About - Sheena VanDeVanter

Sheena VanDeVanter is an award-winning marketing professional with over 20 years of experience. She is best known for her legendary organizational skills and strong leadership. Her copy is often sought out by those needing to translate complex concepts into easy-to-understand, engaging language. Her designs are known for capturing the essence of a brand, bringing form and function together with clarity of purpose.

Her background includes B2B, B2C, government, and nonprofit in various verticals including hospitality, translation, technology, finance, medical care, gaming, and more. She runs her freelance practice from her home in central Texas where she resides with her husband, children, and cats.

When not working, Sheena is either gaming, reading, or working on her gaming convention ChupacabraCon. In its eleventh year, ChupacabraCon is a leading convention for tabletop gaming authors, publishers, artists, and players. It brings together voices in gaming from across the globe for a weekend of learning, networking, and fun. Sheena is a founder and showrunner and acts as Chair for its charity of choice, Austin Creative Pathways.

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Select Accomplishments

Managed remote global teams of 18+ social media managers for Fortune 500 client resulting in an average 60% increase in positive customer feedback in 20 countries.

Increased conversion for Fortune 500 client by 130% in three months through social media strategy and content marketing.

Launched rebrand resulting in a 25%+ increase in revenue over one year.

Pioneered municipal digital inclusion program. Overhauled the application, judging, and scoring process through a combination of best practices and innovation. Introduced yearly process reviews, internal and program audits, and annual awards event. Encouraged cooperation and resource sharing among community nonprofit organizations. Results: transformed a little-known local grant program into a nationally recognized model for helping local governments to bridge the digital divide. Inspired multiple public/private partnerships and cooperative efforts among community leaders.

Produced 30 business intelligence reports in 30 days for online start-up promotional event. Each focused on the intersection of a single vertical and the Internet. Conducted research, authored executive summary, and created infographics for each report. Results: Over 50 new leads, 13 opportunities, and 5 sales were generated as direct result of the promotional event. Reports continued to be leveraged by sales; research and graphics incorporated into marketing collateral and website copy.

Event Director, Charity Austin & Ball – Created and directed a one-off charity event raising over $5,000 for AIDS Services of Austin

Event Director, “Wave of Love” Fundraiser – Created and directed community-wide garage sail for disaster relief following the tsunami disaster of 2004. Raised over $3,000 for Disaster Relief International

Event Director, Help Portrait – Coordinated local participation in national Help Portrait event to provide free family portraits to low-income families. Coordinated amateur and professional photographers, nonprofit organizations, and sponsors. 

Event Coordinator, TATOA Conference 2003-2008 – Showrunner for the annual Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers (TATOA) conference. Sheena’s professionalism and marketing prowess raised attendance from 50 to over 300 in just a few years.

TATOA Quarterly Newsletter – Redesigned and polished TATOA quarterly newsletter increasing brand awareness, membership, and increased circulation from 175 to 500.

Community Technology Forum – Co-founded one day forum to bring together community technology leaders, providers, and resources for education and networking. Held two events, growing attendance by 20% between first and second years.

Awards

City of Austin Certificate of Appreciation from Austin Mayor for contributions to the Big Gig Austin project (to bring Google Fiber to Austin) (2010)

City of Austin Grant for Technology Opportunities Program Digital Inclusion Award in recognition of leadership (2010)

City of Austin Public Service Recognition Certificate of Appreciation from Austin Mayor (2009)

1st Place Winner, Austin Accessibility Internet Rally by Knowbility (2009)

Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers (TATOA), Certificate of Appreciation as Communications Committee Chair (2009)

Texas Association of Telecommunications Officers and Advisers (TATOA), Certificate of Appreciation for Conference Planning (2003-2008)

South by Southwest Interactive Dewey Winburne Community Service Award Nomination (2006)

City of Austin Combined Charities Campaign Certificate of Appreciation from Mayor Will Wynn (2004)

Outstanding Community Affairs Executive of the Year 2003, Association of Fundraising Professionals Nomination (2003)