Judy Cara

Experience

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  Colorado Interstate Gas

  Jan 1997 - Jan 2000

  Manager, Government and Public Affairs

  Responsible for internal and external communications, including news releases and newsletters.Planned and executed company events including service awards and off-site customer meetings with national speakers.Represented company at “town hall” meetings when organization faced opposition from the public on installation of natural gas pipelines and compressor stations.

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  Intel Corporation

  Jan 2000 - Jan 2008

  Public Affairs Director

  Successfully negotiated multi-million dollar incentive agreements at the state, county and city levels.Developed and executed multi-million dollar budgets, strategically managing costs, negotiating contracts and identifying money-saving opportunities.Directed all corporate social responsibility programs statewide.Initiated the Intel Involved employee volunteer program, generating thousands of volunteer hours and matching dollars for schools annually.Collaborated with environmental staff to ensure the safety of the Intel campus for employees, neighbors, and other stakeholders.Analyzed business personal property tax problem and successfully introduced state legislation to resolve the issue, saving millions of dollars for Intel and other manufacturers.Developed strategic communication plans for television, radio and print media. Served as on-camera media spokesperson.Ran the Intel Involved employee volunteer program, generating thousands of volunteer hours and matching dollars for local schools annually.Collaborated with EHS staff to ensure the safety of the Intel campus for employees, neighbors, and other stakeholders.Managed targeted statewide initiatives, including K-12 and higher education, with an emphasis on improving science, math and engineering education, as well as career opportunities for under-represented populations.Served on the leadership team with responsibility for all Colorado sites’ public relations, government affairs and crisis management activities. Show less

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  Western Union Foundation

  Jan 2008 - Oct 2010

  Director of Corporate Citizenship

  Creatively developed and administered corporate giving and employee engagement programs, both locally and globally, gaining an excellent reputation for Western Union and garnering numerous awards:Launched global signature cause program to alleviate global poverty which was recognized by the Clinton Global Initiative, the Committee Encouraging Corporate Philanthropy, PR News and other prestigious organizations worldwide.Recognized as effective mentor and facilitated global mentoring initiative.Demonstrated success with print and electronic communications, including social media and websites. Show less

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  Mental Health America

  Oct 2010 - Feb 2011

  Vice President of Marketing and Development

  Functioned as chief external relations officer with responsibility for marketing, development, and community relations:Developed and implemented plans to meet the short- and long-term revenue goals of the organization.Created the organization's first development plan, aimed at increasing individual giving, major gifts and planned giving.Supervised three staff members, responsible for grants, events and development support.Engaged state government on mental health policy issues.

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  Kaiser Permanente

  Feb 2011 - May 2015

  Manager of Corporate Communications

  Managed the Corporate Communications team with primary responsibility for communications with internal audiences of staff and physicians, as well as targeted external audiences:Directed a seven-person team who gathered and told the organization’s stories in the medium of most impact for each stakeholder group. Initiated quarterly reports to illustrate communications metrics.Designed quarterly meetings for 450 leaders, consistently receiving over 92% favorable ratings on participants' evaluations.Worked closely with senior leaders to ensure messaging coordination with marketing/advertising campaigns.Hosted regular internal television chat show with booming viewership at over 40 locations. Show less

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  Catholic Heath Initiatives Colorado Foundation

  Jun 2015 - Mar 2017

  Vice President of Philanthropy, South State Operating Group

  Had primary responsibility for maximizing philanthropic opportunities and relationship-building for the South State Operating Group (Colorado Springs, Pueblo and Canon City):Raised over $1.5M to date from major donors annually, including capital campaigns.Initiated the foundation's first planned giving program aimed at diverse stakeholders, including hospital volunteers, financial planning/estate planning professionals, and long-term supporters.Implemented planned giving program to involve a variety of stakeholders, including hospital volunteers, financial planning and estate planning professionals, and long-term supportersLed a team of development, grants and administrative employees in three locations.Drove a prosperous grant program yielding over $1M per year Show less

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  Aleut Aerospace Engineering/Apogee Engineering at U.S. Air Force Academy (Federal Contractors)

  May 2018 - Jul 2020

  Project Manager for Planetarium and STEM Services Outreach

  Responsible for developing and implementing a robust program of science education and public outreach using the planetarium’s 360-degree technical capabilities and the academic expertise available in the university environment.• Conducted a wide range of project management support services including strategic development, planning, scheduling, coordination and integration of operations, communications, marketing, outreach, and management.•Supervised $5M construction and equipment installation.•Organized soft opening event for a lunar eclipse and sold-out grand opening event for over 3,500 visitors.•Acted as media spokesperson on behalf of Federal institution resulting in multiple television, radio, and podcast interviews as well as four-page spread in Colorado Springs Style magazine, reaching 3M+ people.•Implemented daily shows, interactive student field trips and special events for the resulting in over 7,000 visits to date.•Operated, maintained and troubleshooted all state-of-the-art technical equipment, including a Digistar 6 system, six Boxer projectors, three panoramic projectors, and a complex Bowen audio/lighting system.•Established and marketed a public web presence that amassed 14,000 visitors in five months and became one of the highest visited pages on the website. Show less

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  U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Museum

  Jul 2020 - Mar 2022

  Group Sales Manager

  Member of management launch team for this internationally-recognized museum. Established sales program for local, national, and international groups of visitors. Created program for schoolchildren to visit museum. Exceeded visitor numbers at established national museums during COVID challenges.

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  Friends of the Children - Colorado Springs

  Oct 2021 - Jan 2025

  Executive Director

  Launched first Colorado chapter of this national nonprofit organization, including hiring all staff, securing office and clubhouse space, establishing community connections and media visibility, and developing financial sustainability.• Provided enthusiastic leadership, inspiration, strategic direction, focus, and long-term vision for the organization.• Established long-term strategic direction resulting in clear development goals, objectives, and results.• Worked with the nonprofit community to implement and sustain strategic partnerships and collaborations.• Developed and maintained long and short-term plans, including strategic plans, annual operating plans and budgets, and revenue and expense projections.• Worked with the Board of Directors to develop, and with staff to implement, strategic plans that identified goals and objectives.• Ensured the effective supervision, guidance, development, and evaluation of all staff, and a work environment that resulted in positive morale and employee retention. Show less