Partnerships Director. The Partnerships Director is committed to building sponsor relationships with companies through partnerships that are mutually beneficial. Primarily, he/she manages the overall partner development program and communicates the value of the local AIGA community to our sponsors/vendors to develop long-term partnering relationships. Responsibilities include: increasing the understanding of sponsorship benefits within the local business community, establishing and nurturing corporate partnerships within the guidelines of the national model, and determining overall sponsorship benefits.  Special attention is given to annual sponsorships and sponsorship needs for the season. He/she will work closely with the Programming Director in identifying potential sponsors for the various events/activities throughout the year, and work with the Event Development Chairperson to fund those events.

Development Chair. The Event Development Chair is responsible for identifying, contacting and soliciting potential cash and in-kind sponsors for local events and programs. He/she will: compile and maintain a current list of potential in-kind and cash sponsors, work with events chair to understand collateral and sponsorship needs for each season, track and record all cash and in-kind contributions, and follow-up and thank sponsors after each event.

Marketing/Public Relations Chairperson. The Marketing/PR Chairperson promotes chapter event activities locally, regionally and nationally to the business community and general public in order to increase exposure, awareness and attendance at events. He/she will draw attention to the valuable contributions of AIGA Houston and graphic design community and help to raise the profile/visibility of the design profession. Responsibilities include: drafting press releases to announce AIGA news and promote upcoming events, educate local reporters on graphic design issues and trends, recommend design-related story ideas to local reporters, assist reporters who attend AIGA events. He/she should build and maintain database of key local and national media contacts covering design, art, education, technology, marketing and key local corporate audience members, including top executives, corporate communications financial and employee relations executives.

This position works closely with other board members to aid in the promotion of AIGA Houston and the design profession, and will work with the Executive Committee to develop a coherent and sustainable marketing and public relations strategy, a set of strategically determined key message objectives, specific external target audiences, and an appropriate method for driving messages through distribution channels to target audiences. He/she will help to ensure that the AIGA brand is clearly defined and handled correctly and consistently.