Shawn Taylor Zelman, MPA 
Director, Public Relations

Areas of Expertise:

• Internal and external communications

• Strategic communications planning

• Communication messaging

• Media relations

• Media planning and buying

• Organizational management

• Media training

Shawn Taylor Zelman joined The Coulter Companies as a communications specialist in 2004. Currently, Zelman consults with various Coulter Nonprofit Management clients on their communications needs including overall communications strategy, media relations, public relations and serves as editor of RESOLVE, for the Journey and Beyond.,

Previously, Zelman has focused her efforts on communications for the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO). She has worked to promote NAWBO initiatives to the media, develop media partnerships, media training national Board members and chapter leaders, develop branding guidelines and assisted NAWBO’s 80 chapters in promoting their activities on the local level. In 2007, Zelman was named senior director and handled both NAWBO’s communications and chapter relations.

Never afraid to take on challenging topics, Zelman began her career assisting the largest gun control organization pass the Brady Law and the ban on semi-automatic assault weapons. This experience provided Zelman with the opportunity to thoroughly understand the legislative process and work closely with print, television and radio media.

To further her experience, Zelman worked for the largest, independent medical student association as director of public relations and legislative affairs. In this position, she developed media training curriculum for medical student leaders and assisted in organizing a health policy forum for medical students. The position allowed Zelman to utilize her public relations and legislative knowledge and use her program management and organizational skills to meet the organization’s needs.

Zelman then moved from a nonprofit setting to a for-profit public relations agency to work to improve care near the end-of-life. Through her work on the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Last Acts Campaign, Zelman managed volunteer committees; assisted in building an online community, recruited member organizations, wrote grants and prepared budgets. One goal of this Last Acts Campaign was to explain to a consumer audience the need for effective advance care planning and help families understand and prepare for the dying process.

With extensive experience in handling an organization’s daily internal and external communications needs, developing and implementing communications plans, building online communities, managing community programs and projects, grassroots coalition building and organizational management. Zelman’s experience brings a stronger communication and management presence to each project.

Zelman received her undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia, and a graduate degree from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Organizational Management & Behavior.

Throughout her career, Zelman’s direct and detailed-oriented approach has offered organizations the peace of mind to get their communications’ project completed on time and successfully.

Zelman, her husband, Jeff, and their three daughters reside in Leesburg, Virginia. 

Now, here’s the backstory on Shawn:

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Parents: Mom owns her own bridal coordinating/special event business; Dad was Chief Probation and Parole Officer in Virginia Beach and now works for a law firm.

Favorite TV shows as a kid: Captain Kangaroo and The Brady Bunch

Spent my days as a youth: Lots of sports -- soccer, softball, track -- and scouting and BBYO youth group.

Things I hate to admit, even to myself: I am hooked on any reality show, and I become attached to the participants!

Hobbies: Soccer, anything related to Virginia Tech, Disney World and all my children’s activities

First ‘paycheck” job: I worked for my mom selling snacks at the Virginia Opera.

First car: My little red Chevette. I wanted the Corvette, but that was out of the question!

First job after college: Marketing for an architecture/engineering firm. I was so bored until I got my next job working for James and Sarah Brady at the Brady Center to Prevent Handgun Violence.

Thing you would most likely learn about me in the first five minutes of conversation: I relate everything to sports.

Myers-Brigg type: ISTJ

Personal quote: “When I look at the sea, I imagine all I can be.”

For me, perfect happiness is: A beautiful day sitting on the beach with my family and friends.

If I had to it all over again: I’d travel more!