Public Affairs/Marketing Communications Strategist
Last Updated: January 26, 2018 (over 6 years ago)
Professional Summary – Dennis Powell is an independent and self-starting communications strategist and business development professional with capture and proposal writing expertise. A fearless public relations/public affairs professional, he has more than five years of experience working as a project leader at award-winning and fast-paced public relations and ad agencies. Dennis has more 15 than years of experience as a lead strategist, manager, or executive at IT and interactive firms, as well as Washington DC based nonprofits. His diverse background has made him a quick study with an exceptional understanding of public affairs, advocacy, and information technology (IT) including cybersecurity, search engine optimization (SEO), customer relationship management (CRM) platforms, and social media (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Tumblr, LinkedIn). In addition, he has a keen understanding of membership marketing, direct marketing, newsletters, and online advertising. He is the recipient of a special award from Tech Council of Maryland for promotional work on its Annual Awards program.
Career Highlights- 15+ years of experience marketing information technology and cybersecurity to government agencies and commercial enterprises
- 10+ years of experience supporting winning and compelling proposal development activities responding to multimillion dollar ($500K - $40M) requirements from the Department of Energy (DOE), the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), and the Department of Transportation (DOT)
- 5 years of project management experience in a PR/marketing agency environment
- Managed successfully public relations/marketing teams of seven to 15 professionals in fast-paced environments
- Led successful public affairs and marketing campaigns for high profile organizations, including the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL) of the Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF), Thomson Scientific, and KPMG Corporate Finance, Discovery Communications, Howard University, Core Capital Partners, and DHL
- Secured accolades for clients and executives including Montgomery County IT Company of the Year, several U.S. Chamber of Commerce Blue Ribbon Awards, and a Stevie Award
- Led social media campaigns that help government contractor attract thousands of followers on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter
- Developed and wrote successful blog that attracted thousands of readers
- Career news placements include stories appearing in Reuters, The Associated Press, Forbes, the New York Times, The Washington Post, Boston Globe as well as on FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS affiliate news programs
Skills & Training:
- Salesforce CRM Training
- CMMI® Process Training, 2009, 2010, 2015
- Project Management Training
Technologies
- WordPress
- Blackbaud (Convio)
- Salsa CRM
- Salesforce
- GovWin+Onvia
- Carroll Publishing
Workshop/Webinar: Led Facebook and Twitter Marketing Training, 2014; and Moderated e-Management Government Technology webinars
Membership: The Association of Record for Bid, Proposal, Business Development, Capture and Graphics Professionals
Address
Category
E-mail
Phone Number
Website
Education
Bachelors of Arts
@ American University
Sep 1988
— Dec 1992
Communications
Experience
Director, Marketing & Brand Communications
@ e-Management
Mar 2009
— Current
Communications/Public Affairs: Led marketing communications initiatives for CMMI ML 3 appraised and ISO/IEC 27001 certified government contractor including, but not limited to creative copy development, news release development, blogging and social media posting, exhibition support, awards nominations/submissions, and writing and editing proposal responses to government issued RFPs/RFQs
Market Research: Performed competitive analyses/market research of risk management products and other technology tools developed for government and commercial organizations
Products Marketing: Supported sales initiatives for innovative risk management products (eGov Risk Portfolio Manager and CyberRx); and supported go to market campaign for CyberRx, a new cybersecurity Software as a service (SaaS)
Social Media: Helped organization attract thousands of visitors to website, blog, social media sites, and webinar
Website: Helped corporate website to achieve high return visitor rates of 40%+; Led the website redesign and launch
Event Marketing: Supporting CyberRx marketing initiatives including promoting the Inaugural and 2nd American Small Business Cybersecurity Xchange Conference, as well as a Spring Summit
Awards Program: Securing award wins for company including Montgomery County IT Company of the Year 2015, the Blue Ribbon Award 2016 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and 2017 Stevie Award for e-Management’s CEO among others
Partnerships: Building partnerships with government contracting community
Capture Management/Proposal Development: Supporting capture management and proposal development initiatives including drafting corporate experience, past performance, management, and resume components
Business Development: Managed business development outreach program targeting DHS, DOE, HHS, DOT, and other government organizations; identified pain-points at federal organizations; and worked with industry partners (i.e., primes and subcontractors) to form teams and to craft business solutions that advance the missions of federal agencies
Supervised marketing assistant/graphic design artist; and acted as liaison between media companies
Market Research: Performed competitive analyses/market research of risk management products and other technology tools developed for government and commercial organizations
Products Marketing: Supported sales initiatives for innovative risk management products (eGov Risk Portfolio Manager and CyberRx); and supported go to market campaign for CyberRx, a new cybersecurity Software as a service (SaaS)
Social Media: Helped organization attract thousands of visitors to website, blog, social media sites, and webinar
Website: Helped corporate website to achieve high return visitor rates of 40%+; Led the website redesign and launch
Event Marketing: Supporting CyberRx marketing initiatives including promoting the Inaugural and 2nd American Small Business Cybersecurity Xchange Conference, as well as a Spring Summit
Awards Program: Securing award wins for company including Montgomery County IT Company of the Year 2015, the Blue Ribbon Award 2016 from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and 2017 Stevie Award for e-Management’s CEO among others
Partnerships: Building partnerships with government contracting community
Capture Management/Proposal Development: Supporting capture management and proposal development initiatives including drafting corporate experience, past performance, management, and resume components
Business Development: Managed business development outreach program targeting DHS, DOE, HHS, DOT, and other government organizations; identified pain-points at federal organizations; and worked with industry partners (i.e., primes and subcontractors) to form teams and to craft business solutions that advance the missions of federal agencies
Supervised marketing assistant/graphic design artist; and acted as liaison between media companies
Director of Marketing & Outreach
@ DemocracyInAction
Mar 2008
— Oct 2008
Handled direct sales inquiries including general public-inquiry calls and e-mails regarding system capacity, setup procedures, terms of service, needs assessment, etc.
