Alana Rafiee.
BA in Public Relations & Strategic Communications. Washington, D.C
(978) 809-7995
HELLO, I'M
Alana Rafiee.
Strategic PR & Communications Professional
Who Am I?
NOW THAT'S A SECRET I WILL TELL
I am a passionate communications professional with over two years of experience since graduating from American University's School of Communication. My professional focus and personal passions align seamlessly in the entertainment, beauty, lifestyle, food & beverage, hospitality, and travel industries. A lover of pop culture, culinary adventures, and creative expression, I’m driven by the opportunity to shape narratives that resonate.
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Fostering meaningful relationships has always been at the heart of who I am. Whether collaborating with coworkers, staying connected with friends and family, or celebrating my Iranian heritage, building connections inspires me daily. My enthusiasm for creating authentic relationships extends into my work, where I strive to help organizations and brands connect with their audiences in impactful and memorable ways.
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Originally from northern Massachusetts, I’ve embraced life in the DMV area, where I’ve grown personally and professionally.
Experience
WHERE I'VE WORKED
November 2022 – Present | Arlington Food Assistance Center | Arlington, VA
Marketing & Communications Manager (promoted from Associate in July '24)
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Design and manage integrated media campaigns, including monthly newsletters to engage the community and three annual solicitation campaigns, raising nearly $500,000 in donations for the organization
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Led the complete redesign of the organization’s website in collaboration with an external design team, overseeing the project from conception through execution, including organizing a professional photo and video shoot to improve digital presence
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Take the lead in crafting and distributing press releases and media alerts to targeted journalists, strategically enhancing media coverage and elevating public awareness of the food bank’s mission and initiatives
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Spearhead content strategy and publishing for all four of the organization’s social media accounts, driving community engagement, amplifying event visibility, and strengthening the organization’s digital presence through targeted, mission-aligned messaging
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Lead the coordination and promotion of impactful community initiatives, including annual donor events, client resource outreach, food drives, and volunteer opportunities, by developing strategic outreach campaigns across social media and email marketing. Successfully increased participation and fundraising by aligning messaging with community values and motivating stakeholders to take action
August 2022 – October 2022 | simoneink | McLean, VA
Media Relations Assistant
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Maintained running documentation of secured and published press for 20+ restaurant, spirits, and hospitality concepts in order to track monthly client media coverage
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Monitored relevant news outlets and current events daily to forecast trends and aid in the production of timely and newsworthy content
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Created media lists of 50+ relevant media contacts & outlets to target diverse audiences
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Authored social media captions for the simoneink social media accounts to help establish a stronger presence for the organization’s client base
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Coordinated client and journalist commitments through email and phone correspondence
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Oversaw administrative tasks to facilitate smooth office operations
September 2021 - December 2021| TAA PR | Washington, D.C.
Intern
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Assisted the agency’s teams in creating social media captions and content for 25+ clients including Ronald Reagan and Dulles National Airports, Rosewood D.C., and Riggs D.C.
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Aided in the organization of community events on behalf of local TAA PR clients to promote brand awareness
July 2020 - Nov. 2021| Bistro Aracosia | Washington, D.C.
Server
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Worked in a fast-paced and high-pressure environment providing efficient and caring services to 100+ customers a night
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Ensured all customers had a remarkable experience through informal feedback
Skills & Languages
WHAT I BRING TO THE TABLE
Image & Design Software
Content Writing & Editing
Project Management
CMS & CRM Management
Email & Direct Mail Marketing
Social Media Management
Event Planning & Promotion
English
French
The PR Interlude
MY 5-9 AFTER MY 9-5
Curating Playlists
Film Photography
Sewing
Travel
Cooking
Yoga
Reading
Culinary Exploration
ME IN MUSIC