Resume

Tonia C. Evans
South Shore, MA
c:781-447-5489  e:tevans@alumni.emerson.edu

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Accomplished communications professional with broad experience in E-communications, Website Design, Blogging and Social Networking, Brand Visioning, Marketing, Public Relations, Copy Writing and Public Speaking!

CORE COMPETENCIES INCLUDE:

• Ability to create brand vision for traditional and electronic marketing & publicity campaigns
• Develop websites with WordPress, and HTML coding and customized templates
• Created CSS files for custom look and feel
• Experience setting up and managing static websites, shopping carts, WordPress with pages and custom themes, and Illustrator web pages with Slices
• Experience with Dreamweaver 8, Adobe Suite programs and FTP
• Proficient in adding or updating copy, images, press pages, files and media files
• Writer of online marketing communications
• Enthusiastic public speaker and promoter
• People person by nature, successfully working alongside a variety of personalities types
• Creative problem skills, ability to identify, analyze and create solutions
• Creation and Maintenance of Databases
• Adept in PC and Macintosh computer systems; Microsoft Publisher, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Access; Dreamweaver, InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator; Apple Pages and Keynote, E-mail, Internet, Facebook, Twitter; HTML/FTP/CSS, WordPress, Shopping Carts, Constant Contact, Web Stats; Works and Works database system and Quicken; Knowledge of Flash and veterinary computer systems; easily adaptable to new programs

SELECTED ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• Earned a 2009 All Star Award from Constant Contact for excellence in e-marketing for South Shore Pet.Com’s monthly emails newsletters.
• Was chosen to be the Emcee at the Standish Humane Society’s 2008 Folk-n-Fur Fest benefit walk for animals at Wompatuck State Park, Massachusetts.
• Promoted from Intern, to Outreach and Project Coordinator at the Talking Information Center because of excellent people skills, fundraising and public speaking skills and motivation for the job.
• 2008 Nominated For Rising Star Award-Center For Women & Enterprise Boston, MA
• 2006 Nominated For Rising Star Award-Center For Women & Enterprise, Boston, MA
• Received the Animal Care Scholarship Award-Becker College, 1995

EXPERIENCE AND RESULTS

Independent Publicist & Web Design Consultant
Calway Communications, Whitman, MA 5/2002 -Current

• Researched, wrote and distributed press releases, news and feature articles under tight deadlines; placed stories in the local, regional media and radio; developed websites with HTML, CSS, WordPress, Illustrator and E-Commerce formats; wrote and updated web copy as needed; created CSS for custom look and feel; design and/or layout of newsletters, brochures, ads, business cards, and promotional materials; consulted on marketing, publicity and brand identity goals.  Past clients include: Standish Humane Society (2006-2009), Aunt Bee Antiques (2009), Beth O’Connor (2009), Steve Bell In Concert (2005), Pet Expo Day (2004), Recovery Music (2004) and New Hope Chapel Plymouth (2000-2003).

• Accomplishments: Was solely responsible for managing publicity coverage of a large scale youth event in Plymouth that attracted over 700 teens and was sold out; successful in generating media coverage in print and radio for a South Shore rock band with limited name recognition under a tight deadline and no advertising budget.

Public Speaker, Outreach & Project Coordinator
Talking Information Center, Marshfield, MA 3/2001-3/2006

• Increased outreach efforts to senior service, blind and low vision disability organizations; performed enthusiastic, creative and persuasive presentations and trainings for outreach purposes; coordinated a live three-day radio auction on a WATD 95.9FM under the direction of Phil Collier WGBH TV Auction Manager; managed direct mail and donation solicitation; organized fundraising events including wine tasting dinners, silent auctions, road races series, golf tournaments; designed outreach tables and strategies for trade shows and events; created an Access database and trained staff how to use it.

• Accomplishments: Doubled the radio auction campaign from $10,000 to $20,000 over six years by increasing solicitation numbers; created a professional radio auction brochure that decreased the number of papers we sent each donor, saving the organization over fifty cents per mailing; increased receiver sent to new listeners; worked closely with the Team With A Vision committee on organizing their 5K Road Race in 2002.

Public Relations Trainer
First Congregational Church, Hanson, MA 1/2010-2/2010

• Offered a two night workshop on public relations and marketing standards to a team at The First Congregational Church in Hanson, MA. The workshop combined educational presentation from my workbook, along with customized coaching on the groups specific goals and objectives.

Web-Editor & Writer
South Shore Pet.Com, Whitman, MA 9/2008 to 2/2010

• Created an online pet magazine that offers the pet industry an option for promoting and sharing news and events. Conceptualized the brand logo, customized the website in WordPress using CSS and HTML coding; expanded the site to offer banner ads space for a revenue stream; designed bulk email newsletters in Constant Contact; wrote and edited articles; coordinated graphic design and public relations; set up company social networking profile on Facebook and set up Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and web statistic tracking; coordinated outreach workshops for animal welfare organizations.

