LORRAINE COCHRAN-JOHNSON, M.P.A.
- Harvard Kennedy School, Executive Education Certificate, 2021 Delivering Public Services: Efficiency, Equity, and Quality
- John Marshall Law School, 1998, Torts, Criminal Law, Civil Law, Legal Writing
- Auburn University, M.P.A., 1995, Public Administration and Economic Development & Grant Writing
- Troy State University, M.S., 1993, The Administration of Criminal Justice
- Troy State University, B.S., 1992, Political Science and Criminal Justice
- Operation HOPE, Board Advisory Member
- Atlanta Neighborhood Development Project, Board Advisory Member
- Clarkston Community Health Center, Board Advisory Member
- DeKalb County Georgia COVID-19 Task Force, Member
- National Association of Counties (NACo) Transportation Committee, Member
- Agnes Scott College Parent Council, President
- Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
- Leadership Women America
- National Council of Negro Women, DeKalb Section, Member
- DeKalb NAACP, Member
- Georgia WIN List Political Action Committee (PAC)
- Elected Official of the Year by American Public Works Assoc. 2023
- Top 50 Women of Influence by SCWB 2023
- 100 Black Men of DeKalb Leading Women Award 2023
- Shero Freedom and Community Trailblazer Award 2023
- One Powerhouse Award 2023
- KAA Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Citizen of the Year 2022
- DCSD My Sister’s Keeper Living Legend Award 2022
- Africa’s Children Fund Legacy of Hope Award 2022
- Thurgood Marshall NAACP Award 2022
- Mary Church Terrell Leadership Award 2022
- Women of Influence 2021
- ABL 100 Most Influential Women 2017, 2018, 2021
- Leadership Women America Inductee 2020
- Joseph R. Biden Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award 2023
- Georgia Advancing Communities Together, Inc. Housing Champion 2023
- On the ABL Most Influential add 2023
- Cochran-Johnson, Lorraine, (2020) “The Noted Characteristics of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs” in Empower Her: Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Development (pp. 89-107). Camden, NJ: Resurgent.
- Deputy Presiding Officer, 2019 – 2020
- COVID-19 Taskforce | 2020 – 2022
- Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Chair | 2020 – Present
- Finance, Audit, and Budget Committee Member | 2021 – Present
- Planning, Economic Development, and Community Committee Member | 2019
- Employee Relations and Public Safety Committee Member | 2019
- Planning, Economic Development, and Community Committee Member | 2019
- DeKalb County Schools Strategic Planning Committee 2023-Present
- Public Works and Infrastructure Committee Chair | 2020 – 2023
- Finance, Audit, and Budget Committee Member | 2021 – 2023
Work experience
- Taught junior and senior students Creative & Strategic Brand Strategy, and Mass Marketing.
- Developed a curriculum to educate students on mass communication, including digital, print, radio, and television.
- Designed hands-on experiential marketing, communications, advertising, press releases, and media buys.
- Leveraged personal network to secure guest speakers, and provide internships, and opportunities for student growth.
- Worked with a nationally selected team to redesign the Art Institute marketing campaign, website, and outreach plan.
- Solid knowledge of print media and marketing with extensive contacts in print, television and radio.
- Knowledge of diversity and inclusion marketing, publications, and agencies targeting a multiethnic audience.
- Ability to craft advertising campaigns and PR to reach desired consumer, based on marketing objectives.
- Strong local and national relationships with the ability to make calls and gain support on key projects.
- Oversaw custom publishing and the development of content for clients across Real Times Media platforms.
- Arranged interviews with national and local political leaders, business owners, entertainers, and community leaders.
- Attended events ranging from the White House Correspondents Dinner to the Mayor’s Masked Ball as an official rep.
- Collaborated with and manages internal staff on all projects within the production pipeline.
- Worked with staff on events, i.e., Who’s Who In Black Atlanta, Hall of Fame, and Moving Your Business Forward.
- Developed sponsorship packages and secured funding for company events and programs.
- Secured venues, negotiates contracts, and handles programmatic details of events as needed to meet goals.
- Worked with company owners to expand organization from print to video production.
- Shot more than 80 destinations and attractions throughout Georgia for GA Department of Tourism.
- Oversaw video production and voice over to support client marketing initiatives.
- Wrote scripts, shot lists, and treatments.
- Worked with governmental entities to develop effective video, PR, radio, and visual media marketing strategies.
- Developed commercials, community guides, media kits, and marketing materials to promote communities.
- Managed editors, crew, writers, graphic artists and production team throughout the life of each project.
- Managed million-dollar sales and production budgets and developed weekly reports on project status.
- Built relationships with elected officials, community leaders, businesses, and to achieve organization goals.
- Shot commercials and video projects for MARTA, Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport, and contracted clients.
- Developed creative strategies to build brand recognition through print and visual media.
- Managed all aspects of film production, crew, script writing, talent identification, voice over, and pre-and-post needs.
- Developed press releases, commercial scripts, newsletters, viral marketing campaigns, media kits, and proposals.
- Managed line-item budgets, tracked spending, and communicated with team and client throughout the project.
- Licensed footage from ABC, NBC, CNN and PBS as needed for film and video projects.
- Oversaw title searches, script licensing, video transcription, pre-production and post-production.
- Member of Georgia Production Partnership (GPP) with strong relationships with production houses.
- Developed publication from ideation to implementation to become a $1.1 million revenue generating publication.
- Grew publication from one city with a distribution of 5,000 to 31 U.S. cities with a 56,000 bi-monthly distribution.
- Hired, managed and oversaw daily operations of all aspects of the publication.
- Developed and oversaw editorial calendar, creative direction, and content and ad messaging and development.
- Identified printer, writers, photographers, and all service providers necessary in the publishing pipeline.
- Attended trade shows across U.S. and taught marketing and business classes to build brand and subscriptions.
- Ensured magazine operated within budget and continually developed strategies to increase revenue.
- Top revenue producing inside sales representative in 40-year company history with $1.6 million in annual sales.
- Developed creative sales strategies and special promotions to drive sales and meet revenue goals.
- Former member of Alternative Weekly Network (AWN) who placed media buys in publications across the U.S.
- Maintained close relationships with top U.S. ad agencies including BBDO, Bernard Hodes and TMP Worldwide, etc.
- Developed content as necessary for client exposure and worked closely with production team.
- Managed client budgets and monitored ROI to determine the effectiveness of marketing campaigns and media buys.