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I started Cobalt Creative as a way to stay involved professionally in causes I care about: building strong early childhood systems, making higher education equitable and affordable, destigmatizing mental health, and protecting the environment.
I do this as a consultant, advocate, and volunteer, partnering with local and state governments and community-based nonprofits. I shop local, donate my time and money to local causes, and provide free or low-cost consulting services to small businesses in my community. I also serve on the City of Toledo (Oregon) Budget Committee and on the board for the Toledo Chamber of Commerce.
[Photo: Advocating for the extension of Colorado’s Child Care Contribution Tax Credit in 2023.]
What sets me apart is my passion for and experience in making a positive community impact. The areas below are ones I care about and most want to engage in. If you are similarly committed to these causes, working with me not only gets you great branding and communications expertise — you’ll also be partnering with a consultant who knows your industry and shares in your mission.
If your organization does something else, don’t worry! Drop me a line, and let’s see how I can help you achieve your goals, even if that’s referring you to a trusted friend or partner in my network.
[Mind the gaps below. I’m building this site bit-by-bit over a couple of weeks.]
For the last five years, I have been a leader in supporting state and local early childhood systems through stronger communications strategies. I believe every child deserves a strong start, and to invest in our youngest children, their families, and the workforce that supports them, is to invest in a better community.
I have experience in all levels of America’s higher education system, as an instructor and administrator in community colleges, public and private universities, and a state agency. I believe education should not be driven by politics or profit, and anyone who seeks to better their life through higher education should have access and support to succeed.
After decades of struggling to navigate under-resources care systems and understand my own condition, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2020. Based on my own experiences, I have become an advocate for programs that address the stigma of seeking help, as well as expanding behavioral health services to make them more available and affordable to people in need.
Protecting our environment is not only about preserving its inherent beauty — it is also an investment in making our quality of life on this planet more sustainable. While I have no professional experience in this cause, it is one in which I want to expand my advocacy.
A bit about some of my roles prior to establishing Cobalt Creative. Want to know more? Just ask!
Oversaw the Our Story Continues campaign to celebrate the 135th anniversary as the first United Way in the world. I also leveraged the campaign internally to reframe organization-wide storytelling practices. In only a year, I am proud to have led efforts that resulted in record-setting fundraising projects, an all-time high for participation in the second-largest Turkey Trot in the country, and a more impact-focused annual report. We also enjoyed significant growth in media coverage and in-kind advertising.
Responsible for developing and managing all aspects of the organization’s brand and messaging strategy, publications, and communications consultancy for project partners. I came in just as Early Milestones was being recognized as more than a start-up. We quickly tripled our production of high-quality publications and quadrupled our media wins. When the pandemic hit, I identified several major information gaps and quickly developed living resource hubs to support families, child care providers, state officials, and other industry stakeholders. As a result of the innovative communications and research that followed, Early Milestones is recognized as a critical component of the state’s response to the child care crisis.
Updated and managed institutional branding. Oversaw the design of new rocky.edu and gobattlinbears.com websites. Improved quality and reach of Green & Gold magazine, while writing and designing all content. Served as speech and copy writer for executive leadership. Wrote and designed case statements and unique collateral to support over $30 million raised in capital campaigns. Improved marketing strategy for annual fundraising gala, resulting in record donations twice in three years. Developed publications and strategy to meet enrollment and alumni relations goals. Initiated and implemented weekly faculty and staff newsletter. Managed Marketing and Communications department budget.
