Thea Sweet
Boston,MA
Summary
I am a passionate and dedicated communicator bringing 5+ years of
public relations experience and success increasing account values through proactive responses to diverse needs. Through strategic actions, I'm proud to have helped a wide range of clients obtain hundreds of press placements each year, increase engagement in their campaigns through digital outreach, and amplify their messaging to broader audiences. Throughout my professional journey, I aim to continuously realize and elevate the goals of clients through transformative storytelling, strategic communications, and innovative branding.
Overview
7
7
years of professional experience
Work History
Co-Founder and Board Member
Maine Youth Power
2020.10 - Current
- Co-lead an inclusive movement with young Mainers working in solidarity for human dignity, equity, and a livable future
- Contribute research, ideas, and strategies to develop targeted youth campaigns aimed at building youth power and gaining better representation within state government on pressing issues affecting young people in the state
- Establish foundational processes for organizational operations
- Identify organizational development challenges for proactive resolution
- Served as the organizing director and helped pass legislation LD1497 to establish the Youth Impact Commission, an initiative to give young people a direct and coordinated access point to policy makers by providing a structural space for them to be heard within government (passed through the ME House and Senate)
- Serve as a communications and public relations specialist to promote the organization's public messaging and boost awareness and engagement at events, actions, press conferences, and other activities relating to MYP campaigns
- Develop strategic press materials and conduct press outreach
- Reach out to stakeholders/influential members of the community to seek support around campaigns
- Participate in relational organizing activities to encourage youth peers to become civically engaged, including helping youth navigate the process of registering to vote, requesting their absentee ballot and actually voting
- Help young people in Maine navigate new barriers during election seasons (e.g., mail-in voting, voting rights, key dates, etc.) and build awareness around the technical processes of voting
- Provide grassroots organizing trainings for engaged youth to utilize their social networks and get out the vote
Account Director
617MediaGroup
2023.06 - 2023.11
- Directed client accounts, maintained client relationships, and implemented communications strategies to help client achieve engagement and outreach goals
- Led productive client and team meetings to define goals, strategies, and targets for both organic and paid aorganizing and advertising campaigns
- Turned strategies into detailed work plans
- Managed and developed skills of junior staff
- Managed projects and deadlines, including closely tracking client contracts and following communication plans to ensure team meets client expectations
- Uplifted client campaigns within local and national media markets by developing curated media lists, and landing positive press placements through media advisories, press releases, op-eds, letters to the editor, etc.
- Developed and implemented monthly client project reports, contract-based communications plans, and curated content calendars for a diverse client portfolio of 10 accounts simultaneously
- Managed social media, email, text, app, and website accounts for 10 clients simultaneously, ensuring regular updates, dynamic content, and brand consistency
- Wrote and copyedited quarterly newsletters and magazines for clients to provide important updates and announcements to their audiences
- Orchestrated and executed high-profile events, including the Greater Boston Labor Council's Annual Labor Day Breakfast and Rally, the AFL-CIO HIT's Affordable Housing Summit, Community Labor United's Annual Salt of the Earth Awards, among many press conferences with elected leaders at the local, state, and national levels
- Wrote scripts and storyboards for promotional videos or tv and radio ads, and developed copy for design and print materials such as graphics, flyers, banners, billboards, etc.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams, including design, digital, multimedia, and traffic staff, as well as politicians, and press members
- Provided on-site event support to ensure smooth running programs
Account Manager
617MediaGroup
2022.01 - 2023.06
- Produced and pitched impactful press materials to uplift client campaigns within local and national media markets
- Coordinated production processes and managed progress of deliverables including working with cross-functional teams to deliver design materials, promotional videos, and coordinate photography and videography needs
- Provided on-site event support at client events to ensure smooth-running programs
- Created email, text, and social media content, blog posts, newsletters
- Developed communications strategies and maintained client relationships
- Managed email and text platforms to engage community members and key stakeholders
Account Executive
617MediaGroup
2021.08 - 2022.01
- Conducted regular media monitoring and produced client reports with earned media placements
- Assisted the account team to manage social media, email, text, and other audience outreach platforms
- Updated and maintained client websites
- Provided on-site and logistical event support
- Wrote copy for a variety of communications materials, including for press releases, op-eds, promotional video scripts, design materials, website content, and newsletters and magazines
Canvasser
Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
2020.10 - 2020.11
- Got residents involved, motivated, and educated about the 2020 election and Maine’s progressive candidates
- Knocked door to door and spoke to Maine voters about issues affecting their community
- Communicated the importance of the election and what is at stake, particularly the U.S. Senate and Presidential races
- Developed the ability to navigate complex discussions and understand the perspectives of people with differing backgrounds
- Sharpened critical thinking skills as well as articulation skills in order to effectively discuss current issues or events
- Acquired the ability to improvise and make on-the-spot decisions throughout conversations
Research Assistant
Silverleaf Children's Academy
2020.08 - 2020.11
- Conducted groundbreaking, market-assessment research to support ‘CATALYZE’ USAID Initiative to help mobilize private capital for education and make private schools more accessible for low-income communities
- Gained a deep understanding of the business of education in Tanzania and navigated through it to reach industry stakeholders
- Conducted official interviews with stakeholders within the public and private sectors (USAID Reps., financial consultants, private investors) in order to collect data and research
- Conducted market research to create Tanzania’s country profile, which considered Tanzania’s educational frameworks and ease of doing business for private sector involvement – all aimed at gaining investor support
- Worked directly with the CEO of Silverleaf Academy to launch its educational initiative
- Produced visual data representations (graphs) that consolidated data to clearly convey focused messaging to various target audiences
- Designed and published an official country report to inform USAID about the state of private education in Tanzania, which considered barriers to accessibility and projected future impact that investors will have
Intern, Sweet for U.S. Senate
Maine Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate
2019.01 - 2020.11
- Conducted research and utilized my international relations academic background to develop communications strategies on foreign policy issues
- Provided insight on global issues concerning the U.S.
