GRACE W. CHEUNG
Digital Marketing and Strategic Communications
ABOUT ME
I get the job done.
I'm a seasoned digital strategist and marketing communications professional with over 10 years of experience building visibility for mission-driven campaigns, companies and organizations, using tech and innovation to improve people's lives. Though I am a native New Yorker, I have relocated to Chicago, IL and am interested in sharing my expertise with clients in the public, private and nonprofit sectors in need of digital services.
I’ve led social media strategy for Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, New York State Governor Cuomo, Mayor Bloomberg's administration and the City of New York, and am a staunch advocate for digital government that engages with the public using 21st century tools and platforms. I’ve helped the State of New York launch text lines to fight heroin addiction and create websites that help inmates apply for clemency, and facilitated partnerships with tech startups to crowdsource fuel supplies in emergencies. I’ve taught social media workshops to veterans, seniors, and lifelong public servants.
Before I transitioned to politics and government, I was pre-med, worked for a newspaper in Bangkok during a coup, advocated for refugee women and children, and studied abroad in Vietnam. I graduated from Brown University and am proudly from Queens, NY.
DIGITAL STRATEGY
I specialize in end-to-end digital marketing services, from social media strategy and execution to web analytics and crisis communications. Hurricanes? No sweat. I've helped build a brand's online presence from zero to 100, often exponentially growing their followers and increasing the quality of audience engagement.
CONTENT MARKETING
I leverage a background in writing, editing, journalism and public relations to create compelling content across mediums. I've written press releases, speeches, headlines, web copy and more, and pride myself on creating top-notch work that breaks through the noise. I especially "get" policy.
PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
I enjoy helping to build digital products for the common good, working with designers and developers to get a product to launch, iterate and improve upon it. This has ranged from an app for homeless people to find nearby shelters, to a map of college sexual assaults to help incoming students and parents make decisions about safe campuses. I'm organized and keen on project management.
Want to find creative ways to help your organization reach new heights?
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
April 2017 - May 2019
Managed and oversaw Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's digital presence, from social media and videos to launching "Chicago Stories," the Mayor's podcast available on Apple Podcasts, Soundcloud, Spotify and other platforms.
MEDIA CENTER LIAISON
July 2013 - January 2014
At NYC Digital, part of NYC Mayor Bloomberg's Office of Media and Entertainment, I ran @nycgov, the City of New York's official social media channels, and helped transition @nycmayorsoffice and the newly redesigned NYC.gov to a new mayoral administration.
DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR
January 2014 - October 2016
Led Governor Cuomo’s digital team, strategy and execution, doubling his social media audience to nearly 300,000 followers and building digital adoption among 62 state agencies reaching millions of New Yorkers.
SENIOR MARKETING MANAGER
June 2010 - June 2013
Led NYC Economic Development Corporation’s award-winning social media program, growing total followers from 2,000 to 300,000 across channels and drafting corporate communications including talking points and awards nominations.
WORK SAMPLES
Examples of campaigns I've worked on and writings.
CHICAGO STORIES
Podcast Production
I launched and managed the production of Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's weekly podcast featuring the stories of everyday Chicagoans and special guests. I book high-profile guests including Apple CEO Tim Cook, Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg, actor David Schwimmer and Chef Graham Elliot.
APPLIED SCIENCES NYC
Digital Marketing for Brands
I spearheaded a digital campaign to generate support for Mayor Bloomberg’s successful $100 million initiative to build a world-class engineering tech campus in NYC. I launched and grew @AppSciNYC Facebook and Twitter channels to over 6,000 followers using videos, infographics and other engagement tactics.
NYCEDC BLOG
Content Creation
I launched nycedc.tumblr.com, at the time the largest Tumblr blog in NYC government with over 87,000 subscribers, and conceptualized and grew contributors to the company’s website blog. Read a profile I wrote of NYC Venture Fellow and social entrepreneur Adam Green.
This is just a taste of the wide variety of corporate communications and marketing materials I’ve produced for clients across the board.
DIGITAL PRODUCTS
Some projects I've managed from conception to launch.
NY.GOV/CLEMENCY
Website Project Management
Working with lawyers, content producers and developers, I edited and helped create a groundbreaking resource to help individuals apply online for clemency and pardons from the Governor. This website was mentioned by The New York Times.
BREAST CANCER TEXT LINE
SMS Campaigns and Tools
I helped build, strategize and launch a texting tool that enables New Yorkers to find a mammogram screening location near them for #GetScreenedNY, a breast cancer awareness campaign. Try it yourself by texting “Get Screened” to 81336.
JONES BEACH PARKING ASSISTANT
App Product Management
Within hours, I drove production and helped launch a prototype for a mobile app that makes it easier for people to find parking at Jones Beach on Long Island, NY by providing real-time parking availability. The updates are also displayed on electronic signs on highways leading to the popular beach.
There's nothing more gratifying than taking something from an idea to execution, particularly if it has real impact for the end users.
TRAININGS AND EVENTS
Digital skills trainings for beginners and executives, and event planning from the ground up.
SOCIAL MEDIA SUMMIT
Professional Development
I’ve organized annual summits in NYC, Albany and White Plains for 150 digital and communications staff across city and state government to hear from digital marketing experts and guest speakers from Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and tech companies, network with each other and share best practices.
DIGITAL TASK FORCE
Educational Workshops
I established the first-ever state social media task force and led monthly trainings in Albany and NYC for state government agency employees, including creating the first statewide social media policies and guidance, and taught hands-on workshops on various digital marketing tools and techniques.
VOICES OF COURAGE AWARDS
Fundraising Events
I oversaw logistics for the Women's Refugee Commission's annual awards luncheon, which honors refugee women, hosts over 500 guests and raises hundreds of thousands of dollars. I led online fundraising efforts, designed the materials, and managed the speaking program, nomination and selection process for the refugee honorees, as well as visa applications and travel arrangements to the U.S.
There is no online without offline organizing, and no substitute for being in the room. I really believe in the value of meeting face-to-face, sharing knowledge with others and constantly learning.
David Ho, AIDS Researcher
"This is a problem for the world and therefore we're going to solve it."