Experience

2012-Present OTIS REDDING FOUNDATION MACON, GA

Executive Assistant

Lead successful projects for music and arts education nonprofit, responsible for donor, grant, and event management; marketing and communications; budget and administration. Duties include:

  • Write, submit, and manage grants and grant reports, ensuring the story of the Foundation and its programs are told in a vibrant, engaging, and accurate manner, as well as analyzing financial information to create budgets

  • Handle resource development, including researching, attracting and proposing to new and current sponsors, updating the database of sponsors, ensuring sponsor recognition and constant communication including monthly newsletters, personal thank you letters, end of year campaign, and a $14 million capital campaign

  • Write and circulate press releases, managing press requests and interviews

  • Create and manage social media calendars for Otis Redding and the Otis Redding Foundation

  • Edit both the Otis Redding Foundation and Otis Redding websites, creating flyers and promotional material, ensuring that external communications are thorough, informative, and engaging

  • Create and maintain budgets for entire operation

  • Communicate with the Board of Directors, maintaining minutes, agendas, reports and all documents in the board Google Drive

  • Plan programs, like the Otis Music Camp and Camp DREAM, and major fundraising events such as An Evening of Respect. This included handling logistics such as coordinating travel, compiling biographical and educational information, communicating with staff, presenters, celebrity guests, performers, and more.

  • Coordinate the calendar for meetings, appointments, and events for the staff

  • Communicate with students and guardians, answering questions about programs and ensuring all needed information has been acquired and stored in accessible databases

  • Hire and manage interns, instruct and advise on tasks to ensure the students' growth

  • Handle the day-to-day administrative duties of the office

2013-2020 BRAGG JAM FESTIVAL MACON, GA

President 

  • Researched and cultivated new donors and sponsors, maintaining current donors and sponsors

  • Oversaw all board members, committees, and staff members, including approving committee budgets and plans

  • Interviewed and hired staff and interns 

  • Guided Bragg Jam from an all-volunteer board-run 501(c)(3) annual event to a staff-led, board-overseen umbrella organization encompassing multiple events, with an endowment fund to support the organization in perpetuity

  • Oversaw the filing of the annual form 990 

Marketing Co-Chair

  • Wrote and distributed press releases

  • Managed and distributed marketing materials, from posters to T-shirts to promo items

  • Pitched stories to the press 

  • Helped press create stories with quotes and research

  • Conducted interviews with the press

  • Managed social media

  • Managed the marketing committee, assigning duties and overseeing tasks

2014-2015 MOONHANGER GROUP MACON, GA

Marketing Assistant

  • Managed street teams

  • Managed and distribute marketing materials

  • Wrote and circulated press releases

  • Coordinated interviews with press and artists

  • Pitched stories, giveaways and promotions with press and businesses

2012-2013 TOWNSEND SCHOOL OF MUSIC MACON, GA

Freelance PR

  • Researched and wrote press releases

2012-2020 MACON MAGAZINE MACON, GA

Writer and Copy Editor

  • Wrote features (interview and research subjects) 

  • Copy edited the edition

2012-2015 TUBMAN AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSEUM MACON, GA

Grants Writer and Administrator

  • Researched, wrote, submitted and reported on all grants for the museum and its many arts, culture and educational programs

2009-2012 TICKET ALTERNATIVE ATLANTA, GA

Promotions Director / Editor

  • Promoted the company and its events in multiple cities through Twitter, Facebook, email lists (with segmentation), press releases, blogs and more

  • Assigned, edited, and wrote articles for Atlanta Music Guide and TA Live blogs

  • Managed 20+ freelance writers and photographers; co-managed three staff members

  • Maintained Ticket Alternative website (HTML)

2007-2008 SOUTHEAST PERFORMER MAGAZINE ATLANTA, GA

Editor

  • Assigned, edited and wrote stories for the magazine

  • Booked and promoted monthly “Performer Presents” events featuring local and regional touring artists

  • Hired and managed interns and 30+ freelance writers and photographers

  • Maintained database of bands, venues, studios and other music-related companies

2006-2007 PASTE / COCA-COLA DECATUR, GA

Writer/Host

  • Curated, licensed, and wrote profiles of bands from around the world for Coca-Cola’s Global Music Initiative 

  • Co-hosted the European Beats podcast for Coca-Cola, iTunes & Paste

2003-Present FREELANCE DECATUR, GA

Writer and Editor 

  • Wrote and edited reviews, features, previews, and interviews for Paste, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Performing Songwriter, Newcomer, Shecky’s, Not For Tourists Guide to Atlanta, Atlanta Music Guide, and The Little Black Book of Music, Telegraph (Macon), Macon Magazine

2005 EDDIE’S ATTIC DECATUR, GA

General Manager/Promotions                                                                                

  • Wrote press releases and weekly newsletter

  • Researched new bands and assisted with booking

  • General administrative and accounting duties

2002-2004 URBANITE (GSU’s Arts and Entertainment magazine)     ATLANTA, GA

Editor (2003-2004), Assistant Editor (2003), Music Editor (2002)

  • Responsible for all assignments, editing and layout using Quark

2003-2004 ATLANTA PRESS CLUB, PASTE, ATLANTA MAGAZINE ATLANTA, GA

Intern

  • Produced newsletters, wrote press releases and coordinated events

  • Wrote articles for print and online; fact checked & researched features; artist relations

2000-2003 HMV RECORDS ATLANTA, GA

Buyer / Customer Service

  • Responsible for ordering and maintaining all indie and import stock

Education

2000-2004 GEORGIA STATE UNIVERSITY ATLANTA, GA

  • Bachelor of Arts in Journalism (Concentration in Print), minor in Music Management 

Activities/Accolades

2019 MACON MAGAZINE MACON, GA

5 Under 40

2017-2018 STANFORD UNIVERSITY PALO ALTO, CA

John S. Knight (JSK) Journalism Fellowship Affiliate

2012-2017 MAIN STREET MACON MACON, GA

Board Member

2012-2021 BRAGG JAM MACON, GA

Committee and Board Member

2013-2015 CROSSROADS WRITERS CONFERENCE MACON, GA

Board Member

Proficiencies

Google Suite, Microsoft Suite, Quickbooks, social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter, MailChimp, AP Style copyediting, web editing through platforms such as Wordpress and Squarespace, light coding, basic photo editing, fact checking, storytelling, writing, reporting, budget creation and reporting through Quickbooks and Excel, database management