- Canvassed and helped disseminate information on policy initiatives by the candidate
- Helped organize excel spreadsheets for canvassing events
- Assisted in campaign management duties, such as attending social justice events, panels, party conventions, and worked closely with the candidate to assist in almost any event - e.g., helping with social media, canvassing, speech writing, and reviewing scripts for videos or commercials
Student Engagement Ambassador
Division Of Institutional Equity And Inclusion
2019.08 - 2020.05
- Established partnerships with affinity-based student organizations
- Collaborated with clubs and organizations on campus to create student-led race and ethnicity based initiatives
- Represented Race and Ethnicity Programs at various events and on committees as needed
- Conducted outreach to a diverse range of student stakeholders including the LGBTQIA community, the Womxn's Center, athletic teams, student government, and other leaders on campus
Associate to SGA Chief of Communications
Student Government Association
2018.08 - 2020.05
- Honorably served on the Student Government Association Communications/Public Relations Committee
- Successfully assisted with campus wide communication strategies
- Created and produced weekly posters for events on campus
- Organized and distributed posters in every dorm and campus building
- Created mobile edition posters and managed SGA Instagram account
- Successfully established a structure and mode of operations to provide an efficient way for the PR committee to function
Intern, Sweet for Governor Campaign
Maine Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
2017.01 - 2019.11
- Staffed social justice events, gubernatorial debates, panel discussions, party conventions, and other political events to provide event and logistical support
- Reviewed speeches and scripts for videos or commercials to ensure clarity, consistency, and alignment with the candidate's key policy points, and contributed effective communication strategies during the campaign
- Curated relevant and engaging social media content, developed campaign outreach materials, and collaborated with the communications team to enhance the candidate's online presence and increase voter engagement
- Worked closely with the candidate to assist in almost any event, including canvassing and direct voter outreach
Research Assistant
OB Communications
2019.05 - 2019.08
- Drafted a proposal to the U.S. Embassy for financial support of Project Moustaqil, a nationwide career development and professional training operation to empower NEET youth (no education, no employment, no training)
- Analyzed and summarized data on NEET youth to explain the factors contributing to rising youth unemployment in Morocco
- Developed targeted messaging through creative forms of media to reach a broad network of youth in Morocco and increase engagement in the project
- Provided translation from Arabic to English on a variety of materials and contributed to presentations, reports and promotional videos to drive forward the campaign's goals
- Contributed personal ideas towards promoting Project Moustaqil
Research Assistant
International Planned Parenthood Federation
2018.06 - 2018.07
- Worked closely with the president of IPPF Arab World Regional Office and the president of Center for Arab Women Training and Research (CAWTAR) on research initiatives
- Prepared research-driven policy recommendations to organizations and governments to better defend basic rights for women in the region
- Performed statistical, qualitative, and quantitative analysis
- Conducted in-depth research on Sustainable Development Goal 11 of SDGs Atlas 2018 and prepared reports to contextualize Tunisia's progress toward these goals
- Developed proposals on how to make cities safer, more sustainable, and prosperous through including women in Tunisia's economic and sustainability goals (through sister association, CAWTAR)
- Attended a seminar about 'Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence: The Future of Investment Management in the Euro-Mediterranean Region,’ which was held in Tunis (Tunisia) on June 29th (through CAWTAR)
- Attended the United Nation’s conference that passed security council resolution 1325, codifying that women be included in Tunisia’s national security agenda (through CAWTAR)
Memorandum Draft Writer
Law Offices Of Richard Goldman
2017.07 - 2017.08
- Drafted memorandums for Social Security Disability cases
- Attended client meetings for a variety of cases
- Interviewed clients and wrote summary narratives on their behalf, describing how the individual became disabled, and explaining how their conditions have impaired their ability to work
- Conducted extensive research and analysis in order to substantiate the client's claims
- Interpreted medical documents, court decisions, and carefully selected evidence to form strong arguments
- Acquired analytical, organizational, and research skills for legal writing
Education
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Connecticut College
New London, CT05.2020
Skills
- Account relationship management and strategic account development
- PR strategy development and implementation (organic and paid advertising, campaign engagement and visibility, strategic communications to audiences)
- Extensive personal network
- Web development (content development, design, and maintenance)
- Social media management and marketing
- Speechwriting and messaging
- Writing and editing video and radio scripts/storyboard
- Creative collaboration
- Press relations (print media, broadcast media)
- Content development (copywriting, copyediting)
Timeline
Account Director
617MediaGroup
2023.06 - 2023.11
Account Manager
617MediaGroup
2022.01 - 2023.06
Account Executive
617MediaGroup
2021.08 - 2022.01
Co-Founder and Board Member
Maine Youth Power
2020.10 - Current
Canvasser
Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
2020.10 - 2020.11
Research Assistant
Silverleaf Children's Academy
2020.08 - 2020.11
Student Engagement Ambassador
Division Of Institutional Equity And Inclusion
2019.08 - 2020.05
Research Assistant
OB Communications
2019.05 - 2019.08
Intern, Sweet for U.S. Senate
Maine Democratic U.S. Senate Candidate
2019.01 - 2020.11
Associate to SGA Chief of Communications
Student Government Association
2018.08 - 2020.05
Research Assistant
International Planned Parenthood Federation
2018.06 - 2018.07
Memorandum Draft Writer
Law Offices Of Richard Goldman
2017.07 - 2017.08
Intern, Sweet for Governor Campaign
Maine Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate
2017.01 - 2019.11
Bachelor of Arts - International Relations
Connecticut College
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