Expertise & Experience

Erin McCann is adept at understanding and organizing people and navigating complexity. Combining these skills has allowed her to take on numerous projects in a huge variety of areas, all with the common thread of driving effectiveness through community and culture. Below are examples of successful undertakings that exemplify these skills. Contact Erin to discuss turning your current challenges into the next successful project.

 

Project and People Management

Erin is skilled at organizing and motivating groups to navigate complex projects and events, from conceptualizing and mapping the unique needs of the project to cultivating a capable and cohesive team.

 

  • From end to end, Erin designed and managed the volunteer plan for the American Writers Festival in 2022. She focused on building a strong cohort of over 100 volunteers that viewed themselves as a cohesive team.

    This included…
    ⦿ Designing and implementing a recruitment strategy
    ⦿ All volunteer communications and training
    ⦿ Design of role descriptions and creation of individualized volunteer packets
    ⦿ Day-of management of all volunteers
    ⦿ Post-event followup

    During this project, the American Writers Museum was a client of Erin McCann Consulting.

  • Erin managed and facilitated Joyful Summer Reading (2021), a collaboration primarily between the Chicago Literacy Alliance, Chicago Public Schools Department of Literacy, Working in the Schools, UIC's My Very Own Library, Open Books, Chicago HOPES for Kids, Burst into Books, and the Chicago Public Library Foundation.

    The cohort focussed on coordinating promotion of their organizations' summer programming and increasing their reach into underserved neighborhoods in Chicago (specifically Riverdale and North Lawndale) by planning cooperative participation in neighborhood events.

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

 
 

Communication Planning

Erin creates communication strategies that improve the effectiveness of organizational messaging, whether the focus is engaging audiences around a specific project or campaign, or increasing the reach and accessibility of the organization’s communications in general.

 

  • Erin redesigned and launched a new communication plan for Literacy Volunteers of Illinois in 2022 to ensure that all mass communications are consistently branded, compliant with all AmeriCorps standards, and more accessible to anyone with a visual impairment, low vision, or a reading disability.

    The overhaul focussed on strengthen ties within the member network, build community throughout the organization's support network, and generally improving the effectiveness of communications.

    This included…
    ⦿ Redesigning the LVI (and VOCAL) logos
    ⦿ Creating an organizational style guide
    ⦿ Redesigning/relaunching the LVI newsletter to appeal to multiple audiences within the LVI community (members, affiliated organizations, and supporters)

    During this project, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois was a client of Erin McCann Consulting.

  • Erin designed Literacy Volunteers of Illinois' engagement and communication plan for National AmeriCorps Week (2022) in order to bring LVI into compliance with funding body requirements and encouraging participation from AmeriCorps members at 9 host sites.

    This involved…
    ⦿ Creating an engagement plan with multiple pathways for engagement (social media, letter writing, recruitment, etc)
    ⦿ Designing/revamping campaign collateral and templates for member use
    ⦿ Designing additional materials and communications to gamify and incentivize participation (rather than focusing on compliance)
    ⦿ Implementing a plan for collecting engagement data and reporting on participation to funders and the broader LVI community

    During this project, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois was a client of Erin McCann Consulting.

  • Erin designed and launched a new member communication plan for the Chicago Literacy Alliance (2018), in order to increase member engagement by creating clear pathways for communication with and throughout the member network.

    This included…
    ⦿ Creating a process-guide for communications that helped CLA team communicate with the network and CLA members connect more effectively with one another
    ⦿ Redesigning and relaunching the Member Newsletter after a substantial hiatus
    ⦿ Reimagining the interface of the CLA Member Portal as a hub for all organizational communications
    ⦿ Launching and managing News and Events feeds on the CLA Member Portal
    ⦿ Creating a Communications Benefits Guide to help CLA members understand and utilize the available resources

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

 
 

Event Planning and Facilitation

Erin has planned events of all sizes for the purposes of friendraising, community building, and networking. In addition to planning content and logistics, she has also served as host, facilitator, and emcee.

