portfolio

Hi, I’m Alexis. This is the corner of the internet where I show you a peek inside my creative brain and heart for storytelling.

Between owning a photography business and working on staff with a non-profit and a church, I’ve been working in the creative field since 2009. I started as a fine artist with a focus on painting and drawing. In 2009, I discovered my passion for photography when my beloved abuela was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease and the early stages of Dementia. Telling stories that mattered became my mission and before I knew it, this passion was opening doors for me to learn and grow in not only the creative space, but in the world of digital marketing, brand management, community relations, and more. I always say God moves the mountains…I just climb them. This is what it looks like when Alexis Ascends…

Visual storytelling & Content Creation

Featured above is a video project I directed, shot, and collaborated on with i’mME, a non-profit based in Haiti. Hired as their full-time Visual Storyteller in 2015, I worked to create content and tell stories that compelled others to become involved in ending the orphan cycle. While our state-side staff consisted of 5 individuals, I gradually grew into a creative project manager for all of our campaigns, social media, and vision trips to Haiti. It was through this adventure, I learned how to think creatively with a small budget. It was through my 1o trips to Haiti, I also learned the value of people’s individual stories. Additional non-profits and brands I have worked with creatively include, Tim Tebow Foundation, Kids Alive Kenya, With All My Heart Foundation, RTS Missions, Vickery Trading Co., LifeCare Network of Brandon, Fishhawk Fellowship Church, Lila’s Place School in Cebu City, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, and Haiti Design Co.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay

I currently work as the Digital Marketing & Communications Manager at Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay. I was initially recruited as an Events and Marketing Manager, but COVID-19 forced me to pivot my job responsibilities and I was honestly over-the-moon about it. My passion is managing creative projects and looking for vibrant ways to better communicate our story to the community. The challenge of carrying out that task throughout a worldwide pandemic has tested me, but proven that I have the will to keep climbing in the face of adversity. My current job duties include:

• Video production and photography that builds the brand of Boys & Girls Clubs

• Social Media Management (content creation, metrics, research, setting and maintaining KPI goals, responding to messages, engaging with audience, social listening, etc)

• Creative Direction on theme and event planning for major fundraising events as well as annual Marketing Campaigns.

• Copywriting

• Brand Management

• Designing and leading designers to create marketing collateral for events and Marketing Campaigns.

• Collaborating with Programs and Resource Development Department on marketing collateral and storytelling angles to capture through various media.

• Donor Relations and Stewardship

• SEO (working on earning my Specialization through UC Davis)

Researching and growing in social media trends is a vital part of managing social media communications. As an example, at Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay, we highlighted our event sponsorship with GTE Financial to create an Instagram Reel, inviting people to purchase a Watch Party Box for our Virtual Gala. While Instagram has shown a decrease in reach for traditional posts and stories, the platform has shown a massive spike in reach for Instagram Reels. Therefore, we decided to go where the people are. You can watch the Reel HERE.

Marketing & Communications for the local church

I worked for 2 years on the Creative Team for a multi-location church. My daily responsibilities include all aspects of marketing and communications: social media, photography, recording video announcements, updating the church app, email marketing, brainstorming ways to engage the congregation during our weekend services, training volunteers to carry the vision of the church through media arts, and working alongside our Creative Team to use our gifts collectively to communicate to the church. I also spearhead our bi-monthly creative nights which are events held to gather creatives from the area in hopes of empowering them to live out their unique purpose. Our Creative Team consists of myself, Video Producers, Video Editors, Sound Engineers, and our Worship/Creative Arts Pastor. Below is our latest demo reel of the work that I have been honored to collaborate on, alongside our Creative Team. If you’d like to see more of my individual work done for the church, I can do so upon request.