Sally Ride Science position highlights:
Worked directly for America’s first woman in space.
Directed and managed TOYchallenge, a national engineering design competition involving 370 5th-8th Grade teams from around the country. Coordinated promotion of the competition from signup, through three transcontinental rounds of judging, to coordination of two national showcases (San Diego and Raleigh, North Carolina). The competition gained international publicity, attracted celebrity judges, large sponsors such as Northrop Grumman and Southwest Airlines, and one of the top prizes was a behind-the-scenes tour of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. Based on newly implemented promotional efforts, the 2006 competition gained the largest number of entries since the competition’s inception. 2007 competition increased by half again the number of teams invited to the finals.
Given responsibility to help transition the company from a start-up with an event-to-event focus, to longer-range planning of event promotion and organization. To this end, set up procedures for office planning, support and implementation of events, created database and procedures for promotion and marketing of events. Hired, trained, and supervised a team of event coordinators. This team grew from one person, to three full-time and three part-time events staff. Under this new plan, events registration increased to where festival signup results were regularly at 1000 people.
Responsible for overall coordination of Sally Ride Science festivals – partnering with a team of consultants to implement events involving an astronaut keynote speaker, up to 40 independent stalls showcasing local science companies, merchandise booth, food, and musical entertainment. An average of one festival a month was undertaken (with one per weekend in the peak season).
Worked with the staff of the event hosting institution (universities, NASA facilities and other large venues) to create contractual agreements for events. Included working with financial officers, legal staff, and others to create legally binding and accurate agreements, while keeping within a fixed budget. Worked with the NASA astronaut appearance office to coordinate the schedules of active astronauts.
Developed and presented workshops and lectures about how best to introduce hands-on, practical engineering skills to 5-8th Graders, and encouraging girls to enter the engineering workforce. These workshops have been presented to parents and educators, at venues such as NSTA conferences and California Institute of Technology, University of California, San Diego, University of San Diego, University of Alabama in Huntsville, Rice University, Houston, Texas, California State University, Los Angeles, University of California, Irvine, Arizona State University, Meredith College, North Carolina, and Santa Clara University
Acted as the company’s presence at a variety of national science and other conferences, including creation of special display boards, promotional materials, presentations, and other methods of promotion. Events included Frontiers of Flight weekend at the California Science Center, Los Angeles, and National Engineers’ Week in Washington, DC.
Coordinated logistics and events planning for a number of Sally Ride book signings in the Southern California area.
Company interface with an independent company that oversees Sally Ride Science Camps, ensuring a consistent joint promotional message and expanding promotional opportunities.
Represented the company at award ceremonies such as the presentation of the California Space Authority’s Buzz Aldrin Space Education & Workforce Award.
Represented the company for live and taped media about events (television, radio, printed press and internet).
Continued on a paid consultancy basis for Sally Ride Science until 2012, including presenting educational workshops around the country and overseeing national events at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.