Heather Swink, CAE, MA

Content and Marketing Strategist

Heather is a creative, meticulous, results-oriented and award-winning communicator and marketer, with 20+ years of relevant experience in associations. Heather puts her content strategy and editorial development skills to work for VPG clients by developing high-quality, high-value messages for numerous platforms, creating integrated marketing and communications strategies that drive engagement and desired action, optimizing content and marketing workflows, managing volunteer groups, negotiating contracts and managing relationships with content vendors (printers, advertising firms, freelancers, digital publication providers), launching successful membership recruitment and retention campaigns, securing optimal media placements, and providing a variety of web communications solutions—including training staff in writing and blogging, developing website navigation and content audits, and migrating content to new and redesigned websites.

Previously Heather was executive editor of the Association Forum, overseeing operations for FORUM magazine as well as advertising sales for all organizational products and serving as the organization’s chief copywriter and editor. She previously worked in communications, marketing and public affairs roles for the International Association of Lighting Designers and the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America. Before that, Heather was a staff reporter for the Chicago Sun-Times, Daily Herald and Peoria Journal Star. Heather is a Certified Association Executive and has a master’s degree in public affairs reporting from the University of Illinois.