RACHEL BLAASCH, MBA
Public engagement and communications professional with a career linked by public service. Worked across nonprofit, government, healthcare, and private sectors. Experience in the Peace Corps, AmeriCorps VISTA, and a community health center. Earned an MBA to bring business savvy to nonprofit background and to advance analytical and creative skills. Passionate to help public organizations effectively and innovatively engage their stakeholders through storytelling and social media.
Seeking to continue public service career by moving into the federal government sector and contribute as a Public Affairs Specialist, Marketing Manager, Marketing Coordinator, Communications Coordinator, Social Media Manager, Content Writer, Public Relations Specialist, Brand Strategist, or Public Information Officer.
Available immediately within the state of Florida
Feel free to contact through LinkedIn
Values: Curiosity, Collaboration, Innovation, Creativity, and a Love for Learning
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Professional Reflection
My first experiences with public service were with the Peace Corps and the AmeriCorps VISTA program, but my first taste of public engagement was on the site where George Washington grew up. His house no longer stands. Actually, there are no historic buildings on the property. At first glance it is the least interesting site to visit compared to his birth site and Mount Vernon, so my role was to engage visitors with how archaeology and artifacts told the Washington family’s story. This experience, as well as the many that followed, will allow me to share how the past, current, and future experiences tell the story of your agency and engage your target audiences in person and online.
Before we left for our first site visit, the in-country Peace Corps nurses gave us a piece of advice: “Don’t forget to pack your fabulous sense of humor.” Ever since 2008, I have put that in my messaging for group projects, event planning, and campaigns.
DEVELOPMENT SPECIALIST,
PREMIER COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE GROUP
April 2019–January 2021
Initiated and established a grant management process for a $22 million community health center. Previously, Premier relied primarily on federal funding and had no grant tracking process. Aligned the grants process for research, applying, and reporting. In its first year, during the COVID-19 pandemic, this new program aided in the company’s most open grants and the first $1 million grant in Premier’s history
Began a story collection program to collect patient stories. Previously Premier sought stories as-needed. Utilized Box.com and catalogued by service line and demographics. Collaborated with team members across 14 sites to refer patients for interviews. In one year, the database had a dozen interviews
Coordinated the 2019 Community Health Advocate award to acknowledge the support of 63 elected officials. Sourced the gifts and scheduled deliveries with Premier’s executive team. This project built relationships with elected officials who influence public policy and allocation of government funds
COMMUNITY SERVICES SPECIALIST,
PREMIER COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE GROUP
January 2015–April 2019
Led 3 annual back to school health events from 2015-2017 in partnership with a Title I school to offer back to school physicals and school supplies to support Premier’s mission of accessible healthcare for all. Headed a committee with stakeholders, developed a budget, delegated tasks to the planning committee, clinic staff, and support staff, targeted the audience, communicated with team members, and gave feedback to management for successes and suggested improvements. The events served 300-400 children and their families each year
Initiated and served as Chair the of KidCare Coalition of Pasco County for one year with the goal of decreasing the number of uninsured children by connecting families to application assistance, becoming the point person and subject matter expert for stakeholders for Florida’s CHIP
Built community relationships and acted as subject matter expert for stakeholders such as small businesses, social, public, religious, and private organizations to market clinic services by networking with 4 new businesses and attending 2 community meetings a month
Conducted targeted outreach to reach intended audience to educate public on eligibility for Medicaid in Florida, CHIP, the Affordable Care Act, and Premier CHC’s medical services for uninsured and underinsured populations
GRADUATE ASSISTANT, UNIVERSITY MARKETING, COMMUNICATIONS, AND ADVANCEMENT SERVICES,
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
August 2019–August 2020
Wrote and edited press releases and internal communications in AP style to keep faculty and staff across 8 campuses and online updated about - but not limited to - seasonal initiatives, holidays, micro brand strategies, fund raisers, student events, and special events
Developed and wrote 2 articles for Saint Leo University’s alumni magazine, for the Spring 2019 and Fall 2019 issues, to engage the alumni audience and share how alumni are living the University’s core values
Assisted the Associate Vice President to segment the target audience and discover trends for preferred platform for alumni magazine. This led to the bi-annual Spirit Magazine launching as a website and being fully tracked with metrics
GRADUATE ASSISTANT, CIRCULATION SERVICES, DAN CANNON LIBRARY,
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
February 2019–August 2019
Served as customer point person on front circulation desk for library resources, internet, the online learning platform, and first level troubleshooting
Supervised team of 3 student workers and monitored for customer service and timeliness
Organized the graduate assistant’s workspace for efficiency. This workspace was the main administrative center outside of business hours. Collated and labelled folders for ease of use thereby empowering student workers to better assist patrons when staff were busy or after hours
PREPAREDNESS AND PUBLIC OUTREACH VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR,
AMERICORPS VISTA, SCHOHARIE AREA LONG TERM, INC
September 2013–August 2014
● Developed a volunteer recruitment, recognition, and retention program as SALT transitioned to a long-term community development, blighted property, and creek restoration project group
● Coordinated the progress of a county-wide preparedness initiatives with community groups, government agencies, congregations, and the Red Cross to prepare a volunteer reception center for a future disaster.
