Suzanne Donovan Email & Phone Number

Saint Paul, Mn

In addition to media relations, marketing and supporting external communications for the Department of Safety and Inspections, I also manage the City's Information and Complaint line.

Twin Cities, Mn

Operations manager overseeing membership, finances, and professional training opportunities including webinars and annual conference for a small nonprofit that combines professional member education and parent support services for families and children experiencing developmental trauma.Create and edit communications materials, including funding proposals, and assist with strategic planning.

Savannah, Georgia

Led nationally recognized collaborative partnership serving 10,000 low-income residents annually. Built Step Up’s brand, developed consensus among diverse civic leaders, instituted first individual donor campaign that increased giving by over 50%.Actively pursued opportunities for fundraising including grants, major-donor campaign, and strategic partnerships to ensure organization's long-term growth. Responsible for the budget, staff supervision and day-to-day operations, and board and government relations. Under my leadership, Step Up became the city's leading voice on matters related to poverty as we worked to build consensus among diverse civic leaders in the city and county. Conceptualized communications strategies, and regularly represented Step Up in media interviews, speeches, public presentations, and to state legislators. Directed strategy and operations for Campaign for Healthy Kids, resulting in 2,500 uninsured children enrolling in public healthcare, cited as best practice by CMS. Oversaw the creation and launch of the Life Line Loan, a credit-building alternative to car title loans, available through area employers.Before I was selected as the organization's second executive director, I was deputy director in charge of public policy and communications, handling all public and media relations as well as Step Up's policy advocacy and education efforts. Directed successful advocacy for the state's first municipal Affordable Housing Fund, administered by the City of Savannah. Also revamped the organization's website, including writing and editing content; wrote and edited its e-newsletter, and press materials. Moved from Savannah to Minnesota for family reasons.

Savannah, Ga

I managed daily news flow and project planning with Metro editor; during this time the paper reported 52,000 daily circulation. Supervised and coached 6 reporters covering courts, police/crime, military, local politics and the non-profit community, earning numerous state awards. Oversaw the newspaper's coverage of the G-8 Sea Island Summit. Created professional development training sessions for newsroom employees. Co-chaired research team investigating women readers that fed into the paper's redesign.

Greenport, Ny And Austin, Tx

Associate with HT Potter Communications, small firm specializing in media and communications plans, and organizational development for non-profit agencies; consultant to Sustainable East End Development Strategies (SEEDS) initiative, a comprehensive land use and transportation planning study; op-ed writer covering the impacts of changing demographics on eastern Long Island development; contributed op-ed and news commentary covering social issues and Texas politics to the Dallas Morning News, Houston Chronicle, and Texas Observer; and produced online editorial package with photographer Ken Light on Texas death row inmates for MSN.com.

Mj, Journalism

Non-Degree, Assigning Editors Course

Completed this course in St. Petersburg, Fla. while I was a Metro editor at the Savannah Morning News.

Ba, Politics