Scott Gargan

About Scott Gargan

I help mission-driven organizations elevate their brands and build their communities so they can break through to bigger audiences, drive scale, and make a positive impact. My career spans 19 years of experience in strategic communications and marketing, content creation, and award-winning journalism. I thrive in high-hustle/low ego, collaborative, entrepreneurial settings working toward a social impact mission.

Experience

1. Managing Director, Marketing & Communications

   Harlem Children's Zone

   Aug 2024 — Present

   Created and executed paid, earned, and owned media strategies to drive recruitment, enrollment, and philanthropy for HCZ’s 20+ schools and programs; efforts led to a 318% increase in active monthly website users and an approximately 50% increase in social media followers (Meta and LinkedIn) over the past three years.Developed and executed press strategies to raise HCZ’s national profile; helped secure and shape stories in The New York Times, CNN, CBS, and MSNBC highlighting the organization’s efforts to address learning loss and close the wealth gap.Worked with CEO and Chief Communications Officer to elevate leadership public profiles; identified and secured strategic speaking opportunities for CEO, and wrote speeches and talking points for events and video messages to the HCZ community.Launched and managed organizational communications functions, including HCZ’s first staff intranet and newsletter; achieved 60% engagement rate in the first year (1,500+ employees).Built from scratch HCZ’s communications and marketing function, a team of 12 professionals, and new platforms and processes for content creation and distribution.

Education

• The New School

  Graduate Certificate

• Utrecht University

  Journalism

• SUNY New Paltz

  Bachelor

• Danmarks Medie- og Journalisthøjskole

  Journalism