Duke University "Social Media" Class Brought Asheville Non-Profit Leaders Together

FastPivot’s Jonathan Poston presented on “Social Media Road-Mapping for Non-Profit Organizations“ at this September 9th, 2010 Duke University Workshop. This social media workshop is one of many Duke University workshops in which non-profit leaders attend in order to complete the distinguished Duke University Non-Profit Management Certification.

A full class of local non-profit leaders attended this Duke University workshop held on AB Tech’s Enka Campus in Asheville NC. A variety of social media subjects were covered including effective social media content creation strategies, efficient social media content distribution models, development of social media policy, optimizing the non-profit organizational chart for social media, fund raising, social media time management, the five big social media platforms and how to best use each, social media relationship marketing etc.

Social Media Expert Panelist Bios:

J. Clarkson‚Äôs professional experience includes over 10 years of work on annual, capital, endowment, planned giving, and communications projects as a staff member at Christ School, Arden; Warren Wilson College; and Sims & Steele Consulting. Since October 2008, he has served as Director of Development for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Western North Carolina with duties including all fundraising operations as well as primary responsibility for marketing and communications. You can find him at facebook.com/jdotclarkson or [email protected].

Justin Brackett is the Social Strategy Directory at Abiah, a company that focuses on teaching non-profit organizations the skills needed to compete in a digital world. With a background in faith-based leadership, Justin is an accomplished, sharply-focused, and highly motivated professional. During the past three years, Justin has been instrumental in initiating and implementing strategies for improving collaboration within non-profit communities by using social media and online networking. He excels in enhancing brand reputation, harnessing excitement, and building trust through emerging media.

Michelle Rabell: As the communication specialist at Mission Hospitals, Michelle Rabell has been a pioneer in her efforts to incorporate innovative social media initiatives into the Mission Health System. A graduate from Boston College, Michelle has enjoyed a diverse career path, working as a language arts and ESL teacher in the U.S. and Mexico for several years as well as coordinating the development of Mission Hospital’s Interpreter Services Department. Michelle’s current projects at Mission Hospital are focused on enriching hospital presence and interaction on various social media such as Facebook and Twitter as well as educating departments and other affiliates of the Mission Health System on the use of these tools.

Matthew Ledford, President of FastPivot.com has served on a number of non-profit boards; one in particular, Vision Nicaragua, has been a cause to which he has poured a great amount of energy in the recent years. Although Ledford has traveled to Nicaragua to assist in ground support efforts (supplying basic item needs, holiday & Christian cheer, medical care, and micro-finance options to the needy), much of the work he has dedicated to this project has been done via social media. Ledford, who firmly believes in connecting globally while acting locally, says, “Social media makes the world a much smaller place, helping connect people and resources is a blast!”

Kim Zdanowicz has been Communications Manager at the Asheville Art Museum since July 2008. During her tenure the Museum launched its social media plan as well as enhanced its overall marketing plan and strategy. Kim has worked to successfully include broadcast, print, online, viral and social media in the Museum’s communications. Prior to working at the Museum, Kim worked as a VP of Book Publicity at a local marketing agency and a Writer and Editorial Coordinator at one of the top advertising agencies in the Triangle area of North Carolina. Kim has an M.A. from UNC-Chapel Hill and a B.A. from Appalachian State University.

DeeAnna Haney is the newly hired Communications Associate at the Asheville Art Museum beginning in August 2010.  She spent the summer of this year as the Communications Intern to Kim Zdanowicz and assisted with daily social media activity on Facebook, Twitter and Myspace.  She also contributed to the Museum’s online presence by posting Podcasts of events and interviews as well as creating video pieces for posting on the Museum’s Web site and on Youtube.  DeeAnna graduated from Appalachian State University with a Bachelor’s degree in Communication, Journalism in May, 2010.

Questions for this Duke University Non-Profit Management instructor? Jonathan Poston can be contacted via email at [email protected].

Although FastPivot’s forte is Yahoo! Store design, Yahoo! mobile commerce store development, social media design and social media management, social media audits, etc. we also offer a variety of educational workshops on these subjects upon request. Contact FastPivot today if you’re interested in scheduling a workshop on social media management.