 

  • Erin organized and facilitated weekly Virtual Town Hall Meetings for the roughly 100 organizations in the Chicago Literacy Alliance network during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic. These meetings, which began in March, 2020 and concluded in late June, 2020 (just before the partial reopening of the Literacenter, the CLA’s shared workspace), gave the Alliance space to update members on the status of the Literacenter and changes in programming, and gave the membership a space to ask questions and discuss common challenges that their organizations were experiencing (pivoting to virtual programming, delivering services to communities affected by the digital divide, seeking emergency funding, etc).

    For 12 sessions, Erin served as facilitator: managing presentations, guiding group discussions, and generally focussing on keeping the tone of the meetings light and supportive in order to continue to foster a sense of community throughout the network.

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • In lieu of an in-person holiday party in 2020, Erin was tasked with creating an enjoyable virtual gathering for the Chicago Literacy Alliance team that would serve as a mechanism for team strengthening and appreciation.

    In advance of the event, each team member received a customized care package, including personalized refreshments and supplies for participating in activities. The event included space for expressing gratitude, remembering the highlights of the year, and an original gameshow (created specifically for the event) in which groups competed to see who best knew their teammates.

    The event was a true success. In spite of zoom fatigue, team members opted to stay on the call well past the scheduled end-time. Several have since reached out about borrowing activities for other team strengthening events.

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin relaunched and facilitated the Confab (the flagship program of the Chicago Literacy Alliance), a monthly convening of CLA members and the public to discuss hot topics in literacy. The event regularly featured announcements from the organization and its members, presentations from several member organizations on their programatic work as it related to the month’s theme, a keynote presentation by an expert from outside of the network, and a facilitated conversation around turning the month’s topic into actionable collaboration.

    During Erin’s time as Confab planner and facilitator, the event improved in both attendance and attendee satisfaction. The sessions featured higher profile presenters than in previous years (including Jahmal Cole of My Block My Hood My City, Chicago Public Library Commissioner Andrea Telli, and Elizabeth McChesney, speaking on her work with the Clinton Foundation and Laundry Cares Foundation). These sessions also resulted in the formation of several action groups that continued collaborating around the topics of adult literacy and citywide advocacy.

    Erin’s role as Confab planner and facilitator included…
    ⦿ Leading a task force to select session themes and secure speakers
    ⦿ Program design (including event agenda and all presented materials)
    ⦿ Managing all event logistics
    ⦿ Serving as facilitator and host for each session (introducing guests, managing Q&A, leading group discussion, etc)

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin planned and hosted the Chicago Literacy Alliance Member Holiday Party for 4 years. This event was the organization’s primary member appreciation function and the largest event on the CLA Community Strengthening calendar. The event was exceptionally festive, while remaining intentionally holiday-neutral, and involved abundant refreshments, a variety of activities, competitions for prizes, and space for expressing appreciation.

    Erin’s role in this event included…
    ⦿ Setting and maintaining the event budget
    ⦿ Planning and managing all event logistics
    ⦿ Planning and managing all vendor relationships and purchases
    ⦿ Leading a team to plan and coordinate all activities and decor
    ⦿ Managing all event promotion and communications
    ⦿ Serving as host and emcee throughout the event

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • From 2015 to 2018, Erin was the lead planner for 4 iterations of the Chicago Literacy Alliance’s annual fundraising event (at that time, the organization’s primary function aimed at stewardship of individual donors). Erin planned all aspects of the event to maximize friendraising potential within the given budget, in coordination with members of the executive and development teams, who focussed on overseeing all aspects of promotion and fundraising.

    Erin’s role in these events included…
    ⦿ Collaborating on the initial budget and goal setting for the event
    ⦿ Event design, layout, and program
    ⦿ Selecting and managing all vendors (catering, rentals, security, entertainment, etc)
    ⦿ Planning and managing all event logistics
    ⦿ Volunteer and team management (including role assignment, trainings, communications, etc)
    ⦿ Day-of coordination of all aspects of the event

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

 
 

Appreciation and Intentional Culture

Erin is adept at creating pathways for community appreciation in the workplace and fostering positive, cohesive organizational culture.

 

  • Erin created and implemented a Literacy Volunteers of Illinois' social media plan for National AmeriCorps Week, including a strategy for member appreciation that allowed both LVI and host sites to publicly express gratitude for individual members across 4 social media platforms.

    During this project, Literacy Volunteers of Illinois was a client of Erin McCann Consulting.

  • Erin designed the social/cultural component to the Chicago Literacy Alliance's onboarding plan, with a focus on creating opportunities to demonstrate team culture, model organizational values, and encourage internal relationship building.

    This involved…
    ⦿ An introductory team gathering to welcome the new hire and socialize as a team
    ⦿ Orientation for their assigned office and the space in general
    ⦿ A relaxed training period that was broken up by one-on-one meetings with teammates

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • In lieu of a Member Holiday Party in 2020, Erin planned and curated a virtual care package for Chicago Literacy Alliance members in order to express the CLA’s appreciation and maintain relationships during pandemic.

    The document included a micro-cookbook, featuring favorite recipes and personal stories from the CLA team as well as resources for easing the stress of isolation (self-care resources, favorite relaxation videos from the CLA team, tools for planning virtual social gatherings, Zoom-compatible online games and escape rooms, etc).

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin designed and managed the Chicago Literacy Alliance's member engagement and community strengthening plan, including all strategic efforts to activate, engross, and immerse members in CLA culture and initiatives, encouraging a sense of ownership/buy-in in the Alliance, ideally resulting in meaningful organizational relationships that lead to collaboration and member retention).

    This included…
    ⦿ Team and individual orientations and tours for new members
    ⦿ Regular appreciation events such as birthday gatherings, anniversaries, and holiday activities
    ⦿ A robust social schedule to engage members outside of the workday
    ⦿ Casual office contests and competitions
    ⦿ Wellness events and activities
    ⦿ A large year-end member appreciation event

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

 
 

Physical Space as a Tool for Culture

Erin views physical spaces (the office, the break room, etc) as important tools for intentional culture-setting. She has experience reimagining spaces in order to improve accessibility and inclusion, increase productivity and creativity, and elevate the quality of life in the workplace.

 

  • Erin spearheaded the creation of the Wellness Room at the Literacenter (a 51,000 sq/foot shared workspace for roughly 100 organizations, run by the Chicago Literacy Alliance).

    The project aimed to increase accessibility and inclusion in the space by converting a 2-3 person meeting room into a reservable single-person break room, intentionally designed to meet a variety of needs, including lactation support and sensory friendly accommodations. In addition to successfully meeting those needs, the room provided space for meditation, observing prayer times, and respite (especially for those doing trauma-informed work).

    Project management included…
    ⦿ Creating the initial proposal for the conversion
    ⦿ Consulting with experts as well as CLA members that would be utilizing the space (nursing parents and individuals on the autism spectrum) about the physical requirements and ideal amenities for such a room
    ⦿ Designing the interior of the space based on those recommendations
    ⦿ Budgeting for the conversion
    ⦿ Managing all vendors and purchasing
    ⦿ Designing policy for equitable use of the room and composing language for signage
    ⦿ Creating a communication plan for the opening of the space and planning the ribbon cutting event

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin was instrumental in collaborating on the aesthetics and functionality of the Lit Loft (an expansion of the Literacenter), which included an event space (2 large conference rooms, a lounge area, and catering kitchen) and an office space (11 dedicated offices, 2 meeting rooms, a coworking area, and kitchenette).

    Erin’s role in project included…
    ⦿ Planning and overseeing all furniture purchases
    ⦿ Acting as the alternate point person for contractors and vendors (the primary point of contact while the Managing Director was on parental leave)
    ⦿ Consulting on paint colors (chosen in part to increase access by providing an secondary way-finding method, in addition to written signage)
    ⦿ Consulting on room layout (considering traffic flow, potential uses of space, noise control, etc)
    ⦿ Designing an “alternative” meeting room for creative projects and more casual discussions
    ⦿ Consulting on signage to maximize accessibility

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

 
 

Process and Language Design

Erin is experienced at designing and communicating clear, thoughtful policies and processes in order to increase clarity of messaging, improve accessibility and inclusion, and use language to exemplify positive organizational culture.

 

  • Erin designed and implemented the 4-phase re-opening plan for the Literacenter (a 51,000 sq/foot shared workspace for roughly 100 organizations, run by the Chicago Literacy Alliance) after a 4-month complete shutdown of the space due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic (2020-2021).

    This involved…
    ⦿ Consulting with an epidemiologist on COVID-safety throughout the space
    ⦿ Creating a complete handbook of COVID-safety protocol for members (and implementing iterative changes to that protocol to adapt fluidly with infections rates and public health best practices)
    ⦿ Overseeing changes to the physical space to decrease risk
    ⦿ Creating a strategic plan for all member communications necessitated by the transition (re-opening announcements, distribution and collection of safety agreement forms, town hall discussions with returning members, and one-on-one consultations with organizational leaders)

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • In collaboration with the Managing Director of the Chicago Literacy Alliance, Erin created all policies and processes in connection with event space rentals in the Lit Loft (an expansion of the Literacenter), allowing greater and more equitable use of the space by roughly 100 organizations with varying space needs and budget sizes (2019).

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin facilitated a task force of Chicago Literacy Alliance team members to create a values statement for the organization. The group worked to identify broad concepts to illustrate their vision for the statement, to hone in on optimal phrasing, and to articulate additional language (introductory statement, definition of values, etc), before presenting the final draft and seeking consensus from the team and board of directors.

    During this project, Erin was employed by CLA.

  • Erin has collaborated and/or consulted with various organizations to design efficient and equitable hiring plans from beginning to end.

    This includes…
    ⦿ Designing a timeline for the process (from creation of job description to new-hire start date)
    ⦿ Reviewing and editing job description to increase clarity, and access, and (in some cases, when requested) consult on description content in order to increase sustainability of the role
    ⦿ Planning the interview format, questions, and record keeping methods

    Oftentimes, Erin takes a hands-on role in the management/coordination of the hiring process, in order to alleviate the stress and time-suck hiring can create for a small team.

    This may include…
    ⦿ Creating and managing job postings on various platforms
    ⦿ (In instances where the role is correlates to Erin’s expertise) acting as the initial applicant filter by reviewing applications and performing phone interviews
    ⦿ Serving as point of contact for applicants throughout the process, including all scheduling
    ⦿ Facilitating the review session after interviews have concluded

  • Erin has created templates for role-specific procedural manuals for various organizations. These documents detail how specific (sometimes niche) duties are carried out in a comprehensive and accessible format). This can decrease new-hire training time, support a culture of internal community care and appreciation, and generally increase organizational efficiency.

    In some cases, teams or individuals benefit from a facilitated orientation or additional coaching to overcome challenges with (or resistance to) the process.

  • Erin has collaborated/consulted with various organizations to design and/or improve various process documents.

    These have included…
    ⦿ New-hire questionnaires
    ⦿ Surveys
    ⦿ Job descriptions
    ⦿ Team/member handbooks
    ⦿ Annual review plans

 
 

Other Projects and Services

Erin thrives on variety and looks forward to opportunities to assist organizations in new and innovative ways. She has a variety of skills that don’t fit neatly into the above categories. A few examples of which are listed here. If the needs of your organizations aren’t precisely reflected in this portfolio, consider contacting Erin about a discovery call to discuss other possibilities.

 

  • Erin has experience as a copy writer and editor. She has managed content for several newsletters, blogs, and newspapers. She deeply enjoys creating and “zhooshing” language.

  • Erin offers customized coaching to individuals and groups around topics related to her expertise. This may be of interest to…
    ⦿ Anyone in a role that focuses on relationship building, morale, or team/network strengthening (such as Community Manager, Membership Manager/Coordinator, Manager of People and Culture, etc.)
    ⦿ A team or board that would like to realign their goals or messaging
    ⦿ Anyone that finds communicating with their team challenging

    She is also happy to work with teams to identify social solutions to improve efficiency, effectiveness, and quality of life within the organization.

  • Erin has experience designing job descriptions for new roles within an organization. If you are considering creating a position that focuses on relationship building, morale, membership, or team/network strengthening, she may be able to help you build or improve a job description that fulfills your unique needs.

    Such roles include…

    ⦿ Cohort Facilitator
    ⦿ Community Coordinator/Manager/Director
    ⦿ Member Coordinator/Manager/Director
    ⦿ Member Relations Coordinator/Manager/Director
    ⦿ Membership Coordinator/Manager/Director
    ⦿ Network Coordinator/Manager/Director
    ⦿ Volunteer Coordinator/Manager/Director