Summary of Sarah Lee's professional experiences.

1. SARAH L. LEE
+1 (269) 598-6741 ◈ SARAH.LW.LEE@GMAIL.COM ◈ LINKEDIN.COM/IN/SARAHLWLEE
PROFILE
A highly experienced marketing communications leader with expertise in all forms of media, innovative content development, and ability to
manage organizational relationships with internal and external stakeholders. A skilled candidate with more than 18 years of public relations,
marketing and journalism experience, and 10 years of leadership experience.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
KALAMAZOO COMMUNITY FOUNDATION (KZCF), Kalamazoo, Michigan 2018 to Present
Vice President, Marketing Communications, 2022 to Present
Director, Marketing Communications, 2018 to 2022
• Served as a member of the Strategy & Leadership Team, developing and guiding a $14M annual budget for this organization with
$600M in assets. Created and amended foundation policies to promote equitable philanthropy. Identified and removed barriers to
advance KZCF’s vision and mission.
• Developed brand architecture and organizational messaging archetype. Established the internal and external marketing
communications strategy and execution around KZCF’s core values.
• Improved ROI on giving solicitations through innovative marketing strategy focused on increasing digital giving options. ROI grew
6X, from $6.98 to $42.75 per dollar spent. Reduced year-end appeal mailer cost from $10k to $3.3K.
• Grew social media traffic by 70% (LinkedIn 118%, Facebook 31%, Instagram 50% and Twitter 11%). Launched new weekly video
content to highlight investments and collaborations with nonprofit partners. Increased social media impressions by 200K annually.
Increased stakeholder understanding of funding priorities of equity and education by 10%.
• Envisioned and executed, a digital fundraising campaign platform for the Community Urgent Relief Fund in 2020 to support the
Donor Relations virtual and phone fundraising efforts that produced $2M in donations to address immediate community needs
arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic. Secured grants and partner collaboration in excess of $200K for various initiatives in
support of KZCF’s mission.
• Mentored and nurtured 3 direct report professionals. (Communications Officer, Digital Marketing Manager, and Marketing
Communications Coordinator). Led a cross-functional team of 11 to execute marketing and communications initiatives and actions,
ensuring alignment with the organizational strategic plan.
• Launched the Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative, an initiative to strengthen the news and media ecosystem in
Kalamazoo County through securing $100,000 grant from Solutions Journalism Network for the journalism collaborative to
produce 26 collaborative reporting stories focused on mental health with 22 of the stories written as solutions-oriented and
translated into Spanish to increase reach to Spanish-speaking populations.
GREENLEAF HOSPITALITY GROUP (GHG), Kalamazoo, Michigan 2011 to 2018
Director of Marketing & Communications, 2016 to 2018
• Constructed the marketing strategy and operations plan and systems for the Wings Event Center, Kalamazoo Wings, and Wings
West. Managed the revitalized brand strategy for the Kalamazoo Wings. Supported the sales team in development of sales
collateral for B2B and B2C.
• Produced 15% revenue growth at Wings West by implementing key marketing innovations to drive traffic to the venue, including
Character Skate, Corporate & Social Parties, and a Location-based Billboard Campaign.
• Increased walk-up ticket sales by 27% year-over-year during the 2016-2017 Kalamazoo Wings hockey season.
Public Relations & Marketing Manager, 2011 to 2015
• Developed the marketing strategy for 12 GHG business units. Coordinated and monitored more than 15 media strategies for GHG
hotels, restaurants, and retail outlets.
• Coached and developed a team of 4 direct reports.

2. KALAMAZOO SOCIAL MEDIA, LLC, Kalamazoo, Michigan 2010 to 2020
Director of Marketing
• Advised clients on marketing strategy solutions, rebranding, website development, and social media management.
• Delivered thought leadership and keynote presentations for small and mid-size business workshops on social media.
• Organized and directed a team of volunteers to host the Kalamazoo Social Media Week, a 200-person annual conference focused
on developing local social media talent and on building community-based network support.
KALAMAZOO REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, Kalamazoo, Michigan 2008 to 2011
Director of Communications, 2010 to 2011
• Generated and implemented the $30K annual marketing and communications budget for this 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization
serving 3,500 member companies with 27,000 employees.
Communications Manager, 2008 to 2010
• Responsible for the branding campaigns, marketing strategy, and external communications to members.
• Managed $10K in online advertising revenue and content for 3 publications on a weekly and monthly schedule.
Events Intern, 2008
• Assisted events coordinator with event registration, set up/tear down, coordinating volunteers, and program support.
360° (PAN ASIA CONCEPTS) | KIDZ MAGAZINE, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2006
Public Relations & Marketing Communications Executive
• Produced original content for the in-house publication, KIDZ magazine, on topics such as parenting and family activities for this
local marketing agency focused on brand management and marketing communications.
INTEGRATED PUBLIC RELATIONS, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2002 to 2003, 2010 to 2011
Public Relations Intern
• Participated in the client’s promotional events activities including media relations, program support, and registration.
EDUCATION
Master of Arts (MA) | Organizational Communication | Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts (BA) | Journalism, Music - minor | Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo, Michigan
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
Board Member & 50th
Anniversary Co-Chair | 2022 to Present | Stulberg International String Competition, Kalamazoo, Michigan
Program Committee Member | 2022 to Present | Annual Conference, Council of Michigan Foundations
Racial Healing Practitioner | 2022 to 2023 | Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo
Co-Lead | 2020 to 2023 | Asian American Affinity Group, Truth Racial Healing & Transformation Kalamazoo
Leadership Committee Member | 2019 to Present | Southwest Michigan Journalism Collaborative
Grant Proposal Reviewer | 2019 to 2023 | Animal Field-of-Interest Fund, Kalamazoo Community Foundation
Scholarship Application Reviewer | 2020 | Schwenk Scholarship, Kalamazoo Community Foundation