View My VisualCV Online: http://www.visualcv.com/sarahzaenger

Goal Statement

Conscientious PR professional with international experience building brands, educating communities, connecting, coordinating and empowering.

Experience

Shiftpoint Strategies, Inc.

Seattle, WA, United States
Jan 2009 - Present
Associate 
  • Consults with clients on media relations opportunities and social media plan development

U.S. Peace Corps

Armenia
Jun 2006 - Jul 2008
Community Health Volunteer 
  • Chaired and led first Peace Corps Armenia Public Relations committee
  • Initiated community meetings at the American Embassy and nationally
  • Raised awareness of the organization in 12 communities to more than 600 participants
  • Trained volunteers and their Armenian counterparts in areas including the process of project design and community development strategies 
  • Edited materials for classroom, community, media and Peace Corps administrative assignments, including editing online materials for Sourcio Internet firm and CARD newsletter
  • Designed lesson plans, updated and revised as needed, conducted classes and seminars
  • Conducted Public Information Officer duties representing the Peace Corps with local and national media and officials
  • Prepared press releases and conducted radio, television and print interviews in English and Armenian
  • Conducted community needs assessments through focus groups and surveys
  • Led participatory management meetings to develop priority rankings for community improvements
  • Secured developmental grants to provide for community improvement projects
  • Initiated, organized, staffed and led three national summer camps and two clubs
  • Participated in administrative and board leadership activities including presentations at new volunteer trainings

Fahlgren Mortine Public Relations

Worthington, OH, United States
Jan 2006 - May 2006
Communications Intern 
  • Researched and created media lists and editorial strategies
  • Wrote external Web site copy and personnel press releases

Worthington Industries

Worthington, OH, United States
Jun 2005 - Sep 2005
Corporate Communications Intern 
  • Formatted and designed internal communications materials for annual health fair and volunteer drive
  • Drafted and dispatched company press releases to local and national media outlets

Pharmaceutical Horizons, Inc.

Columbus, OH, United States
Jun 2004 - Aug 2004
Program Coordinator 
  • Coordinated communications with pharmaceutical company to develop community education programs
  • Promoted outreach events to local media and throughout city

Greenleaf Job Training Services

Columbus
May 2003 - Aug 2003
Job Coach 
  • Trained developmentally disabled high school students in hospitality and retail job tasks
  • Recorded progress, fulfilled weekly reports and monitored student satisfaction

Community Service

Public Relations Society of America Member

Puget Sound Chapter, 2008- Present, Seattle, Washington

 

Public Relations Student Society of America Member

Capital University, 2003-2006, Columbus, Ohio

  • Co-founded and Firm Director of PLUS PR, a student-run PR firm
  • Acquired and managed firm's first clients

 

Worthington International Friendship Association Executive Board Member

City of Worthington, 2003-2006, Worthington, Ohio

  • Traveled as a member of the Sayama, Japan delegation in 2003
  • Collaborated with community members and city council to organize overseas delegations and special events

 

Children's Hunger Alliance Event Coordinator

A Taste To Remember, 2005 and 2006, Columbus, Ohio

  • Chaired entertainment and decor committee for annual fundraiser
  • Created unified theme through coordination of in-kind donations

 

Riverside Methodist Hospital Recreational Therapy Program Coordinator

Activity Angels, 2005-2006, Columbus, Ohio

  • Presented monthly and recruited volunteers
  • Developed program materials including session guidelines and evaluation forms 
  • Upgraded patient service and improved unit satisfaction rating

Education

Capital University

Columbus, OH, United States
Bachelor of Arts, Organizational Communications/Public Relations

GPA: 3.91/4.00

 

Honors/Affiliations:

  • Collegiate Fellow Recognition Award
  • Capital University Battelle Achievement Scholar
  • Phi Beta Delta Beta Mu Chapter, Honors Society for International Scholars

 

 

 

 

 

Universidad Veritas

San Jose, Costa Rica
Mar 2004 - Jun 2004
Spanish Language

GPA: 3.7/4.0

Skills

Spanish Language

(Intermediate)
3-4 Years Experience, (Last Used 1-2 years ago)
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Armenian Language

(Advanced)
1-2 Years Experience, (Last Used <1 year ago)
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Microsoft Office

(Expert)
10+ Years Experience, (Last Used <1 year ago)
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Interests

Global health, hiking, biking, international travel and international development.

 

Reputation management and image campaigns, message development, disease awareness building, focus groups and messaging sessions, Web research and competitive analysis.

Portfolio

Icon_doc_16 Description of Service

This document details the work I completed while serving as a Peace Corps volunteer in the Republic of Armenia from 2006-2008.

Icon_pdf_16 Gender Equality in Armenia

This short report was written for the Armenian country profile on www.wikigender.org.  The document can be found by clicking on the "Gender Equality in Armenia" page at this site. 

Icon_word_16 Playground Release

This event release was written for the American embassy in Armenia and the local media in Ararat Region.

Icon_word_16 Leadership Camp Release

This camp announcement press release was written for the national media and Peace Corps administration in Armenia. 

Icon_pdf_16 Peace Corps Journal Fall 2007

This quarterly journal was one of the first projects initiated by the Public Relations Committee I co-founded in 2006.  It is currently distributed online to media and embassy employees in Armenia.

Icon_ppt_16 Orientation Presentation

As an American Councils' Future Leaders Exchange Pre-departure Orientation Trainer, I designed and delivered this PowerPoint presentation on staying healthy in America to nearly 50 Armenian students preparing to study in America for one year.

Fast Facts Booklet WI

Fast Facts Booklet WI

I designed and edited the Fast Facts employee booklet using Photo Shop.  The image on the front represents Worthington Industries' three main sectors: cylinders, metal framing and steel manufacturing.  

Capital University Book Exchange Story

Capital University Book Exchange

As co-founder and Firm Co-Director at Capital University's student-run PR firm, PLUS PR, I created a campaign to launch The Capital University Book Exchange (CUBE) Web site. 

 

Promotional efforts included:

 

§  CUBE newsletter distributed to all students through campus mail

§  Table tents in both campus dining rooms

§  Three dimensional cubes placed throughout campus

§  CUBE caramel candies with exchange web address distributed during textbook buy back

§  CUBE Web site set as default web browser in campus computer labs

§  Informational letter sent to 60 student organization leaders

 

Results:

§  104 books listed for sale the day after the launch

§  Front page story in The Chimes (campus newspaper)

§  CUBE announcement on CapNet (channel 2)

§  Student Government President quoted in Columbus C.E.O. magazine

 

Icon_pdf_16 Ostroms Press Release Coverage

Retail stalwart gains new home - Bothell Reporter

Source: www.pnwlocalnews.com
Three generations of Ramseys helped ready the new Ostroms. From left, Dick Ramsey, who has been with the store for 46 years, current owner Todd Ramsey, and his son Rich , 16. tom corrigan, Bothell-Kenmore Reporter.