Deidra Riggs
Bloomfield,CT
Summary
Results-driven non-profit leader who drives performance improvements and leads strategic initiatives. Skilled manager of cross-departmental activities with adaptive communication of organizational objectives. Develops and executes innovative strategies for stimulating growth and service quality. Community-focused with excellent relationship-building skills. Collaborative and dedicated to building and leading talented and motivated individuals. Ready for challenges, and focused on meeting future demands.
Overview
32
32
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Director
Greater Hartford YMCA
12.2021 - 10.2023
- Responsible for 18 direct reports across three departments
- Responsible for multi-department budget
- Spearheaded employee component of Annual Giving Campaign, exceeding goal two years in a row
- Led successful implementation of app launch at our branch
- Developed multiple curricula for grant-funded youth programming
- Implemented 30-60-90 day new member retention program which was adopted association-wide
- Raised $13k in five days to provide youth membership scholarships for the community
- Implemented monthly wellness challenges
- Coordinated in-house marketing campaigns
- Updated social media and website regularly; developed social media calendar
- Developed planning committee and recruited staff and volunteers to participate
- Streamlined system for keeping Wellness Center clean and operational resulting in increased member satisfaction
Membership Executive
Pottstown Family YMCA
05.2003 - 08.2005
- Served as part of Executive Team to develop strategic plan, annual goals, budget and forecast
- Presented monthly membership report to Board of Directors
- Represented the YMCA at local conferences, social club meetings, and town events, answering questions and promoting YMCA membership and programs
- Introduced successful monthly new member events as well as regular member appreciation events.
- Responsible for Membership Department budget
- Hired, trained, and directed membership staff
- Worked closely with maintenance staff to ensure cleanliness standards were upheld
Membership Director
Phoenixville YMCA
03.2001 - 07.2003
- Spearheaded Annual Giving Campaign, exceeding goal by 100%
- Consistently achieved membership goals
- Implemented monthly new member classes, and monthly member appreciation events
- Liaised with marketing team to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives
Membership Director
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA
03.1992 - 02.2001
- My YMCA career actually began at the Hamden/North Haven YMCA in 1991 where I started out as a part-time fitness instructor. Then I became the Wellness Coordinator and then I was promoted to Wellness/Membership Coordinator
- When the Lakewood-Trumbull YMCA was opening its new facility, I was encouraged to apply for the Membership Director role. I applied, interviewed, and was offered the job. In that role, I helped to open the new facility, including contributing to the design of the Wellness Center and Exercise Studio, the functionality of the Front Desk, hiring and training all Member Service Representatives, overseeing internal and external communication, and more. As a new facility, we naturally exceeded our membership goals, but we also achieved high retention scores as a result of our stellar customer service and attention to the YMCA's core values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MichiganSkills
- Organizational leadership
- Strategic Planning
- Staff and Volunteer Recruitment Development/Training
- Employee Engagement
- Administrative and Operational Oversight
- Relationship Building
- Business Forecasting
- Marketing
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Presentation and Storytelling
- Executive Leadership
- Program Development
Accomplishments
JEDI Coaching and Consulting, Owner and Coach, 2012 to present
- Provide diversity coaching and consulting to individuals, groups, and organizations in medical, non-profit, and faith-based spaces
EVEREVE, Store Manager, 2018-2021
- Supervised team of 9 staff members, including merchandiser and sales associates
- Consistently met and/or exceeded sales goals
- Single-handedly met sales goals during COVID shutdown through clienteling, FaceTime styling, and curbside services
- Collaborated with local organizations to successfully host in-store, invitation-only events
HEB Family Foundation, Managing Editor, 2012-2017
- Managed a team of more than ten Content and Contributing Editors, each of whom worked remotely (from the US, Canada, and Australia) for a daily online publication about the intersection of faith and work
- Responsible for managing the editorial calendar and communicating the thematic vision for the site
- Recruited freelance writers to contribute articles for monthly themes
- Led workshops for annual on-site staff meetings in Kerrville, TX. Coordinated scheduling, travel, reports, and presentations
- Corresponded with constituents and stakeholders via email and on social media
Ameritas Group Insurance, Marketing Specialist, 2006-2012
- Helped develop new strategies to equip our sales team to successfully educate, communicate, and sell Ameritas dental, vision, and hearing products
- Responded to all RFPs on behalf of sales team
- Worked with sales force to determine needs of brokers, HR directors, and employees and then develop the best tools and approach for positioning our products in the pre-sale, sale, implementation, service, and renewal journey
- Developed successful email strategy and templates used by regional offices for communicating with potential clients and recruiting brokers
- Supported National Accounts in the development of client-specific marketing materials
- Researched and then created effective sales strategy and materials in response to sales force requests to compete in a specific market
Affiliations
- Qualified Administrator, Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI)
- CPR/First Aid
- AFAA Personal Trainer
- YMCA Senior Director
- YMCA Group Fitness Instructor
- Lincoln Journal-Star 30 Most Influential Women (two years in a row)
- TEDx Speaker
Publications
- Every Little Thing: Making a World of Difference Right Where You Are, Baker Books, 2015
- ONE: Unity in a Divided World, Baker Books, 2017
Timeline
Senior Program Director
Greater Hartford YMCA
12.2021 - 10.2023
Membership Executive
Pottstown Family YMCA
05.2003 - 08.2005
Membership Director
Phoenixville YMCA
03.2001 - 07.2003
Membership Director
Central Connecticut Coast YMCA
03.1992 - 02.2001
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
Michigan State University
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