Experience
I have nearly 10 years of experience in marketing, media and communications.
First 5 Facebook Community Team - May 2024
+ Facebook writer for the Proverbs 31 Ministries First Five Facebook Community Team - Participating in writings, team discussions and Book Club announcements.
Professional book reviewer with Netgalley- February 2022-Present
+ Request and review approved ARC books in various categories, including contemporary romance and Christian fiction and non-fiction; uploading reviews on NetGalley, GoodReads and social media platforms (Twitter and Instagram), including:
Netgalley Member - Professional Reader
NetGalley - 10 Reviews
Memory Lane by Becky Wade;
Hello Stranger by Katherine Center (author of “Lost Husband” with Netflix movie of same name, starring Josh Duhamel and author of “Happiness for Beginners,” a soon-to-be turned Netflix series, starring Ellie Kemper and Luke Grimes);
Faking it with the Grump by Katy O’Keefe;
Right on Cue by Falon Ballard
Friends Don’t Fall in Love by Erin Hahn
Expiration Dates by Rebecca Serle (author and television writer who lives in Los Angeles)
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
CSUB-Marketing and Communications specialist-August 2022-Present
+ Social media manager and strategist, creating content, scheduling content, and strategizing for the university’s long-term efforts and plans working and collaborating with departments on campus to promote events, highlight programs, campus news and feature profiles of student, faculty and staff;
+ Monitor social media to ensure followers aren’t getting out of line and posting outside of our guidelines, as well as work with our university public information officer and director of marketing and communications, as well as occasionally the university police chief, for crisis communications to update social media with the latest critical information when needed;
+ Capture in-the-moment video and photos for our Facebook and Instagram stories at important events, such as commencement, panels, student life activities and more;
+ Oversee and review email marketing efforts, working with Roadrunner Scholarship Fund to highlight athletic event wins and events, collaborate with development for letters to donors and community partners for larger campaigns, including Giving Day and the university’s comprehensive campaign;
+ Create the monthly CSUB newsletter - `Runner Report - Lead for the redesign and created new segments to feature Q&A’s, Ask the Expert and other exclusive content that varies from the weekly email sent out to campus;
+ Brand Ambassador for the university, helping enforce the university’s brand with our brand identity guide through social media efforts,
+ Create social media graphics and templates for social media, including commencement and other events;
+ Helped raise funds for the 2022 Giving Day - Digital marketing campaign raised a majority of funds raised;
+ Serve on university committees, including hiring committees for director of marketing and communications in University Advancement and Student Recreation Center coordinator of communications; CSUB Brand Ambassadors, Campus Communicators, GET Bus Student Pass Distribution team, Commencement team, Food Accessibility Ambassador
+ Create and present PowerPoint presentations for various groups, including Brand Ambassadors group, with the importance of social media and other brand guidelines;
+ Present in communications classes about career and working in PR/communications;
+ In addition to my daily role, I occasionally fill in for photographers to cover university events, including celebration and award ceremonies, speaking engagements and panels, as well as commencement and other large events.
+ 2023 CSUB Commencement video capture campaign received 70,000+ views between Facebook and Instagram Provo - Instagram writer - January 2024
+Founding member, Instagram content writer for the At the Well Online Community (formerly known as Proverbs 31 Ministry Online Bible Study)
+Working with team to create posts with caption and artwork for designated days, meeting deadlines assigned
At the Well Online Community - Volunteer Instagram Writer [Dec. 2023-Present]
+ Instagram content writer for the Instagram writing team
+Working alongside team leaders, taking on devotions as assigned
Proverbs 31 Ministries - volunteer Instagram team for Online Bible study-March 2022-December 2023 [Until the P31OBS decided to close that chapter]
+ Instagram content writer for the Instagram writing team with Proverbs 31 Ministries’ Online Bible Study platform, started by Lysa Terkeurst’s organization;
+ Work alongside team leaders, taking on devotions as assigned, writing based on the study/topic we are currently in and pairing with the right photo or graphic from the approved galleries;
+ It is an account with a following of more than 500k followers.
Writer's assistant- Children’s book author, Lisa Kerr - March 2022-August 2022
+ Write blog posts for website, including book announcements and other events;
+ Write and send press releases to media outlets;
+ Create and schedule various social media content posts for Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and create Facebook events for upcoming book signings, along with paid ads;
+ Engage with book launch group on Facebook to help get the word out about "Wake, Sleepy One";
+ Assist with tracking pre-orders in Excel and gathering materials to send out;
+ Send out newsletters periodically with the latest information about Lisa's book and author news;
+ Meetings with Lisa for brainstorms and to discuss ideas for upcoming news and events.
Photographer -Centennial hawks baseball team - 2022 season
+ Team photographer for baseball season at various games around town;
+ Occasionally posted social media captures during the games, including game scores or recaps.
+ Photographs were used for promotional items to highlight wins and upcoming games.
