Amber Sparks

About Amber Sparks

Twenty years in nonprofit, labor organizing, and advocacy digital communications and in online organizing strategy; ten years in communications team management and leadership.Specialties: Digital non-profit communications: email, web and social media content marketing strategy and distribution; analytics and testing; external and internal audiences; digital advertising; digital organizing strategy and tactics; list management and growth; member/audience engagement; storytelling and brand management; team management and workflow management; trainings and presentations; public relations, political communication, video production, labor communications, writing, publishing, and editing, vendor relationships and vendor management, and general digital campaign communications and strategy.

Experience

1. Senior Digital Strategies Manager

   Afl-Cio

   Oct 2018 — Present

   Oversee all digital communications content and strategy for America\'s labor federation. Manages a team of social media strategists, email and sms strategists, video production and distribution team, graphic designers, website managers, and content creators. Works to provide training, outreach, and communications assistance to our 60 affiliate unions representing America\'s labor movement.In four years heading up the digital communications team at the AFL-CIO, I- Instituted a robust metrics and analytics program, with weekly reporting and accountability- Worked with my team to create an engaging email and SMS program and expanded our audience, including dramatically increasing open rates- Grown our social media engagement and audience, increasing reach and frequency, and put in place a program for engagement across platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, working with our social media manager to create a recognizable and labor appropriate brand for AFL-CIO- Implemented regular content meetings and strategy/brainstorm sessions, and regular trainings for our state and local federated bodies and affiliate unions- Oversaw major migration for hundreds of organizations to a new mobile SMS platform- Oversaw multi-million dollar political and campaign ad buys and strategies working with vendors, designers, data, targeting and pollsters, and video producers-Oversaw video program expanding our livestream and Zoom panels for social media-Planned and ran digital communications for major every-five-years convention, including: story booth, video programming and content, photography, videography, action center, and more- Oversaw the strategic planning and creation of multiple new websites, info centers, and microsites- Created a training and onboarding programs for our SMS and email programs- Created a graphics and video customization program for our affiliates and federated bodies.

Education

• University of Minnesota

  Bachelor's, Theatre, English, Journalism--Strategic Communications

  1999 — 2002

• The George Washington University

  Masters, Political Management and Communications

  2006 — 2008

Skills

• Video Production
• Political Communication
• Speech Writing
• Vendor Relationships
• Team Management
• Strategic Planning
• Nonprofits
• Non-Profits
• New Media
• Politics
• Strategic Communications
• Research
• Public Relations
• Press Releases
• Digital Media
• Media Relations
• Editing
• Community Organizing
• Blogging
• Vendor Management
• Event Planning
• Social Media
• Writing
• Political Campaigns
• Digital Storytelling
• Digital Marketing
• Workflow Management
• Digital Strategy
• Public Policy
• Creative Writing
• Community Outreach
• Public Speaking