Cheryl Herda
Cheryl Herda is a Communications and Marketing Specialist with a Diploma in Creative Communications (major in Public Relations) from the Red River College in Manitoba, Canada. She came to South Africa in March 2008 to work as a volunteer through Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO). Her placement was with an NGO called the Soweto Retired Professional Society in Orlando East, Soweto where she worked and lived for two years. Prior to this, she worked in various organizations in Canada (primarily not-for-profits) performing a variety of communications, marketing, fund development, events planning and media/public relations duties. Summarized below is Cheryl’s experience, accumulated since 1995 and gained from entry level to management positions.
Management & Business Consulting:
Marketing, Communications, Public Relations & Media Relations:
Fund Development, Special Events Planning & Tradeshows:
Management & Business Consulting:
- Project management.
- Fund development management.
- Volunteer management.
- Special events management.
- Assisted small businesses with development of business and marketing plans.
- Budget preparation.
Marketing, Communications, Public Relations & Media Relations:
- Researched, wrote, edited and designed a multitude of tools including business plans, communication and marketing plans/strategies, formal reports, annual reports, briefings, information booklets, brochures, magazine articles, print ads, sponsorship packages and benefits packages.
- Managed the purchase, creation and distribution of print materials, promotional items and client/corporate Web sites.
- Developed and managed internal and external communication and marketing efforts.
- Participated in the development of a brand strategy marketing plan.
- Researched, wrote and designed materials for meetings with existing and potential suppliers and vendors.
- Developed and managed media and public relation efforts including the organization of media events and launches, the writing of media kits, fact sheets, media releases and PSAs and acting as spokesperson or coaching others to do same.
- Wrote, edited and designed copy for print and electronic publications including print, radio and TV advertising.
Fund Development, Special Events Planning & Tradeshows:
- Developed and implemented fund development plans.
- Developed a case for support, donor profiles and other tools for the purposed of stewarding and securing major donors.
- Planned, managed and implemented special events and functions for various purposes.
- Sourced new partners and sponsors for fund development and programming activities accessing various levels of government, other NGOs and businesses.
- Developed relationships with sponsors and partners to support fund development and other activities for non-profit organizations.
- Identified, developed and delivered marketing and communication plans as well as strategies and activities for new and existing fund development/programming activities.
- Wrote, researched and edited grant applications.
- Organized and manned display booth efforts and participated in tradeshows and conferences.
