BACKGROUND

Experience

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UNIVERSITY OF DENVER

Denver, Colorado

Mar 2025 - present

Senior Director, Advancement Communications

  • Provide day-to-day leadership and direction for members of the A&CC communications team, providing oversight and contributing to the production of fundraising collateral and cases, impact reporting, storytelling, print and digital newsletters and publications, web content, scripting, gift proposals, presentation materials and executive communications for advancement and university senior leadership.

  • Manage the A&CC team budget in collaboration with the Senior Director of Marketing and Creative and manage the execution of contracts and vendor relationships as necessary. 

  • Provide a high level of support to senior advancement and university leadership, including executive writing, preparation of high-level presentation decks and talking points, and proposal writing for transformational gift opportunities. 

  • Chief editor for communications and publications produced across advancement, ensuring high-quality content, writing, and messaging and alignment with university brand and development campaign messaging standards.

  • Execute all communications elements of The Denver Difference marketing & communications framework and annual plan, ensuring that our bold campaign for the University of Denver is accessible, relevant, and inspiring to key audiences, internal and external stakeholders, and potential donors.

  • Lead strategic storytelling, identifying and developing story packages with A&CC team members that showcase and illustrate campaign priorities, engagement activities and philanthropic impact.

  • Lead collaboration between advancement and the DU Magazine editorial team, ensuring that magazine content and distribution aligns with alumni and donor interest and advancement communication goals. 

  • Together with the Senior Director of Marketing & Creative, lead the development of an advancement-wide annual marketing & communications plan that ensures communications and marketing activities are aligned with Advancement strategic objectives. 

  • In collaboration with the Senior Director of Marketing & Creative, develop and execute a strategic audience roadmap and content strategy plan across multiple channels and communication vehicles for external and internal stakeholders and constituencies. 

  • In collaboration with the Senior Director, Marketing & Creative, lead the development of university-wide communications cascades for deploying advancement content, including Discover the Difference deliverables, and ensure that advancement and campaign priorities and fundraising opportunities are well-represented and integrated into university-wide storytelling. 

  • Represent advancement in university-wide communication planning, process, and collaboration, and serve as advancement’s primary point of contact and chief communicator for issues management and crisis communication activities and other university activities that necessitate advancement communication with alumni & donor audiences. 

  • Lead advancement and campaign media relations activities with DU’s central media relations team. 

  • Work with the Advancement Events team to support event messaging and programming, including overall program development, speaker preparation, scripting, marketing messaging and other event elements that support the delivery of outstanding guest experiences. 

KCB COMMUNICATIONS, LLC

Denver, Colorado

Apr 2019 - Mar 2025

Principal / Owner

  • Partnered with clients to lead strategy and execution of cross-channel communications projects: annual reports, press releases, website content, advertising, webinars, newsletters, social media campaigns, videos, technical writing for learning platforms, presentations, and print materials.

  • Researched, developed, and implemented integrated communication campaigns; evaluated results and analytics to inform and evolve future strategies for optimization.

  • Managed media relations, including developing relationships with key reporters, writing press releases, pitching stories, preparing subject matter experts for interviews, and serving as spokesperson when needed.

  • Primary clients: KONZA National Network, Phil Weiser for Colorado Attorney General, State of Colorado Office of Economic Development & International Trade, University of Colorado Denver Business School – Executive MBA Program, and Sitecore.
KONZA NATIONAL NETWORK

Topeka, Kansas (remote)

Apr 2022 - Dec 2024

Director of Marketing / 
Marketing & Communications Consultant

  • Developed and executed a comprehensive marketing and communications plan to amplify brand recognition, support sales growth, and create alignment with the organization’s goals.

  • Conducted market and industry-specific web development research; provided project management, copywriting, and editing to successfully launch a new, robust website with improved resources and content for diverse stakeholders. Increased organic website traffic by 65% the first month following the launch.

  • Drove impactful multi-channel communication campaigns, including newsletters, webinars, social media, emails, and other outreach efforts, ensuring cohesive execution.

  • Increased reach and attendance at Quarterly Membership Webinars through cohesive digital communication campaigns, achieving a 60% rise in participant numbers.

  • Collaborated across teams to create go-to-market materials for three new products to reach target audiences and highlight product strengths.

  • Forged and fostered strategic partnerships with external stakeholders to collaborate on strategic marketing collateral, joint webinars, and speaking engagements at conferences.

  • Leveraged analytics to assess campaign ROI and success and to identify optimization opportunities.

