Jean Burke-Spraker
Content strategist and storyteller with 15+ years of experience in the US and Asia

Professional Experience

5 event banners featuring storytellers ring tables at the Free Library of Philadelphia

First Person Arts

Director of Marketing and Communications 
2022 to 2025
Philadelphia, PA

Reporting to the Executive Director, led an international team of 4 designers and digital marketers. Developed paid and organic marketing strategies. Wrote long-form marketing content. Served as lead editor for all corporate and marketing communications.

  • Developed and executed the annual department budget of $100,000.
  • Directed outside vendors and contractors to help manage marketing costs, while ensuring on-time delivery under tight deadlines.
  • Achieved record attendance of more than 1,000 people for our annual storytelling festival through organic and paid digital ad campaign.
  • Improved seasonal audience attendance by 25% through social-first content strategy while reducing marketing and advertising costs.
  • Improved open and click-through rates in weekly email newsletter promoting events to an audience of more than 7,000 subscribers.
  • Enhanced audience engagement by creating FPA’s first style and brand guidelines, ensuring consistent voice and messaging across all channels.
  • Improved brand awareness by authoring website blog content and collaborating with website developer to improve language.
  • Collaborated closely with the Director of Development to launch a multi-channel year-end fundraising campaign that exceeded the $10,000 goal.
Champion Xpress wash plans page features bold blue, red, and gray colors. Text on the left highlights the features and benefits of the plans. On the right, an image calls out the MVP #1, 2, and 3 plans.

Flint Avenue Marketing

Director of Marketing and Communications 
2021 to 2022
Lubbock, TX (Remote)

Reporting to the CEO, directed marketing efforts for a technology and marketing startup based in Lubbock, TX. Provided marketing strategy, social media content development, and project management for internal and external clients across the energy, technology, and healthcare sectors.

  • Led the design of an updated brand identity and ecommerce website for a regional car wash expanding nationally. At the client’s request, also stepped in to lead the technical back-end development team communications, delivering the website just in time to showcase it at a national industry trade show.
  • Championed the adoption of Agile project management for marketing projects, streamlining the workflow between marketing and technology business units.
  • Developed a content management strategy for a nutrition startup as they refocused their business model from B2B to B2C, helping them raise funds.
  • Drove sales leads for a medical technology startup by managing the design and outfitting of a 10×10 tradeshow booth for a national show that featured a marketing video that I wrote, produced, and directed remotely.
Oakhampton Place Apartments rebrand

Rich Management

Marketing Director
2019 to 2021
Philadelphia, PA

Reporting to the CEO, managed all marketing, social media, and website content for a national multifamily housing developer with 8 locations across 4 states.

  • Ensured all 8 apartment complex websites complied with Fair Housing Act and FTC regulations by identifying compliance issues and collaborating with on-site, executive, and vendor teams to successfully resolve those issues.
  • Reduced liability risk by improving resident communications, including crisis communications, online reviews, and complaint responses.
  • Alerted executive team to serious negative resident feedback from a marketing survey and crafted timely responses, improving resident relationships.
Child/God cover

JeanBurkeSpraker.com

Freelance Writer and Editor
2012 to present
Multiple locations

Volunteered at women’s organizations in Mumbai, India, and Seoul, South Korea. Published travel and cultural content about my experience living in Asia. Attended writing workshop, completing the first draft of a short story collection. Served as Developmental Editor, Copyeditor, and Marketing Manager for fiction and nonfiction books.

  • Raised 20 lakh rupees at the AWC Bourbon Street Bash annual fundraising gala, improving the lives of women and children in Mumbai.
  • Published monthly magazine columns that featured Mumbai Connexions supported charities, communicating to donors the impact of their donations.
  • Served as Development Editor and Copyeditor for a business self-help book published by HarperCollins India and shortlisted for Best Business Book in India.
  • Served as Developmental Editor, Copyeditor, and Marketing Manager for bestselling Indian fiction writer.
  • Performed flash fiction Gnosiophobia at Anita’s Attic graduation ceremony and later self-published the short story on Amazon as My Name Is Alex.
  • Managed the logistics of moving 2 dogs across 3 countries in 5 years, seamlessly adapting across cultures and languages.
Inside content for the Bridging the Gap brochure

TarrenPoint, Inc. (Formerly The Integrity Group)

Houston, TX

Shared Services and Creative Services Manager
2010 to 2012

Promoted to position that added a business development component and Creative Services team management to existing editorial responsibilities. Supervised a creative team of 10 editors, graphic designers, 3D illustrators, and desktop publishers.

  • Maintained consistent 80% utilization rate for all full-time, part-time, and freelance Creative Services resources.
  • Scoped internal and external print production projects, managed print vendor relationships, and ensured on-time delivery of marketing collateral.
  • Adopted Agile project management for MarCom projects, reducing communication roadblocks while encouraging accountability through daily touchpoints.

Editing Team Lead
2006 to 2010

Led award-winning team of 6 direct reports to deliver more than 1,000 deliverables annually across industries such as technology, energy, and engineering. Mentored a writing team of 30.

  • Created internal editorial calendar and Outlook editing request template, streamlining editorial workflow and easing resource management.
  • Served as lead editor for HP’s enterprise software white papers, helping writers and SMEs make the business cases for their products.
  • Developed internal and external project style and branding guides and checklists, ensuring consistent messaging across all communications.

Board Leadership

First Person Arts

Philadelphia, 2018 to 2022

  • Marketing and Programming Committee
  • Strategic Planning Committee
  • Executive Committee

American Women’s Club

  • Seoul: 2015 to 2017
  • Mumbai: 2012 to 2014 Co-President

Core Competencies

  • Branding
  • Content strategy
  • Editorial management
  • Email strategy
  • Marketing strategy
  • Nonprofit management
  • Print and digital advertising
  • Project management
  • Social media strategy
  • Strategic planning
  • Style guideline development
  • Thought leadership
  • Vendor management

Education

  • Certificate, Nonprofit Management, Netter Center for Community Partnerships, University of Pennsylvania
  • Certificate, Anita’s Attic Writing Workshop, Bengaluru (Bangalore), India
  • Coursework for Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), History, Brown University
  • Master of Arts, History, Clemson University
  • Bachelor of Arts, History, Clemson University

Deliverables Expertise

  • Brochures
  • Case studies
  • Email newsletters
  • Event invitations
  • Executive communications
  • Flyers
  • Internal training materials
  • Magazines
  • Paid ads
  • Postcards
  • Press releases
  • Safety documentation
  • Sales data sheets
  • Social media
  • Speechwriting
  • Technical data sheets
  • User documentation
  • White papers

Tool Expertise

  • Adobe Acrobat
  • Associated Press (AP)
  • Canva
  • Chicago Manual of Style (CMOS)
  • Content management systems (CMS)
  • Customer relationship management (CRM) systems
  • Elementor
  • Eventbrite
  • Google Workspace
  • Jira
  • Meta Business Suite
  • Microsoft Office
  • Monday.com
  • Network for Good/Bonterra
  • WordPress

Share this: