Daniel Kelly
Sacramento,CA
Summary
An experienced team builder and leader, I am currently a senior public sector communications and operations leader q=with a demonstrated record of guiding and developing complex teams, advising executive leadership, and translating institutional mission into accountable outcomes. Currently serving in a supervisory leadership role with responsibility for strategi planning, staff development, crisis response, and cross-department coordination in a highly visible, regulated environment.
Recognized for steady, values-driven leadership that balances transparency, public trust, and risk management, while empowering teams to perform nimbly at a high level.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Strategic Communications Supervisor
California Lottery
01.2025 - Current
- Recruited, screened and completed hiring for two bi-lingual positions, filling them in 8 months.
- Developed and executed strategic communication plans to enhance public engagement in line with strategic goals.
- Led cross-functional teams in execution of campaign to increase agency mission awareness.
- Total first year earned mentions up 85% through consistent release practices, with 2025 Television mentions increasing 420%. This is in the absence of large jackpots throughout most of the year.
- Analyzed audience data to refine messaging strategies and improve campaign effectiveness.
- Mentored junior staff in effective communication practices and project management skills.
Marketing Analyst II - Social Media
California State Lottery
10.2022 - 01.2025
- Initiate and develop LinkedIn Strategy
- Design, create, and write copy for Social Media publication
- Through messaging, platform controls and community management reduced spam and scam messages consistently under 5% of all engagement
- Community management and engagement over 2 years cultivated an online community that believes in and defends the California Lottery. Positive and neutral channel responses routinely make up more than 60% of all engagement on owned channels
- Work with Public Affairs to develop and publish Mission-focused social media.
- Work with Video Production Unit and Agency partners to develop and publish content for Social Channels
- Build reports in Excel and Sprout Social to analyze and present key metrics for performance.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment
- Proved successful working within tight deadlines and a fast-paced environment
- Strong and necessary attention to detail on a deadline
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to develop integrated marketing campaigns that aligned with company objectives.
Director of Marketing
Sierra Nevada University
08.2017 - 02.2022
- Worked directly with the Institutional Advancement team to produce and promote fundraising events.
- Coordinated with multiple creative teams to generate dynamic content and communication tools and materials
- Developed student marketing team to create audience-focused content created by and for the intended target audience.
- Directed rebranding of the organization from Sierra Nevada College to Sierra Nevada University
- Managed annual marketing budget
- Guided a complete website re-design keeping both local and overseas teams coordinated
- Managed media relations including press releases and opinion piece writing and placement.
- Facilitated television appearances for executive leadership
- Presented marketing progress and strategy updates directly to the Board of Trustees at quarterly meetings.
- Crafted talking points and worked with administration for Advancement events and media appearances.
- Planned and implemented both the dissemination of institutional COVID-19 information
- Assembled and lead the team that executed a on-of-a-kind live, interactive, virtual commencement that streamed on multiple platforms
Full-time Faculty
Sierra Nevada College
08.2015 - 05.2017
- Produced media with student volunteers to mount and promote the Tahoe Underground Film Festival, a student-run 3-day film festival with over 2000 entries from 70 countries.
- Oversaw a wet-lab darkroom and hosted an artist residency for Jessie English. Created student-to-professional connections resulting in internships and professional guidance, and media connections.
- Used social media to continue exhibition and instruction for students during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Redesigned and taught advanced Digital and Social Media Marketing, as well as Photojournalism and Video Production courses.
Associate Lecturer
University Of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM
10.2012 - 05.2015
- Worked with Institutional Advancement and local media to create the Adoor Gopalakrishnan Film Archive and Scholarship.
- Created and taught DIY Camera Movement, an original class consisting of film studies applied to camera movement rig design and creation.
- Co-directed the Milwaukee Underground Film Festival, expanding fundraising efforts.
- Associate Producer, instructor for DocUWM series, Cream City Sound Check
Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Scholar
United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)
06.2013 - 05.2014
- Wrote a successful Fulbright Grant application for a 1-year appointment to St. Francis College for Women in Hyderbad, Andhra Pradesh, India.
- Developed an all volunteer streaming media station for the institution. 35 student volunteers produced live and recorded content for streaming and social media.
- Taught audio production and digital photography at the undergraduate and graduate level.
Education
Master of Fine Arts - Film And Video Production
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI08.2012
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Film, Video, Animation, And New Genres
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Milwaukee, WI05.2009
Skills
- Organizing and leading teams of volunteers and staff of many sizes
- Experienced crisis and change management communications leader
- Cision and Meltwater communications platform professional
- Video production for documentary and testimonial
- MS Office Suite
- Press release and opinion article production
- Certified social media expert
- Communications management and event facilitation
- Media team development and management
- Multiple CRM competencies
- Generative AI, Data Analysis and Modelling for media
- SEO and social media optimization and collaboration
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
References
Dianne Severance - Vice President for Advancement
Cellular: 775-354-7730 | Email: dseverance@sierranevada.edu
Roland Schuman - Trustee, Vice Chairman of the Board, SIerra Nevada University
Cellular: 775-971-8064
Dr. Ed Zschau - Interim President, 2019 - 2020, Sierra Nevada University
Phone: 609-468-8148 | Email: ezschau@princeton.edu
Janna York - Owner, A Hand at Home
Phone: 530-545-1719
Timeline
Strategic Communications Supervisor
California Lottery
01.2025 - Current
Marketing Analyst II - Social Media
California State Lottery
10.2022 - 01.2025
Director of Marketing
Sierra Nevada University
08.2017 - 02.2022
Full-time Faculty
Sierra Nevada College
08.2015 - 05.2017
Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Scholar
United States-India Educational Foundation (USIEF)
06.2013 - 05.2014
Associate Lecturer
University Of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, UWM
10.2012 - 05.2015
Master of Fine Arts - Film And Video Production
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee
Bachelor of Fine Arts - Film, Video, Animation, And New Genres
University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee