E3 Durham

Overview

E3 Durham was built to make it easier and less expensive for local entrepreneurs to find the resources, connections, and support they need to grow. I started out with the task of giving the program a clear identity and then spent the next several years figuring out how to keep a lot of moving pieces feeling like one connected community.

Challenge

There was a lot going on at E3 Durham, and all of it was worth knowing about. Programs, workshops, events, service providers, educational resources, community stories, and plenty of ways to get involved. The tricky part was making all of that feel useful rather than overwhelming, while finding the right way to speak to everyone from entrepreneurs and community members to partners and funders.

Strategy

I treated every channel as part of the same conversation rather than a collection of separate marketing tasks. The brand gave everything a common language, while the editorial calendar gave us a steady rhythm. We mixed useful information with entrepreneur stories, partner spotlights, events, and opportunities to participate. The goal was simple: help people find something that mattered to them and give them a reason to come back.

My Role

I led marketing and communications across strategy, content, design, and community engagement. I created the brand, managed social media and the editorial calendar, wrote newsletters for different audiences, designed website pages and educational materials, created videos and livestreams, developed event and partner campaigns, produced entrepreneur stories, and worked closely with content contractors, community partners, internal stakeholders, and funders.

Results

450+ members joined E3 Durham Connects, with a 73% retention rate over 15 months.
Promoted 70+ events through coordinated marketing and communications campaigns with community organizations and internal partners.
Maintained an average 39% newsletter open rate.
Built a connected brand and communications presence across social media, email, web, video, events, and educational materials.