Susan

Wakefield

I am a high impact marketing communications professional, who helps cause organizations raise their visibility and engage stakeholders through powerful storytelling.

LET’SCONNECT: Reach me at: susanwake@comcast.net, 630-9345-1986

What I believe:

I also know this: great storytelling is critical to mission

driven organizations. Why?

Powerful stories are the way we are able to do this:

The sense of human presence is frequently elbowed out by “criteria” which is designed to make communication clear, bite-sized and attention-getting, but which instead oversimplifies, truncates, and irritates. These “sub-goals” often obscure the real goal: human connection. - Annette Simmons

Whoever Tells The Best Story Wins

THE VISION & MISSION:The DuPage Community Foundation was established to raise the quality of life throughout DuPage County by fostering philanthropy, connecting donors to area needs and building community partnerships.

Are the stories the DuPage Community Foundation tells about the impact they’ve made as powerful as this vision & mission and the difference they make?

Powerful Storytelling Elements

PR & Media

Digital: Web

Digital: Social Media

Brand Develop-

ment

Strategic Marketing

Plan

Special Events

Speaking &

Presenting

HOW TO BUILD A ROBUST MARKETING COMMUNICATIONS PROGRAM

I’d like to tell you a little bit about my the story of my work:

Marketing Guru

Fund Raiser

InnovatorCommun-icator

Achievements Results Contribution

me

+ Work =

and

and

The American Bar Association

Director of Annual Giving

MK PartnersConsultant

Northern Illinois Conference (faith based non profit)

Director of Communications

SUSANWAKEFIELD

RELEVANTEXPERIENCE

SIGNIFICANT RESULTSDuPage Regional Office of Education – developed thought leadership initiative by creating a series of white papersThe Philanthropy Club of Chicago &West Suburban Philanthropic Network – brought innovative ideas to professional development programs

Developed new website with greater visual appeal, easier navigation, more interactive elements

Created new e-news letter that gathered 5,000 subscribers in first two months

Increased print newsletter subscribers by 25%

Wrote over 200 direct mail fund raising appeals Established new internal telemarketing fund

raising department that also eventually also served membership, continuing education departments

Increased contributions by $850,000 annually

SUSAN WAKEFIELD: ADDITIONAL WORK EXPERIENCE:

The University of UtahAssistant to the Dean of Students Affairs & Liberal Education

Malcolm Marketing CommunicationsAccount Executive

American Girl/MattelDirector of New Customer Acquisition

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY: A highly skilled, and creative marketing communicationsprofessional who has the business, philanthropy, and cause marketing acumen to build a strong strategic foundation, understand stakeholder audiences, design powerful stories, create powerful community partnerships and deliver communications with impact.

PRAISE & PR FOR THE WORK OF SUSAN WAKEFIELD

CLIENT & EMPLOYER APPLAUSE

“Susan really knows how to put an organization on the map.”

- Non Profit Client

“I am impressed. You did a fantastic job on this project!”

- Non Profit CEO

“You got us more favorable publicity than we could have imagined.”

- School Board Member

“Susan is one of the best marketing minds I know.”

- Ad Agency President

WRITING AWARDS

American Society for Public Administration:National student essay competition,1st Place winner, publication of article, “Ethics in the Public Service: A Case for Individual Responsibility” in Public Administration Review

Wisconsin Writer’s Conference:1st Place Winner, Screenplay Division

UN AIDS Foundation:1st place article competition

My academic training completed here …

A Bachelor of Science in Political Science and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration

Roselle, IL

GIVING BACK: WHY DUPAGE COUNTRY IS IMPORTANT TO ME!

I live here with my husbandand two children.I have always tried to makemy community better by giving back.

Organizations where I have volunteered … a lot:

Girl ScoutsMedinah School DistrictLake Park High SchoolLocal ChurchLocal political campaigns & League of Women Voters

My work is helping social impact organizations, have more IMAPCT!

I’d like to help the DuPage Community Foundation tell the story of their important and vital work! If you’d like to how explore how I can help, please contact me:

SUSAN WAKEFIELDsusanwake@comcast.net630-945-1986