(Director of Marketing and PR) 2009 to 2011
Organization
Reginald F. Lewis Museum’s mission statement is to be the premier experience and best resource for information and inspiration about the lives of African American Marylanders. The museum collects, preserves, interprets, documents and exhibits the rich contributions of African American Marylanders from the state’s earliest history to the present and the future.
Objective
Hired as the first Director of Marketing and PR at the museum, Woods’ primary goal was to establish a department responsive to the challenging economic times. Her immediate objectives were to improve the quality and reduce the cost of the Journeys members’ magazine; create a short-term option for improving the museum website; increase media coverage of museum exhibitions and events; and hire and supervise a Communications Specialist and Graphic Designer. Ongoing duties included, develop exhibition communications campaigns and programs and events campaigns; media relations; manage vendors; oversee design, writing, editing, print production and distribution of all marketing collateral; serve as media spokesperson; serve as editor of Journeys: develop strategic partnerships; and manage the museum’s Institute of Museums and Library Sciences grant for a new website and market research project.
Approach
In the first five months, Woods focused on conducting an inventory of the museum’s publications and marketing collateral with the primary focus on the Journeys members’ magazine which highlighted the museum’s collections, exhibitions, and staff. She extended its focus to include programs and events and new member/donor recruitment. In addition she improved the timeliness of the magazine’s mailing schedule. Woods also met with each department head to determine their needs and identify challenges as well as hired both a Graphic Designer and a Communications Specialist.