DAWNA HOUSTON
NON-PROFIT COMMUNICATIONS AND EDUCATION PROFESSIONAL
Results-oriented, hands-on communications and education professional with a successful career spanning over 20 years working in independent schools and non-profit organizations. Skilled developer of communications programs that support organizational long-range strategic objectives with emphasis on brand and identity, building relationships with consitituencies, increasing visibility in the community, and achieving marketing and fundraising goals. Strategic, proactive leader who effectively utilizes resources to implement cost effective programs. Adaptable, resourceful, collaborative, and thrives on new challenges. Demonstrated excellence in Adobe Creative Suite, Microsoft Office Suite, G Suite, and Web/Social Media Analytics.
Areas of expertise include
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Westminster Schools of Augusta, Augusta, GA • 6/17 to Present
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS
Lead the creative management of marketing and communications in order to build awareness, increase engagement, and achieve organizational mission. Identify opportunities and perform needs analyses in order to achieve admission and fundraising goals.
Key Accomplishments:
- Increased engagement and improved online web and social media (Facebook, Instagram) presence.
- Redesigned print and electronic publications; achieved a more integrated, coordinated, consistent look.
- Successfully increased enrollment for summer programs by 48% through creative and strategic marketing efforts on a tight budget.
Barrie School, Silver Spring, MD • 4/17 to Present
GRAPHIC DESIGNER (Remote, Part-time)
Utilize current state-of-the-art software to design a wide variety of engaging print and digital communications.
St. Monica Catholic Church, Santa Monica, CA • 4/11-10/16
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Combined media relations, art direction, project management, and advertising skills in order to build awareness and strengthen image. Analyzed the organization and its relationship to the community in order to make informed decisions and effectively allocate resources.
Key Accomplishments:
- Transformed online presence by building engagement on social media including Facebook and Twitter and integrating with newly designed website.
- Redesigned all print and electronic publications; achieved a more integrated, coordinated, consistent look.
Self-employed • 2005-present
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Provide communications services including web development and maintenance, graphic design and layout for publications and collateral materials, writing, editing, and proofreading, and video directing and editing. Clients include:
- Shumate Design Associates, Redondo Beach, CA, www.shumatedesign.com
- Crossroads Student Travel, Redwood City, CA, www.crossroadstravel.org
- TBA Foundation, Torrance, CA, www.tbafoundation.org
- Pageant of Our Lord, Rolling Hills Estates, CA, www.pageantofourlord.com
- Rolling Hills Covenant Church, Rolling Hills Estates, CA, www.rollinghillscovenant.com
- Gateway Fellowship, Gardena, CA, www.gatewayrhcc.com
Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, CA • 9/07-6/09
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
As a senior member of the administration, provided institutional leadership for all communications to support the long range strategic objectives of the school during a time of significant organizational change; emphasis on brand management, building relationships with the organization's constituencies, including major donors and the media, and serving as the organization’s editorial and graphic design expert. Responsible for internal and external communications assuring that the school is well-positioned and competitive in promoting the school’s identity, as well as keeping current families well informed about the school, its programs and activities. Responsible for writing, editing, and producing written and electronic publications, press releases, and marketing/collateral materials for all departments including Advancement and Admissiosn.
Key Accomplishments:
- Provided strategic, artistic, and content direction to construct and launch a new website with intranet
- Provided on-going project management for content and database of users using Blackbaud Netcommunity CMS, Razor’s Edge and Education Edge, HTML and CSS.
- Implemented a strategic communications plan to support the school’s vision of a “one school” approach that resulted in enrollment at its highest and exceeding fundraising goals.
- Provided strategic and artistic direction to rebrand the school with accompanying collateral, logo and website redesign.
- Led the strategic and artistic direction for branding, marketing, and launching a $95 million capital campaign.
- Reduced overall communications budget by 20% with careful oversight of production, mailing and bid process with outside vendors for all mailings and publications.
