United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); Belmopan; BZE | Communication Analyst

January 2024 – Present

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• Support the implementation of project communication in the country office by:

• Prepare and conduct communications needs assessments for the country office.

• Provide input to the country office communications and outreach strategy based on country office strategic priorities.

• Provide communication input during the project and programme formulation stage to integrate communication needs and strategies in all aspects of UNDP development program. 

• Provide input to and draft stories for local media to increase coverage and understanding of the UNDP’s work in the country.

• Develop Terms of Reference for different communications needs (i.e., photographers, videographers)

• Ensure the implementation of the country office publications strategy and plan.

• Manage country office publication activities, such as drafting articles and content management in line with corporate guidelines.

• Provide technical support to UNDP digital communications that includes social media, web site, intranet, and CO web-based knowledge management system by:

• Upload stories, articles, publications, and press releases to web sites and manage content for social media. 

• Design digital content and collect content from country office programmes and projects, and make ready for website and social media,

• Contribute to UNDP’s campaign initiatives to engage different stakeholders and increase awareness of UNDP’s mandate and goals.

• Promote and disseminate corporate advocacy materials for launching flagship initiatives and publications.

• Develop and produce communication and advocacy materials for awareness-raising campaigns.

• Assist country office’s knowledge management and dissemination. 

• Provide support to Identify and synthesize best practices and lessons learned directly linked to programme country goals and activities. 

• Contribute to knowledge networks and communities of practice including corporate communications repositories. 

• Assist in providing training for UNDP staff on internal and external knowledge management. 

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Pan American Health Organization (PAHO); Belize City, BZE | Communications Consultant

August 2019 – December 2023

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• Develop and implement a visibility and communication plan for both the European Union Health Sector Support Programme project and the PAHO/WHO’s Country Office.
• Develop key messages, public service announcements, press kits and press releases to raise awareness of project activities and country office initiatives relating to national health days, health topics, and other project activities.
• Develop and design various Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials including but not limited to posters, stickers, display panels, banners, billboards, brochures, newsletters, videos, promotional items, and social media content.
• Lead various communication initiatives including working with a team and service contractors such as graphic designers, actors, production companies, etc. in providing guidance, direction, and approval for the initiative activities.
• Lead and coordinate various key events including press conferences, visibility events, morning talk shows, handover events, site visits, and high-level meetings to ensure beneficiaries, partners, staff, and the public are aware of project outcomes, results and other activities.
• Managed the PAHO Belize website and the PAHO Caribbean social media pages to raise awareness and build online connections to increase visibility as well as analyze post engagement for developing social media reports.
• Establish and maintain relationships with both local and national media personnel to gain connections and media support for coverage of project and country office activities and results.
• Enhance videography and photography skills through coverage of events and activities by capturing and editing photos and video clips to create additional visibility.
• Strengthen journalistic skills by conducting interviews and developing stories (written and visual) from in the field.
• Develop internal relationships with staff and lead team building and engagement activities to build staff morale.

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Nicopure Labs; Trinity, FL | Social Media Specialist

November 2017 - July 2018

 

• Built and executed a proactive marketing and social media strategy through competitive marketing research, platform determination, benchmarking, messaging, and audience identification.
• Managed three different brands each with its own social media platforms. Marketed to brand followers totaling over 28,000 on Facebook, over 12,000 on Instagram and over 13,000 on Twitter.
• Developed creativity skills by creating content for three different brands for various platforms including copy, photography, and videography to build a key marketing and social media strategy with content calendars.
• Provided daily community management and execution of marketing and social media strategy across all platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, Snapchat, and LinkedIn, that built meaningful connections, encouraged the public to take action, and increased visibility to audiences.
• Analyzed market research, competitors’ social and marketing content, campaigns, stories, emerging trends, consumer behavior and emerging media, and new technologies on a weekly and monthly basis.
• Analyzed Nicopure’s three brands, marketing and social content including campaigns, stories, and platforms to better drive consumer insights into strategy and actionable tactics for each brand and to build better engagement and gain additional followers.

 

Neighborhood News Bureau & Journeys in Journalism; St. Petersburg, FL | Media Public Relations Intern

January - May 2017

 

• Developed a public relations and media strategic plan for the Neighborhood News Bureau (NNB) and the Journeys in Journalism School Initiative to improve participation among higher education institutions (USFSP, St. Pete College, Stetson University, and Eckerd College) and to increase the public awareness within the community.
• Developed lesson plans and taught the students public relations and marketing and social media tools to strengthen the journalistic skills of students in the program.
• Managed NNB’s marketing and social media presence, and content distribution, and developed a public relations strategic plan to improve NNB’s impact on the Midtown (St. Petersburg) community and increase its recognition as a successful community journalism project.

• Produced promotional media and marketing materials and journalistic/documentary multimedia and video pieces.

 

University of South Florida St. Petersburg; St. Petersburg, FL |

Graduate Teaching Assistant

December 2016 - May 2017

 

• Graduate Teaching Assistant for the Journalism and Media Studies Department at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg for the Neighborhood News Bureau - a student-run newsroom covering the historic African-American neighborhoods of St. Petersburg’s Midtown area in Tampa Bay, Florida.
• Managed a group of 15 student volunteers in providing guidance and revision for community stories and news.

• Reviewed, approved, and distributed student-reporters plan, research, production of investigative news and feature multimedia stories about Midtown’s residents and neighborhoods for many different media outlets, such as The Weekly Challenger, WUSF Public Media, Creative Loafing and the Tampa Bay Times.

