Susan McElhenney

• Highly – effective group facilitator with more than 15 years experience in strategic planning, leadership, conflict resolution, and organizational communications for nonprofits. Also, specialist in online marketing for visibility and search engine optimization.
• Strategist who synthesizes and visually presents complex information quickly and effectively to address core group issues and develop action plans. Skilled in building consensus and communicating a vision or goal.
• Innovative, solutions-oriented approach to problem solving; ability to anticipate, identify and creatively solve organizational challenges.

Strategy & Management Consultant for Nonprofits & Government Organizations

(1995 to present)

• Facilitator for boards of directors and executive teams to develop strategic plans, resolve conflicts, and strengthen teams. Selected clients: Safeplace, Mother’s Milk Bank of Austin, Zeal Marketing, City of Highland Village, McCallum Fine Arts Academy, Political Asylum Project of Austin, Hill Country Ministries, U. S. Green Building Council Balcones Chapter, Capital Area Training Foundation, Hospice Austin, Texas Association of Nonprofit Hospices, Texas Network of Youth Services. Texas Tech University System, Texas Department of Health, Texas Health and Human Services Commission.
• Organizational assessments to determine strengths and needs.
• Interim Executive Director responsible for organizational leadership, strategy, and compliance during 6-month Executive Director transition, search, and placement.
• Affiliate Consultant for Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, a trade association and capacity-building organization for 501 c 3 organizations.

Online Marketing Strategist: Search Marketing, Search Optimization, & Analytics (Jan 2007 to present)

• Marketing strategy development, including facilitating client strategy sessions and plan development; competitor and keyword research to identify best search terms, find online competition, and analyze website to optimize for SEO and SEM.
• Information architecture and copywriting for accurate prospect education and improved search engine visibility. Includes landing page development and IA for new sites.
• Web analytics to report success and guide course corrections.

Awards, Service, and Education

• Presenter on Search Engine Visibility for Business and Balance Group – 2008
• Presenter, Crossroad’s Conference for Nonprofits – 2004, 2005, 2006
• Presenter, Alliance for Nonprofit Management Conference 2004
• Winner, Greenlight’s Nonny Award for Fundraising Event – 2006
• Leadership Texas professional development program class of 1998
• Bachelors of Arts in English, University of TX at Austin, 1987 and continued education in finance, statistics, organizational management, & negotiation.