As Greater Phoenix Economic Council’s Vice President of Marketing & Communications, Serena leads the MarComm department, aligning GPEC’s brand, messaging and outreach strategies with organization and regional goals. She first joined GPEC in 2019 as the Director of Digital Marketing, where she elevated marketing sophistication by implementing trigger-based lead generation campaigns, a website chat feature to support local businesses during 2020 PPP loan applications, and by launching GPEC’s first omnichannel campaign #AZFreeToBe which has been recognized for excellence in integrated marketing tactics by the AzAPA, AMA, PRSA, AZIMA, Ragan and MarCom Awards, before moving into her current role in August 2022. Serena is passionate about building holistic brand identity with conversion-focused marketing strategies, through user-first content and data-driven optimizations. Under her leadership, the MarComm team has received recognition for excellence in PR, communications, events, and digital design and interactivity.
A long-time Arizona resident, Serena is passionate about local creative culture and entrepreneurial opportunities. Since 2020, she has served on Ballet Arizona’s junior board, the Contemporary Council, where she works to further community awareness and patronage of the ballet through fundraising and marketing initiatives. Serena has supported entrepreneurial initiatives through volunteer roles, including serving in 2022 on the event organizing committee for PHX Startup Week and as a business mentor in the Venture Madness pitch competition.
Serena received her BFA from the Herberger Institute at ASU in 2013 and began her marketing career in 2010 at a student-founded social media startup while pursuing her degree. She has since worked in marketing agencies, in-house brands and as a freelancer within paid, earned and owned media specialties, supporting and managing strategies across a range of businesses and industries, both B2B and B2C focused. In her free time, Serena enjoys restoring her historic Coronado home, practicing hot yoga and ballet, sewing, gardening, supporting local businesses, and discovering new works and artists.