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University of South Florida; Tampa, FL | Graduate Teaching Assistant

January 2016 - December 2016

 

• Graduate Teaching Assistant for The Zimmerman School of Advertising and Mass Communications at the University of South Florida for the teaching of a Writing for Mass Media class – a class focusing on students learning about the three areas of mass communication - public relations, journalism, and advertising.
• Taught, managed and engaged over 50 students in writing stories and press releases and designing logos and fliers in order to prepare them for future classes, professions and internships in their focus area.

 

Ed4Online; Tampa, FL | Health & Human Services Marketing Assistant

March 2015 - June 2015

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• Worked with Marketing Automation Software (Act-on) to develop marketing emails and promotions for a variety of consumers, businesses and associations.
• Created, edited and delivered marketing materials for available health & human services including videos, brochures, flyers, photographs, and website content.
• Marketed and delivered content via LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, email and direct mail.
• Designed and developed email drip campaigns to market, track and analyze the company’s drip campaigns.
• Wrote, created and designed content for press releases, newsletters, blogs, emails and social media content.
• Developed and designed two websites for Ed4Online; including writing and editing website verbiage and content.

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FIS Global; Tampa, FL | Customer Account Representative

November 2014 - March 2015

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• Managed a multitude of client accounts for 12 different banks located globally.
• Developed over-the-phone communication skills to communicate with clients and learned to deal with irate clients and situations.
• Developed marketing and sales experience in promoting banking services and products.

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National Strategies Public Relations; Tampa, FL | Public Relations Coordinator

July 2014 - August 2015

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• Worked in media relations including developing content and topic generation, writing and drafting press releases, pitching stories and following up with media news outlets, attending interviews, and maintaining clients’ social media accounts on various social media platforms.
• Built excellent communication and liaison for clients with the community and media outlets through email, phone, and meetings, along with developing community relations skills in event planning and organizing.
• Developed content calendars and built excellent customer service skills and administrative skills toward clients, media outlets and the community.

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CLASSROOM EXPERIENCE

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University of South Florida; St. Petersburg, FL | Neighborhood News Bureau; Fall 2015

• Managed media public relations for the bureau by writing press releases and managing social media accounts including producing and editing content.
• News reporter including writing stories on events and news occurring in St. Petersburg specifically the Midtown area for media news outlets including The Weekly Challenger and Creative Loafing.
• Volunteered for the television and media club at Academy Prep Center for Education to teach students video production and editing skills.

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Murray State University; Murray, KY | Advance Public Relations; Spring 2014

• Designed and produced a public relations campaign plan for the Murray State Libraries including marketing, event planning, digital advertising, fliers and event designs, and developed researched statistics for better marketing.
Writing for Public Relations; Fall 2013
• Developed marketing and public relations skills including writing press releases, backgrounders, fact sheets, blogs and newsletters.
• Developed Adobe Indesign skills by designing fact sheets and newsletters including producing content.
Public Relations Principles; Spring 2013
• Developed leadership skills by leading and managing a team of five acting as a public relations firm.
• Created a public relations plan for a client (Baldy’s Grill) in Murray, KY including event planning, digital advertising, traditional advertising and research statistics.
Youth/Non-Profit Leadership; Fall 2012
• Created and implemented an anti-bullying campaign, “No Excuse for Peer Abuse,” for Murray Middle School including event planning and content and presentation designs.

Florida International University; Miami, FL | Hospitality Law; Spring 2012 (Semester study)
 

• Learned and gained knowledge of the laws of hospitality and developed ways to deal with different situations.

St John’s College Junior College; Belize City, BZE | WWW Interactive Programming; Spring 2011
 

• Designed and developed web pages and websites using HTML coding.
Principles of Management; Fall 2010
• Planned, organized and implemented a day at the park program for Dorothy Menzies Childcare Centre, a home for neglected, abused and dependent children including event planning and time management.

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RELEVANT ACTIVITIES

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National Aids Commission: Design and Rapporteur Services, 2021 - 2023

• Designed IEC materials and wrote rapporteur reports for various meetings and activities.
 

Hand in Hand Ministries: Volunteer Content Designer for a non-profit organization, 2014 - 2019

• Developed and designed fliers for different events using Adobe Creative Suite and online design programs.

Lambda Pi Eta: Member of National Communication Association, Spring 2014 - present

• Honored for having top communication skills in both written and oral communication.

Public Relations Student Society of America: Member, Fall 2012 – Spring 2014; Recruitment Director, Fall 2013

• Developed and wrote speeches & event planning to inform students about the organization to increase membership and awareness.
• Built marketing and sales experience in developing new tactics and strategies for students to join the organization.
• Involved with the Bateman Case Competition (a national public relations competition), Murray State University received an honorable mention, including event planning, flyer and poster designs and speech writing in Fall 2012.

MSU College of Business: Business Ambassador, Fall 2013

• Built marketing and sales experience in being able to sell the programs Murray State University offers to get more students to join the college’s business programs.
• Traveled to high schools speaking to students about programs and resources at Murray State University.
• Developed school tours where prospective students can get a first-hand experience of life at Murray State University.

Belize Student Organization: Member, Fall 2013; Media Specialist/Newsletter Writer/Secretary, Fall 2013

• Developed digital and traditional marketing and advertising skills to promote the organization.
• Developed administrative skills by setting the agenda for meetings and developed online marketing skills by managing Facebook page including producing content.
• Developed and designed monthly newsletters and fliers for the organization.

Saint Catherine Academy Student Council: President, 2008-2009

• Developed event planning skills and leadership skills to represent a student body of over 500 students.
• Led and represented the student body and developed activities and fundraisers for the students.

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