Whitney Middlebrooks
High Point,NC
Summary
- Scaled the Black Luxe Expo into the area's largest Black business expo, working with 450+ vendors and generating $400K+ in local economic impact.
- Achieved 184% exhibitor growth, 95% satisfaction rate, and secured press coverage, strategic partnerships, and 5-star guest reviews.
- Designed and facilitated a district-wide listening tour, leading 180+ community sessions and amplifying 17,000+ voices to inform equity-driven strategies and decision-making.
- Directed implementation plan and communication strategy for a $2M digital equity plan, improving digital access and engagement across 1,200+ households.
- Strategized the planning and direction of a $900,000 federal grant for socioeconomic diversity in education.
- Managed 17+ contractors, enhancing team performance through thoughtful leadership.
- Led multi-disciplinary teams, managing budgets, timelines, resources, and integrating technology tools and software for high-impact project delivery.
- Optimized successful marketing campaigns, designs, press strategies, and branded content for 80+ clients.
- Awards And RecognitionSpotlight Business of the Year Award Recipient, Triad Minority and Women’s Business Expo, August 2023
Business Featured on High Point Discovered, September 2023
Business Highlight on Café Mocha TV for The Carolina Core, September 2022, Watch Here
Black-Owned Business Excellence Award Recipient, BlackEmall, December 2021
Noted as a “Young Winning Boss” by Black Enterprise, October 2012
Maintaining a 5-Star Google Rating (Read Reviews)
Host of one of the Largest Black-Owned Business Trade Shows in the Triad area
Overview
8
8
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Director
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
03.2024 - Current
- Implemented communications strategy and stakeholder engagement for a district-wide diversity initiative.
- Directed 180+ community listening sessions, amplifying 17K+ voices across students, families, and staff.
- Secured 23 partnerships to expand project awareness and engagement.
- Crafted messaging strategy for website, slide decks, FAQ’s, social media content, and outreach tools.
- Created SOPs, toolkits, scripts, training guides, project charter, project plan, and org charts.
- Developed pilot launch, ambassador program, internal and external communication frameworks to navigate public feedback and maintain message alignment.
- Oversaw federal grant budget, compliance, and reporting.
- Collaborate with district leadership to align communications with institutional values.
Owner, Principal Strategist
Black Luxe & Company
01.2020 - Current
- Lead social impact and design studio providing full-service solutions, project management, strategic communications, strategy, marketing, and stakeholder engagement for public and private sectors.
- Oversaw full customer success lifecycle for 450+ vendors and clients across 8 states, from onboarding to retention, with 95% satisfaction and 5-star user reviews.
- Design CRM-driven engagement journeys, branded toolkits, lifecycle messaging, and scalable support systems using Salesforce, Zoho One, HubSpot, and ClickUP.
- Facilitate onboarding meetings, brand audits, success check-ins, and personalized outreach campaigns, increasing client adoption and re-engagement rates by 88%.
- Manage stakeholder communications, event logistics, and feedback mechanisms that boosted engagement metrics by 3x year over year.
- Apply UX principles and visual storytelling in digital branding and front-end development to optimize customer journeys and user experiences.
- Partner with cross-functional teams on change management, sponsorship acquisition, and platform integrations to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency.
- Notable projects include:
- The Black Luxe Expo: Produced and scaled the largest Black-owned business expo in North Carolina’s Triad region, increasing exhibitor participation by 184% and expanding reach across 8 states. Manage end-to-end strategy including creative direction, public/media relations, brand partnerships, vendor experience, event logistics, sponsorship acquisition, programming, and live experience curation.
- Digital Bridges Forsyth: Lead project management and communications for a $2M digital equity initiative. Oversee CRM integration (resulting in a 95% boost in team productivity), direct public outreach campaigns that expanded access for 1,250+ marginalized residents, and manage a 17-member team alongside four partner agencies.
- Visit High Point: Design and manage multi-platform marketing campaigns, digital branding, front-end web development, and UX strategy for regional events, including Main in Color, Carolina Core Brews Fest, and Savor High Point. Deliver consistent visual storytelling and audience engagement through design and content creation.
Program Director
Lexington Housing Authority
10.2019 - 09.2023
- Launched the “Get It! Got It! Good!” campaign, a community engagement and advocacy series.
- Wrote public-facing communications, managed media, and facilitated local partnerships.
- Designed print and digital collateral, direct mail campaigns, and educational materials.
- Oversaw HUD-aligned programs, communications strategy, and contract deliverables.
- Through strategic communication and marketing efforts, increased program efficiency by over 90%.
Senior Project Manager
Outfitters4
03.2017 - 10.2019
- Implemented CRM and fundraising software to streamline nonprofit operations.
- Developed staff guides, branding updates, and visual assets for stakeholder engagement.
Skills
- Project scope
- Agreement negotiation
- Scope development
- Schedule management
Certification
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace - University of South Florida
- Nonprofit Management and Community Leadership - Salem College
- Accounting Fundamentals I & II - Forsyth Technical Community College
- Digital Marketing - Full Sail University
Timeline
Project Director
Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools
03.2024 - Current
Owner, Principal Strategist
Black Luxe & Company
01.2020 - Current
Program Director
Lexington Housing Authority
10.2019 - 09.2023
Senior Project Manager
Outfitters4
03.2017 - 10.2019
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