I build the marketing systems that help mission-driven organizations grow.
Nearly 20 years leading marketing for ministries, nonprofits, small businesses and a national construction firm. Most recently Director of Marketing for World Changers Church International, where I managed a $1M+ budget across two departments.
I have built marketing teams from nothing, led two departments at once, and served as the communications partner to senior leaders on speeches, key messages and campaigns.
Campaigns tied to revenue
Integrated funnels, email programs and product launches with a number attached. At World Changers that meant nearly $650,000 in online and store revenue in the first year.
Systems, automation and AI
I set up the CRM, automation and AI workflows behind the work, so follow-up happens on time and the team can keep it running after launch day.
Teaching and translation
More than 750 hours of training for business owners, plus courses at UCLA and San Diego City College. I make complicated tools usable for the people who have to use them.
Career at a glance
2012 – 2014Marketing CoordinatorSwinerton Builders, Solar Division
2014Marketing CoordinatorSimon Wong Engineering (now Kleinfelder)
2017 – 2020Business AdvisorSouthwestern College SBDC (SBA)
2017 – 2023Marketing DirectorThe Bayview Church, San Diego
2023 – 2026Director of MarketingWorld Changers Church International, Atlanta
Directed organization-wide marketing and communications for a national faith-based nonprofit, leading two departments and a $1M+ annual budget across programs, events, products and giving.
Designed digital funnels, email campaigns and launch strategies that generated nearly $650,000 in online and store revenue in Year One.
Served as executive communications and storytelling partner to senior leadership on speeches, key messages and campaigns.
Set creative direction and visual standards across broadcast, social, web, email, print and out-of-home.
Ran editorial calendars, campaign roadmaps, dashboards and reporting, and coordinated staff, vendors and contractors across concurrent launches.
2017 – 2023
San Diego, California
Marketing Director
The Bayview Church
Built the church's first dedicated marketing and media team and its first integrated marketing plan.
Led a full rebrand across the website, mobile app and collateral.
Raised community program engagement by 25% and email open rates by 30%.
Managed a creative team of designers and volunteers and ran the email program that grew audience retention and digital conversions.
01/2017 – 12/2020
San Diego, California
Business Advisor
Southwestern College Small Business Development Center
Advised 400+ businesses on marketing funnels, strategy, digital marketing and government contracting through this SBA-supported program.
Delivered 750+ hours of business and marketing training and improved client marketing effectiveness by up to 20% through analytics.
Served as business liaison to the Logan Heights Community Development Center.
07/2012 – 12/2014
San Diego, California
Marketing Coordinator
Swinerton Builders, Solar Renewable Energy Division
Marketing Lead on the winning pursuit of the $500M K Road Solar Project, the largest in the company's 125-year history.
Produced proposals, client presentations and digital content alongside engineers, estimators and business development teams.
01/2014 – 07/2014
San Diego, California
Marketing Coordinator
Simon Wong Engineering (now Kleinfelder)
Designed, produced and edited government contract proposals, marketing materials and client presentations.
Interviewed industry leaders and provided research support to project engineers and managers.
Teaching, speaking and advisory work
UCLA
Adjunct instructor for applied marketing courses in digital strategy and campaign execution.
San Diego City College
Taught a recurring business marketing course built on real-world application.
America's SBDC Conference
Presented on small-business marketing strategy to the national SBDC network.
ConnectAll at the Jacobs Center
Designed and led marketing workshops for startup and small-business cohorts.
San Diego Urban League
Led the brand and web redesign to strengthen public presence.
San Diego Black Chamber of Commerce
Directed brand and web development for a full refresh.
Procurement Technical Assistance Center of San Diego
Marketing consulting and brand development for procurement-focused businesses.
National City and Gainesville Chambers of Commerce
Marketing training and advisory services for local businesses.
Education
Undergraduate
B.S. in Advertising, minor in African American Studies
University of Florida
Graduate
MFA in Media Design
Full Sail University
Skills and tools
Strategy
Integrated campaignsBrand developmentExecutive communicationsEmail marketingSEOAnalytics and reporting
CRM and automation
SalesforceZoho OneMailchimpBrevoMakeZapier
AI
ChatGPTClaudeAI workflow design
Web and commerce
WordPressShopifyHTML/CSSGoogle AnalyticsAhrefs
Design and content
Adobe Creative CloudCanvaCamtasiaMeta Business SuitePubler
Workflow
ClickUpGoogle WorkspaceMicrosoft Office
Work
From concept to campaign, system, deck and inbox
Every project starts with a strategy question: who are we trying to reach, and what should they do next? These are the systems, presentations and campaigns that came out of answering it.
The work below was built recently with Claude and other AI tools. I set the strategy, wrote the brief, and directed and edited every output. AI made the build faster; the thinking is mine.
Campaigns and brand systems I led, from B2B sales materials for a national builder to church communications, a magazine and a political campaign. Select a project to see the pieces.
Approach
Good marketing should help an organization do its mission better.
That belief shapes how I lead. Marketing is the part of the organization that keeps its promises to people: the follow-up after a first visit, the email that arrives when it should, the report that tells leadership what is working.
I have spent most of my career inside organizations doing that work myself, building the teams, writing the campaigns and wiring the systems. My goal is always the same: leave behind something the team can run without me.
How I work
1
Start with the operation
Most marketing problems are process problems. Before a new campaign, I look at how leads, follow-up and handoffs actually move through the organization.
2
Build what the team can keep
Tools and plans are only useful if the people inside the organization can maintain them. I document, train and hand off.
3
Use AI to support people
I add automation and AI where they take repetitive work off a stretched team, not to pile another platform on top of it.
4
Report what matters
Dashboards and campaign reporting tied to revenue, engagement and retention, so leaders can make decisions instead of guesses.
Community leadership
Founder & Editor-in-Chief, ReClaim Magazine
A quarterly faith-based lifestyle magazine in print and digital. Led a team of 20+ writers, editors, photographers and designers.
Founder, Virtuous Gems, Inc.
A Christian nonprofit mentoring girls ages 13 to 18 through a seven-week program on character, college preparation and service.
VP of Communications
National University of Florida Black Alumni Association, leading brand, messaging and member engagement.
Where I do my best work
Organizations
Faith-based organizationsNonprofitsEducation and workforce programsMission-driven companiesRemote, distributed teams
Roles
Director of MarketingMarketing and Communications ManagerDigital MarketingMarketing Operations
What colleagues say
When God sent Erika to Bayview, He sent someone who could hear my heart and seemingly read my mind. Having her a part of the team has allowed us to move from vision to victory because of Erika's tenacity, professionalism and production.
Dr. Terry BrooksSenior Pastor, Bayview Church of San Diego
Erika has been an essential asset to our organization by being one of only two people in our region offering marketing consulting to our small business owners. She has done training workshops for our clients and has become a liaison for one of our partnering district organizations.
Carla HollandSmall Business Development Center
Erika's commitment to empowering and weaving together a strong community of business leaders is inspiring. We're so grateful for her partnership.
Denea RamosConnectAll at the Jacobs Center
Contact
Let's talk about your team.
I am glad to share references and work samples. The full resume is available as a PDF.