New Life Church NW- Communications lead- May 2021-December 2022
+ Began as a volunteer, which turned into part-time position on staff - serving as communications lead, I was social media manager for New Life NW campus, collaborating with the mother campus, as well as NW campus pastor and other team leads, including production, KidLife, StudentLife and the main campus for promotion and highlighting the campus.
+ Designed graphics for upcoming events, used as promo flyers to be posted around campus for monthly events and social media
+ Lead video projects, including filming and editing for Mother’s Day bumper video at the beginning of service, Wednesday hype videos and Easter invite;
+ Lead for Facebook ads with major events including, Easter and Christmas;
+ Created social media scavenger hunt for Easter - writing clues, hiding eggs around town and posting updates throughout the day, including photo of winners and announcements - A family that had never visited the church attended, which was the goal of the scavenger hunt - connecting with new people;
+ Photographer for service and other events held on church campus, including First Wednesday, special StudentLife events and more, editing photos, working with other photographers to download photos and categorizing library in overall photo database with main campus;
+ Worked to create and foster a team - gained a couple members during my time and mentored in photography;
+ Filled in for a number of positions on any given Sunday or Wednesday, including running lyrics (using ProPresenter), experience lead, working with production team on timing, cameras, monitoring crowd and relaying any important messages in a moment’s notice, operating cameras
+ Helped run a conference with multiple churches as experience lead - working with production team to ensure that service flowed and relayed any important messages with production team;
+ On occasion, my role was also responsible for creating website copy and assisting with content for the app
+ Often assist with setup and prep for services on Sunday mornings with admin lead, picking up breakfast and coffee, or other items for events that day;
+ Co-lead a Bible study for our Life Group season, and wrote the curriculum - first time, had eight ladies signed up;
+ Doubled our followers during my time as social media manager, from 600 to more than 1200 people.
Charizma Co- Content writer- September 2021-February 2022
+ Content writer for blogs, social media, long-form stories and website copy, as well as newsletter, emails and event invites for Charizma Co. and Charizma Studio;
+ Assisted with various events, including the official launch party for Charizma Studio, client launch parties when necessary - helping with planning mood boards, picking up food, decor and setup prior to guests arriving;
+ Assisting in branding sessions for clients in various industries, including music, real estate, church/non-profit sector, and more - writing notes and helping with setup, as needed, or running errands during session;
+ Work to schedule content for clients in AgoraPulse content calendar, producing stories;
+ Occasionally assist on photo shoots with capturing behind-the-scenes content for social media;
+ Sit in on and contribute to brainstorming and planning sessions for Charizma Studio launch - including guest list and sending invites, creating invitation email and reminders, picking up food and other necessary items.
Book Launch team for Hannah Brencher
Member of a #1 Amazon bestseller launch team;
Worked closely with 500+ member launch, where my responsibility was to use social media effectively to communicate the message of the book across various platforms;
Consistently hit launch team deadlines;
Crafted unique feedback for the book and shared it across social media channels;
Used the power behind social media and word-of-mouth marketing to spread the book’s message to untapped audiences; and
Read advanced material before publication day and crafted a thoughtful review.
Workshops/Conferences/Memberships
Masterclass - TV writing with Shonda Rhimes - 2018
Masterclass - Teaches Effective and Authentic Communication - 2020
Improv class with local theatre (2020)
Life Coaching with Rachel Hollis membership (2019-2020)
Member of Create & Cultivate community (2020 - 2021)
Member of Hope*Writers Writing Group (2017-2022)
Member of Compel Writing Group (2020- 2022, off and on)
SheSpeaks: A Conference for Communicator’s (2020)
Paley Center for Media member (2020-2021)
DigiMarCon 2023 - Loew’s Hotel Hollywood - April 2023
The Bakersfield Californian- Specialty publications editor - May 2021-September 2021
+ Editor for Bakersfield Life Magazine, reviewing copy and stories for monthly publication with a readership of around 32,000;
+ Coordinate with contributors in the Bakersfield community each month for story submissions;
+ Coordinate and conduct interviews for magazine, write, review and upload stories, often taking photos or coordinating with organization to get visual art;
+ Lead for social media content, highlighting and producing fresh content to promote the magazine;
+ Working with graphic designer/photographer for assignments on necessary content;
+ Collaborate with sales team each month to pitch stories, get approvals and collaborate for food reviews and other possible stories, as well as coordinating ads for the magazine;
+ Editor for Kern Business Journal publication — collaborating with community leaders and officials to contribute stories on a variety of business-related items according to the theme for that month;
+ Fill-in reporter for The Bakersfield Californian on news stories/capturing photos, when necessary;
+ Assist with other duties for The Bakersfield Californian with editing for uploading stories and photos to Blox CMS;
+ Work to upload the Issuu of the latest magazine publication and promote on social media.
