Mary Herbenick

Led project to gather perspectives from community members and organization leaders about how to prevent adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), heal trauma, and build a trauma-responsive system of care in Winston-Salem/Forsyth County. Served as lead writer of "Community Perceptions: Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) in Forsyth County, North Carolina", a report that synthesized community feedback and outlined recommendations to drive systemic community change and more equitable outcomes. Interviewed national and state leaders of community resiliency efforts, co-created a framework for a statewide approach in North Carolina, and co-authored Resilient NC: Supporting Statewide Efforts to Build Community Resilience. Co-led Resilient Guilford Network, a cross-sector collaborative focused on building individual, organizational, and community resilience within Guilford County. Worked with local, state, and national leaders to advance work in building trauma-responsive, compassionate communities. Served on Executive Leadership Team to drive sustainability for a growing organization that provides free behavioral health services to more than 10,000 children, teens, and adults annually.

Developed and executed the collective vision for Guilford County’s early childhood system of care through the Get Ready Guilford Initiative. Cultivated and maintained relationships with funders, prospective funders, organizational leaders, front-line providers, parents, and more. Wrote grant proposals and shaped content of executive messages, e-newsletter content, and more. Facilitated Equity Strategies committee tasked with embedding equity at every level of the systems building work. Facilitated cross-sector Public Will Building committee tasked with sustaining the Get Ready Guilford Initiative beyond an initial 10-year investment by Blue Meridian Partners. Facilitated the Guilford Parent Leader Network comprised of parent leaders who serve as consultants, advocates and change agents to advance early childhood priorities. Cultivated local, regional, and national partnerships with the Center for the Study of Social Policy, Nemours Integrator Learning Lab, Pritzker Children’s Initiative, and ThinkBabiesTM NC.

Led start-up initiative to build an innovative, connected early childhood system in Guilford County, NC with the goal of improving child and family outcomes while reducing disparities. With partners, won national funding for 10-year Get Ready Guilford Initiative ($32.5 million for the first three years) focused on breaking the cycle of intergenerational poverty by promoting healthy development of the community's most vulnerable children and families. Engaged hundreds of families and community partners (including 100+ agencies/organizations) to build a common vision, shared priorities and measurable outcomes. Facilitated the work of 80+ cross-organizational, cross-sector teams to develop and begin implementing the vision. Worked with 28-member Board of Directors to launch and build capacity within the new 501(c)(3) organization. Attracted, managed and retained small staff to lead various aspects of the work. Serve as thought leader on early childhood system-focused teams at the local and state level.

Developed and executed community engagement plan focused on community partners, businesses and early care and education teachers. Developed and executed communication campaign to improve visibility of the Partnership, including design and launch of new website and social media campaigns Served as thought leader on statewide team to develop and execute new Smart Start brand.

Served non-profit organizations, Fortune 500 companies and start-up businesses to develop and implement effective communication strategies to support growth. Work included communication strategy development, content development (print and digital), brand development/alignment and project management.

Led complex engagements with companies who were introducing large changes to leaders, managers and front-line employees. Responsible for developing content to help employees make good decisions about their health, finances, careers, work/life balance and more. Responsible for managing client relationships, leading small consulting teams, writing creative content, developing/managing schedules and selling new work.

Developed and implemented creative strategies to drive desired results with 50+ Fortune 500 companies across numerous industries. Areas of focus included merger and acquisition communication, talent development/management strategies, employer brand development/management, and health improvement. Created consulting offers and supporting campaigns to improve employee health and wellness, and retirement planning. Worked with team to develop and execute employment branding offer to help companies/organizations attract, engage and retain needed talent. Founded and led Virtual Connections to engage and retain 1,500+ Hewitt consultants who worked remotely.

Designed and implemented change management strategies/tactics with organizations implementing large-scale change initiatives (i.e., new business strategies, process improvement, etc.).

Developed and implemented marketing/publicity plans for 100+ books originating from the National Academy of Science, National Research Council, Institute of Medicine and National Academy of Engineering.