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Creative and Strategic Content, Marketing Communications
Valerie Williams-Sanchez
Palisades, NY
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About
I am an expert branding and integrated marketing communications director, proficient in strategic planning, analytics and quantitative research. A former reporter with award-winning reporting and writing skills, I am a practitioner of traditional and digital content development with degrees conferred from U.C. Berkeley and Columbia University. My management acumen has been gleaned over years of work in the for-profit and non-profit sectors, where I have demonstrated fluency in Spanish, SAP and Microsoft Office programs (including Excel, Word and PowerPoint).
My specialties include: brand management, budgeting, business plannings, communications, content management, corporate identity, data analysis, English, event management, executive management, grant writing, international marketing, legal, fiscal management, marketing, collateral, marketing communications, excel, powerpoint, Microsoft word, new media, newspaper, process management, nonprofit, proposals, public speaking, research, Spanish, spreadsheets, staff training, strategic planning, vendor relations, and writing. -
Education
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M.S. JournalismColumbia University in the City of New York1993 - 1994
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Bachelor of Arts degreeUniversity of California, Berkeley1986 - 1992
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Universidad de Salamanca1988 - 1988Spanish art, history, literature and grammar coursework, semester program completed 1989.
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Experience
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Owner/Principal ConsultantValorena Online, L.L.C.Jan 2014 - Present (12 years 5 months)
Professional Media, Marketing and Communications Services and Consulting
I am a Professional Writer/Journalist/Marketing Communications Strategist offering freelance writing and consulting:
- Strategic Communications
- Content Development and Curation
- Digital and Traditional Media Consulting
- News Features and Media Releases
- Strategic Grant/Proposal Writing and Support
- Marketing Special Events, and
- Cause Related Marketing & Special Projects Development
Visit Valerie's Vignettes at www.ValorenaOnline.com to see sample snapshots in prose, feature stories, Valorena Online updates and other original content, including entries to “Cocoa & Conversation," tales momentous and mundane from the universe of chocolate. -
Tactical Advertising AnalystVolvo Car GroupAug 2007 - Dec 2013 (6 years 4 months)Functions:
Served as Launch Coordinator, Sales Planner and Advertising Analyst over six years for a luxury automaker's corporate marketing operations managing key performance indicator (KPI) reports and communications (i.e., logistics, day supply, accounting and traffic metrics) used by Global/US Executive Management.
Achievements:
*Created new KPI reports adopted by Executive management
*Mastered processes for monthly payments of annualized budgets estimated at $72.M
*Instrumental in executing department improvements related to overall quality and attention to details in Retailer creative advisory board communications -
Director, Support Services & Special ProjectsThe Williams Institute, IncJan 1999 - Jan 2006 (7 years)Functions:
Director of non-profit's full mix of marketing and communications efforts including digital, traditional and guerrilla marketing, collateral development, sponsorships, grant writing and fund development efforts.
Achievements:
*Developed ground-up marketing and initiatives in collaboration with Art Institute, Children’s Hospital of *Orange County, and Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, with annualized value in excess of $500,000. -
Manager, Innoventions/Partnership MarketingDisneyland ResortJan 1998 - Jan 1999 (1 year)Functions:
Manager of launch communications at Disneyland Park and corporate sponsors’ activities for the Innoventions attraction featuring "future technology" at the California-based theme park.
Achievements:
*Managed six corporate Sponsors’ brand strategies and communications
*Championed development of original logos and marks for the Innoventions Disneyland brand
*Served as Bilingual Spanish/English spokesperson to international media -
Staff Writer to Manager, Marketing CommunicationsMedical Data InternationalJan 1996 - Jan 1998 (2 years)Functions:
Content manager of MarCom collateral for all product lines offered by international publisher of industry insight, news, conferences and market reports, as well as Staff Writer of aggregated healthcare/medical industry daily news digest.
Achievements:
*Innovated and reengineered packaging for a product line that led to increased sales of 15%
*Demonstrated leadership and initiated new leading processes in marketing communication content development -
Staff WriterLong Beach Press Telegram1994 - 1996 (2 years)General Assignment Staff writer for the Long Beach-based daily. Wrote daily stories for all sections including: Breaking News, Crime, City Hall, Education, Local and Lifestyle, etc.
Achievements: “Award of Excellence 1994-1995,” recipient for spot news reporting by the Greater Los Angeles Press Club -
Staff Writer (intern)The Miami Herald1994 - 1994Worked in the Broward Edition of the Miami-based daily writing stories and news features. Transferred success with the South Florida publication back to native California through a position landed at the Long Beach Press Telegram.
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Graphic ResearcherLos Angeles TimesJan 1993 - Aug 1993 (7 months)Function:
Researched to find empirical data, art packages and other graphic resources that could be used to support and illustrate daily news and feature stories for publication in the Business section of the Orange County Edition.
Achievements:
*Published news features on local entrepreneurs and contributed to special features.
*Successful in developing working relationships with graphics department and editorial staff.
*Gained invaluable newsroom experience ahead of graduate study that followed this job. -
Apprentice Translator/Commercial English InstructorDeloitteJan 1991 - Jan 1993 (2 years)Function:
Translated management opinion letters, text for annual reports, accounting statements and corporate correspondence. Developed understanding of accounting concepts, in Spanish and English, in order to provide translations as part of a three-member department.
Achievements:
*Developed an understanding of basic audit principles, nomenclature and leading practices at a "Big Four" firm
*Gained international work experience, and developed relationships
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Skills
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Elsewhere on the Web
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On Coroflot@Valorena08, member since 2014
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