Deborah K. Swanson

DEBORAH K. SWANSON PATRICK

I’ve written, produced, managed, initiated, partnered, developed, supervised, hired, fired, completed, achieved, cancelled, edited, proofread, approved, declined, coerced, persuaded, negotiated, pleased, inflamed, innovated, battled, oversaw, orchestrated, led, created, directed, showed, placed and won. I’ve also been awarded, interviewed and acknowledged by many. So here are the gory details:

Immense experience in journalism, marketing, advertising and public relations in diverse environments including non-profit organizations, agencies, entertainment companies and publishers. A seasoned, award-winning writer who has authored more than 1,900 features, columns and theater reviews for a wide variety of publications.

An innovative communications professional and consultant who is a talented writer with exceptional skills in interviewing subjects and developing articles, managing media relations and orchestrating special events.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

DKS Communications 2005-present
Owner, President, Chief Guru

Public relations and editorial projects for Jump for the Cause, Forrest & Associates (Civic Light Opera of South Bay Cities, Hermosa Beach Playhouse, El Portal Theatre), Bob Hope (memorial), Senior Life Magazine, Trust for Public Land/Parks for People LA, and others.

Manage public relations campaigns, media interviews, pre and post-event coverage and on-site events. Wrote newsletter articles and newspaper/magazine columns and articles.

California Institute of Technology 2007 to present
Assistant Director, Annual Giving Programs
Just say “I’m always pushing the envelope,” Whether it be to alumni, students, parents or others, to support the venerable institution known as Caltech.

City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California 1991-2005

Director, Development Marketing and Communications

Led marketing and communications for the development office of a cancer research institute and medical center that raises $70 million annually. Supervised up to 12 account representatives and worked with team specialists with responsibility for projects in 14 regional offices. Continuously promoted from original position as publications manager. Worked with all other Development and many Medical Center teams on special projects.

FUND RAISING/EVENTS

� Oversaw campaigns targeted to specific donors, such as gift planning, cause-related marketing, grocery coupons, and industries such as Music and Entertainment that generated more than $40 million annually.

� Orchestrated special celebrity/donor events including the grand opening events for the Helford Clinical Research Hospital. Supervised the production of collateral materials, preparation of speeches and remarks, media outreach, celebrity visits and tours and promotions.

� Created and managed a patient and professional speakers bureau, The Voices of Hope, with more than 90 participants at more than 200 engagements per year in the U.S. Provided training, interviewed patients, edited presentations and coordinated event involvement to increase fund-raising totals. Developed system for fundraisers and speakers to follow.

� Supervised marketing activities for 250 auxiliary groups that raised millions of dollars per year.

� Directed the marketing strategy and event management for the Los Angeles Walk for Hope that attracted 7,000 participants. Designed set-up, prepared sponsorship materials, initiated and managed media involvement, created materials, organized speakers, contracted with photographers and oversaw volunteer activities.

� Created marketing materials for celebrities participating in events or promotions including President George Bush (Sr.), Lance Armstrong�s Tour of Hope, Cheryl Tiegs, Hillary Clinton, Fran Drescher, Carol Channing, Bart Conner, Rhonda Fleming, and Florence Henderson and many more. Wrote scripts, service announcements, speeches, remarks and video dialogue.

� Spearheaded the planning and production of a bi-annual national convention with responsibility for Board communications, facilities arrangements, marketing, public relations, event schedule, speakers, celebrity recruitment and medical center tours.

� Managed the public relations strategy for the opening of a renovated Visitor Center and the restoration of the 1935 Philip Guston mural. Planned the grand opening and generated coverage by national and local news.

WEB DEVELOPMENT
� Supervised web manager for Development events and programs. Worked closely with Web Team to develop online event registration, interactive request and follow-up systems. Worked with team to bring in outside vendors for major events such as Walk for Hope to develop personal fund-raising sites, event and corporate information.

MEDIA
� Among many media outreach projects, supervised the writing, production and distribution of B.B. King television public service announcements that garnered the highest viewership (6 million) in the history of the distributor. Received $6 million worth of airtime nationwide.

EMPLOYEE COMMUNICATIONS

� Played a key role in the development of an employee giving program that targeted participants from local and national companies including Edison, SoCal Gas, CFC, Home Depot, Vons, and more. Chaired the City of Hope internal employee giving campaign, raising $45,000 in one year, exceeding goal by 50 percent.

� Created and implemented employee communications program for annual incentive program which included weekly to monthly updates on progress, all-staff meetings, coordinating speakers, handouts and audio visual components.

� Supervised City of Hope history book project, created internal and external campaigns for 80th and 90th anniversaries, and worked closely with Director of Archives.

ADVERTISING AGENCY EXPERIENCE

Served on the account team for advertising agencies BBDO/West and keye/donna/pearlstein with clients in diverse industries including Union Bank, the Daily News, Hughes Markets, Burlington Air Freight, Laura Scudder�s, Suzuki and Microsoft.

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

California State University Northridge, BA, Journalism, Northridge, California

Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, California
Completed post degree coursework in English, writing and broadcasting

Institute of Advanced Advertising Studies Certification

I take classes and online courses/webinars periodically to keep up with trends including Team Based Strategic Planning, Project Management, Grant Writing, and more.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Independent Writers of Southern California (IWOSC.org)
  Co-Director of Professional Development (seminars and panels on specific topics)
  Produced Psych-Write at UCLA, IWOSC�s most successful seminar
• Public Relations Society of America
• Entertainment Professional Publicist Society
• Los Angeles Drama Critics Association, Past President
  Produced five LADCC Award presentations, including 30th anniversary. Obtained special award funding, implemented a paid advertisement program and left post with the greatest number of members and largest bank account in many years.
• Elks (Service Organization), Member since 2005

PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES

• Los Angeles Walk for Hope to Cure Breast Cancer, PSRA Award Winner
• Contributer to The Buzzword Dictionary published September 2006.
• Ovation Award Voter, 2006-07, LA Stage Alliance
• Certified Yoga Teacher
• Photography has been published in books and magazines
• American Heart Association, E. Everett Koop Media Awards Judge
• Oregon Book Awards, Judge
• National Repertory Theatre Project, Judge

WRITING CREDITS

• Personal biographies: wrote and produced for individuals in book form
• Senior Life Magazine: columnist and features
• Los Angeles Times Calendar Live!: entertainment features
• Showmag.com, Los Angeles Weekly: Theater Reviewer
• Ad Age: feature article
• The Daily Breeze Newspaper: entertainment and theater features and reviews
• MediaPost.com: advertising industry coverage
• *SAM Magazine: sales and marketing features
  *Named Best New Trade Magazine in 2000
• The Outlook Newspaper: features and theater columnist for 12 years
• DramaLogue: theatre features and reviews
• TheaterMania: West Coast Editor
• Abbot Kinney�s Venice of America: (book) Editor
• AdL.A. (newsletter for the Ad Club of Los Angeles)
• ArtExpo Magazine: artist features
• United Cerebral Palsy, Ability First, Verdugo Hills Hospital, Pacific Vascular Research Foundation: direct mail writer