PROFESSIONAL  EXCELLENCE  SUMMARY  More  than  10  years  of  diversified  experience  with  increased  leadership  skills  and  abilities  in  communications,  social  media  and  media  relations  demonstrating  a  strong  background  in  government,  corporations  and  nonprofit  organizations.  

• Strong  communicator,  ability  to  articulate  clearly  with  the  written  and  spoken  word.  Confident,  quick  learner,  persuasive  and  a  quick  thinker.  

• Ability  to  describe  and  translate  complex  information.  • Goal-­‐oriented  team  member,  resourceful  writer  and  creative  multimedia  designer  utilizing  a  variety  of  tools.  • Persuasive  interpersonal  skills;  strong  attention  to  detail.  • Proven  proficiency  in  content  creation,  strategic  solutions,  marketing  and  promotion,  coalition  building,  

problem  solving  and  the  capability  to  administer  working  teams.    AREAS  OF  EXPERTISE  

• Marketing,  Media  and  Public  Relations  • Project  Management  • Online  Digital  Media  • Social  Media    • Strong  writing  skills    

   CAREER  ACHIEVEMENTS  

• Launched  new  government  identity  for  established  executive  cabinet  level  agency  by  creating  attention  grabbing  campaigns  and  collateral  materials,  established  online  identity  across  multiple  social  media  platforms  including  webinars,  obtained  media  coverage  for  community  events  resulting  in  an  increase  awareness  of  the  governor’s  initiatives.  

• Increased  brand  visibility  and  sales  potential  of  large  corporate  bank  by  planning  and  executing  the  Spotlight  on  Success  series.    Created  a  platform  that  elevated  the  Vice  President  of  Sales  and  Marketing,  resulting  in  greater  customer  participation  in  the  mid-­‐Atlantic  region.

 PROFESSIONAL  BACKGROUND    GOVERNOR’S  OFFICE  OF  MINORITY  AFFAIRS,  BALTIMORE,  MD  SMALL  BUSINESS  OUTREACH  MANAGER  and  COMMUNICATIONS  SPECIALIST  3/2013-­11/2015

• Served  at  the  pleasure  of-­‐Governor  Martin  O’Malley  and  Governor  Larry  Hogan  and  represented  the  

small  business  community  at  events,  meetings  and  trainings  on  behalf  of  both  administrations.  • Promoted  Moving  Maryland  Forward,  Maryland  Open  for  Business  and  Changing  Maryland  for  the  Better  

gubernatorial  initiatives  on  social  media  and  traditional  media  outlets.    • Created  three  outreach  initiatives  in  2015  designed  to  connect  small  businesses  to  state  certification  

resources  and  procurement  representatives.    • Redesigned  GOMA’s  outreach  plan  and  increased  the  accessibility  and  awareness  of  the  Governor’s  

initiatives.  • Designed  all  outreach  content  including  Constant  Contact  emails,  social  media  campaigns,  blog  posts,  

surveys,  marketing  videos,  media  alerts  and  print  materials.  • Planned  all  outreach  events  including  online  educational  webinars,  managed  event  volunteers  

negotiated  venue  contracts  and  managed  all  event  budgets.  • Built  strong  coalitions  with  local,  state  and  federal  entities  geared  towards  supporting  small  business  

owners  including  Mayor  Stephanie  Rawlings-­‐Blake,  Congressman  Cummings,  Congressman  Sarbanes,  Senator  Pugh,  and  both  the  Legislative  Black  Caucus  and  Hispanic  Caucus.    

• Executed  all  social  media  campaigns  through  the  use  of  GOMA’s  Wordpress  blog,  Twitter,  facebook,  Google+  and  YouTube  accounts  and  tracked  daily  and  monthly  insights.  

• Worked  with  communications  director  to  redesign  GOMA’s  website  and  regularly  provided  content  to  keep  site  updated.  

• Supported  communications  director  with  GOMA’s  annual  report.    

