Case Studies

The Challenge: Pristine Initiative, an artist management and development firm, hired me as Public Relations Coordinator (2021) to elevate the profile of their new artist, Nakkia Gold, amidst the unprecedented challenges of a global pandemic and significant racial unrest in 2020. The goal was to garner press attention and secure meaningful opportunities that aligned with her music and message.

My Role: As Public Relations Coordinator (2021), I focused on building strategic connections and securing impactful opportunities for Nakkia Gold, complementing the lead publicist's mainstream efforts.

Strategies & Implementation:

• Grassroots Organization Engagement: Recognizing the powerful message in Nakkia Gold's single "Justice (Get Up, Stand Up)," I proactively connected her with leading grassroots organizations deeply involved in social justice and community empowerment. This included the Social Justice Learning Institute, National Urban League, Black Child Development Institute, and Hip Hop Caucus.
• Strategic Event Coordination: Leveraging these partnerships and the resonance of her music, I successfully secured Nakkia Gold paid headlining performance opportunities at significant events aligned with her values. This included the JUSTICE Fest and the World Peace Music Festival.

Results:

While the lead publicist secured mainstream press coverage and broader opportunities, my efforts directly led to:

• Meaningful Community Engagement: Nakkia Gold connected with key grassroots organizations, amplifying her message of social reform directly to relevant communities.
• Secured Headlining Performances: I successfully secured Nakkia Gold as a paid headliner at both the JUSTICE Fest and the World Peace Music Festival, providing significant platforms to showcase her talent and message.
• Alignment with Social Impact: These opportunities directly honored Nakkia Gold's push for social reform, leveraging the impact of her single "Justice."

Conclusion:

My role as Public Relations Coordinator at Pristine Initiative was crucial in connecting Nakkia Gold with impactful grassroots organizations and securing key performance opportunities that amplified her voice and message during a critical period. By strategically leveraging her powerful single "Justice," I helped ensure her talent and commitment to social reform reached relevant audiences and made a tangible impact.

The Challenge: 321 Insight, a leading EdTech company providing professional development and software solutions for K-12 education, sought to expand its reach and secure contracts with school districts nationwide and the New Hampshire Department of Education. The company aimed to generate qualified leads and build strong relationships within the education sector.

My Role: As Marketing Coordinator at 321 Insight (2021-2022), I spearheaded all digital marketing initiatives, with a primary focus on email automation and social media strategy.

Strategies & Implementation:

• Email Marketing Mastery: I leveraged ActiveCampaign to design and implement dynamic, complex email automation workflows tailored to different audience segments within the education landscape. Utilizing HTML and CSS, I created visually engaging and highly personalized email communications. These automations nurtured leads through the sales funnel, delivering relevant content and resources.
• Strategic Social Media Engagement: I developed and executed a comprehensive social media calendar and created engaging content across various platforms. This strategy focused on building brand awareness, fostering community engagement, and positioning 321 Insight as a thought leader in the EdTech space. Content highlighted the company's expertise in areas like trauma-informed practices, paraeducator training, and addressing challenging behavior.

Results:

My targeted email marketing campaigns and strategic social media efforts played a crucial role in:

• Significant Lead Generation: The sophisticated email automations successfully generated a consistent flow of qualified leads for the sales team.
• Nationwide Contract Acquisition: Our digital marketing initiatives directly contributed to securing multiple contracts with school districts across the United States.
• Securing the NH Department of Education Contract: Our focused messaging and demonstrated expertise resonated with the New Hampshire Department of Education, leading to a successful contract to provide vital training and resources to K-12 staff statewide.

Conclusion:

By implementing data-driven email marketing strategies and engaging social media campaigns, I significantly contributed to 321 Insight's growth, securing key contracts with school districts nationwide and a significant partnership with the New Hampshire Department of Education. My ability to leverage marketing automation and create compelling digital content proved instrumental in achieving these outcomes.

The Challenge: Skybound Entertainment sought to generate significant buzz and drive awareness for the launch of its newly acquired licensed comic book properties, most notably the "Energon Universe" (Transformers and G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero), alongside other titles like Universal Monsters, Creepshow: Wolverton Station, and Lego: Ninjago Shatterspin. This included establishing a strong presence at their inaugural San Diego Comic-Con booth in 2023.

My Role: As Public Relations Specialist at Skybound Entertainment (2023-2024), I was instrumental in developing and executing the public relations strategy for these key launches. My responsibilities encompassed media pitching, securing placements, coordinating interviews, writing and editing press releases, managing licensor relationships (Hasbro, Lego), and executing targeted email marketing campaigns.

