Darius R. Aldridge
Communications and Media Manager
New Orleans, LA · (209) 555 0118 · name@example.com · linkedin.com/in/dariusraldridge
Key Qualifications
EXPERIENCE
Twelve years in nonprofit communications and media relations
INDUSTRIES
Disaster recovery, housing, community development
SPECIALTIES
Media relations, crisis communications, storytelling ethics, campaign messaging
SYSTEMS
Salesforce Nonprofit Cloud, Classy, Mailchimp, Sprout Social, Adobe Creative Cloud
CREDENTIALS
Accredited in Public Relations, member of the Public Relations Society of America
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Arts in mass communication, Loyola University New Orleans
Executive Summary
Communications manager for a disaster recovery nonprofit, twelve years in the field and three hurricane seasons under her belt. Runs media relations, the annual report and the messaging behind every appeal. Holds the line on consent before any client story goes out, and has never had one come back on the organization.
Signature Achievements
- Placed two hundred and forty earned media stories in three years, including nine national broadcast segments during storm response.
- Grew email revenue from four hundred thousand dollars to one point one million dollars by rewriting the appeal series around named client outcomes.
- Wrote and ran the crisis communications plan used during a two week response when the organization housed nineteen hundred families.
- Built the consent and story release process now required before any client image or quote is published.
- Raised social media engagement by sixty one percent while cutting posting volume by a third.
- Delivered the annual report on schedule for six consecutive years and cut its production cost by thirty one thousand dollars.
Professional Experience
Communications and Media Manager
Gulf Coast Rebuilding Partnership, New Orleans, LA 2019 to present
Leads a three person communications team for a disaster recovery nonprofit with a thirty four million dollar budget working across Louisiana and Mississippi.
- Owns media relations, including the press list, spokesperson preparation and every statement issued during an active response.
- Writes the messaging platform each year and holds development, program and advocacy staff to it.
- Directs the content calendar across email, social channels and the website, and reports results to the executive team monthly.
- Manages a photographer, a designer and an outside video producer on a four hundred thousand dollar annual budget.
Senior Communications Specialist
Bayou Housing Collective, Baton Rouge, LA 2015 to 2019
Handled communications for an affordable housing developer and service provider with an eighteen million dollar budget.
- Produced groundbreaking and opening events for eleven housing developments.
- Wrote the newsletter and appeal copy that supported a two million dollar annual fund.
- Served as the first point of contact for regional press and local officials.
Communications Coordinator
Crescent City Arts Council, New Orleans, LA 2013 to 2015
Supported communications for a municipal arts funder with a six million dollar grant program.
- Managed the calendar of one hundred and eighty funded events and its public listing.
- Wrote grantee profiles and program announcements for the website and newsletter.
- Coordinated photography and design for two annual publications.
Licensure and Certification
Accredited in Public Relations, Public Relations Society of America
Member, Public Relations Society of America
Education
Bachelor of Arts in mass communication, Loyola University New Orleans
Core Skills
Media relations · Crisis communications · Spokesperson preparation · Appeal and campaign copy · Story consent practice · Annual report production · Content calendar management · Vendor management · Social media strategy · Team leadership