provide additional enhancements for existing instances, primarily with clients in the higher-ed and non-profit spaces.

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

Lexington, Kentucky, United States

OVERVIEW: Serve as lead system administrator for the University of Kentucky’s implementation of Salesforce Marketing Cloud, the institution’s platform for mass communication with constituents including, but not limited to, students, faculty, staff, alumni, and more. Ensure system health and functionality, implement enterprise-level changes, and play a key role in the enrollment management space, aiding users in order to reach annual enrollment goals by leveraging Marketing Cloud tools.- Guided the transition of Marketing Cloud’s standard structure into a “multi-org” setup, expanding the platform from one to three primary data centers.- Transformed prior automated communication processes using outdated methods into dynamic journeys, further leveraging platform capabilities and driving up constituent engagement.- Created the plan for new, modular, holistic user training to develop more competent and technically sound system users.- Increased platform adoption by 28%, leading initial discovery sessions, training new users, and providing on-going system support.- Used data-driven analytics to improve institution-wide policies regarding digital communication.- Expanded adoption of Social Studio social media platform from under 30 accounts to over 100 by establishing and enacting a mass on-boarding plan.- Performed social media buying services for University of Kentucky in addition to system administrator role.

Lexington, Kentucky Area

Lexington, Kentucky

OVERVIEW: Sole employee responsible for all public relations and marketing needs for a sub-unit of the University of Kentucky International Center, meeting the unit’s strategic planning, media relations, design, videography, and social media needs. - Developed and implemented the strategic communications plans, messaging and materials. - Initiated and managed strategic partnerships with internal and external stakeholders, such as UK college communicators and partner providers. - Developed and implemented an annual promotional calendar of events and programming. - Conducted competitor research to identify opportunities that align with the sub-unit's brand. - Identified effective channels to get news, initiatives and programs out to the students and faculty. - Conducted media relations functions including press release writing, media monitoring and clipping. - Fulfilled social media community management needs (Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram). - Maintained and updated the sub-unit website. - Applied technology and analytics to identify trends in student participant data. - Administered other forms of communications, including ushering in an internal transition towards Salesforce and Salesforce Marketing Cloud. - Led, organized, facilitated, assigned and evaluated sub-unit events, including annual fall and spring major events, program-specific workshops and orientations, etc. - Developed, produced and disseminated the sub-unit’s marketing materials, following sub-unit’s and UK’s brand standards. - Established, maintained and updated the sub-unit’s brand voice, brand guide and other related materials as appropriate.

Lexington, Kentucky Area

OVERVIEW: Lead the creation, oversight, direction and management of day-to-day organic and paid social media marketing campaigns for Zipie and clients. Serve as lead strategist for accounts, multiple with 100K+ followers. Oversee social media coordinator. - Create, distribute and obtain client approval for strategic content calendars for one to three months in advance. Accommodate client updates and provide additional content based on industry changes and trending topics. - Develop timely and engaging content that is appropriate for the platform and customized for each client to reach fans and customers.- Provide outstanding community management, acting as a customer service intermediary for national brands and their clients.- Analyze campaigns using quantitative, qualitative and anecdotal data. Use said data to make recommendations and plans for revising and revamping social media campaigns moving forward.- Engage in daily social media monitoring, listening and responding.- Monitor industry trends in social media tools, applications, channels, design and strategy, continually looking for opportunities to expand Zipie’s social media offerings.- Research client industries and competitors. - Engage in client-facing conversations related to social media strategy, management and results.- Spearhead social media paid advertising efforts including social strategy, budget management and reporting.

Lexington, Kentucky Area

OVERVIEW:Assist in the creation, oversight, direction and management of the day-to-day operations of @KentuckyMBB social media accounts.- Take an active, daily part in creating new content for @KentuckyMBB Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and any additional social media accounts. - Plan and strategize daily, weekly and monthly content that would coincide with the flow of the UK men's basketball season. - Assist in the strategy and execution of the transition of the athletics accounts to posting more fan-centric content while serving as the primary accounts for UK men's basketball.- Find ways to connect with fans and share their stories of cheering on UK teams.- Build a creative content/social media calendar that lines up with the department schedule in order to effectively plan and schedule content ahead of events.- Help manage the consistency of the brand and voice of the @KentuckyMBB social media accounts.- Create contests and campaigns that interact with fans.- Monitor and moderate comments and feedback from fans.- Analyze campaigns and translate quantitative and qualitative data in order to continuously improve future campaigns.

OVERVIEW: Promote and market nationally-ranked volleyball, men’s basketball, and men’s lacrosse teams involving 75 student-athletes and a dozen coaches to national and regional media, boosters, and fans. Support the strategic communications team promoting an additional 28 teams. Assist in the training of 20-25 student interns.- Set up, executed and broke down media logistics for over 30 home women’s volleyball and lacrosse events each year, serving as a liaison between the athletics department and media contingent. Coordinate student interns and execute gameday logistics for national media during men’s football and basketball games drawing 100K (football) to 20K (basketball) fans.- Promoted, planned and carried out extensive logistics and media coordination for three-day Division 1 volleyball tournament and first round of men’s lacrosse tournament. - Manage online communities using team social media accounts, executing social strategies to enhance growth and engage followers (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat).- Create notes, packages and talking points for nationally televised events on ESPN2, ESPNU and Big Ten Network, successfully pitching storylines on multiple broadcasts.- Create and disseminate press releases, publications, record books and gameday programs on digital and print platforms daily.RESULTS:- Generated a 222% rise in impressions, 271% rise in engagements, 293% rise in media engagements and 21% increase in followers of Penn State men’s lacrosse Twitter account. Drove a 76% increase in Penn State men’s lacrosse Instagram followers and a 33% rise in Facebook likes. - Re-energized existing online community on Penn State women’s volleyball social media platforms, reaching over 172.1K accounts. Helped to achieve an 85% season ticket renewal rate, following a subpar season.- Utilized targeted promotion of student-athletes to help produce over 30 award winners during the year including 12 All-America selections.

