Allison Morris

Allison Morris Byram, MS 39272-- Communications professional specializing in planning, creating and implementing community outreach, marketing and advertising strategies, public relations, donor relations, program development and management and volunteer placement with a strong background in non-profit brand management and special event coordination. Diplomatic and tactful in all communications. Highlights • • • • • • • Project management Writing/Editing Promotional campaigns Photography and Web Design Special event planning Grant writing experience Volunteer Management Authorized to work in the US for any employer Work Experience Director of Communications The Piney Woods School - Piney Woods, MS September 2017 to January 2019 • Develop and implement an integrated, organization-wide strategic communications plan to broaden awareness and strengthen The Piney Woods School’s brand identity across key stakeholder audiences • Create a brand/marketing/public relations strategy that will allow The Piney Woods School board, President, and Development office to cultivate and enhance meaningful relationships with targeted, high-level external audiences, including the media, public officials and key influencers • Oversee the continued development and use of the school’s brand • Oversee, or execute as needed, all copy intended for public consumption to ensure its alignment with the strategic communications plan • Ensure that the department regularly conducts relevant market research; coordinate and oversee this activity; monitor trends • Keep informed of developments in the fields of marketing, communications and public relations, and non-profit management; use this information to help the Organization operate with initiative and innovation • Mentor and develop staff using a supportive and collaborative approach on a consistent basis • Plan and schedule fundraising campaigns and events as needed • Promotes and represents The Piney Woods School at public relations events, promotional opportunities, marketing campaigns, business and committee meetings, and press and publicity functions • Build and execute social media strategy through competitive research, platform determination, messaging and audience identification • Generate, edit, publish and share daily content (original text, images, video or HTML) that builds meaningful connections and encourages community members to take action • Create graphics and promotional material, including billboard and website graphics, fliers, brochures, pamphlets and other items to be distributed on and off campus. • Promote positive relations with local, state and national media by maintaining frequent contact with reporters, editors and news assignment editors. Schedule and oversee media visits on campus and schedule interviews for The Piney Woods School President with the media • Coordinate a network of alumni support for student recruiting, while developing, implementing and evaluating alumni special events designed to increase alumni involvement and support • Update website as needed. • Other duties as assigned Public Relations & Events Coordinator Hinds Community College - Raymond, MS September 2015 to September 2017 • Manage the daily functions of the Public Relations Office; supervise the editor/writer, sports information assistant, photographer and district graphic specialist; • Coordinate on-campus events, and supervise set-up and take down of all student activities. • Serve on committee of annual scholarship gala and solicit donors, maintaining donor relationships throughout each school year. • Sponsor the student newspaper, The Hindsonian; recruit and train students for student publications. Serve as a resource person for The Eagle, the student yearbook. • Write specifications and facilitate the quoting and bidding of print projects, including the student newspaper and student yearbook. • Serve as the co-editor of the annual President’s Report, along with the Vice President for Community Relations. • Work in coordination with Public Relations editor/writer and photographer in the production of public information releases and college publications; provide current news/feature articles for college print publications and to the college webmaster for the institutional homepage. • Manage, with the VP of Community Relations, the public relations and student publications budgets. • Write and edit press releases, stories and blog posts for state and national publications and media outlets, digital and print distribution. • Serve as the managing editor for the On Campus newsletter and the Hindsight alumni magazine and be responsible for producing a quality in-house publication on schedule. • Assist with the creation and implementation of the college marketing campaign. • Provide photography for the yearbook, special events and campus events. Public Relations and Special Events Director Darlene Slater Rehabilitation Center for Women - Brookhaven, MS August 2012 to June 2015 • Travel frequently throughout the state of Mississippi to meet with and present to potential and existing donors. • Develop strategic funding requests based on short, intermediate, and long -term funding goals of the organization for high net worth individuals and civic groups • Manage organization volunteers, from recruitment to retention. Coordinate all training, on-boarding and scheduling of volunteers. • Act as primary relationship manager for individual and private foundation prospects of $10,000 or more/year to reach or exceed annual funding goals. • Plan and implement funding campaigns, events and activities (volunteer experiences, tours, receptions, etc.) for individual major gift donors • Execute major gift materials, including briefing memos, proposals and stewardship materials • Manage and coordinate volunteer donor groups to cultivate and request new gifts • Monitor weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual activity to achieve major gift revenue goals • Develop relationships with community resources that refer clients and patients for substance abuse treatment services including treatment centers, major employers, and employee assistant programs, mental health professionals, medical doctors and medical family practices • Manage all aspects of donor relations, from donor database, to monetary contributions, in-kind donations and annual reports • Supervise the recruitment, training, and placement of all volunteers • Coordinate and administer special events that promote community involvement in the mission of Doll's House • Work with the Board of Directors to develop an annual fundraising goal and implement plans to stay within budget guidelines • Produce marketing materials, press releases, and other written communications Education MS in Corporate Communications Mississippi College - Clinton, MS September 2018 to December 2020 BS in Communications Mississippi College - Clinton, MS 2011 to 2013 Skills Publishing, Photoshop, Wordpress, Powerpoint, Adobe