Sara Goodwin
Lone Tree,USA
Summary
Highly collaborative strategic communications professional with diverse experience in agency, corporate, nonprofit, association, consultative, and quasi-governmental settings. Dedicated to making a positive impact in society through technical and strategic communications expertise. Offer extensive experience, knowledge, skills, and training to impact-driven organizations.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Board Member & Communications Committee Chair
Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF)
02.2024 - Current
- Provide strategic direction for all communication initiatives in order to increase awareness of and charitable giving to DCCF, participation of and giving to nonprofit partners
- Write and manage content for communication channels, including social media, website, e-newsletter, earned media and marketing collateral
- Lead communications committee and integrate committee input into strategic communications plan
- Provide communications support and guidance for all DCCF committees
Vice Chair, Partners in Philanthropy Group
South Metro Denver Chamber
12.2022 - Current
- Co-lead group and provide strategic communications direction to connect Chamber nonprofit members with for-profit businesses through programming and opportunities that facilitate short and long-term partnerships
Senior Director of Communications
Catalyst Public Affairs
01.2022 - Current
- Develop and direct communications strategy for the company and clients
- Develop and direct CSR service by cultivating strategic partnerships and implementing social impact storytelling strategies for clients
- Manage strategic communications and CSR client accounts
- Lead writer of client content, including op-eds, letters-to-the-editor, press releases, websites, social media platforms, blogs, social impact reports, etc.
- Provide support for stakeholder/community outreach and engagement for clients
- Lead and implement content strategy of all company marketing and communication assets
- Lead and supervise consultant and vendor teams
- Represent the company and clients at partner, stakeholder and community meetings and events
- Provide guidance and strategic direction to company staff
Communications Director
Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC)
01.2015 - 12.2021
- Provided strategic communications direction for all RAQC programs
- Directed all facets of integrated strategic communications and public relations program for nine-county region’s air pollution public awareness, education and outreach program, including paid, owned, and earned media strategies, outreach and events, strategic partnerships, and evaluation analysis
- Led and supervised internal & external teams, including communications and public relations agency, advertising agency, media buying, web development, graphic design and research firms
- Managed and compiled annual report for multi-million dollar federal grant and budget
- Led content and editorial direction of four organizational websites, all social media platforms, electronic newsletter, presentations, speeches, marketing collateral, press materials, videos, and grant proposals, etc.
- Acted as primary media contact and spokesperson
- Provided messaging, talking points and media training for staff and board leadership being interviewed by the media
- Served as liaison to media, local, state and federal government staff and elected officials, business stakeholders and community leaders
- Represented RAQC at public, inter-agency, community and board meetings
- Managed ongoing committees and their respective meetings to ensure stakeholder involvement
- Conducted metric-driven program evaluation and qualitative/quantitative analyses of communications strategies
Director of Communications
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
10.2010 - 04.2011
- Interim key consumer media liaison
- Managed media interest from local and national consumer media
- Built/maintained relationships with top-tier business and consumer media
- Coordinated spokespeople and supported organizational communications
Vice President of Communications
Colorado American Marketing Association
07.2010 - 06.2011
- Volunteer board member responsible for developing, executing and evaluating strategic communications plan for the chapter
- Advised volunteers and programming VPs on integrating communications into chapter activities, monitoring quality and effectiveness of marketing communications strategies, maintaining and increasing membership levels
- Oversaw and managed team involved in all communications activities, including chapter branding, Website content, public relations, print advertising, marketing collateral, media and community relations, and social media marketing, online advertising, e-blasts and e-newsletters
Founder & President
Goodwin Communications, Inc.