Strategies & Implementation:

• Strategic Media Outreach: I proactively pitched compelling story angles to a wide range of media outlets, resulting in successful placements in prominent publications such as Screen Rant, Looper, American Library Association, Publishers' Weekly, The Hollywood Reporter, and CBR, among others. These placements generated significant visibility and excitement for the new comic book lines.
• Interview Coordination & Press Materials: I coordinated numerous interviews with creators and Skybound leadership, ensuring smooth communication and impactful storytelling. I also crafted and refined press releases that effectively communicated key information and generated media interest.
• Licensor & IP Management: I worked closely with licensors like Hasbro and Lego, ensuring alignment on messaging and approvals for all public-facing materials related to their intellectual property.
• Targeted Email Marketing: I managed the weekly dissemination of information via Constant Contact, uploading and scheduling 7+ press releases with accompanying images for segmented lists of journalists, retailers, and consumer media. These email blasts ensured timely and comprehensive coverage of Skybound's announcements.
• San Diego Comic-Con Support: I played a key role in assisting Skybound with their first-ever booth presence at San Diego Comic-Con in 2023, contributing to a successful debut and increased brand visibility.

Results:

My strategic public relations and email marketing efforts significantly contributed to:

• Widespread Media Coverage: Securing placements in key industry and fan publications generated substantial awareness and positive buzz for the launch of the Energon Universe and other titles.
• Elevated Brand Visibility: Consistent media outreach and targeted email communications positioned Skybound Entertainment as a major player in the comic book industry.
• Successful Launch of the Energon Universe: The extensive media coverage and sustained communication helped establish the Energon Universe as a significant and highly anticipated development, lauded as the "best kept secret in comics history."
• Strong Industry Presence: Supporting Skybound's debut at San Diego Comic-Con further solidified their presence within the comic book community.

Conclusion:

Through proactive media relations, effective communication with licensors, and targeted email marketing, I played a vital role in the successful launch of the Energon Universe and other key comic book properties for Skybound Entertainment. My efforts generated significant media attention, fostered industry excitement, and contributed to establishing Skybound as a prominent force in the comic book landscape.

The Challenge: The 56th NAACP Image Awards, was in need of a specialized publishing professional  to manage the entire literary submission lifecycle for the 56th NAACP Image Awards, ensuring a comprehensive and high-quality pool of entries. This involved identifying new literary projects, establishing and maintaining contact with publishing houses and authors, meticulously tracking all submissions, and ensuring all materials and data met the rigorous criteria for the awards. The process required a high degree of organization, communication, and attention to detail to successfully move from initial outreach to final material delivery to the nominating committee.

My Role: As the Literary Coordinator(2024-2025), I was responsible for all aspects of the literary submissions process, including developing a log of potential projects, identifying key contacts, and managing communication with publishers and authors. I oversaw all submissions, both solicited and unsolicited, to ensure their viability. I also managed the data input, tracking of payments and materials, and the final logistical delivery of books to the sub-committees.

Strategies & Implementation:

Results:

My efforts led to several significant wins for the Literary Committee:

• Record Fundraising & Efficiency: By proactively monitoring and tracking book submissions and inquiries, I ensured timely follow-up, which directly resulted in the department achieving 80% of its fundraising goals.
• Author Support & Engagement: I served as the primary point of contact for all author inquiries, providing clear, comprehensive information and swiftly resolving any submission issues. I also created and distributed essential editorial resources, such as white papers and guidelines, to help authors navigate the submission process.
• Catalytic Wins for Self-Published Authors: My direct assistance with submissions helped secure the nomination and win for the first self-published novel to ever win in the Young Adult category. Additionally, I provided key support that contributed to the submissions, nominations, and ultimate wins for all literary categories.
• Quality Control: I conducted daily proofreading of all entries to ensure quality control, maintaining impeccable grammar and accuracy for the public-facing website.
• Award Expansion: I conceptualized and proposed a new journalism category for the NAACP Image Awards. The idea was accepted and will be implemented for all future shows, expanding the scope and impact of the awards.

Notable Literary Category Winners

• Outstanding Literary Work – Fiction: One of Us Knows: A Thriller by Alyssa Cole
• Outstanding Literary Work – Nonfiction: Love & Whiskey: The Remarkable True Story of Jack Daniel, His Master Distiller Nearest Green, and the Improbable Rise of Uncle Nearest by Fawn Weaver
• Outstanding Literary Work – Debut Author: Grown Women by Sarai Johnson
• Outstanding Literary Work – Biography/Autobiography: Medgar and Myrlie: Medgar Evers and the Love Story That Awakened America by Joy-Ann Reid
• Outstanding Literary Work – Instructional: Wash Day: Passing on the Legacy, Rituals, and Love of Natural Hair by Tomesha Faxio
• Outstanding Literary Work – Poetry: This Is the Honey: An Anthology of Contemporary Black Poets by Kwame Alexander
• Outstanding Literary Work – Children: You Can Be a Good Friend (No Matter What!): A Lil TJ Book by Taraji P. Henson, Paul Kellam
• Outstanding Literary Work – Youth/Teens: Brushed Between Cultures: A YA Coming of Age Novel Set in Brooklyn, New York by Samarra St. Hilaire
• Outstanding Literary Work – Graphic Novel: Punk Rock Karaoke by Bianca Xunise