Welcome and Q&A with our new Account Director, Vanessa Schnaidt

This week we welcome our new Account Director, Vanessa Schnaidt, to the marketing and communications team at Hershey Cause. Vanessa is a California native who most recently held the Director of Communications position at Foundation Center. She graduated from Scripps College in Claremont and the Pratt Institute in New York City and has strong experience working with nonprofits and foundations, especially women’s organizations. We asked Vanessa some questions to get to know her better.

Vanessa Schnaidt, HCC’s new Account Director. Photo by Ben Asen.

What attracted you to work for Hershey Cause Communications?

For the past ten years I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to nonprofit organizations large and small, and I am so grateful that these professional experiences have enabled me to play a proactive role in making the world a better place. Working in the social sector means that I don’t have to check my values at the door when I step into the office. So, when I discovered that Hershey Cause Communications is a place where vision and values are cornerstones of the way it approaches every project, I knew I’d found a team where my skills could have an impact and my heart would feel at home.

From your experience, what are foundations and nonprofits most often lacking when it comes to communications?

One of the biggest “aha” moments a nonprofit or foundation can have is realizing that the power and potential of strong communications extends far beyond a single department. Staff with “communications” in their title provide much-needed leadership and strategic oversight, but everyone in the organization can use communications as a tool for driving positive change. When everyone from the program manager to the receptionist is equipped to tell your story, you’re creating a network of ambassadors and a culture that draws people to your cause.

What is your favorite thing about Los Angeles?

The LA art scene continues to amaze and surprise me. I love that in a single day I can chat with artists at a nonprofit gallery space, drive by a half-dozen murals on my way to the grocery store, and visit renowned museums whose paintings are so familiar they feel like old friends. The cultural community here fuels my creativity and feeds my appetite for new ways of looking at the world.

Learn more about Vanessa here. She can be reached at vschnaidt@causecommunications.com