12.2004 - 02.2015
- Strategic integrated communications for mission-driven organizations with a philosophy that was 'GOOD for community, WIN for business'
- Notable clients included the Colorado State Tax Check-Off program (now ReFUND CO), National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Global Development Analytics, Inc., National Environmental Health Association, and TrenStar, Inc
Director, Consumer Public Relations
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
04.2000 - 09.2004
- Directed all aspects of consumer public relations program for national Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. campaign
- Managed and supervised public relations and web design agencies
- Implemented unique engagement strategies to reach key influencers, including consumer media, food writers and bloggers, dietitians, chefs, agriculture industry trade media, grocery retailers and restaurant/foodservice organizations
- Directed consumer public relations initiatives in the areas of nutrition and consumer marketing (retail, new products, foodservice marketing) and with other association departments (issues management, safety and industry communications)
- Conducted strategic media relations and response, issues management, crisis and policy communications
- Led content and editorial direction of communication assets (press materials, newsletters, etc.)
- Played primary role in development of BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com
- Provided marketing communications support for 50 state beef councils
- Acted as primary media spokesperson for U.S. beef industry
- Coordinated events, spokespeople and conducted media trainings with leadership and staff
- Led committee meetings at annual national conventions and conferences with membership and other stakeholders
- Managed consumer public relations budget (up to $1.6 million per year)
Freelance Communications Consultant
Self-employeed
01.1998 - 02.2015
- Strategic communications consultant for variety of organizations, including Rocky Mountain Conference of the United Methodist Church, Starlight Children's Foundation, University of Phoenix, Rocky Mountain Autism Center, and March of Dimes, among others
Public Relations Manager
Johnson Communications
05.1997 - 04.2000
- Boutique public relations agency with clients in the travel and tourism, hospitality, and food and beverage industries
- Responsible for proactive client program development, execution and management
- Duties included news release writing, press trip coordination and hosting, media relations, media kit development, special event promotion, media list/database management, collateral design and development, photography coordination and maintenance, and budget management
- Client work included Vail Resorts (Keystone) Culinary & Fine Dining Programs; Sonnenalp Resort of Vail; Warren Miller Entertainment; C Lazy U Dude & Guest Ranch; Gold Lake Mountain Resort & Spa; and Boulder Marketing Agency
Education
Post-Graduate Certificate - Corporate Social Responsibility
University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business
Denver, COMaster of Science - Technical Communication/Communication Management
Colorado State University-Denver
Denver, COBachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Colorado-Boulder
Boulder, COSkills
- STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS
- CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
- STRATEGIC PHILANTHROPY
- SOCIAL IMPACT STORYTELLING
- PUBLIC RELATIONS
- MEDIA RELATIONS
- COALITION BUILDING & MANAGEMENT
- INFLUENCER & STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
- STRATEGIC THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
- GRANT WRITING
- COMMUNITY & GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
Certification
Certificate of Training in Corporate Philanthropy Management, Volunteer Management Group
- Strategic planning and budgeting
- Marketing and communications
- Developing community partners
- Strategic grant making
- Corporate volunteer management
- Disaster relief initiatives
- Program evaluation and measurement
Characteristics & Traits
- Highly collaborative, adaptable, conscientious, reliable, dedicated, self-motivated, organized, responsible, efficient and detail-oriented with strong work ethic
Timeline
Board Member & Communications Committee Chair
Douglas County Community Foundation (DCCF)
02.2024 - Current
Vice Chair, Partners in Philanthropy Group
South Metro Denver Chamber
12.2022 - Current
Senior Director of Communications
Catalyst Public Affairs
01.2022 - Current
Communications Director
Regional Air Quality Council (RAQC)
01.2015 - 12.2021
Director of Communications
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
10.2010 - 04.2011
Vice President of Communications
Colorado American Marketing Association
07.2010 - 06.2011
Founder & President
Goodwin Communications, Inc.
12.2004 - 02.2015
Director, Consumer Public Relations
National Cattlemen's Beef Association
04.2000 - 09.2004
Freelance Communications Consultant
Self-employeed
01.1998 - 02.2015
Public Relations Manager
Johnson Communications
05.1997 - 04.2000
Post-Graduate Certificate - Corporate Social Responsibility
University of Colorado, Leeds School of Business
Master of Science - Technical Communication/Communication Management
Colorado State University-Denver
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Colorado-Boulder
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