Resume

STEPHEN H. PADRE

Washington, D.C.
202/360-6971
shpadre@gmail.com
linkedin.com/in/stephenpadre

Mission-driven professional communicator with a solid background providing strategic and visionary communication leadership and community engagement to reach target audiences, nurture relationships, build brand awareness and provide education. Understanding of the full scope of communications operations for nonprofit organizations. Recognized for excellence in planning, execution, and creativity. Known for expertise in the evaluation and continuous improvement of communication processes to achieve organizational goals.

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY

Communicator for international, national and local nonprofit organizations. Experience managing projects and information flow with internal and external audiences. Creating communications materials using wide-ranging practical skills:

• Formulating communications strategies and messages and implementing plans  
• Writing and editing for print and the web, including news and feature-style writing
• Management of print-production projects of all sizes (brochures, fact sheets, reports, media materials)
• Production of print and electronic periodicals: newsletters, magazines
• Overseeing the redesign and revamping of organizations’ websites 
• Maintaining social media channels, including creating content (text, graphics)
• Media relations
• Many practical computer skills to perform daily tasks (layout and design, website maintenance)
• Supervising communications staff; managing work of freelance writers, designers and video producers 
• Executive-producing videos  
• Communications support for fundraising 

 

TECHNICAL SKILLS

• Graphics and desktop-publishing software: Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, InDesign and Illustrator); Canva
  
• Web-design and maintenance software: content management systems (Drupal, WordPress); working knowledge of HTML; developing and redesigning websites 
• Hootsuite (for social media maintenance)
  
• Salesforce
• Project-management software
• Email/newsletter software: Mailchimp; Constant Contact; Salesforce Marketing Cloud Engagement (Pardot)
• Website and social media analytics and reporting, including Facebook, X, Hootsuite and GA4
• PR/media relations platforms: Meltwater, Cision
• PowerPoint 
• Video production 
• Fundraising
• Public speaking 
• Basic French

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TAPROOT FOUNDATION
Online
May 2024-present
Project-based work for various nonprofits across the U.S.; providing communications strategy and counsel and hands-on work, such as writing and editing news releases 

 

ST. STEPHEN AND THE INCARNATION EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Washington, D.C.
July 2022-April 2024 and May 2017-July 2018
Website and social media manager

• Achievements include designing new English and Spanish websites. Created and posted content weekly to both sites.
• Maintained social media channels. 

 

WORLD COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
International headquarters of church group
Geneva, Switzerland (worked remotely in Washington, D.C.)
August 2022-August 2023
Freelance writer
Wrote occasional news and feature articles on international and regional events.

LOAVES AND FISHES
Feeding program of St. Stephen and the Incarnation Episcopal Church (a local church)
Washington, D.C.
February 2020-April 2024
Member of management board responsible for communications

• Maintained website.
• Assisted with fundraising, including drafting quarterly appeal letters.
  
• Marketing for benefit events.

 

COPYPRESS
Online platform for businesses to use freelance writers and editors to create website marketing content
May 2022-August 2023
Editor

 

SHARED HOPE INTERNATIONAL
Works to eradicate sex trafficking in the U.S.
Washington, D.C.
September 2023-January 2024 (reason for leaving: not a good fit)
Director of Communications and Public Relations

• Developed comprehensive communications strategy that included enforcing style guides, establishing procedures for maintaining communications channels and redesigning main website.
• Managed media relations.
• Created content for and maintained websites and four social media channels (Facebook, Instagram, X and LinkedIn). Achievements include growing followers on social media.
  
• Managed communications for events.
• Write, edit, lay out and distribute e-newsletters.

 

PRIMARY CARE COLLABORATIVE
Advocacy- and education-focused membership organization to reform healthcare system in the U.S.
Washington, D.C.
March 2020-May 2022
Senior Manager of Communications 

• Developed and executed communications and marketing strategies and activities. Promoted the organization’s positions on health care through awareness-raising and advocacy to policymakers and the media.
• Wrote, edited and produced monthly newsletters and emails; produced content for and maintained websites and social media channels; produced publications.
• Managed media relations, including writing news releases and op-eds, pitching to media, organizing media briefings.
• Regularly proposed and implemented new ways to increase visibility and engagement of members and their expertise in communications channels through innovative content and products.
• Managed and marketed monthly webinars; assisted in planning annual national conference; led in marketing of conference.
• Managed webmaster/IT consultant.

