writing, trail running, hiking, nature photography
Brad Thiessen
Spokane
Summary
Dynamic Communications Director with expertise in community engagement, program management, and strategic planning. Proven track record of creating impactful programs and driving successful fundraising initiatives.
Results-oriented professional with extensive experience in nonprofit leadership and program development. Skilled in project management and event planning, with a focus on enhancing community participation and driving fundraising success.
Experienced hands-on communicator through writing, design, personal presentations, web and social marketing vehicles that tell a compelling story of the organization to its target audience.
Values-driven communicator with a focus on mission, vision, programs and stakeholders as the driving force for every strategy, project and interaction.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Executive Director
OutLive
Spokane, WA
03.2019 - 09.2020
- Created and directed nonprofit for cancer survivors
- Designed visual identity and website
- Recruited board members
- Organized film festival (canceled due to Covid-19 pandemic)
- Fundraised for film festival
(closed down nonprofit due to Covid-19 pandemic in October 2020)
Director of Engagement
Spokane Nordic Ski Association
Spokane, WA
09.2007 - 03.2019
- Developed and implemented community engagement strategies to enhance participation in skiing programs.
- Created website and promotional materials and wrote articles in local outdoors magazine
- Created membership program to raise funds
- Promoted ski teams and lesson programs for all ages
- Worked closely with partners (State Parks and Private land owner) to ensure compliance with partnership agreement
- Created and directed 2 events: a day of free lessons and other elements aimed at encouraging non-skiers to engage and a long-distance ski race for committed skiers
Marketing, Communications & Alumni Relations Dir.
MB Biblical Seminary
Fresno, CA
05.2003 - 05.2005
- Created promotional materials to recruit students
- Developed an alumni relations program
- Partnered with the President to create and implement fundraising campaigns
- Supported the 4 regional constituency relations officers with tailored promotional materials
- Published books written by faculty members, to serve and promote the seminary
Director of Media and Commications
MBMS International
Fresno, CA
01.1998 - 05.2002
- Created strategy and collateral for fundraising and promotion
- Served on leadership team, reporting directly to the Executive Director
- Advocated for an extensive evaluation of constituency relations by an outside consultancy that guided our outreach and fundraising strategy and led to major program and funding growth
- Co-led an intensive organization-wide structure evaluation that led to a morre streamline administrative structure and a move of the organization's head office to Abbotsford, BC.
Education
Associate of Science - English Literature
University of Winnipeg
Winnipeg, MB09-1991
Skills
- Community engagement
- Program management
- Strategic planning
- Project management
- Event planning and execution
- Graphic and web design
- social marketing
- writing, editing and publishing
Accomplishments
- Workbook - Cancer Survivor's Resilience Mindset (2025) - on Amazon.com
- several dozen energy efficiency articles co-written for national magazine with readership approx 2 million / month (2015-2020)
- Numerous Outdoors-related articles in Out There Outdoors magazine - outthereoutdoors.com (2012-2025)
- Children's book - Orso, the Troll Who Couldn't Scare (2005)
Interests
Timeline
Executive Director
OutLive
03.2019 - 09.2020
Director of Engagement
Spokane Nordic Ski Association
09.2007 - 03.2019
Marketing, Communications & Alumni Relations Dir.
MB Biblical Seminary
05.2003 - 05.2005
Director of Media and Commications
MBMS International
01.1998 - 05.2002
Associate of Science - English Literature
University of Winnipeg