Renee Catacalos

Experience

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  U.S. Department of State

  Jan 1985 - Jan 1990

  Foreign Service Officer/Vice Consul

  Assignments included Visa and Admin Officer, Embassy Mexico City, and Chief of the Immigrant Visa Section, Consulate General Istanbul• Conducted interviews and adjudicated applications for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas to the U.S. in a variety of languages• Responsible for copious official correspondence with applicants, their families and members of Congress seeking information on pending applications• Supervised foreign national employees, streamlined workflows to process large numbers of applicants daily, and conducted training in customer service and communication Show less

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  Houston Association of Realtors

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1995

  Director of Marketing and Public Relations

  Positions included Director of Public Relations and Manager of Marketing and Public Relations • Directed media relations and internal communications for largest local real estate association in the nation, with some 8,000 members at that time• Implemented first membership marketing campaign in response to national “board of choice” policy• Wrote and/or edited and approved all media materials, newsletters, reports to board of directors, membership flyers, event signage, and bylined articles and speeches for leadership• Managed staff of four Show less

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  Vollmer Public Relations

  Jan 1995 - Jan 2001

  Director of Corporate Marketing

  Positions included Senior Account Executive, Account Supervisor, Management Supervisor and Director of Corporate Marketing• Progressively promoted from senior account executive to primary new business developer for $10 million public relations firm with clients in consumer technology, e-commerce, automotive, industrial, professional services, hospitality and healthcare sectors• Developed, managed and executed client campaigns including media relations, media and spokesperson training, employee and member communications, consumer promotions, trade show activities, grand openings and special events, with teams of two to five staffers• Launched VOLLMER’s first corporate identity and marketing program, including website design and messaging Show less

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  Houston International Protocol Alliance

  Feb 2001 - Dec 2001

  Deputy Director

  • Mayor’s advisor on international and protocol issues and official liaison to staff and families of the city’s 70-nation consular corps• Wrote and/or edited and approved materials for Mayor, city council members and business leaders including country and personality reports, scenario briefings, media materials and official correspondence with consular representatives and visiting dignitaries• Coordinated official ceremonies, courtesy visits and special events involving the consular corps, ambassadors, heads of state, heads of government, and royalty• Managed staff of four, as well as volunteers for special events Show less

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  Renee Catacalos, self-employed

  Feb 2002 - Nov 2008

  Freelance writer - features, marketing, grants

  • Contributor of multiple food and lifestyle features to publications including Washington Post, Mother Earth News, Home Cooking, TEA A Magazine, Family Digest and Transitions Abroad, and regional publications Edible Chesapeake and Washington Woman.• Nearly 50 lifestyle section articles in the Prince George’s Gazette, including restaurant reviews, food features, a food news column, and general lifestyle features.• Web site content for several small business clients• Grant research, proposal writing, reporting for nonprofit and government-contractor clients Show less

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  Edible Chesapeake

  Dec 2006 - Dec 2009

  Publisher and Editor

  Edible Chesapeake is the only magazine dedicated to the abundance of local foods in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. We publish quarterly with the seasons and distribute 40,000 copies from Baltimore to Virginia Beach, from the Eastern Shore to Frederick, at Whole Foods Stores, farmers markets, local and organic grocers, and other places where folks who care about local eating and sustainable lifestyles gather.

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  Future Harvest-CASA

  Apr 2010 - Jun 2013

  Deputy Director

  Management of annual conference; oversight of staff, communications and education programs; involvement in partnerships and relationship-building; and day-to-day management for regional sustainable agriculture nonprofit,

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  Maryland Hospitals for a Healthy Environment

  Nov 2010 - Nov 2011

  Strategic Communications Consultant

  Providing strategic communications support to the Sustainable Foods initiatives; specifically outreach to encourage the use of more sustainably produced, local proteins including beef, pork and poultry, by health care institutions in Maryland and DC, under an initiative funded by a USDA FSMIP grant.

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  American Institute of Architects Potomac Valley Chapter

  Jun 2013 - Feb 2019

  Executive Director

  Management of 600+ member organization serving architects and affiliated professionals in Montgomery, Prince George's, Frederick, Washington, Allegany and Garrett counties in Maryland.

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  Sustainable Agriculture & Food Systems Funders (SAFSF)

  Feb 2019 - Mar 2024

  • Vice President, Strategy and Impact

    Jan 2022 - Mar 2024

  • Senior Director, Membership and Outreach

    Jan 2021 - Jan 2022

  • Membership and Strategic Partnerships Director

    Feb 2019 - Jan 2021
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  Justice Funders

  Sept 2022 - Apr 2023

  Harmony Initiative Class of 2022-2023

  The Harmony Initiative equips grantmakers with the community, skills, and resources to transform philanthropy into a force for equity and social justice. Inherent to this is building the capacity of grantmakers as funder organizers to advance a Just Transition for the field. Through a combination of retreats and peer groups, participants solidify a vision for their leadership and the field, strengthen their grantmaking practice, and build deep relationships with peers.

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  FRESHFARM

  Mar 2024 - now

  Director of Strategic Investments

  Leading the development strategy to resource FRESHFARM's 2023-2028 Strategic Plan, creating innovative solutions to our region's most pressing food system challenges.