COPYPRESS
Online platform for businesses to use freelance writers and editors to create website marketing content
December 2019-March 2020
Editor

NATIONAL WIC ASSOCIATION
Professional trade association for employees of the federal Women, Infants and Children nutrition program in states across the U.S.
Washington, D.C.
July 2018-May 2019 (reason for leaving: not a good fit)
Communications, Media and Marketing Manager

• Directed the strategy, research, planning, implementation and overall coordination of marketing, public relations and communication work
• Created, supervised and coordinated public relations and media campaigns; served as primary media contact
• Directed the writing, editing, formatting and dissemination of print materials (fact sheets, position papers, promotional resources, event publications) and digital materials (e-newsletters, mass emails, blog posts)
• Created content (text, graphics) for and managed Facebook and Twitter accounts
• Created and edited content for and managed websites; developed new features for sites; provided leadership in creating new site for the WIC research community
• Ensured brand and style guidelines were followed
• Supervised the communications and marketing coordinator

SISTERS OF MERCY

International headquarters of a Catholic order of women
Silver Spring, Md.
March-July 2018
Temporary Publications Editor (maternity cover)

Writing and editing; helped to produce a biweekly internal newsletter, bimonthly internal magazine and maintain the blog.

BREAD FOR THE WORLD
Works to eradicate global hunger through advocacy before the U.S. government
Washington, D.C.
October 2013-October 2016
Managing Editor

• Editor of Bread, monthly newsletter (12 online issues per year and formerly 6 print issues)
• Managing editor of organization's two other email newsletters - one weekly, one monthly
• Chief copy editor of all of organization's communications (print, electronic and video) to its membership; general copy editing and for adherence to organization's brand and style
• Managed production of print materials; wrote and edited content; coordinated work of freelance and in-house designers, freelance translators, printers and other vendors; chaired office's publications committee
• Managed production of print, web and video materials for organization's signature campaign, its annual Offering of Letters, a year-long campaign to encourage members to send hand-written letters to Congress on a specific legislative issue; led in determination of messaging for campaign
• Maintained organization's brand and style guide and adherence to it
• Led editorial team; supervised associate online editor (social media manager and blog editor)
• Wrote regularly for blog
• Assisted with daily maintenance of website (writing, editing and posting of content); coordinated writing and editing of all new content for new website launched in July 2015 (www.bread.org).
• Served as acting communications and marketing director when he was absent
  

 

RURAL COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE PARTNERSHIP
National headquarters of a network of organizations across the U.S. that assist small rural communities with their drinking water and wastewater systems (economic and community development space)
Washington, D.C.
June 2009-October 2013
Director of Communications

• Developed and implemented a communications strategy for the national office and network.
• Edited and oversaw production of bimonthly magazine (national circulation of 7,800). Wrote, edited and oversaw production of monthly electronic newsletter (3,500 subscribers). 
• Produced other print materials (brochures, guides, etc.). Achievements include producing a series of 11 guides with multimedia supplements and managing a budget of $500,000 from a grant of federal stimulus funds. 
• Maintained and developed website. Achievements include overseeing a complete redesign and re-establishing the organization’s web presence in 2009 and adding major sections to the site.
• Represented national office at regional and national meetings; presented at workshops. 
• Coordinated logistics for annual national conference.

 

FREELANCE JOURNALIST/EDITOR/COMMUNICATOR
Based in Geneva, Switzerland and Nairobi, Kenya
July 2007-May 2009

Work for various international nonprofit clients included: managing, writing and editing annual reports; writing and editing news and feature articles; copy editing and proofreading articles for daily news feeds; photography. 

