Karen Martinez

Director of Communications @Houston Arts Alliance

Houston, TX, US

Develop and implement an annual communications plan tied to fundraising, advocacy, and disaster preparedness initiatives.Lead rebrand efforts and manage messaging across digital and print platforms.Produce donor and stakeholder print, digital materials, and campaign collateral.Relaunch and manage the City of Houston’s Cultural Events Calendar to broaden public access to the arts.Supervise storytelling through multi-media campaigns highlighting the impact of local arts funding.Reestablish the in-house communications division after a 5-year break.Oversee media outreach, press releases, press conferences, and media relations.Audit existing communications and relationships with external vendors. Establish a yearly comprehensive strategy plan to reinvigorate the communications division to support external communications.Manage two in-house communications assistants + vendors & contractors, including but not limited to: Web Developer for HouCalendar, Rebranding Designer, Graphic Designers, Photographers, Videographers & Print vendors.Collaborate with the Development, Grants, Civic Art & Disaster Services divisions on external communications.Establish collaboration processes with divisions and external partners.Relaunch the City of Houston\'s Cultural Arts Calendar to better serve the Houston arts community and arts supporters, while saving the organization thousands of dollars.Manage all digital assets: Scale website to fit organization\'s growing needsDomainsSsl certificatesEmail campaigns - Improved open rate to a yearly average of 56%. Up from under 40% in 2022. And up 10.9% in 2025.Social media platforms: Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok.23% organic growth over 3 years.Doubled Instagram audience in 3 years159% growth on LinkedIn + 8.3% engagement rate (triple that of non-profits on LinkedIn)META AdsGoogle Ads/ Analytics suiteLinkedIn Ads

University of Houston

Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), media production

University of Houston

Master of Fine Arts (MFA), Interdisciplinary Practices and Emerging Forms (IPEF)

Houston City College

Associate of Science (A.S.)