T: 323.251.9256

E: jessica.buzzard@gmail.com

Professional Experience

Executive Consultant

Brand Strategy & Creative Projects (Oct 2018 - present)

• Strategy and brand marketing for progressive, cultural, and educational organizations. Clients include Sundance Institute, University of Southern California, the British Film Institute, and more.

• Brand architecture and strategy for media start-up, Conscious Good, a content production vehicle and curated streaming platform focused on entertainment for conscious lifestyles.

• Founder and facilitator of Film Crush, a club for girls ages 9-14 that presents age-appropriate independent films from around the world, introduces fundamentals of media literacy, and cultivates a love of movies.

Geffen Playhouse

Director of Marketing & Communications (Mar 2016 - Oct 2018)

• Initiated analysis of audience data to create a new pricing structure for all ticketing products, leading to $5million in earned revenue annually.

• Led development of first-ever seasonal branding to position the Geffen as a home for a fresh live theater experience, resulting in 41% more impressions and a 12% increase in unique visits to the site, leading up to 18/19 season.

• Spearheaded press strategy and pitch development, wrote executive talking points, managed publicists and outside agencies, and successfully managed communications through various transitions.

• Produced series of live events featuring L.A. thought leaders and Geffen artists, moderated by John Horn of KPCC.

• Led team of staff, contractors, agencies, and the union box office staff.

Sundance Institute

Guided Sundance brand evolution through a period of exponential growth in programs, partners, funders, and revenue. Established, grew, and led the Institute’s marketing department to encompass brand strategy and creative, original content, social media, paid media, print and digital collateral, and more.

Head of Brand, Creative, Content / Director of Marketing (Sept 2009 - Mar 2016)

• Directed editorial and creative for institutional videos and publications, including short documentaries, artist interviews, Festival trailers, first-ever Annual Report, a consumer magazine, and more. Oversight of all content produced to support institutional objectives and individual programs.

• Directed development and management of Institute’s digital properties, including websites, social media channels, and mobile applications, growing the Sundance community to include 1-million+ followers worldwide.

• Spearheaded Institute-wide rebrand, with a new brand architecture, a refreshed graphic identity, and a system for unified branding among all Institute programs, in collaboration with president and founder Robert Redford and Institute leadership. Reinvented Sundance Film Festival graphics annually, in collaboration with Mr. Redford and Festival leadership.

• Effectively scaled Institute’s marketing operation to generate demand and provide support for Institute public programs as they expanded throughout the U.S. and around the world. Led marketing team of 13 year-round staff members, with an additional 50+ staffers hired to support the production and publication of original content during the annual Film Festival.

Senior Brand Lead (Sept 2006 - Sept 2009)

• Established functional area for original content to produce, publish, and promote content representing the programs and year-round work of the Institute, including that of the Sundance Film Festival. Produced thousands of content assets featuring Sundance artists, industry professionals, and institutional stakeholders.

• Assumed leadership of Institute Archive and developed strategic plan for preservation and management of records and materials to chronicle the Institute’s history and evolution. Leveraged archival assets as a core element of all branding, design, and content.

• Managed Institute-wide planning for 25th anniversary, strategy execution, and creation of key campaign assets.

Senior Editorial Manager (Nov 2003 - Sept 2006)

• Launched first owned media properties, including monthly email newsletter and print newspaper published and distributed live every day during the Sundance Film Festival.

• Established and implemented brand voice and language guidelines.

• Wrote public correspondence on behalf of Mr. Redford.

Oklahoma Arts Institute

Director of Public Relations & Outreach (Sept 1999 - Nov 2003)

• Managed media outreach, community engagement, publications, and government relations for Oklahoma's Official School of the Arts.

Museum of Contemporary Art-Chicago

Marketing Associate (Sept 1997 - Aug 1999)

• Produced and promoted series of live events, attracting 50,000+ attendees annually, and managed advertising for all exhibitions and programs.

Education

University of Colorado, Boulder - Bachelor of Arts, Art History