ACTION BY CHURCHES TOGETHER (ACT) INTERNATIONAL (now the ACT Alliance)
Global network of church-based disaster-response organizations
Geneva, Switzerland
Oct. 2003-Jan. 2007
Information Officer

• Helped to develop and implement communications strategy. Promoted mission, determined messages, and ensured consistency in communications that helped members raise funds for effective responses.
• Wrote, edited and distributed text (news and feature articles and reports; 3-6 per week) and photos that covered disaster-response programs of ACT members in the field. 
• Wrote, edited and laid out print materials, including annual reports, brochures and fact sheets, for local and international promotion of ACT.
• Performed daily and long-term maintenance of main and photo-sharing websites. Developed new features for the sites. Achievements include initiating and planning the main site’s first major redesign in 11 years.
• Developed and maintained relationships with media and communications staff in church-body organizations and their related relief agencies on regional and international level. Liaised with religious and secular media and news agencies dealing with disaster relief.
• Managed information flow to member agencies and media on major international disasters and ACT’s response to them. Major responses covered include southeast Asia tsunami, Darfur humanitarian emergency, and earthquakes in Iran and Pakistan. Disseminated information from the field to assist members in raising funds and making funding and advocacy decisions for providing humanitarian relief.
• Trained communication and program staff in the field in communications skills.
• Traveled to disaster sites to gather information (text, photos) and wrote articles on work of members in the field (included travels to Indonesia, Southern and Eastern Africa)

 

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (ELCA), Department for Communication
National headquarters of a mainline Christian denomination
Chicago, Illinois
Associate Director of Interpretation for the World Hunger and Disaster Response programs
Jan. 1999-Sept. 2003 

• Developed and implemented a communications strategy to help raise more than $20 million annually for and to interpret the domestic and international hunger, poverty and disaster work of the ELCA. Achievements include directing ELCA communications on a joint Africa campaign and raising a record $7 million for the ELCA’s response to the Sept. 11 attacks.
• Wrote, edited and coordinated with professional graphic designers and publisher the production of two major packets of print resources mailed annually to 11,000 ELCA congregations. 
• Wrote, edited and laid out quarterly four-page newsletter. Wrote news and feature articles on World Hunger and Disaster programs for ELCA News Service and ELCA magazines and publications.
• Gathered and disseminated information about international and domestic disasters the ELCA responded to immediately after they occurred through print and electronic means. 
• Performed the daily maintenance and development of the four websites associated with the ELCA Hunger and Disaster programs. Achievements include overseeing the redesign of each. 
• Produced interpretive videos (1-2 annually). 
• Represented the Hunger and Disaster programs at organizational and external meetings. Spoke in public, including leading workshops and forums, and at national and regional events.

 

CONSUMERS DIGEST, INC.
Personal finance magazine of a company producing consumer product reviews
Skokie, Illinois
Jan.-Dec. 1998
Assistant Editor for Your Money magazine (national circulation of 500,000; six issues annually) 

• Generated ideas for feature articles.
• Edited 3-4 manuscripts from free-lance writers and columnists per issue.
• Wrote press releases to promote each issue.
• Copy edited proofs.
• Performed data entry and layout.

 

EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA (ELCA)
National headquarters of a mainline Christian denomination
Chicago, Illinois
Various administrative positions
September 1995-December 1997
 

EDUCATION

Boston University College of Communication, Boston
Bachelor of Science in Journalism, cum laude; May 1995

Continuing education:

• Regularly attend webinars, conferences and workshops on communications, marketing and social media 
• Course on research and writing methods covering conducting surveys, focus groups and analysis of statistics at The Johns Hopkins University, 2010
• The Poynter Institute Effective Editor seminar, October 2015 
  

 

 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE/
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

World Council of Churches 11th Assembly (Karlsruhe, Germany)

Volunteer senior communicator, working remotely from home in Washington, D.C.
August 31-September 8, 2022
Wrote news releases and feature articles about the assembly

ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
Volunteer Director of Communications as a member of the board of directors
July 2012-July 2014

• Developed and implemented a communications strategy and determined messages for various initiatives.
• Oversaw website, social media and newsletter; contributed to content.
• Liaised with media and served as primary spokesperson.

Board member, Souper Bowl of Caring (a youth-oriented, anti-hunger movement), 2002-2003

Service on congregational councils (boards of directors) for various churches in Chicago; Geneva, Switzerland; and Washington, D.C., 1998-2024
 

Ballot clerk (poll volunteer), Washington, D.C., Board of Elections 2024, 2022

·       Hosting foreign exchange students (various local and national programs), 2017-present

Food delivery to seniors and shut-ins, We Are Family, Washington, D.C., 2022-present

Board member responsible for communications, Norwegian Society of Washington, D.C., 2010-2011