Julie Sammons

Creative strategist working through the lenses of communications, design, and technology to jumpstart the sustainable business revolution.

Currently pursuing an MBA in Sustainable Management at the Presidio School of Management focused on opportunities to leverage emerging technology, information design, and social networks to drive systems change.

Julie Sammons’s Specialties:

sustainability, green business, start ups, strategic planning, new media, social marketing, branding, graphic design, information design, data visualization, nature-inspired design, biological sciences, grant writing, nonprofit board management

Julie Sammons’s Experience

Co-Founder

Elevation Ventures

(Think Tanks industry)

2009 — Present (less than a year)

Establish a polished and powerful presence for startup ventures and individual entrepreneurs in the social and environmental sectors. Coach emerging leaders on strategic positioning, authentic branding, cohesive communications plans, new media tools, presentation skills, and visual design elements.
Blogger

GO Media

(Privately Held; Renewables & Environment industry)

February 2008 — Present (1 year 6 months)

Cover economic trends and influence the social web from a sustainable business perspective for leading media outlets including GO Media and GreenBiz.com.
MBA in Sustainable Management '10

Presidio School of Management

(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

January 2008 — Present (1 year 7 months)

Two-year program focused on sustainable economic transition and entrepreneurial ventures in a resource-constrained world.

Projects & Clients:
+ Urban Forest Mapping Project strategic, financial, and marketing plans
+ Crowdsourced, hyperlocal website prototype and business plan
+ Williams-Sonoma, Inc. sustainable sourcing operations plan
+ Mattel, Inc. environmental stakeholder engagement strategy
+ Herman Miller financial and CSR performance analysis
+ Microhydropower analysis for Sierra Nevada region
+ Climate Policy Design Professional Series Member
Owner

Studio Elemental

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

January 2004 — Present (5 years 7 months)

Provide a full spectrum of marketing solutions for startup ventures within the sustainability, technology, and nonprofit sectors. Creative and strategic services include:
+ Branding, identity development, and graphic design
+ Social media strategies
+ Event coordination and collateral
+ Market research and survey design
+ Blogging, copy writing, and copy editing
International Experience

Travel

(International Affairs industry)

1995 — Present (14 years)

Educational, service, and cultural adventures in more than 20 countries including India, China, Malaysia, Costa Rica, Japan, South Africa, Vietnam, Kenya, Tanzania, France, Mexico, Thailand, and Brazil.

Recent Experience:
Alternative Winter Break ’08 -- Co-organized student fundraising efforts, evaluated local microfinancing opportunities, and installed residential solar systems in communities lacking electric power in rural Nicaragua.
Marketing Specialist

University of California, San Diego

(Educational Institution; Higher Education industry)

June 2005 — January 2008 (2 years 8 months)

Independently managed all public relations, marketing, and graphic design needs for a public university career center with 250 annual events serving over 26,000 students. Oversaw marketing budget, spearheaded redesign of 500-page website and all print/web collateral, planned unique corporate partner events, and conducted staff trainings on new media and technology.

Additional Campus Activities:
Served as co-chair of the UCSD Marketing Council and staff delegate to UCSD's Advisory Committee on Sustainability. Initiated launch of campus-wide New Media workgroup and Green Dream Jobs career fair.
Financial Analyst

AMLS

(Financial Services industry)

January 2007 — April 2007 (4 months)

Investigated suspicious financial transactions on a contract basis and performed final review on case reports for multi-billion dollar client. Promoted immediately to work high profile cases in the San Diego, Los Angeles and San Francisco field offices.
Executive Board Member

CCWSD

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

May 2004 — June 2005 (1 year 2 months)

Initiated event coordination, social marketing, media promotions, web development, partner recruitment, and strategic planning for a growing organization of over 250 member agencies. Formerly called CCWSD; now known as the San Diego County Childhood Obesity Initiative.
Project Lead

San Diego Nutrition Network

(Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

June 2002 — June 2005 (3 years 1 month)

Developed and marketed programs including a nationally-recognized healthy children's menu initiative spanning 40 regional restaurant sites. Secured corporate sponsorships along with television, radio, and print media coverage for public outreach events.
Regional Marketing Coordinator

Network for a Healthy California

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

June 2002 — January 2005 (2 years 8 months)

Managed implementation and evaluation of a social marketing campaign in San Diego and Imperial counties. Developed more than 1,000 community partners within the retail, education, media, and nonprofit sectors in under two years. Served as the campaign's regional spokeswoman and secured millions of media hits per year. Supervised subcontractor agencies and co-authored successful $1.5 million grant extension proposal.

State-Level Activities:
Forged partnerships with local, state, and federal lawmakers to conduct policy advocacy around food security and health disparities. Guided policy development as elected delegate to the California Nutrition Network Joint Steering Committee.
Research Coordinator

Henry M. Jackson Foundation

(Defense & Space industry)

June 2001 — February 2002 (9 months)

Coordinated research projects on emerging infectious diseases among military recruits. Supported clinical staff at 15 remote sites, published research abstracts, and authored internationally-distributed divisional newsletter.

Julie Sammons’s Education

Presidio School of Management

M.B.A , Sustainable Management , 2008 — 2010 (expected)

Leading-edge MBA program focused on sustainable economic transition and entrepreneurial ventures in a resource-constrained world. January '08 - May '10.

Activities and Societies:

Net Impact, Clean Technologies Group, Social Venture Finance Club, Presidio Media Collective (Education & Training Co-Chair), Presidio Mentor Program, rural solar power installation team (Nicaragua 12/08).
University of California, San Diego

Professional Certificates , Digital Design and Web Design , 2005 — 2006

12-month program focused on:
+ Graphic and Web Design, Branding, Color Theory, Typography
+ Pre-Press, Production, Packaging
+ Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Illustrator, GoLive)
+ Digital Photography (Canon Rebel XT, Photoshop)
+ Flash Professional 8
+ CSS, HTML
University of California, San Diego

B.S. , Microbiology

Multiple research internships in mucosal immunology and cellular apoptosis with applications toward targeted cancer treatments and infectious disease control.

Activities and Societies:

Minor in Environmental Studies, Warren College Honors Program, Literary Arts Journal Editor, Student Pugwash Chapter Co-Founder

Additional Information

Julie Sammons’s Websites:

Julie Sammons’s Interests:

design, technology, sustainability, geospatial applications, GIS, informatics, visualization, biomimicry, disruptive innovation, entrepreneurship, social media, social change, complex problems, travel near and afar, building a bright green future

Julie Sammons’s Groups:

Net Impact
Women 2.0
Presidio School of Management - MBA and Executive Certificate Programs in Sustainable Management
NetSquared
Sustainable MBA Network
UCSD Alumni
VizThink
URISA
AIGA San Francisco
Girl Geek Dinners
GreenBiz.com -- Green Business Professionals
The Designers Accord
AIGA Center for Sustainable Design
Hub Bay Area
CTO Sustainability Mentors & Judges