Kemba Johnson

Read fun facts about Kemba

VP, Creative Services

Kemba Johnson has over 10 years experience in communication and marketing.

Kemba is an award-wining writer and designer, who uses her diverse experiences in writing, PR, marketing and design to grow the businesses of her clients. Her published writing has reached over 5 million readers nationwide. Kemba focuses on relevant, distinctive communication in copywriting and design.

Experience

• VP, Creative Services, New Thought Marketing, Atlanta, GA
• Founder, Kemba Creative, Atlanta, GA
• Publications Manager, Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, NYC
• Communications and PR Manager, Food Bank of New York City, NYC
• Business Marketing Magazine Writer, NYC:
  • Advertising Age
  • American Demographics
  • Business Marketing
  • Working Woman
• Art Editor, City Limits Magazine, NYC
• Senior Editor, City Limits, NYC
• Magazine Writer, NYC, wrote on health, politics, social interest and culture:
  • Popular Science
  • Travel Holiday
  • The Village Voice

Career Highlights

• As City Limits Art Editor improved quality of cover art, and photography and illustrations inside magazine. Built stable of up-and-coming artists to work for magazine.
• Communication materials developed for Lambda Legal allowed organization to increase individual donations by 25%, or $1 million, over the previous year.
• Increased readership for newsmagazine at Lambda Legal by 18%, while reducing costs 17%.
• At Food Bank of New York City press coverage increased 10 times, including coverage in The New York Times, New York Daily News, major local TV stations, and specialized and ethnic publications.
• Conceptualized key messages for major research campaign that has since defined how The Food Bank of New York City talks about hunger in New York City.

Sample Engagements

Midtown Bank
Rebranded this community bank in Atlanta's Midtown neighborhood, developing a new logo and tagline that better reflected the bank and its target audience. Developed a new advertising campaign based on the new identity. Advertising brought in new business from the first day.

Hands On Network
Worked with various divisions within Hands On Network, including AmeriCorps Alums to write and design promotional materials. Developed brochures and identity materials for AmeriCorps Alums. Designed 7-course curriculum materials for national training program.

Aid to Children of Imprisoned Mothers, Inc.
Rebranded the 20-year-old nonprofit, providing the look and messaging for larger funders and better recognition. Rebranding effort included new identity materials, tagline and messages. Developed sales kit and printed newsletter.

Public relations work resulted in featured coverage in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, CNN, CBS 46 evening news, Fox 5 evening news and other publications.

Lambda Legal
Developed new direction for publications at the $8 million nonprofit, the nation's oldest and largest legal organization for the civil rights of gay people and people with HIV and AIDS.

Conceptualized and wrote the organization's first promotional brochures for a variety of audiences. Managed $100,000 budget, and worked closely with designers, printers and mail house. Developed multiuse client profiles for press, donors and public outreach.

Food Bank for New York City
Developed the communication materials and media strategies to publicize $20 million nonprofit, New York City's largest hunger relief organization. Worked with public relations firm to put media strategy into action. Part of marketing team that rebranded organization and launched portal-sized website.

Awards/Accolades/Education

• American Design Awards
• Columbia Journalism Review, cited in prestigious Laurels column.
• National Association of Real Estate Editors
• Northwestern University, Medill School of Journalism. Bachelors of Science in Journalism.