CSU Bakersfield - Writer/marketing and communications specialist - March 2020-May 2021
+ Lead writer for news and web content — seeking out stories, news and features, coordinating interviews, often working with photographer/videographer to pair content with story;
+ Lead for sending press releases to media and updating media list;
+ Lead web liaison for refreshing content on university main page with rotating carousel;
+ Worked with ITS on University Advancement redesign, collaborating with each department (Events, Development, Marketing and more) to update content and photos for their pages;
+ Offer administrative support with monthly financial statements — cell phone bills, travel authorizations and claims, as well as procard statements for director each month,
+ Would oversee student workers for various projects;
+ Lead for President’s Associates videos, working with videographer to coordinate interviews, draft questions, attend and oversee video shoots, help in review final videos;
+ Served as social media backup when social media lead was out, often assisting on larger campaigns, such as Giving Day;
+ Assist on creating presentations for various classes and present said presentations with marketing and communications office;
+ Lead for marquee sign on Stockdale Highway - Created the marquee strategy with guidelines for requests, working with community partners and departments on campus, working with graphic design artist to create marquee signs for designated requests and working with marquee company, Daktronics for servicing or any issues found;
+ Assist with other projects in the Marketing and Communications department, as needed, including publications, video content, social media graphics, brochure designs and more.
CSU Bakersfield - Public Affairs coordinator -June 2015-March 2020
+ Help tell the university story and message through stories, press releases and web content to highlight University programs, events;
+ Help manage CSUB social media accounts (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and created Snapchat account);
+ Connect local media with University experts and officials and book morning show guests for events and programs;
+ Photograph all major events held on campus;
+ Help produce video content, including highlighting our Food Pantry to the President's Associates giving society;
+ Help create advertisements for magazine publications; Collaborate across campus with all departments and divisions for projects, marketing strategies and campaigns;
+ Assisted on various publications as project manager for publications, including creating our first Fact Book and yearly President’s Annual Reports;
+ Served as media lead for CSU Chancellor Timothy P. White visit to CSUB - responsible for assisting with media at events throughout the day, as well as guiding/directing the videography/photography team throughout the visit;
+ Served on various committees for campaigns and events across university;
+ Assisted with university marquee for updating with new content from campus community.
+ Served on committees for: Celebrate CSUB event, President’s Spirit Night, Campus Communicators
Bakersfield Life Magazine
Freelance Writer (March 2015 - August 2018)
Wrote feature stories and profiles on various businesses, people and events in the Kern County area, often pitching stories or accepting those assigned.
Intern (January 2015 - March 2015)
Wrote a variety of Short Takes about upcoming events in the community, as well as profiles and in-depth features on businesses and the community.
The Runner
Staff writer, assistant features editor, features editor and senior columnist (Sept. 2013 - June 2015)
+ Started as a staff writer, taking assignments and brainstorming my own;
+ Worked up to features editor, where I wrote stories, assigned stories to staff writers, collaborated with other editors, designed pages and helped decide what content was most important for the paper, also interviewed the likes of Gavin DeGraw, Kevin Costner and more, writing my own stories;
+ Finally, worked my way up to senior columnist, choosing my areas and subjects of focus, which was stage and screen - highlighting the entertainment industry.
Women’s March Kern County
Media Lead (December 2019 - January 2020)
Coordinated media coverage to promote event prior to event date with morning shows and previews, including live spots and pre-taped interviews. There were 4,000+ in attendance.
BCHS Alumni Association
Founding member of the BCHS Alumni Association Board as marketing director (2017-2019);
Was a mentor for the BCHS mentor program to students interested in the media/public relations field for one year.
Music video with Taylor Swift
A non-union paid job as an extra, which required signing a non-disclosure agreement (NDA); secret was kept for three months before being announced officially in a live stream event.
Media Tent Assistant for Bakersfield Business conference
Assisted with coordinating celebrities/special guests from the main event for press conferences with media in between sessions (including Vicki Lawrence, Lieut. Colonel Allen B. West, and so on.
Book Launch team for Author Becky Wade
Was sent an advanced copy of “Stay with Me” to write a review on my blog. Brainstormed and pitched ideas with online community to pitch ideas for marketing and social media content, including behind-the-scenes content for the release, which was used for Instagram stories.
CSUB Volunteer work
Party in the park - [2015,2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024]
Floater, pouring wine, registration, sponsorship check-in, photography/social media
`Runner letter day [2016/17, 2018/19, 2019/20, 2022/23,2023/24]
Writing encouraging letters to incoming freshmen at the university, providing contact information and advice to help them get acquainted and adjusted to life on campus
`Runner scholars mentor program [2023-2024/2024-2025]
Training to be a mentor to incoming freshmen at the university; training with fellow mentors, checking in with students, providing resources, being available to meet with them or answer any questions they might have.
`Runner Alumni Mentor Program - [2023-2024/2024-2025]
One-on-One mentor with recently graduated `Runner - Meeting (at least once a month) to discuss career goals (via Zoom or in-person), connect student with others in my professional network, offering advice and insight, as well as reviewing resume and providing other resources. Also, attended mentor networking events.
My mentee and I at the commencement 2023 ceremony
Class of 2023-2024 Mentors and Mentees
The mentors and mentees from the 2023-2024 group celebrated with an end of year event in May!
LIVE CHAT || Life After College w/Brenae