April Danielle Williams april@kennedyconsulting.net

7989 Millstone Ct. • Severn, Maryland 21114 • 240-353-3146 •april@kennedyconsulting.net  

• Integrated  Marketing  • Public  Speaking  and  Training  • Communications  • Corporate  Civic  Engagement  • Conference  and  Event  planning  

 

 KENNEDY  CONSULTING  GROUP,  LAUREL,  MD  CEO  AND  OWNER  2/2008-­3/2013    

• Drove  customer  engagement  through  visually  appealing  and  timely  content.    • Increased  customer  stickiness  utilizing  lead  nurturing  techniques.  • Managed  and  supervised  Kennedy  Consulting  Group  staff  and  contractors.  • Designed  marketing  campaigns  using  collateral  materials,  press  kits  and  photography.  • Executed  large  and  small  events  across  the  country  with  budgets  from  $10k  and  up.  • Secured  new  clients  and  increased  customer  interest  through  company  facebook,  Twitter,  Instagram,  

Pinterest,  Wordpress  and  email  platforms.  • Crafted  press  releases,  marketing  materials  and  pitched  to  media  outlets.  • Produced  the  MBE  University  Small  Business  Conference  for  the  O’Malley-­‐Brown  Administration.  • Successfully  executed  Charles  County’s  Going  Green  campaign  and  two  major  events.  • Increased  brand  visibility  of  Wells  Fargo  by  creating  and  planning  Spotlight  on  Success  event.    • Provided  event  management,  PR  and  live  digital  media  support  during  five  National  Black  MBA  

Conferences  including  production  of  conference  video  for  the  Ford  Ride  and  Drive  test  drive    • Secured  new  clients  and  increased  customer  interest  through  company  facebook,  Twitter,  Instagram,  

Pinterest,  Wordpress  and  email  platforms.  • Created  and  managed  Entrepreneurious  Wordpress  company  blog.  

 RUSHING  MEDIA,  LOS  ANGELES,  CA  DIRECTOR  OF  COMMUNICATIONS-­EAST  COAST  7/2008-­3/2010    

• Responsible  for  growing  the  visibility  of  Rushing  Media  on  the  East  Coast  and  Southern  regions.  • Secured  new  business  through  email  and  social  media  marketing  campaigns.  • Managed  all  customer  accounts  and  budgets.  • Crafted  press  releases  and  pitched  clients  to  the  media.  • Positioned  each  client  through  increased  brands  awareness  utilizing  cause  marketing,  press  

opportunities,  speaking  engagements.  • Drafted  talking  points  and  speeches  for  each  client.  

 B.REEL  Media  Management,  GERMANTOWN,  MD  DIRECTOR  MARKETING  AND  COMMUNICATIONS  4/2003-­2/2010    

• Increased  company  standing  and  brand  visibility  through  strategic  marketing  and  online  placement.  • Managed  all  aspects  of  internal  and  external  communications.  • Created  collateral  materials,  print  and  online  (including  press  kits,  biographies  and  fact  sheets).  • Designed  marketing  materials  and  promoted  local  events.  • Responsible  for  all  website  maintenance  and  content  updates.  • Created  web  copy  and  marketed  B.Reel  through  Constant  Contact  email  campaigns.  • Provided  artist  management  for  Grammy  Award-­‐winning  artist  Joel  A.  Kibble  (Take  6).  • Supported  Business  development  and  secured  new  clients.  • Planned  the  2008  U.S.  Dream  Academy  Gala  receiving  matching  funds  from  Oprah  Winfrey.  • Provided  artist  management  and  talent  booking.  

 VOLUNTEER  SERVICE  

• Project  RED-­‐Baltimore,  MD  • Brighter  Hope  Campaign,  Ashton,  MD  • People’s  Inaugural  Gala,  Washington,  DC  • MED  Week  event,  Washington,  DC  • Ellington’s  event,  Alexandria,  VA  • Democratic  National  Convention-­‐artist  management,  Denver,  CO  

 TECHNICAL  SKILLS    Microsoft  Office  Suite,  Adobe  Connect,  iMovie,  Constant  Contact,  YouTube,  Go-­‐to-­‐Webinar,  Hootsuite,  Survey  Monkey,  Google  platform,  Wordpress  and  social  media  platforms.  EDUCATION  Master  of  Management  and  Community  Organization,  University  of  Maryland,  Baltimore,  MD  2006      Bachelor  of  Social  Work,  Andrews  University,  Berrien  Springs,  MI  1998    

DEDICATED  TO  MAKING  THE  WORLD  A  BETTER  PLACE