Resume

KEN SMITH

leadership creativity methodology

summary

As a marketing + communications executive trained in design + obsessed with travel, I want to engage in collaborative environments where storytelling + creative studio work perpetuate global cultural exploration of people, their arts + traditions.

about me

Communicator Designer Culturalist

experience

Leader Team Player Traveler

Strategist Tactician Achiever

Old World Tour March 2013 – January 2014 ten months travel | twenty-one countries | africa | middle east | europe | asia | photojournal Architecture for Humanity March 2011 – November 2012 Design Fellow, Exploratory Projects urban + landscape design | fundraising strategy + marketing | project research | university teaching + advising | social architecture training | community outreach | collateral creation Freelance Designer October 1998 – May 2009 garden design for award-winning firm | independent architectural design | client services Blanc + Otus February 2004 – July 2004 Vice President firm strategy | staffing + resource management | financial media outreach | client services

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Mobius | SOFTBANK Venture Capital January 2000 – December 2003 Senior Director, Marketing Communications tech startup marketing initiatives | launch strategies | media campaigns | press relations | collateral production | agency management | name change project | crisis management Independent Public Relations + Marketing Consultant October 1998 – December 1999 professional services | marketing communications | new business development Sun Microsystems September 1997 – September 1998 Senior Manager, International Operations global field marketing program management | executive handling | event management Apple Computer March 1995 – May 1997 Corporate Spokesperson + Manager, Industry Analysts Relations business press + industry analysts relations | media campaigns | press tours | corporate communications strategy | official quotes, sound + video bites for international media IBM October 1987 – November 1994 Public Policy Advisor + Systems Engineer policy assessment + strategy at all governmental levels | white house forum | client services U.S. Congressman Tony Coelho September 1985 – August 1987 Intern constituent relations + communications | community outreach

ken smith | kensmithsf@me.com | 510.610.7558

education

University of California, Berkeley Certificate | [IN]CITY Designing Sustainable Cities Institute

2010

University of California, Berkeley Extension Professional Degree | Landscape Architecture | Graduate with Distinction (3.95 | 4.0 scale G.P.A.)

2010

University of California, Berkeley Extension Coursework | Fine Arts

awards

teaching + lecturing

2005 – 2006

University of California, Santa Barbara Bachelor of Arts | International Relations

1985

Architecture for Humanity DLYGAD Design Award Best Exterior Details | Escuela 16 de Septiembre | Veracruz, Mexico

2012

University of California, Berkeley Adjunct Instructor + Advisor | College of Environmental Design

2011 – 2012

University of San Francisco Guest Lecturer | School of Architecture

2012

volunteer service

Crisis Hotline Counselor | Help in Emotional Trouble Middle School Tutor | San Francisco School Volunteers Various Projects | Rebuilding Together (formerly Christmas in April) Plant Propagator | Tilden Regional Parks Botanic Garden Community Design Workshops | Oakland’s Manzanita School

languages

English French Spanish

fluency formal education + business working knowledge formal education + business working knowledge

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ken smith | kensmithsf@me.com | 510.610.7558 | openspaceadvocacy.com

recent projects

Architecture for Humanity | San Francisco, California At Architecture for Humanity, I collaborated on design projects for schools in Latin America.

My proposals incorporated culturally-relevant elements based on regional landmarks + artisanal materials. I consulted on the layout + design for a youth center demonstration garden in Kenya + a park community center in Brazil. I managed the production of a digital booklet on water filtration techniques, + started negotiations for developing programs with Mexican consulates in the U.S. City of Berkeley, California As part of a civic assignment at a planning institute at the University of California for the City of Berkeley, I + four colleagues researched + proposed initiatives for improving water conservation + quality along Berkeley’s Strawberry Creek ecological corridor. Our solution proposed the use of rainwater harvesting on public buildings, pervious paving materials on city streets, curb cuts + bioswales in parking strips, the expansion of a ‘green’ streets policy, + the re-purposing of underused public parks for flood prevention + pollution filtration.

University of California | Berkeley, California Under the direction of Professor C. Grieg Crysler, I co-developed an independent study course in social architecture for the university that allowed our student to merge her love of architecture + dance into a single research project. The proposed solution was a dancefor-social-change program encouraging cross-cultural exchanges between Ukrainian, Russian + Tartar youth in the Crimean region of the Black Sea. Her design component re-purposed a once-secret Soviet submarine base into a community dance center.

Mmofra Foundation | Accra, Ghana Mmofra has improved the lives of thousands of Ghanaian youth through cultural arts + literacy programs. I participated in Mmofra’s initial design charrette in Accra, where a group of community leaders came together to create a framework for a community center + children’s park. I assisted in the strategy, planning + content creation for conducting the workshop, + led one of three interactive group design sessions.

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Pouya Khazaeli Parsa, RAI Studio | Tehran, Iran Pouya Khazaeli is an architect + professor at Razi University in Tehran. He, his colleagues + students were interested in developing sustainable, culturally-relevant structures for underserved communities in Central Asia. He spend three months working with me to understand the complexity of developing + funding humanitarian projects. I worked with him on engagement techniques, provided him with guidance on free + accessible training sources, + advised him on project research, fundraising strategies + potential partners.

Edge of Seven | Denver, Colorado + Solukhumbu, Nepal Edge of Seven is an organization focused on improving the lives of girls + women through education in the Everest region of Nepal by addressing the infrastructural needs of villages + schools. I assisted Edge of Seven in building its fundraising + communications strategies.

Jason Moses Projects + Common Thread | New York City, New York + West Africa Jason Moses provides inventive pro bono design services for humanitarian programs in West Africa under his Common Thread practice. For Mr. Moses + Common Thread, I developed digital models for design development + community and partner engagements for the Kenema LASSA Virus Clinic in Sierra Leone. ken smith | kensmithsf@me.com | 510.610.7558 | openspaceadvocacy.com