Susan Kirkpatrick has returned to the helm of her marketing communications consulting firm, Kirkpatrick Communications, after serving as Chief Communications Officer for The John R. Oishei Foundation, one of WNY's most prominent private foundations. She is a seasoned communications professional with extensive experience and expertise in communications, public relations, and marketing. At the Foundation, she led all aspects of the organization's communications, provided communications counsel for the Foundation's grantees, and developed and executed programs for the local nonprofit community designed to build capacity in communications. Susan also has extensive experience leading communications for collaborative initiatives including the WNY COVID-19 Community Response Fund, Buffalo Together Community Response Fund and others. Her expertise includes communications strategy, content creation, digital communications, crisis communications, media relations and PR, event planning, and project management. She has worked in agency, corporate, and nonprofit settings and managed her own communications firm, Kirkpatrick Communications, for more than a decade prior to her work at the Oishei Foundation. Susan's experience includes work at Hill + Knowlton, Orkin Pest Control, The Athlete's Foot, Arnold Advertising, Crowley Webb & Associates and with countless clients in healthcare, consumer products, and retail industries, with a considerable focus on non-profit organizations and philanthropy. She has worked in the Boston, Atlanta, and Western New York markets, providing her with regional and national perspective on communications strategies. Susan can be reached at mskirk5@yahoo.com or at 716.866.8002.