Rolling Hills Covenant Church, Rolling Hills Estates, California • 4/06-11/07
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS
Oversaw creative direction and wrote copy for all print and electronic communications which included weekly and monthly publications, promotional materials for special programs and events, press releases and scripts for radio and video, and direct mail marketing materials for outreach to the greater Los Angeles County area. Served as a consultant to church plants for launch materials, marketing strategies, graphic design, etc. Supervised communications coordinator.
Key Accomplishments:
- Provided strategic, artistic, and content direction to build and launch a new website using Joomla and provided on-going content management.
- Improved public relations and increased outreach efforts by developing and implementing marketing plan that targeted the use of local businesses and media, cable television, and radio outlets.
- Redesigned all print and electronic communications for more consistent and coordinated messaging while reducing the overall cost by over 10%.
Castilleja School, Palo Alto, CA • 8/96 – 6/05
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNICATIONS & EVENTS
Managed all print and electronic publications, coordinated large school events including graduation and fundraisers, yearbook advisor, light teaching duties.
Key Achievements
- Provided strategic, artistic, and content direction to launch a new website and provided training for all faculty members to create their own websites.
- Designed and implemented the use of electronic publications to stay current with emerging technologies and eco-friendly environmental practices which reduced the overall communications budget by 10%.
- Improved parent relations by creating organized volunteer program and training program; achieved a 20% increase in parent participation.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Castilleja School, Palo Alto, CA; 1998-2005
Algebra I Teacher
Crossroads School, Santa Monica, CA; 8/94-6/96
Middle School Teacher
Taught 7-8 Algebra I and Algebra I Honors, Served on Crisis Management Team and Admissions Committee. Led overnight outdoor education trips which included canoeing and Class III & IV whitewater rafting in California and Arizona.
Trinity Lutheran School, Hawthorne, CA, 8/91-6/94
Middle School Teacher
Taught 7-8 math and English, Girls Volleyball Coach
TEACHING-RELATED EXPERIENCE
TEDxYouth@Castilleja, Palo Alto, CA 6/10-11/12
Member of the creative team for this annual event. Served as webmaster, writer, photographer.
Camp Arcadia, Casco, Maine, Summers 1989-1996
Assistant Head Counselor
Supervised and lived with girls in grades 7-9. Administered daily schedule and activities. Planned and coordinated Parent/Camper Weekend. Led overnight hiking and canoeing trips in the White Mountains and northern and central Maine.
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Rolling Hills Covenant Church, Rolling Hills Estates, California 9/91-6/96, 4/06-10/16
Video Director and Editor, Camera Operator
Serve as a video director/editor and camera operator for weekly worship services and special programs including Pageant of Our Lord, an annual production.
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
- B.S., Secondar Education w/concentration in English, University of Maine, Orono, ME
- M.S., Education Administration, Pepperdine University, Culver City, CA
- M.B.A. Coursework (9 credits), San Jose State University, San Jose, CA
- Marketing Certificate w/concentration in Social Media and Web Analytics, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA (in progress)
Coursework to date includes: Integrated Marketing Communications, New Media Marketing, & Writing for Marketing and Advertising - California Professional Clear Teaching Credential: Multiple Subjects, #101078819: Exp. 3/1/2020
COMPUTER SKILLS
- Mac OS X and Windows Platforms (advanced)
- Graphic Design and Desktop Publishing: Adobe Creative Suite includes InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator (advanced)
- Google Suite (advanced)
- Microsoft: Office Suite (includes Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook) (intermediate)
- Website Development and Design: Dreamweaver, Flash, HTML, CSS, Javascript, Content Management Systems (CMS) includes Joomla, Blackbaud, Wordpress, and Drupal. (intermediate)
- Video Production and Editing: Final Cut Studio, Adobe Premiere Pro (intermediate)
- SEO includes in-bound link development, and technical website and link analysis using Google Analytics (intermediate)
- Social Media: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn (advanced)
- Database: Filemaker Pro
(beginner)
SPECIAL INTERESTS
Reading, Tennis, Golf, Hiking, Canoeing, Adventure Travel, Digital Photography, Animals
REFERENCES
Furnished upon request.