Tara Connolly Email & Phone Number

Austin, Texas, United States

Austin, Texas Area

Lead impactful affirmative marketing communications campaigns. These campaigns required interdepartmental collaboration, working with program staff, and effective project management. Developed data-driven strategies, contracts, and budgets in alignment withclient, leadership, council, commission, and/or program goals.Responsible for drafting Interlocal Agreements and Scopes of Work for bringing partner organizations who were executing outreach and communications tactics.Additional highlights:+Led an inter-departmental team in the creation of the City’s first guide for Accessibility & Inclusivity in Social Media.+Launched a brand new program Austin Community Land Trust which required a net new website, affirmative marketing campaign, online applications, and internal processes.+In response to Winter Storm Uri, designed a new intake process and online applications so residents could be helped quickly with emergency home repairs. This process was so successful that the division kept it.

In this role, I collaboratively designed and develop marketing efforts with program leads in Cultural Arts, Global Business, Heritage Tourism, Music & Entertainment, and Redevelopment. Each division has a unique, and policy-driven mission. Connecting the community to programs requires that communications are clear, relevant, and strategic.• In a compressed timeline, helped to launch the City of Austin’s first economic recovery program for small businesses impacted by the pandemic. Copywriter for internal, external and council communications on this net new program. Created internal Sharepoint site for staff and online eligibility intake form for business owners. Provided reports on demographics and dashboard design input.• Helped amend contracts to include robust, and specific marketing plans. Designed a marketing campaign that produces the best ROI, and reduces project management time on both sides. Worked collaboratively with team members on creating content, and seeing where there are strategic points where we can use our systems to best effect.• Initiated new ways to connect with the community. First to design and implement the department’s new CRM system so that emails, event demographics and survey data are readily accessible.• Leveraged data analytics (Google Analytics, Social Media Engagement, Email Campaign Open Rates/Click-Throughs). Pulling relevant reports, I am able to see where messaging is hitting and where there are areas for improvement.• Successfully launched new Heritage Tourism Division, from policy to reality in under 6 weeks. Designed clear & cohesive marketing communications for prospects, commissions, and reviewers. Nimbly adjusted marketing to changing priorities and messaging. Created initial marketing list, and supplemented on the fly to make sure that we were reaching key districts.

T3 is a leading marketing firm that serves Fortune 500 clients. I started as a production designer brought in to help seamlessly transition client work into a new design and management system. I was soon on creative teams designing for clients such as: Acura, Allstate, Chase, Coca-Cola, Dell, Honda, Phillips 66, and UPS. My role then expanded to include managing the studio, projects and vendors. I was part of innovation teams that combined creatives, strategists and technologists to look beyond the typical client brief and at new approaches. While most of my projects were part of big marketing campaigns, I also had a hand in producing T3-branded content. • Art Directed winning pitch for the Mobile Marketing Association’s Annual Pitch Competition.• Led the training of agency staff on branding and presentation techniques.• Responsible for scoping and managing budgets, deliverables and team level of effort.

Greater New York City Area

As Marketing Manager, I developed the communications and marketing strategy that drove Solco’s expansion in the competitive NYC marketplace in a down economy. Partnering with the executive team, we implemented a targeted marketing strategy that was successful at differentiating and lifting Solco’s reputation across multiple audiences. Budget Management: The budget was primarily based on the amount of co-op funds that I could raise from brands that Solco represented and sold. This required multiple plans/reports to be submitted to each brand for review, approval and monitoring. I successfully raised the annual co-op budget from $15,000 to over $100,000. Event Marketing: Developed monthly events at each branch and store. Created grand opening event for new distribution center that brought in hundreds of customers as well as Bronx borough representatives. Concepted and ran “influencer” events for the architecture and interior design community. Designed and managed annual black tie event for top clients and brands. Marketing Strategy: Created marketing strategies for the entire company, as well as for each brand. Developed targeted campaigns around each audience segment (B2B and B2C). Recognized the influence that architects, and interior designers had in specifying products on large scale projects, and initiated new marketing campaigns for these “influencers.” Reporting: Pulled, and analyzed sales numbers to measure effectiveness each month.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Communication And Media Studies

Graphic Design

Fashion/Apparel Design