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About Susan
For 25 years, Susan has worked in marketing communications and community relations, including six years in the Contra Costa County Health Services Department. She is the co-author of two frequently cited journal articles on injury and violence prevention policy and is currently studying to become a certified financial planner. In addition, Susan will bring to the West Contra Costa Healthcare District valuable policy experience acquired working for former Assemblymembers Dion Aroner and Tom Bates.
Experience
Consultant, Marketing & Communications
San Francisco Bay Area
Provide communications consulting services, including media planning,
market research, campaign and market plan design as well as writing,
editing and advertising services to a wide variety of government,
nonprofit and foundation clients throughout the state and nation.
(Client list below.) 1996-Present.
Director of Marketing & Community
Outreach
Contra Costa College, San Pablo
Produced annual marketing objectives and oversaw marketing team,
media design office and six staff. Coordinated outreach to high
schools, media relations, advertising, direct mail, publication
of class schedules and special events. In nine months, arranged
for staffing and opening of a one-stop career center at the Hilltop
Mall, produced a luncheon for high school counselors, authored
the college’s WEB Guidelines and produced a Festival/Open
House on campus. Represented the college at trade shows and career
fairs. 1997-1998.
Public Information Officer
Prevention Program, CCC Health Services Department, Pleasant Hill
Developed media opportunities and advocacy campaigns for four health
projects, including a nationally recognized violence prevention
program. Produced a strategic public information plan and resource
manual. Responded to national print and broadcast media inquiries
and coordinated well-attended local and regional news conferences.
Oversaw writing and production of all the Program’s published
materials, including annual reports, brochures, and newsletters.
Directed the development and marketing of video products. Conducted
media training for local organizations, county staff, and statewide
conferences. Participated as a member of the Management Team, represented
the Program at community coalition meetings, and supervised staff
and interns. 1990-1996.
Public Relations Manager
Oakland Convention & Visitors Bureau, Oakland
Directed media and public relations for Oakland’s tourism
and convention business community, including press coordination
for the city during the 1988 American League Playoffs. Created
and chaired the city’s first professional association of
public information staff. Produced and edited two full-color, 64-page
annual magazines as well as annual reports, events calendars, newsletters,
and brochures. Collaborated with sales staff on marketing campaigns
and placed dozens of articles in national trade magazines. Also
coordinated monthly membership luncheons and supervised assistants
and interns. 1987-1989.
Publicity Director
Festival at the Lake, Oakland
Planned, budgeted, and implemented all publicity and promotion
for Oakland's annual three-day urban fair. Set precedent for free
shuttle service from BART stations, the donation of billboards,
media center on site, and multiple remote broadcasts. Obtained
the Festival's first national publicity. Coordinated image direction,
copy writing, and paid advertising, as well as news releases, public
service and calendar announcements. 1987.
Book Marketing and Promotion Manager/Public Education and Publicity
Director
Food First/Institute for Food and Development Policy, San Francisco
Planned and directed marketing of books and other copyrighted materials.
Coordinated direct mail packaging and marketing, conducted sales
analyses, obtained national and international reviews, wrote and
produced catalogs, developed and placed ads, and negotiated first
serial rights and permissions. Also responsible for planning, budgeting,
and implementing all publicity for the Institute, including: writing
annual reports; arranging broadcast and print interviews; and coordinating
national book and article promotion. Systematized archive files
and media database. Supervised assistants. 1983-1985.
Publications
Larry Cohen & Susan Swift. "A Public Health Approach to the Violence Epidemic in the United States" published in Environment and Urbanization, Vol. 5 No. 2, October 1993.
Larry Cohen & Susan Swift. "The Spectrum of Prevention: Developing a Comprehensive Approach to Injury Prevention" published in Injury Prevention 1999; 5:203-207.
Community Service/Volunteer Work
Steering Committee, Southwest Voter Registration and Education
Project
Tutor, Richmond YMCA
Richmond Progressive Alliance
Former Board Member, Life on the Water Theater
Former Board Member, Oakland Ensemble Theater
Education
Golden Gate University
Graduate Program, Financial Planning, 2004-6
University of California,
Santa Barbara
BA Sociology, High Honors, 1977
Certified Mediator (VORP 1995)
Partial Client List
Assemblywoman Dion Aroner
Barrios Unidos
Bay Area Cancer Coalition
California Coalition for the Future of Public Health
California Peace Action
California State PTA
Drug Policy Alliance
East Bay Center for the Performing Arts
Education Development Center, Inc.
Familias Unidas
HTPotter Communications LLC
Martin & Glantz LLC
National Campaign Against Youth Violence
Nelson Mandela Visit to Oakland
Oakland Ensemble Theatre
Old Oakland Neighborhood Association
Planet Drum Foundation - Green City
Prevention Institute
Progressive Assets Management
Public Health Institute
San Francisco Bay Guardian
White House Council on Youth Violence (Clinton Administration)
3 THINGS YOU CAN DO
Susan needs your help. Here are three things you can do to help.
Join the E-Team
Sign up on the campaign e-news list and spread the word through your own network of contacts.
Get
out the Vote
To win, Susan’s voters need to make it to the polls. Make sure they vote by volunteering to walk precincts or staff a phone bank. To sign up, download this form (57k pdf) and return it to the campaign.
Contribute
Isn’t securing your investment in the future of the hospital worth the cost of dinner and movie? Your donation to Swift for Healthcare Director will help elect Susan to the board where she can ensure that the monies raised by Measure D are spent wisely.