Resume

WORK HISTORY

2021

PAOLA TEJADA COMMUNICATIONS

2020-2021

RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY (RTC)

2018-2019

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE

2017-2018

CONGRESSIONAL HISPANIC CAUCUS INSTITUTE

Senior Communications Manager

Washington, DC

Led media relations and managed communications strategies and collateral for CHCI programs, events, and fundraising, including websites, social media, brochures, and email marketing. Worked on events and campaigns with high-profile elected officials, celebrities, and c-suite donors. Direct report to CEO, managed communications budget, direct reports, and all communication contractors.

Donor Relations Manager

Washington, DC

Managed portfolio of 120 donors. Successfully performed donor stewardship, cultivation, and identification. Secured new donations and an increase in donation renewals of current donors. Led development of sponsor communication material and sponsor benefits fulfillment. Wrote successful grant proposals and donor reports. Reported to VP, Donor Relations. One direct report.

2012-2015

2015-2017

DISTRICT PRODUCTIONS LLC

Principal, Marketing and Communications

Washington, DC

Provided an array of communication and video production services to non-profit organizations and European news channels: branding; project & grant management; digital marketing strategy; social media management; event planning. Clients included the National Association of Women Judges, Partnership for Food Safety Education, National Association of Women Judges, and Agence France Presse.

Communications Director

Washington, DC

Responsible for developing and guiding the strategies for media relations, brand development and management, community events, collateral development, content creation and content marketing as it relates to RTC’s national portfolio of policy and trail development projects, including RTC’s TrailNation™ program — an

innovative trail-network building initiative intended to serve as a model for building trail networks nationwide.

Strategic Communications Consultant

Washington, DC/Los Angeles, CA

Design and management of communications strategies and deliverables for nonprofits and start ups, including press releases, op-eds, websites, e-marketing, videos, and blog posts. Currently leading the creation of a national Spanish language style guide for trail movement.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF WOMEN JUDGES

Communications & Membership Manager

Washington, DC

Led membership relations & outreach. Designed & implemented internal/external communication plans & tools in English, French, & Spanish: branding, website design & updates, e-newsletters, publications, brochures, videos, presentations, event planning & promotion. Field work in Tanzania, Ghana, and Haiti.

2009-2011

NGO SHIPBREAKING PLATFORM

2008-2009

Communications Officer

Brussels, Belgium
Designed & implemented internal/external communication plans to increase partner participation, mobilize public engagement & advocate at domestic, European and international levels. Developed websites, internal/external e-newsletters, annual reports, fact sheets, new name & visual identity, led media relations, & organized private/public events & meetings. Field work in Bangladesh, India, the Netherlands, and Greece.

UNITED NATIONS UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN SECURITY & THE VICE-RECTORATE IN EUROPE

Communications Trainee

Bonn, Germany

Developed content for & updated five websites with various CMSs, produced newsletters, press releases & communication materials, translated brochures and websites into French, Spanish & English, coordinated design of and copy-edited scientific publications & organized events.

2007-2008

MEDIA ANIMATION

Communication Assistant, full-time intern

Brussels, Belgium

Organized the "Creativity Contest Against Racism" for the Belgian event, “Week of Actions Against Racism": created & distributed promotional material, managed event database & contact with partners, secured sponsors for prizes, made key media partnerships & increased participant registration by 60% compared to the previous year.

2006

INDYMEDIA.BE

Multimedia Journalist/Reporter

Brussels, Belgium

Multimedia reporter for alternative news website: produced podcasts, video & photo reports, as well as written articles & interviews in English & French on social and environmental issues.

RADIO ALMA

Radio Host

Brussels, Belgium

Co-hosted “Domingos Positivos,” a weekly two-hour show in Spanish for the Latino community in Brussels & guest-hosted on various multicultural & multilingual shows.

2005

EDUCATION AND TRAININGS

B.A. Communication, 2008, Institut Supérieur de Formation Sociale et de Communication in Brussels, Belgium

Professional Trainings:

Pandemic Meeting & Event Design Certificate Course, Event Leadership Institute, May 2021
Managing to Change the World: 2-Day Crash Course, The Management Center, Washington, DC, June 2019
Digital Marketing in a Digital World, October 2016, University of Illinois
General Assembly Workshops, 2014-2016, Washington, DC: Social Media & Digital Marketing: Blunt & to the Point; Brand Storytelling: How to Create a Story-driven Content Marketing plan; Integrating Social & Content Advertising for Maximum Impact.
Elevate Grant Writing Workshop, November 2013, Washington, DC
WordPress Conference, April 2013, Miami, FL
Nonprofit Social Media Webinars by Heather Mansfield: Social Media for Social Good: A How-To Webinar for Nonprofits; How Nonprofits Can Successfully Utilize Online Fundraising and e-Newsletters; How to Launch a Mobile Communications and Fundraising Campaign for a Nonprofit.
Bonn, Germany, 2009: Non-profit PR Training and Writing for the Web, United Nations University; Digital Photography and Photoshop Training by Mike LeGray, Photographer; Deutsche Welle Media Training for United Nations' staff, Deutsche Welle Headquarters

PORTFOLIO