Sarah Dolezal
Athens,GA
Summary
Dynamic professional with a robust background in customer service, journalism and public affairs. Specializes in content creation for digital media platforms tailored to nonprofits and associations in Washington, D.C., and exceeding expectations in public engagement for selling products. Committed to leveraging public engagement, storytelling skills to amplify organizational missions and enhance public engagement.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Freelance News Writer
Self-employeed
03.2020 - Current
- Creates concise, engaging content for social media platforms, digital blogs, and news stories for global news outlets, HR executives, and prominent associations.
- Researches and gathers information to develop accurate and credible stories.
- Develops story ideas and conducts interviews with industry experts and celebrities.
- Builds trustworthy relationships with sources, resulting in exclusive interviews and scoops on timely and important news stories.
- Focuses on workplace, HR, and law-based beats, and covers AI and the workplace, small businesses, and various topics.
- Researches and checks facts to maintain high standard of journalistic integrity.
- Generates timely stories by monitoring current events and learning from reliable sources for information gathering.
- Consistently brainstorms new angles and unique approaches to covering events or issues.
- Collaborates with editors to refine article content, ensuring the highest level of journalistic integrity and accuracy.
- Maintains open lines of communication with public relations representatives, ensuring access to vital information and timely responses.
- Covers live events accurately and efficiently, providing real-time updates for online platforms as they unfolded.
- Expands readership demographics by creating inclusive content that appealed to diverse audiences.
- Manages multiple assignments simultaneously, meeting tight deadlines without compromising quality or accuracy.
Sales Lead Generator
After Five Floors at Costco
07.2024 - 10.2024
- Presented products and services to potential clients at a high-volume Costco near Athens, securing new sales opportunities.
- Built strong relationships with potential clients, leading to higher lead generation and improved conversion rates.
- Provided information about available Costco membership details, and purchase advantages.
- Answered questions and addressed concerns of potential sales leads.
- Opened new accounts and recorded personal, demographic, and membership details in the After Five Floors third-party app.
- Provided regular updates to senior management on lead generation efforts, highlighting successes and areas for improvement.
- Documented customer interactions and transactions, maintaining accurate records of all dealings.
- Streamlined the lead qualification process, to ensure high-quality prospects are identified and prioritized for further engagement by sales team.
- Collaborated with the sales team to ensure smooth handoff of qualified leads to account executives for closing deals.
Sales Assistant and Cashier
The Fresh Market
02.2024 - 07.2024
- Handled customer inquiries, complaints, and returns professionally, ensuring a positive experience for all clients.
- Processed transactions accurately while maintaining a high level of customer service.
- Increased sales by building strong customer relationships and providing excellent service.
- Helped customers locate products and checked store system for merchandise at other sites.
Social Media Assistant
The Committee for Justice
01.2020 - 12.2021
- Expanded CFJ's social media presence by creating and disseminating social media content on Twitter and Facebook accounts during live events and using a scheduler.
- Guided content creation on social media accounts by cultivating and uploading stock photos for CFJ's Twitter and Facebook accounts.
- Improved professional partnerships by editing legal citations for various types of legal filings, such as amicus briefs, supporting CFJ's advocacy efforts.
Communications Manager
Government Blockchain Association
02.2019 - 01.2020
- Strategically turned around outreach to members by building revamped newsletters and targeted email campaigns averaging over 25% open rate.
- Advanced social media campaigns with live tweets and original photographs at special events, increasing impressions and followers by over 200%.
- Penetrated new memberships across different sectors by leveraging interviews with established and up-and-coming talent for website blogs, webpages, and scheduled social media posts.
Communications Associate
Beacon Hill Staffing Group
09.2018 - 01.2019
- Created unified messaging of campaign's efforts for internal constituencies by building two bi-weekly newsletters, averaging over 30% open rate.
- Generated positive relationships with staff members in conjunction with advertising campaigns by working closely with communication peers.
- Spearheaded new databases for senior leadership using Excel spreadsheets, supported by Salesforce.
- Effectively managed the communications calendar while on deadline by coordinating tasks with team.
CBS News Summer 2018 Intern
CBS News
06.2018 - 06.2018
- Using Avid video editing software, facilitated CBS' video packages at the Newspath's desk for affiliate stations by editing raw video footage that focused on national politics.
- Cultivated relationships with the press and high-profile political actors by interviewing politicians on Capitol Hill with Newspath's desk team.
- Researched political news-of-the-day for Newspath desk.
Media Production Associate
American University School of Communication
09.2015 - 09.2016
- Operated the soundboard and cameras in the Media Innovation Lab and Media Production Center for School of Communication's faculty and staff.
- Managed database entry of daily calls and walk-ins to support the IT staff.
Education
Master of Arts - Journalism + Public Affairs, Investigative Reporting
American University
Washington, DCBachelor’s degree (A.B.) - Political Science
The University of Georgia
Athens, GAAssociate of Science - Paralegal Studies
Athens Technical College
Athens, GASkills
- Effective communication with customers
- Digital content production
- Audience engagement on social platforms
- Creative communication
- Strong research abilities
- Creative problem-solving
- Effective time management
Certification
- Social Media Bootcamp - Leadership Institute, 2020
- StartSmart - Small Business Development Center, The University of Georgia, 2022
Timeline
Sales Lead Generator
After Five Floors at Costco
07.2024 - 10.2024
Sales Assistant and Cashier
The Fresh Market
02.2024 - 07.2024
Freelance News Writer
Self-employeed
03.2020 - Current
Social Media Assistant
The Committee for Justice
01.2020 - 12.2021
Communications Manager
Government Blockchain Association
02.2019 - 01.2020
Communications Associate
Beacon Hill Staffing Group
09.2018 - 01.2019
CBS News Summer 2018 Intern
CBS News
06.2018 - 06.2018
Media Production Associate
American University School of Communication
09.2015 - 09.2016
Master of Arts - Journalism + Public Affairs, Investigative Reporting
American University
Bachelor’s degree (A.B.) - Political Science
The University of Georgia
Associate of Science - Paralegal Studies
Athens Technical College
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