Lexington, Kentucky Area

OVERVIEW: Publicist primarily for Kentucky’s nationally-ranked volleyball, gymnastics and men’s tennis programs. Supported the media relations team in coverage of 19 additional sport programs. - Spearheaded gameday set up, execution and break down of 40-plus women’s volleyball, gymnastics and men’s tennis home events, serving as a liaison between the athletics department and media contingent. - Assisted in gameday operations for men’s basketball, baseball and football.- Served as media coordinator for NCAA volleyball regional tournament. Carried out logistical arrangements for three-day event, aiding national media. - Assisted with gameday operations for NCAA women’s basketball regional tournament.- Created notes, packages and talking points for nationally televised events on ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and SEC Network, successfully pitched storylines on multiple broadcasts.- Created and disseminated press releases, publications, media guides and gameday programs on digital and print platforms daily.- Led and delegated student staff of 20 for gameday operations and office hours.- Managed volleyball, gymnastics and men’s tennis social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).RESULTS:- As an assistant, fully entrusted to execute all aspects at the Assistant Director of Strategic Communications level with very little supervision—ran all aspects of the program for three sports.- Served as an editor and contributor for long-form piece “The Skinner Effect: A Blueprint for Success” which garnered national recognition and awards from the College Sports Information Directors Association (CoSIDA).- Pitched and successfully implemented Kentucky’s first ever athletics department podcast “Above the Net.”- Utilized targeted promotion of student-athletes to help produce over 20 award winners during the year including two All-America selections, four All-SEC selections and 17 SEC weekly honors.

OVERVIEW: Assisted in the day-to-day media relations efforts of Wofford College’s 18 varsity sports, serving as the primary publicist and sport contact for women’s basketball, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, cross country and track & field.- Published media guides, record books and game notes. Maintained statistical records and handled all media requests.- Assisted with gameday operations for home football, men’s basketball, baseball and volleyball events.- Led student workers for soccer and women’s basketball.- Assisted in social media efforts for Wofford Terriers athletics and individual sport accounts.- Developed relationships with members of the media and media relations offices from conference and non-conference institutions. Coordinated interviews and media requests for coaches and student-athletes.- Created video spots to promote sports on the Southern Conference (SoCon) Digital Network and YouTube.RESULTS:- After proving ability to work with the women’s basketball program, promoted to serve as secondary contact for SoCon champion men’s basketball team. Handled media requests, created a postseason guide and provided information for coaching staff leading up to NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.- Introduced the use of pregame and postgame score graphics, pushing the department to a more graphic design based social media strategy. Enhanced the fan experience while delivering easily consumable information. Served as one of three primary graphic designers for the athletic department.

OVERVIEW: Assisted in the day-to-day media relations efforts of Longwood University's 14 varsity sports, serving as the primary contact men’s tennis.- Track tennis and women's lacrosse statistics for publishing and reporting using StatCrew software.- Write weekly "Athlete of the Week" segments for longwoodlancers.com.- Assist in the creation of Longwood men's tennis and women's lacrosse media guides using QuarkXpress.- Write game notes for softball and lacrosse.- Serve as member of the Brand Steering Committee for refurbishing the primary logo and adding three secondary logos.

Farmville, Va

OVERVIEW: Led staff of 60-plus employees to successfully run new student orientation and registration for over 1,000 students and their families. Coordinated four-day new-student introductory program and assisted management of 100-level course focused on new student retention and success.- Created Peer Mentor marketing campaign and managed hiring process.- Aided in the design of First Year Experience publications and maintenance of the First Year Experience website.- Collaborated with the Director, Assistant Director and Program Coordinator in the design and implementation of the Peer Mentor staff training and supervision of Peer Mentor staff.- Delegated tasks to Peer Mentor staff and supervised tasks through completion.- Developed evaluation process for Peer Mentor staff.RESULTS:- Successfully ushered in the largest incoming freshman class in Longwood University history with just five professional staff members. - Kept customers satisfied through long, required sessions of a nine-hour orientation day. Students and families in attendance who were surveyed rated their enjoyment of the sessions on average a 4.31 out of 5.

Assist incoming students in preparing for first year of undergraduate studies via administration of entrance exams, facilitation of course registration, and aiding families in learning more about the student's first year on campus.Serve as a teacher's assistant for a one credit course in the Fall Semester on transition to college life.

Farmville, Va

- Edited and produced promotional video for university men’s basketball team using Final Cut Pro X and Apple iDVD software

International Maritime Officer School At Yorktown Uscgtc

In charge of daily cleaning of offices, updating computers/ running spyware, and other projects such as setting up a classification system for artifacts around the office.

Master Of Science - Ms, Information Communication Technology

Bachelor Of Arts (Ba), Communication And Media Studies

Activities and Societies: Student Government Association, Board of Visitors Student Representative, WMLU 91.3 FM, Theta Chi Fraternity.

Advanced Diploma

Activities and Societies: Spanish Honors Society, Boy Scouts of America.