Ann Whidden

ANN WHIDDEN 1400 LAKESHORE AVENUE #7

◊ OAKLAND, CA 94606 [email protected]

◊

415-425-5157

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY Communications and Internet Director, National Sexuality Resource Center at San Francisco State University, June 2008—present • Lead redesign of website, doubling traffic within first month of launch. • Engage target audiences and expand organizational brand recognition. • Implement day-to-day web 2.0 communication activities, including search engine optimization. blogging, tagging, social media and e-communications strategies; identify, select and leverage emerging technologies synchronous with organizational goals and audience. • Guide on- and off-line media outreach strategies; cultivate and maintain relationships with top influencers in media, organizational, and independent news groups. Earned media includes New York Times, Salon, Foxnews.com and O Magazine. • Develop and manage web and other publishing and communications functions using Drupal, basic HTML and embedded media applications; craft compelling, creative copy for e-communications, website and collateral materials; cultivate new and upcoming contributors. • Oversee organization’s EMS, CMS, and analytics programs; segment, test and build out lists to maximize campaign impact and support cultivation activities, increasing list size by 33%. • Supervise Department staff and interns (3 FTE), and oversee consultants, create budget, annual workplan and perform evaluation. Serve as interim associate director, March 2009-present. Communications and Programs Consultant, February 2005—August 2008 • • • • •

Develop communication plans, strategies, benchmarks and calendars. Lead creation of branding, tagline and unique value statements. Design and implement marketing, press and outreach campaigns. Craft compelling and timely news releases, web content and copy. Conduct assessment, develop program plans and build community partnerships.

Select Clients: California Adolescent Nutrition and Fitness, The Women’s Foundation of California, Babeland.com, First 5 Marin/Marin Department of Health and Human Services, ISEJE, American Indian Child Resource Center Program Director, 21 Generations Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program, American Indian Child Resource Center, December 2002 – May 2005 • Create innovative program services geared towards pregnancy/STC/HIV prevention among urban American Indian youth, their families and communities; develop culturally- and age-appropriate curriculum. • Develop needs assessment and evaluation tools; administer evaluations and interpret results. • Hire, train and supervise departmental staff; develop and write grants for department; oversee adherence to grant goals, budgeting and reporting requirements. Senior Communications Manager, Bedrock Inc, San Francisco, April 2000- March 2002 • Brand and launch retail website, including collaboration on brand design, logo, tagline and messaging points, creation of unique value statement and development of all company collateral materials. • Design dynamic content, features and incentives to drive traffic and increase site visibility; review, analyze and respond to web analytics • Act as spokesperson to print, television and radio media; plan and conduct public relations campaigns to create and maintain favorable company image, create targeted press lists, write and distribute press releases.

Communications and Creative Director, Good Vibrations, San Francisco, July 1994- March 2000 • Develop strategy, oversee creative development, and successfully guide promotional, direct mail and other materials through printing, production and distribution. • Act as spokesperson to print, television and radio media; plan and conduct public relations campaigns to create and maintain favorable company image, create targeted press lists, write and distribute press releases. • Write, proof and edit company collateral materials including product copy and web content • Forecast and manage annual budget totaling over one million dollars. SKILLS • • • • • • • • •

CMS: Drupal, Wordpress, Blogger HTML basic coding Social Media: Twitter, Picasa/Flickr, Facebook, Social Bookmarking (Technorati) and Ranking (Digg, Reddit), Flash/PHP/AJAX based applications including Sprout, Chipin, PollDaddy EMS: Mailchimp, CiviCRM, A/B split campaigns, list segmentation Quantitative/qualitative tool development including online surveys, focus groups and interviews Needs Assessment/Evaluation experience including qualitative and quantitative methods and data analysis, instrument development and focus group facilitation Extensive background as trainer, educator and public speaker and teacher; experience facilitating large and small group discussions Significant experience as media spokesperson, including national appearances Solid research, literature review and writing skills, including professional writing and editing experience

EDUCATION Master’s Public Health, San Francisco State University, Bachelor of Arts, Carnegie Mellon, Pittsburgh, PA, in Professional Writing

PROFESSIONAL PRESENTATIONS AND INVITATIONS • •

136th Annual Public Health Association Meeting: San Diego, CA—In Our Voices: a participatory action planning process to support the sexual health of American Indian young women. November 2008 135th Annual American Public Health Association Meeting: Washington, DC – Health Literacy Among Latino Families in Marin County, California. November 2007