• Accomplishments: Personally customized the CSS style sheet for an advanced template within 24 hours, created a stylish website that has attracted advertisers, writers and a core team of volunteers.

Adult Ed Instructor “Groom Your Pet At Home”
Main Street Extension, Whitman-Hanson, MA 10/2009

• Presented a one-night workshop entitled, Groom Your Pet at Home; Students learned the basics of grooming their dog or cat at home and ways to save money in between professional grooming appointments; researched, wrote and designed my own PowerPoint presentation and handouts for the course.

Adult Ed Instructor “Publicity Success”
Main Street Extension, Whitman-Hanson, MA 3/2009

• Through the Main Street Extension Education Department of Whitman-Hanson Public Schools, I presented a three-week evening course titled Publicity Success; researched, wrote and designed my own syllabus and workbook; used presentation techniques and hands on computer training to explore the difference between marketing, public relations and advertising, demonstrated electronic research and distribution tools; assisted students with drafting a professional press release.

Adult Ed Instructor “Publicity Success”
Braintree Public Schools, Braintree, MA 10/ 2008 – 11/ 2008

• Through the Braintree Adult Education Department of Braintree Public Schools, presented a three-week evening course titled Publicity Success; researched, wrote and designed my own syllabus and workbook; used presentation techniques and hands on computer training to explore the difference between marketing, public relations and advertising, demonstrated electronic research and distribution tools; assisted students with drafting a professional press release.

Marketing & Public Relations Consultant
Main Street Extension, Whitman-Hanson, MA 5/2008 – 8/2008

• Provided public relations and marketing consulting to the Main Street Extension during a four month contract, provided direction to improve the brand image for the program and promotional materials; introduced promotional strategies and developed a media time-line; wrote and distributed press releases; and acted as a consultant for the Program Director during the contract period.

• Accomplishments: By identifying the targeted audience, adding online registration and creating a new stylish brochure, the program increased its enrollment by 30%.

Education

• Emerson College, Boston, MA

Bachelor of Science in Speech Performance in Communication Management and Public Relations, May 2002

• Becker College, Leicester, MA

Associates of Science in Animal Care and Management, May 1997

PET INDUSTRY INVOLVEMENT

• Cat Writers Conference New York, Nov 2011
• Whole Cat Workshop Massachusetts Animal Coalition/Tufts University 2011
• Business Of Pet Writers Conference, February 12,2011
• Member groups on Linked In: Pet Industry professionals, Pet Online Marketing, Pet professionals, and Pet Sitters International
• Pet Writer for South Shore Pet.Com
• A Contributing Columnist for Nashville Paw Magazine’s Online Blog “The Cat’s Meow”
• Whole Cat Workshop, Massachusetts Animal Coalition March 2009 at Tufts University
• Standish Humane Society, Emcee & Publicity Consultant For Annual “Folk and Fur” Walk For Animals, Fall 2006, Fall 2007, Fall 2008, Design/Layout Newsletter 2008 and 2009
• Pet Gazette Events Calendar Writer, Feb/2007-June/2007
• Massachusetts Animal Coalition Meetings 2005 at Tufts University
• H.H. Backer Pet Products Trade Show, Atlantic City, 2005
• Pet Expo Day; Promoting Pet Adoption, Publicist and Co-Organizer, Hanson, MA 4/04-05/04
• Attendee at the Spay-USA conference at Bentley College in Waltham, Massachusetts 2000
• Pet Gazette Newspaper, Feature Writer, 3/98-11/98
• Feline Symposium, Tufts University, 1997
• Pet CPR and First Aid Certified, Cape Cod, MA 1997
• Standish Humane Society, Shelter Volunteer, Duxbury MA, 1/90-3/97
• At Becker College trained dogs through the NEADS/Becker Partnership 1996
• 1995-1996 member Student Chapter of the North American Veterinary Technician Association-Animal Care
• Received the Animal care Scholarship for the year 1995 at Becker College
• Rabies Vaccinated 1995.  Titer Tested 1999 & 2009

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

• First Congregational Church Hanson, MA, Steve Bell In Concert, Publicist, 4/2005
• Recovery Music Concert With a Cause, Publicist 2/04-4/03
• Crash The Party Youth Event, Publicist, Spring 2003
• 95.9 FM WATD Radio Station, Kids’ Reporter, 4/01-4/02
• New Hope Chapel, Publicist, Summer 2000, Winter 2001 and Summer 2002
• Team With A Vision 5K Road Race, TIC Representative and Event Volunteer, 9/02
• New England Music Organization (NEMO), Awards Coordinator and Conference Assistant 4/99 and 4/00