Irene O'Hara
Summary
Public affairs and community engagement professional with over 5 years of experience in advocacy, stakeholder relations, and campaign execution, seeking to support Waymo’s efforts to build public trust in autonomous driving technology. Skilled in building relationships with community organizations, managing digital and grassroots campaigns, and delivering compelling public messaging. Brings a strong background in event coordination, public speaking, and cross-functional collaboration to drive awareness, engagement, and local support in key East Coast markets.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
National Forums Development Manager
NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
05.2024 - Current
- Drives strategic growth and innovation for NAIOP’s National Forums, a flagship network of 1,100+ commercial real estate professionals across 60+ peer groups.
- Oversees full program lifecycle—from membership recruitment and forum development to meeting planning and continuous experience optimization.
- Develops and launches new Forum models to meet evolving member needs, ensuring sustained program relevance and value.
- Serves as the primary liaison for Forum members, volunteer leaders, and chapter staff, fostering strong engagement and collaborative relationships.
- Manages the Forums program budget, collaborating with finance and executive leadership on forecasting, tracking, and reporting.
- Curates content and facilitates speaker selection for NAIOP’s national conferences, including the Forum Symposium and CRE.Converge.
- Leads and mentors a team of two coordinators, cultivating a culture of accountability, collaboration, and professional growth.
- Conducts regular member feedback initiatives (surveys, focus groups) to guide data-informed program enhancements.
- Ensures leadership continuity by onboarding and supporting incoming Forum chairs and vice chairs through structured training and succession planning.
- Delivers strategic insights and program updates to the NAIOP Board and executive team through formal reports and presentations.
Principal Consultant
Irene O'Hara Consulting
01.2024 - Current
- Applies continuous improvement methodologies to identify inefficiencies and implement streamlined processes, helping small organizations optimize operations and scale sustainably.
- Designs and delivers interactive workshops on digital marketing strategies, equipping small business owners with actionable tools to boost their online visibility and customer engagement.
- Produces high-impact, SEO-optimized content—including blogs, white papers, and social media assets—tailored to each client’s goals, audience, and industry landscape.
- Conducts in-depth market research and competitive analysis to uncover trends and translate findings into practical, results-driven marketing strategies for small enterprises.
- Develops and executes integrated marketing campaigns across digital channels (social media, email, webinars, paid media), driving measurable brand awareness and lead generation.
- Leverages AI-driven tools and data analytics to streamline content creation processes, ensuring brand consistency, efficiency, and quality at scale.
- Advises small business clients on administrative and operational best practices, improving workflows, reducing overhead, and enhancing goal alignment.
- Implements and customizes CRM platforms to enhance customer engagement, track conversions, and support long-term relationship management.
Manager of Practice Networks
Association of Corporate Counsel
05.2016 - 01.2024
- Led global legal programming for six practice networks, delivering high-value content to a community of 48,000+ in-house counsel through strategic law firm partnerships.
- Designed and executed 300+ events annually—including flagship programs like the Global Women in Law Symposium at the UN—demonstrating excellence in global event management.
- Expanded ACC’s international reach by increasing regional participation 15% via tailored virtual programming for Asia-Pacific and EMEA audiences.
- Managed launch of ACC’s In-House Certification Program across three continents, overseeing curriculum development team, logistics, and stakeholder coordination.
- Delivered quarterly board reports with marketing and engagement analytics, advancing strategic planning, digital transformation, and content operations.
Manager of Chemical Consortia Groups
Bergeson and Campbell, P.C.
01.2023 - 11.2023
- Led strategic operations and governance as Executive Director for two industry consortia—International Technical Caramel Association and North American Metals Council—overseeing regulatory, financial, and member engagement activities.
- Directed regulatory strategy and compliance, including the preparation of EPA submissions and coordination with legal counsel to ensure all consortia activities adhered to antitrust and federal guidelines.
- Developed and executed proactive product defense strategies, drafting press releases, media responses, and strategic communications to support scientific positioning and protect member interests.
- Managed multimillion-dollar consortia budgets implemented cost-sharing mechanisms, and negotiated Federal laboratory contracts, ensuring fiscal accountability and operational efficiency.
- Coordinated cross-functional collaboration with legal, scientific, and regulatory experts at The Acta Group to deliver comprehensive support and guidance to consortia members.
- Used data analysis to track communication impact, driving continuous improvement in stakeholder outreach and identifying opportunities to automate and streamline operations.
Manager, External Affairs and Community
Robinhood
03.2022 - 07.2022
- Spearheaded community engagement initiatives aligned with Robinhood’s mission to democratize finance, increasing stakeholder partnerships by 150% in 2022 through collaborations with mission-aligned organizations.
- Launched Robinhood Money Drills, a financial education initiative supporting NCAA student-athletes in navigating NIL-era finances; piloted at West Virginia University, with expansion to Kansas State University and University of Memphis.
- Developed a statewide partnership with the Florida Council on Economic Education, delivering free personal finance training to public school teachers across Florida, reaching educators from Jacksonville to Tallahassee.
