making you stand out
My goal is to make you feel as if you were my only client.
Diversified experience, passion, and attention to detail make me your partner. Working in economic development and public service and consulting with local non-profit organizations as well as regional advocacy groups has provided me with a wide range of skill sets that I am ready to put to work for you.
Strong belief in community service and cause-driven work make me your advocate. Learning about communities through volunteer work, board and public service provided me with deep insights into the fabrics of community organizations and the challenges of communicating key messages to target audiences and the public.
The first two decades of my life I have lived and worked in Austria before venturing out and following my dream of traveling and living in a country where I could pursue my love for the English language. I worked as a nanny near Rochester, NY while completing my first college degree. I returned to Austria to continue my tourism management education and travels, which allowed me to dive into the cultures of countries near (Italy) and far (USA and Namibia). After settling in Auburn, NY I consider myself fortunate to have met and continue to meet interesting and engaging people who helped me discover my passion for community involvement, activism, and writing. I have extensive communications and project management experience in the economic development, tourism, public, and private sectors. I am a member of the Project Management Institute and the Public Relations Society of America.
Since moving to Auburn, NY I have been involved with local and regional organizations as a volunteer, board member, and advocate. Past and present board service include IGNITE Cayuga County’s Young Professionals, Auburn YMCA-WEIU, Auburn Education Foundation, Auburn Industrial Development Authority, Cayuga Economic Development Agency, Port Byron Old Erie Canal Heritage Park, United Way of Cayuga County, Cayuga Economic Development Agency, Cayuga County Community Services Board, as well as Board of Education for the Auburn Enlarged City School District. Public service is very rewarding to me and helps me stay in touch with my community and its needs. My leadership activities in the nonprofit sector also help me grow and inform my consulting work.
My goal is to make you feel as if you were my only client.
Whether you want to optimize your website and social presence, analyze your current marketing mix, start a promotional outreach campaign, access grant funding, or you just need a press release, ad or brochure – my work will promote the best side of your business or service.
"I have worked with Monika for several years. She is a person you can count on, a self-starter, focused, needs little direction and communicates in a clear and natural way the message we desire. Monika seeks to understand the goal of each message she is charged with creating. To that end, she does her homework and then seeks ways to provide a message that resonates with the intended audience and moves them to the desire action."
"Monika is a valued and respected part of the community. There is a lot to admire when you see her in action. If Monika makes a commitment, she becomes your genuine partner. Her service on the School Board and City’s Industrial Development Board is evidence that she is, among many other things, astute, independent minded and able to communicate effectively with many different audiences. Monika is generous with her talent and expertise. The community is a better place thanks to Monika’s hard work."
"Over the past few years Monika has provided us with highly professional and diversified communications support. She proved to be a capable, effective writer on both traditional and electronic platforms. Her copy is clear, crisp and readable. Monika took a leadership role in establishing our social media presence and significantly enhancing the look, feel and user-friendlyness of the organization’s two websites. In doing so, she demonstrated an exceptional graphic and website design sensitivity. Monika is a self starter who can take on assignments and see them through to completion. She is able to deliver under tight deadlines while maintaining the quality of her product."
"It has been my pleasure to have been associated with Monika for over ten years. I have worked closely with her on a number of challenging and exciting projects. Monika has played a key role in the successful economic revitalization of our village. She has played an integral part in the design and functionality of our website, as well as managing our social media presence, and promoting our economic development efforts by creating marketing collateral, all done with great pride and enthusiasm. She has been greatly respected by our Board, her co-workers and members of the Fairport community at large."
"The best thing about working with Monika is her high energy! When she decides to tackle an issue, her focus is all about learning the facts first, and then communicating them to others in a clear and concise manner. As a homeowner, parent, and taxpayer, I respected her fierce advocacy for the children of our community during her tenure as an elected school board member. She is personally involved in making sure her community is a great place to learn, a place that is safe, and a place that can be enjoyed no matter what age you happen to be!"
"As a Board of Education member, Monika has established a very positive rapport with our faculty, students, and parents, as well as the administration. She has earned respect and admiration from the individuals with whom she has interacted, both within and outside of our district. While serving in governance, committee work, student and community activities, she has demonstrated skilled planning and organization."
"I was fortunate to work with Monika in IGNITE, where she consistently put her skills to work - planning events, advocating for our region and young professionals, successfully capturing grants, and leading important projects with lasting effects. Monika is driven, intelligent, energetic and inspiring."
"On the School Board, Monika was constantly leading the Board's development of new and innovative ways to communicate our message and engage with the community. Monika was the creator of the district's sustainability initiative and guided it from a concept to a highly successful, district-wide recycling program in less than a year."
"During her time in Fairport, I have grown to know Monika very well on both a personal and professional level. The Fairport Office of Community + Economic Development has played a crucial role in the successful economic revitalization of our village, and Monika had a key role in that success. She has also been an important part of our grants program through both her grant writing and exceptional administrative skills. I have appreciated the work ethic Monika has displayed. She is self-motivated and always showed great initiative, all while being a valuable team player. Her contributions to our village will be recognized for years to come."
"Monika has not only participated as a Y board member, but she has volunteered to serve in various roles, including on the Y CEO Search Committee and as Chair of the Y Board of Directors Annual Support Campaign. Her personal qualities are such that she makes others feel at ease talking and interacting with her. She thrives on challenges, seeing them as opportunities for growth, and is not thwarted by the complexities of the task."
Food for thought about why it is important to keep our dollars local.
by Monika Salvage April 2018 Published in The Citizen “Unity is strength… When there is teamwork and collaboration, wonderful things can be achieved.” ~Mattie Stepanek In my previous columns, I tried to make a case for the importance of supporting local businesses and organizations. This month I would like to highlight a local project that shines […]
by Monika Salvage March 2018 Published in The Citizen “No winter lasts forever; no spring skips its turn,” Hal Borland writes, which is an uplifting thought after shoveling heavy snow for the umpteenth time this winter. Spring does not just give us a chance to finally put away our snow shovels and winter clothing, it […]
by Monika Salvage February 2018 Published in The Citizen “Winter is not a season, it’s an occupation,” Sinclair Lewis writes, and I have a feeling many Upstate New York residents share this sentiment, especially given the freezing temperatures and stormy conditions we had to endure earlier in the year. Many people had to deal with […]
by Monika Salvage January 2018 Published in The Citizen Remember how in planes they advise you, in case of an emergency, to put on your own oxygen mask first before assisting others? It makes sense because if you don’t take care of yourself, you will not be able to help others. It also applies to […]
If you’re ready to work with me or just want to learn more, please don’t hesitate to call, email or message me.
