JENNIFER POTRATZ, MS

PROFILE
1081 Bay Street Rochester, NY 14609 716.581.2106|jennpotratz@gmail.com Professional Portfolio: jenniferpotratz.com

A results oriented individual seeks a leadership position that will utilize her multidisciplinary creativity and change management expertise for the development of community and innovation. Experience with fundraising and community outreach; demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with proven record for success. Skilled at building teams and assessing strengths of staff by analyzing performance. Expert facilitator and trainer who embraces innovation and strategic change.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
-Group Dynamics -Community Outreach -Event Planning -Project management -Creative Problem Solving -Training/Teaching -Marketing -Leadership Development -Innovation Management -Fundraising -Non-profits -Organizational development

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
5/2013-Current Rochester, NY Event Recruitment Specialist, American Cancer Society (Temporary 6 months on/off for major event)
COMMUNITY OUTREACH Recruited and trained over 125 teams for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk, many of which were secured through cold calling into the community and networking through local events. Increased team goal by 70% across the markets of Syracuse, Buffalo and Rochester in the Eastern Division. EVENT PLANNING Executed the planning and development of several major community events, bringing in new revenue and sponsorships to the American Cancer Society and Making Strides Against Breast Cancer. Initiated, planned and secured food truck vendors for the first ever 100th birthday celebration at the Buffalo and Rochester walks for over 10,000 participants. MARKETING Managed content and promotions for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Buffalo, NY Facebook page, giving Making Strides a stronger social media presence and connecting the organization with a broader audience. Designed the flyer for the 100th birthday party that was used for the national website, facebook page and at the walk itself to promote the event in both Rochester and Buffalo. FUNDRAISING Team member on the two highest grossing cities per capita in the nation for this years Making Strides Against Breast Cancer walks, bringing in recognition, new sponsorships and a 40% combined increase in online donations from last year in both Buffalo and Rochester.

9/2013-Current|Rochester, NY

Fundraising Coordinator, TEDx Rochester

9/2012-Current|Buffalo, NY

FUNDRAISING Reached out to local organizations to obtain grant information for the 2014 year of TEDx Rochester as a new means of raising funds for the cost of holding the event. EVENT PLANNING Active member of the team for this years TEDx of Rochester, contributing new ideas for sponsorship and fundraising initiatives that would bring in more money and decrease event costs. GROUP DYNAMICS Trained in the Foursight personality preferences indicator, able to assess individuals personality preferences, and build dynamic and effective teams.

Innovation Management Consultant, Catfish Consulting

6/2008-6/2012|Rochester, NY

CREATIVE PROBLEM SOLVING Expert facilitator and trainer of the Creative Problem Solving Process, skilled at bringing creative thinking to individuals and organizations seeking change. TRAINING/TEACHING Created a lesson plan for instruction of the thinking skills model of creative problem solving to an undergraduate class. Taught students about the process and trained them on its application. Comfortable training and teaching both novice and beginner in the creative problem solving process. INNOVATION MANAGEMENT Managed small teams utilizing IDEOs Human Centered Design and Design Thinking processes on challenges of a social context, and created sustainable changes in their organization. Consulted with Business Process Solutions Group, LLC for Avery Dennison on Cooper and Holmes stage gate innovation process for new product management. LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Focused my research and work throughout my masters project on the importance of mentor relationships to teens aging out of the foster care system. Created a process where mentors could utilize tools from Design Thinking methods to increase leadership potential in their mentees who were in the foster care system. STRATEGIC PLANNING Trained in several innovation processes that utilize a step-by-step process for strategic planning, such as the waterfall and stage gate processes of innovation. Can confidently move from one stage of the process to the next with completion of the previous stage.

Mental Health Counselor, East House

11/2006-6/2008|Jamestown, NY

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT Developed leadership skills in clients that allowed them to seek educational and professional advancement. CRISIS MANAGEMENT Managed day to day household tasks and on goings for a group home of fourteen rotating clients and 5 full time staff which included meal planning, household maintenance, medication management and crisis intervention as necessary. Proven ability to confidently deescalate crisis situations. STRATEGIC PLANNING Provided ongoing counseling and case management services for individuals with serious and persistent mental illness in a congregate care level setting in accordance with Medicaid standards. Developed quarterly service plans with service goals to track the improvement and achievement of goals for a case load of 4-5 clients. STAFF MANAGEMENT Direct care staff supervisor and trainer for the successful implementation of behavior support plans for five individual residential alternative group homes and fifty full time staff. BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT Analyzed behavior data weekly and developed data metric reports for monthly review to quality assurance team and senior psychologist. STRATEGIC PLANNING Created systematic behavior management tools to be implemented by direct care staff, allowing for the planning of a course of treatment. This allowed us to observe an overall dramatic decrease in maladaptive behaviors and increase in positive affective behaviors.

Behavior Technician, The Resource Center

EDUCATION
6/2013 8/2006 3/2013 7/2013 STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT BUFFALO, MS in Creativity, & Innovation, GPA 3.98 STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK AT FREDONIA, BA in Psychology & English, GPA 3.5 Disneys Approach to Creativity & Innovation, DISNEY INSTITUTE Human Centered Design for Social Innovation, IDEO & ACUMEN Human Centered Design Approach to Mentoring, DIGITAL COMMONS AT BUFFALO STATE

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

PUBLICATIONS
12/2012

JENNIFER POTRATZ, MS

1081 Bay Street Rochester, NY 14609 716.581.2106|jennpotratz@gmail.com Professional Portfolio: jenniferpotratz.com

PROFESSIONAL REFERENCES
Kelli Cravey Senior Director of Community Events, American Cancer Society 716.664.0727 kelli.cravey@cancer.org Gerianne Puskas Community Events Specialist, American Cancer Society 585.224.4917 gerianne.puskas@cancer.org Maurice Holmes Management Consultant, Business Process Solutions Group, LLC MBA Adjunct Faculty, Rochester Institute of Technology 585.750.6144 Stacey Wood Assistant Manager, East House Corporation 585.590.0510 slher1018@yahoo.com Kyle McDermott Financial Consultant, AXA Advisors 585.475.8473 Kyle.McDermott@axa-advisors.com John Champlin Independent Designer, MagnusApollo Studios 585.261.7014 mindofmagnus@gmail.com