- Led Opportunity Crypto, a safety-focused crypto education series offering in-person workshops in collaboration with partners such as Amplify Latinx, Durham Chamber of Commerce, and the National Black Empowerment Council.
- Supported the curation of roundtables and convenings with the World Economic Forum in Davos, National Bankers Association Foundation, and Operation HOPE, amplifying Robinhood’s thought leadership in financial access and inclusion.
Senior Partnerships and Engagement Manager
Goodwill Industries International
05.2021 - 03.2022
- Managed a portfolio of million-dollar social impact partnerships aligned with Goodwill’s Vision for Transformation, prioritizing strategic fit, program outcomes, and long-term sustainability.
- Researched and identified prospective partners, initiating exploratory discussions and leading negotiations with Fortune 500 companies to secure new high-impact collaborations.
- Designed and executed tailored activation plans, coordinating across internal teams and external stakeholders to deliver pilots, leadership engagements, media events, and network-wide initiatives.
- Maintained robust partnership data in Salesforce CRM and provided data-driven insights to optimize engagement strategies and measure effectiveness.
- Led monthly regional fundraising OKR meetings and delivered individualized coaching to drive performance, while refining internal processes for partner cultivation and lifecycle management.
Senior Manager, Member Relations
Heart Rhythm Society
01.2020 - 11.2020
- Managed dynamic online communities using Higher Logic, driving engagement across key segments including Early Career Professionals, Women in EP, and Allied Health, and fostering knowledge-sharing among members.
- Designed and executed community-building initiatives that directly contributed to a 7% increase in membership retention, enhancing long-term member value and satisfaction.
- Led operations for the Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society (FHRS) program, overseeing application, approval, billing, and communications processes for a global credentialing initiative.
- Analyzed member engagement data from online discussions to identify emerging needs and inform new programming opportunities, aligning content and services with evolving member interests.
- Collaborated with marketing and events teams to drive recruitment and retention campaigns, manage trade show presence, and support membership activities at the annual Scientific Sessions.
- Supervised coordinators and temporary staff while ensuring accurate membership data management, application processing, and the delivery of timely reports to leadership on key metrics.
RIOS Certification Manager
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
01.2015 - 04.2016
- Led membership and certification operations, overseeing recruitment, marketing, invoicing, and accreditation processes to drive program efficiency and growth.
- Represented RIOS at national conferences and facilitated over 160 virtual webinars featuring industry experts on certification standards.
- Created and distributed strategic content across digital channels to keep stakeholders informed on key initiatives and updates.
- Managed standards revision processes with ANSI and NIST; maintained board records and compliance documentation as Board Secretary.
- Raised $150K in donations for undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships through targeted development efforts.
Development Operations Associate
Smithsonian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
06.2013 - 11.2014
- Directed a 10-month data migration initiative, updating and tagging 50,000+ donor and acquisition records from four decades into a new custom database, ensuring data integrity and accessibility.
- Optimized donor communications by implementing streamlined direct mail and email outreach for dues, acquisitions, and special events.
- Managed vendor contracts and served as the primary liaison for all on-site museum events, ensuring adherence to organizational public affairs protocols and standards.
- Compiled detailed prospect profiles to equip the Museum Director for high-impact donor meetings and cultivation efforts.
Membership Program Assistant
United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
01.2010 - 08.2010
- Led planning and execution of annual membership drive campaigns, resulting in a 20% membership growth in FY2010.
- Developed and launched targeted digital marketing efforts to elevate program visibility and promote the organization’s mission.
- Crafted comprehensive briefing materials and strategic talking points to support the Director of Membership Development in high-stakes meetings and events.
- Fostered cross-functional collaboration with internal teams and volunteers; served as primary liaison to the UNA Young Professionals group to strengthen engagement.
- Streamlined department operations by managing calendars and coordinating all internal meetings with efficiency and attention to detail.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Richmond, The American International University in London
London, UKSkills
Community Outreach
Stakeholder Engagement
Coalition Building
Marketing Collateral Development
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Limited Working
German
Limited Working
Timeline
National Forums Development Manager
NAIOP, the Commercial Real Estate Development Association
05.2024 - Current
Principal Consultant
Irene O'Hara Consulting
01.2024 - Current
Manager of Chemical Consortia Groups
Bergeson and Campbell, P.C.
01.2023 - 11.2023
Manager, External Affairs and Community
Robinhood
03.2022 - 07.2022
Senior Partnerships and Engagement Manager
Goodwill Industries International
05.2021 - 03.2022
Senior Manager, Member Relations
Heart Rhythm Society
01.2020 - 11.2020
Manager of Practice Networks
Association of Corporate Counsel
05.2016 - 01.2024
RIOS Certification Manager
Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
01.2015 - 04.2016
Development Operations Associate
Smithsonian, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
06.2013 - 11.2014
Membership Program Assistant
United Nations Association of the National Capital Area
01.2010 - 08.2010
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Richmond, The American International University in London
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