  • Managed marketing budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and efficient allocation of resources to maximize campaign impact and ROI.

  • Monitored marketing metrics, reporting on actionable insights to executive leadership.

  • Managed and mentored the graphic designer, providing support to achieve performance goals.
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AURARIA CAMPUS

Denver, Colorado

July 2013 - Apr 2019

Director of Communications / Senior Policy Advisor

  • Developed and implemented strategies and integrated campaigns designed to educate and engage the Denver community and a diverse campus of 45,000 students and employees about the campus’ services, programs, and initiatives driven by DEI, accessibility, and belonging.

  • Led 16 departments through a comprehensive strategic planning process to develop communications plans for each, resulting in cohesive branding across all channels.

  • Cultivated trusted partnerships with campus leaders and constituents from University of Colorado Denver, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Community College of Denver by leading a campus-wide committee that identified communications issues and opportunities, brainstormed creative solutions, and executed strategies to meet committee’s objectives.

  • Standardized and simplified project intake and project management processes, enabling the completion of 60 communications projects on average per month.

  • Developed and produced a consistent, engaging suite of cross-channel communications materials: annual reports, brochures, digital newsletters, web content, social media, photo/video shoots, and digital/print signage.

  • Managed brand and identity to deliver a consistent and inclusive public image across all media.

  • Assessed effectiveness of messages, materials, and channels on an ongoing basis; evolved strategies for optimization based on analytics and results.

  • Provided emergency outreach and crisis communications, managing media relations to effectively address and mitigate issues.

  • Managed communication and marketing budgets to guarantee fiscal responsibility and ROI.

  • Oversaw campus policy program—reviewed policies to ensure all were current and accurate, researched policy gaps and opportunities, made recommendations for policy changes, and guided departments through the required policy approval process.

  • Led and fostered the integrated marketing and communications team of four full-time and three part-time staff with oversight of project management, performance, and career development.

  • Named Manager of the Year for the Auraria Campus in 2018.

AURARIA LIBRARY - Auraria Campus

Denver, Colorado

Jan 2013 - July 2013

Marketing and Communications Director

  • Responsible for the direction and design of marketing and communication strategies to develop awareness of and engagement with the library’s services, collections, and initiatives.

  • Performed benchmark research and developed an integrated marketing and communications plan with strategies, initiatives, and measurement metrics to meet the library’s strategic goals.

  • Planned engagement events, including lecture series, seminars, and workshops for students and faculty to connect information and research with curriculum and learning.

  • Oversaw crisis communications planning and response.

  • Managed two staff members who were responsible for market research, graphic design, and materials production.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO LAW SCHOOL
Dean's Office

Boulder, Colorado

Oct 2011 - Dec 2012

Director of Alumni Relations

  • Cultivated relationships with alumni via one-on-one meetings, through newsletters, social media, events, the website, and the biannual alumni magazine, Amicus.

  • Managed the efforts of the 28-member Law Alumni Board by serving as the primary liaison, ensuring strong and productive relationships among its members with academic leadership.

  • Solicited sponsors, promoted, and planned programming and communication materials (award videos, invitations, signage, and the presentation) for the annual alumni awards fundraising dinner; increased attendance and sponsorships by 12% despite a down market.

  • Managed the annual reunion and homecoming program by collaborating with reunion organizers on class receptions, fundraising support, communication, and promotion of events.

  • Collaborated with the Director of Development to increase the alumni participation rate in the annual fund appeal; assisted in identifying and qualifying alumni prospects for gifts.

  • Managed three staff members who were responsible for alumni research and database development, event planning, and coordination of continuing education courses.

UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO DENVER
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
Dean's Office

Denver, Colorado

Dec 2004 - Sept 2011

Marketing and Communications Manager

  • Responsible for the direction and leadership of marketing and communication strategies that maximized awareness of the college, its departments, and programs.

  • Created and edited an award-winning alumni magazine, which earned Silver and Bronze awards by the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education, and two Awards of Excellence by the University and College Designers Association.

  • Led 20 departments and programs through an extensive website redesign successfully in four months; managed ongoing web content to ensure consistent messaging, relevance, and audience engagement.

  • Organized community outreach efforts including lecture series, workshops, and sponsorships to gain exposure and build relationships with students, faculty, alumni, and the Denver community.

  • Established the inaugural Dean’s Advisory Council to engage alumni and donors; managed volunteer membership, meetings, and events.

  • Developed new promotional materials, including an e-newsletter, blog, departmental brochures, and social media platforms.

Katy Brown

303.710.5335

Denver, Colorado

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