● Coordinated 315 disaster recovery volunteers including 17 volunteer groups in direct service to homeowners affected by flooding
● Organized the Hope for the Home-Bound project, which resulted in 200 Emergency Ready Kits donated to the home-bound of Schoharie County. Researched items for a shelter-in-place bag, created a budget, procured items from local businesses, and created a distribution plan with local churches
● Led the Volunteer Recognition Ceremony to recognize local volunteers. Developed a plan, budget, location, and monitored milestones. Reached out to local businesses to sponsor gifts. Hosted the event and provided a meal for 40 volunteers and SALT staff at a local church
LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST,
KIMBERLEY’S A DAY SPA
November 2012-Aug 2013
· Provided personable customer service and therapeutic massage therapy to 4-8 clients a day
· Delivered 30-, 60-, and 90-minute massage therapy treatments including Swedish, deep tissue, prenatal, couples, and hot stone massage
· Trained new staff in hydrotherapy, hot stone services, reflexology, and other spa techniques
· Promoted the spa’s services and recommended in-house product lines
· Increased the spa’s client base with repeat and referral clients
LICENSED MASSAGE THERAPIST/BUSINESS OWNER
September 2011-August 2012
Established massage therapy office within a chiropractor’s office as per New York State Massage Boards Standards and maintained massage license per New York state and national standards
Created marketing collateral and outreach plans with brochures, a personal web site, Facebook page, outreach at local events, discounts for first responders, and referrals
Maintained clients’ treatment records
Booked appointments, answered phone, greeted clients, and handled payments
COMMUNITY HEALTH FACILITATOR,
PEACE CORPS,
REPUBLIC OF VANUATU
April 2008–May 2010
Aided the island’s health clinic with updating their paper data records and family charts to provide better quality patient care and continuity of care
Conducted 3 population surveys and assessed 800 residents in 10 villages to help strengthen health-related infrastructure and improve health practices at the village and international levels, as well as with the local government
Developed and delivered 5 village-based nutrition workshops for mothers and children to increase awareness and knowledge of local foods. This program used the three food groups of the South Pacific and included games and activities which attracted people beyond than the target audience, reaching over 100 people
PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY INTERN,
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FERRY FARM
May 2007-September 2007
Engaged guests with colonial American history through the process of archaeology and material artifacts and supported Ferry Farm’s mission to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the lives and values of George Washington’s families
Updated the informational posters targeted for elementary-aged children and families about the process of field archaeology, the continually-occupied history of Ferry Farm, and how to distinguish the different eras through material artifacts and stratigraphy
Supervised small teams of 2-3 field school students to mentor and guide them in excavation techniques
SUPERVISING FIELD ARCHAEOLOGIST (SEASONAL, 3-MONTH CONTRACT), MAGNOLIA PLANTATION AND GARDENS
January 2007-April 2007
Presented the historic and archaeological dig site of the slave-occupied area of Charleston, SC’s most visited plantation and oldest public gardens in America
Supervised a small field crew of 3 people and a lab of 2 people during the Phase I and Phase II archaeology survey including artifact mapping, testing, data recovery, and monitoring
Created a centralized system for field work, documentation, and cataloging of artifacts
PUBLIC ARCHAEOLOGY INTERN,
GEORGE WASHINGTON’S FERRY FARM
May 2006-September 2006
Engaged guests to bring colonial American history to life through the process of archaeology and material artifacts and support Ferry Farm’s mission to enhance the public’s understanding and appreciation of the lives and values of George Washington’s families
Mapped, photographed, and catalogued artifacts
Supervised small teams of 2-3 field school students to mentor and guide them in excavation techniques
EDUCATION
SAINT LEO UNIVERSITY
Master of Business Administration, focus on Social Media Marketing. Graduated Summa Cum Laude
Graduated August 2020.
Saint Leo, FL
LYCOMING COLLEGE
Williamsport, PA
Bachelor of Arts, Creative Writing and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East. Graduated Magna Cum Laude