Caitlin Myers profile and information

Professional Experience

Director, Community Engagement & Economic Development 
Auburn University, October 2022-present 

• Founded and scaled the Community Engagement & Economic Development (CEED) program within the Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management. 
• Designed and executed diverse community events (cooking, baking, wine, nutrition, pastry, beverage education, unique and educational dining experiences), with high satisfaction ratings from attendees
• Created inclusive outreach for audiences across age, ability, and experience levels—including K–12 students, retirees, veterans, and Auburn’s EAGLES Program students
• Integrated service-learning and community-engaged learning for hospitality students, facilitating 3,500+ hours of experiential education. 
• Built a subscriber base of community members
• Secured partnerships with local, regional, and national businesses; collaborated with 20+ Auburn colleges/departments 
• Advanced applied scholarship by piloting micro-credential programs, co-developing initiatives with Alabama Cooperative Extension System, and hosting interdisciplinary events 
• Elevated Auburn’s scholarly and community reputation through reciprocal partnerships that connect academic expertise with societal needs.
• Managed staffing including Community Engagement Coordinators, student interns, graduate student staff and student volunteers 
• Created all digital marketing 
• Secured contracts for professional services, guest speakers and private events 
• Launched and developed the Startup Program in Culinary Entrepreneurship (SPICE) and student business incubator in the Hey Day Market 

Economic Development Manager - Entrepreneurial & Technology Programs
City of Auburn, October 2019-October 2022  

• Built and grew an entrepreneurial ecosystem through programming, small business incubators, mentorship, funding opportunities and connecting individuals to resources 
• Collaborated with Auburn University on an Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant that brings resources and programming to local startups and small businesses 
• Facilitated, managed and reported on an Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) grant for the Additive Manufacturing Accelerator, which supports product development and prototyping for startups and existing industries 
• Oversaw an incubator system with more than 20 physical and virtual members; attracted tenants; managed leases 
• Developed partnerships in the entrepreneurial community including: Auburn University New Venture Accelerator, Harbert College of Business, Lowder Center for Entrepreneurship and Family Business, Government and Economic Development Institute; Auburn Chamber of Commerce; Auburn Downtown Merchants Association; Economic Development Partnership of Alabama; Innovation Depot; SCORE; Alabama Small Business Development Center 

Marketing Director & Office Manager 
Porter Properties, May 2017-September 2019

• Designed creative for advertising in newspapers, magazines, email blasts, proposals, etc. 
• Managed social media content on multiple platforms; significantly grew web presence; created a database Created customized farming materials, proposals and marketing presentations for the 30+ real estate agents 
• Developed, implemented and comprehensively documented new processes and procedures for transaction management, records compliance, and best practices 
• Applied technology to facilitate processes (Dotloop, Google forms, Google sites, etc.) 
• Instituted Agent To Go! System to maximize efficiency & ensure consistency in the services provided 
• Cooperatively led sales meetings, provided ongoing training in computer fluency and marketing strategies 

Creative Services Manager 
Arizona State University Foundation for A New American University, January 2009-April 2012 

• Streamlined creative processes to save time and resources; implemented a workflow tracking system 
• Hired, trained and managed staff of project coordinators 
• Oversaw more than 200 print projects per year while ensuring timely delivery and staying within budget, often complex projects with extremely tight timelines, high profile contributors and audiences 
• Improved customer relations between internal clients and the Communications & Marketing staff 
• Led the search for a new project management software by gathering user requirements and evaluating options 
• Ran weekly department status meetings to cover project progress; improved project flow of information 
• Assisted the Senior Vice President, Communications & Marketing 
• Analyzed donor data and created mapping plan to identify donor interests for strategic segmentation of our emails 
• Supported as many as 17 development officers at one time with reports, mailings, clerical and technical support