KAREN BRADFORD, M.A.
(951) 456-2125 - o
(951) 202-3714 - m
www.linkedin.com/in/karenlbradford
IMMEDIATE VALUE OFFERED
EDUCATION
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Public Relations & Marketing Planner
Including freelancing between employment with other companies
Counsel on and create public-relations plans. Write, edit newsletters, Web pages, brochures, other publications; nationally published articles. Taught at UCR Extension on public relations, photography, business English. Author of two nonfiction books (under the clients’ names), edited two others; published in several anthologies. Successful grant writer to local, national funders. Major clients include: Queen of Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center, United Way of the Inland Valleys, City of Riverside, The Toro Company.
Senior Public Information Representative
Bourns College of Engineering, University of California, Riverside
Initial planning, implementation of the college's 25th anniversary celebration, writing of a commemorative history book. As our team developed, I was directed to solely focus on researching and writing its history for publication, which I augmented with archived photos.
Director of Development
Inland Agency, Riverside
Planned, conducted marketing and fundraising efforts for a four-county United Way agency: Achieved an 80-percent net improvement from the previous year’s fundraising. Created an annual campaign that kicked off a successful fundraising event: Its net profit exceeded the previous year by 20 percent and became the agency’s signature event; wrote successful grants.
Campus Communications Officer
Office of Marketing & Media Relations, University of California, Riverside
Media relations for university professors, research results, technology transfer. Solicited, secured interviews that featured UCR in leading U.S. papers, including Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Washington Post, Chicago Tribune, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, others. Writer, photographer for high-visibility campus magazine, Fiat Lux. Advised other departments regarding public relations.
Senior Public Information Representative
The Western Center for Archaeology & Paleontology, University of California, Riverside
Researched, created strategies for marketing goals, public relations to benefit a start-up museum in conjunction with Metropolitan Water District at Diamond Valley Lake; researched tourism interest, potential donors. Executed a major two-day introduction event featuring educational exhibits, activities at a community fair attended by 20,000 people.
Newspaper Marketing Public Relations Manager; Marketing Promotions Manager
The Press-Enterprise, Riverside
Formed alliances with community groups, businesses within two counties to survey, fulfill, execute requests for the newspaper's corporate sponsorship. Extensive community relations in representing the value of our regional newspaper to potential advertisers, readers. Planned, executed high-profile public events for target audiences in multiple locations. Created, executed, placed promotional material about the paper for purchased media mix. Coordinated, managed annual county high-school art contest, exhibit. Coordinated, managed annual two-week basketball tournament at UC Riverside for county high-school boys and girls.
Leadership and community networking
President and Trustee, Jurupa Unified School District Board of Education – In my second term on the elected five-person board of education responsible for governing the school system in the “Learning Without Limits” best interests of 20,000 students in its jurisdiction and on behalf of the community it serves.
Director, Jurupa Mountains Discovery Center Board – A place of learning for all ages by conveying scientific, cultural knowledge and teaching respect, responsibility toward Earth and its inhabitants.
Communications Awards - I have won Public Relations Society of America awards for special events, feature writing, speech writing, script writing, a media kit, articles, newsletters and video production: more awards than any other individual in the chapter.
Speaking Awards - I won National Forensic League awards in impromptu speaking and in extemporaneous speaking competitions at the county level and participated in state speech championships.
Honoree, Riverside YWCA Women of Achievement recognition – Honored at the YWCA’s centennial black-tie event in recognition of my leadership, role modeling, and service to our community.
Past Chair, Commissioner, Riverside County Commission for Women - I served by my county supervisor’s appointment to this official commission that advised the board of supervisors on issues concerning women and families. Accomplishments: organizing five conference events with nationally known political figures; created multiple constituent-hearing events, causing county’s district attorney to revamp child-support practices; lobbied state legislators. Representative at three national conferences.
Past Chair, Director, Family Service Association of Western Riverside County - I held the chair position for two years with a $2 million annual operating budget; board membership for additional years. The agency acquired ownership of two buildings during my tenure, in which I was instrumental in securing significant funds and donations. I regularly spoke for the agency.
Past President, Public Relations Society of America, California Inland Empire Chapter - Leadership and long-time board member, ethics chair, member in our area’s professional chapter.
Past International Matching-Grants Chair,
Rotary International District 5330 - Selecting, mentoring, oversight of local Rotary clubs in cosponsoring grants with international partner clubs for the eradication of poverty, disease, and increasing self-sufficiency.
Past Chair and Volunteer, Riverside YWCA Women’s Career Conference - I chaired this event for 200+ attendees and was a planning committee member for seven additional annual events.
Past President, Rotary Club of Riverside Sunrise - I additionally served as secretary and vice president; was responsible for hosting four in-bound international Rotary Ambassadorial Scholars, four out-bound scholars, and a high-school exchange student.
Past President, Rotary Club of Jurupa - I sponsored one international Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar and twice chaired our district’s World Peace Fellowship.
Past Chair, Group Study Exchange, Rotary International District 5330 - Selecting, managing, and directing the five-week exchange of a Riverside business team to New Zealand and receiving a reciprocal team; planned subsequent exchanges with Malaysia, Korea.
Loaned Executive, United Way of the Inland Valleys - Coordinated, spoke at fundraising campaigns in area businesses during five annual campaigns. Wrote, produced an award-winning video.
Past Vice President, Board Director, Queen of Hearts Therapeutic Riding Center, Inc. – A nonprofit group that offers programs supporting the development of children, adults with disabilities; specialized programs for children with autism, services for veterans, current military, and first-responders.
Founder, Past Director, and Secretary, Jurupa Valley Arts Council - I began this group to advance art appreciation, art education and making a positive impact in our city by encouraging art in local schools.
Media Relations Volunteer, YWCA of Riverside County Women of Achievement Award Luncheon - Committee chair to coordinate publicity; wrote, produced award-winning program, program video, script.
Guest Speaker and Mentor - To numerous college classes at University of Redlands, La Sierra University, CSU San Bernardino, CSU Fullerton, University of California, Riverside, and secondary schools on media relations, special-event planning, entrepreneurship.
Community Leader - I have made many presentations to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors, elected state representatives in their offices in Sacramento, county planning commissions, at town-hall meetings, community groups, nonprofit board-development retreats.
College Field Studies in Kenya, Tanzania – Studying plate tectonics, anthropology through University of Nairobi by camping our way through the two countries.
Foreign Travel and Intercultural Communications - I have studied and taught intercultural communications after travels in China (three times), Japan (three times), Thailand (twice), Tibet (three times), Nepal (twice), Korea, Hong Kong, India, Bhutan, Russia, Iceland, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, France, Belgium, Canada, Venezuela, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Peru, Turkey.
Group Study Exchange, Rotary International - Selected as team leader of a group to Turkey for a four-week, all-expenses-paid business exchange; previously selected as one of four team members to Japan in the same business exchange program.
Guest Speaker - Conducting numerous community seminars in: media, public relations; sales and marketing; diversity awareness, intercultural communications; financial planning.
Guest Speaker - To more than 45 Inland Empire Rotary clubs (multiple times each) about my Rotary experiences on a four-week business exchange to Japan, two weeks in India to participate in polio immunizations, as the volunteer photojournalist for surgical missions to Peru and Venezuela, and team leader for a five-week vocational exchange to Turkey.
Grand Round Table Panel Member, American Association of University Women Regional Conference - Discussed the progress of gender equity in schools for a gathering of 150 regional opinion leaders, including featured speaker Dr. Laura Schlesinger.