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As an experienced, thoughtful and skilled professional, I’m delighted to offer services that can move your organization or business forward. My experience in community engagement, strategic partnerships, program development and management, and web design is available to you.

Together we can find creative solutions to communicate your organization’s mission that helps you leverage your clients, customers and donors, and engage community.

 

Collaborations

Developing strategies to connect your organization to the community and deepen your organizational relationships.

Projects & Programs

Creating, managing, scaling, and innovating new and existing programs and/or projects to deliver services and deepen your impact.

Web Experiences

Leveraging your online presence to create an engaging platform for your audience and constituents.

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My Services

Collaborations

Need help expanding your professional and organizational network? Are you looking for strategies to deepen your community relationships, engage donors or connect with the private and/or public sector? I will work with you to think through your overall organizational goals and set a plan to connect with the people and projects you need to be successful.

Program & Project Management

How you deliver services is just as important as what is being delivered. Using a values-centered, equity-minded approach, I specialize in developing thoughtful programs that get to the heart of mission-driven organizations. I have over 15 years of experience conceptualizing, planning and producing high quality programs, both small and large, and can help you create innovative experiences that both accomplish your mission and engage your audience.

Website Experience Design & Development

I am available to develop or overhaul websites for artists, small businesses and non-profit organizations building or moving to Squarespace. In this process I will work with you to design an experience for your audience that brings your work to life. We’ll think about the information architecture, content revisions, the overall look and feel of how you want to represent your business to the world, and connectivity between your communications tools. Samples of websites I’ve designed or worked on include  Darrell Grant (Squarespace), Del Mar Designs (Squarespace), Tangled Roots (Squarespace), Cappella Romana (Wordpress), and this website, Stern Creative Solutions, Inc (Squarespace). Please contact me to inquire about these services. Rates vary by the size of the website, and add-on services that may be needed.

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About Me

I’ve spent my career working with small, agile, creative nonprofit organizations, and artists, and know first hand the difficulty of being the fundraiser, the marketing manager, the office manager, the program director, and oh, can you run that immensely important gala too please?

Most small to mid-sized nonprofit organizations don’t have the capacity to hire full time staff,  community engagement personnel, or are going through a staff transition and need temporary coverage at one point or another. However, all organizations seek to share their mission, their work and their successes. Artists need the time and space to make their art. This is where I come in.

Today, I live in Taos, New Mexico, and am serving on the board of directors for Creative New Mexico, in addition to providing consulting services. I spent five years managing national field education programs for the country’s 4500+ local arts agencies and their staff, inclusive creative economy and solidarity economy initiatives, and provided thought leadership about the intersection of arts, business, and economic development relationships at Americans for the Arts (AFTA). Before AFTA, I spent over four years working with Business for Culture & the Arts (BCA) in Portland, Oregon delivering programs that engaged employees from BCA’s 200+ business members, streamlining the office, managing all marketing and communications strategies and retaining and cultivating corporate and community partnerships. My work at BCA combined online and print marketing, corporate membership and sponsorship stewardship, and a heavy dose of event management.

Prior to BCA, I worked at Lewis & Clark College as a Conferences & Events Specialist, coordinating use of college facilities, managing contracted venue rentals and ensuring college spaces were used to their fullest potential. Additionally, I worked as the Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator for Zimbabwe Artists Project (ZAP) to promote and expand ZAP’s activities in the community.

JessicaStern

I was the full time Development Manager for Metropolitan Youth Symphony, and served as Interim Director of Development and Marketing at Literary Arts. I managed the statewide membership program for the Nonprofit Association of Oregon and curated their online library of learning resources and tools to help nonprofits be more effective.

I co-founded Portland Emerging Arts Leaders (PEAL), Portland’s professional network for emerging arts administrators and producers. I have also served on the boards of the Multnomah County Cultural Coalition, the Lewis & Clark Board of Alumni and Ko-Falen Cultural Center.

I graduated from Portland State University with Master’s in Public Administration with a Certificate in Nonprofit Management, and from Lewis & Clark College with a BA in Ethnomusicology and French Studies.

I love to travel, cycle, eat delicious local foods, meander through flowery mountain meadows, and explore the cultural and artistic landscapes of my community and the world. I look forward to working with you!

“...A consummate producer and organizer...”

The word "awesome" is over used; it should be saved and only rolled out for people like Jessica. I had the pleasure of working with her on a large event and have continued to call on her for connections and advice...She is calm when others are freaking out. She is wise beyond her years, and she gets s$%t done! I would work with her under any circumstances and suggest you do as well.

— Kate Sokoloff

“...A star in every area that counts.”

Anyone who has the opportunity to work with Jessica is fortunate indeed! She's a star in every area that counts.

— Bruce Livingston, Playwrite, Inc.

“…a great addition to any team.”

Jessica is one of the most well-rounded, highly effective, colleagues that I’ve worked with. She has an advanced knowledge of nonprofit capacity building strategies and concepts, and is generous and skilled at educating others on the technical and conceptual aspects of starting and running a charitable organization. As a program manager, she has an aptitude to utilize a variety of technologies (databases, websites, and analytical tools) to increase her effectiveness and ability to solve complex problems. She’s fun, down-to-earth, and a delight to work with. Jessica would be a great addition to any team looking for a manager that can plan for the big picture while implementing down to the details.

- Jennifer Bugley

 

Contact Me