Professional Profile

Seasoned special events, marketing, communications and development executive with over 15 years of progressive experience in event design, integrated marketing and communications solutions and fiscal management. Responsibilities range from corporate sponsor and foundation development, stewardship and fulfillment, operations and event production to brand creation/building, public relations, fundraising, donor cultivation and strategic planning.

Experience working and ideating closely with key stakeholders, both internal and external (executive directors, program executives, board members, community partners, sponsors and foundations). Provide clear communication and leadership throughout an organization. Maintain a keen sense of project management and deadline execution while possessing excellent written and communication skills. Strategic thinker who prioritizes effectively and drives tactical initiatives to achieve desired outcomes.

me, Hala Hijazi, Michael Deflorimonte and Kamala Harris addressing the audience at the Palace of Fine Arts.

Bio

I grew up in New Jersey and attended Ramapo College in Bergen County where I founded Entrepreneurs Inc., a holding company for Campus Video, a national college campus-based video store franchise for which I received a nomination to "'Who's Who' of American Colleges and Universities."

I moved to San Francisco in 1994 and joined the development department at KQED TV, which soon suffered a PBS cutback because of a new Congress-backed bill enacted by Newt Gingrich. Two months after, I started the North Beach Jazz Festival and grew it from an original attendance of 800 people to over 40,000 people in eight years, leading all of the development, marketing and communications efforts. In 2003, I joined the San Francisco Conservation Corps and became its Director of Development & Marketing leading the development department successfully through large state budget cuts, diversifying and increasing revenue bases through special events, targeted outreach and individual donor cultivation. Three years later, I joined First Graduate (formerly the Bay Area Youth Fund for Education – b.a.y. fund) and helped increase revenues by 40% in my first completed fiscal year, created a new annual fundraiser that raised record profits and managed an organization re-branding.

Most recently, I served as the Director of Communications for Intersection for the Arts, a nearly 50 year old arts institution in San Francisco that is one of the most well regarded arts organizations in the country.  I continue to lend strategic direction to sf|noir, an organization that I started in 2001 to create events celebrating black arts and culture following an epidemic wave of “black flight” from San Francisco.  I’ve been a published writer, provided consulting and freelance design services, sat on committees and boards, received awards and recognition for projects that I’ve initiated and continue to develop my skills and experience with supporting strategic initiatives through consulting with Bay Area non-profits.

Personal Passions

After attending my first Broadway play in 7th grade, “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat,” I fell in love with the theater and began acting in middle school and throughout high school. The theater, along with my training on the piano and my love for the written word, becoming the editor of my high school’s literary publication, “The Mind’s Eye,” fueled my love for the arts. With no desire by my parents to support the dream of acting through college though, I studied International Business and Marketing. My business training and love for the arts helped guide me through much of my career path. Along the way, I’ve also developed a championing of social entrepreneurship and innovation as well as youth development and equity in education issues and have volunteered my time with organizations involved in the fight including the San Francisco Unified School District, San Francisco Education Fund as well as organizations that I’ve been employed with.

I love traveling, being near large bodies of water and all types of live performance.