Performed competitive analysis/market research of online CRM tools
Planned and promoted the organization’s first user conference in less than two months; exceeding conference registration expectations
Managed regional outreach programs and sales staff in California, Indiana, New York and Montana
Built the inaugural marketing and outreach (sales) department for a young CRM provider that helps political campaigns and organizations successfully grow and organize online
Helped outreach team secure over 100 new clients during the course of 7 months
Successfully promote the organization’s first CRM user conference with attendance exceeding expectations
Performed competitive analysis/market research of online CRM tools
Planned and promoted the organization’s first user conference in less than two months; exceeding conference registration expectations
Managed regional outreach programs and sales staff in California, Indiana, New York and Montana
Built the inaugural marketing and outreach (sales) department for a young CRM provider that helps political campaigns and organizations successfully grow and organize online
Helped outreach team secure over 100 new clients during the course of 7 months
Successfully promote the organization’s first CRM user conference with attendance exceeding expectations
Account Manager (Project Manager)
@ Allison+Partners
Jun 2007
— Mar 2008
Served as account manager (project manager) at the newly opened Washington, DC office of Allison+Partners providing public relations strategy for Entertainment Industries Council, Inc. (creator of the PRISM Awards), Core Capital Partners (venture capital), KPMG Corporate Finance, Axis Communications (digital surveillance), and WomenHeart that resulted in numerous articles and TV news features that provided 3rd party validation to clients cause, services, and products
Led a successful media tour with KPMG Corporate Finance executives
Performed communications audits; and wrote press releases and articles
Supported new business/sales initiatives
Led a successful media tour with KPMG Corporate Finance executives
Performed communications audits; and wrote press releases and articles
Supported new business/sales initiatives
Vice President, Marketing & Communications*
@ Filnet, Inc.
Jan 2005
— Mar 2008
Served as chief marketing officer for leading interactive web development and complete IT service provider
Acted as operations manager in the absence of CEO or Executive Vice President
Negotiated and built teaming relations with complementary technology services providers
Assisted in securing new business, which led to the company’s most successful year since its founding
Managed trade shows and special events
Helped to move company to record earnings
Positioned CEO as industry expert and go-to person for business reporters
Secured numerous articles/press coverage and industry awards/accolades for CEO and firm
*Served as marketing and proposal consultant from June 2007 to March 2008
Acted as operations manager in the absence of CEO or Executive Vice President
Negotiated and built teaming relations with complementary technology services providers
Assisted in securing new business, which led to the company’s most successful year since its founding
Managed trade shows and special events
Helped to move company to record earnings
Positioned CEO as industry expert and go-to person for business reporters
Secured numerous articles/press coverage and industry awards/accolades for CEO and firm
*Served as marketing and proposal consultant from June 2007 to March 2008
Manager Communications & Marketing (Program Associate)
@ NBCDI
Apr 2003
— Jan 2005
Served as press liaison, event planner and marketing communications manager for national annual conference that attracts 3,000 early childhood educators, elementary and secondary public and charter school teachers and policy makers every year
Managed annual conference advertising, sponsorship and exhibit program
Developed and implemented strategic marketing communications campaign to promote annual conference; increased conference attendance by 30% and publications sales by nearly 25%
Increased combined advertisements, sponsorships and exhibits revenue by over 50%
Managed annual conference advertising, sponsorship and exhibit program
Developed and implemented strategic marketing communications campaign to promote annual conference; increased conference attendance by 30% and publications sales by nearly 25%
Increased combined advertisements, sponsorships and exhibits revenue by over 50%
Account Supervisor (Project Manager)
@ RMR & Associates, Inc.
Nov 2000
— Apr 2003
Recommended and implemented results oriented marketing, public relations, crisis communications and advertising programs, and campaigns to a diverse client base, which included start-up, high technology, local IT membership and other business organizations
Trained executives of corporations and organizations in ways to communicate to the press, analysts and general audiences during favorable and adverse conditions
Career news placements include stories appearing in media outlets including Reuters, The Associated Press, Forbes, The Washington Post, Boston Globe as well as on FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS affiliate news programs.
Trained executives of corporations and organizations in ways to communicate to the press, analysts and general audiences during favorable and adverse conditions
Career news placements include stories appearing in media outlets including Reuters, The Associated Press, Forbes, The Washington Post, Boston Globe as well as on FOX, ABC, NBC and CBS affiliate news programs.
Communications & Marketing Associate
@ Alban Institute
Jan 1999
— Nov 2000
Implemented successful marketing campaigns for book publishing/retail, continuing education courses and consulting services for national organizational; coordinated development of marketing collateral materials including publications catalogs, seminar catalogs, annual reports, brochure and direct mail pieces from design to printing and/or mailing; acted as back up for call center
Promoted the inaugural Alban Institute Summit with attendance exceeding expectations
Helped to increase book sales by 30%
Promoted the inaugural Alban Institute Summit with attendance exceeding expectations
Helped to increase book sales by 30%
Communications Associate
@ Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF)
Jan 1997
— Jan 1999
Coordinated development of public relations and marketing collateral materials for Nobel Peace Prize laureate including publications catalogs, seminar catalogs, annual reports, brochure and direct mail pieces from design to printing and/or mailing
Assisted in the development of new communications department for the international humanitarian assistance organization
Assisted in the development of new communications department for the international humanitarian assistance organization