Grace Rodriguez is President of AYN Brand, an Interactive Branding Strategies and Promotional Solutions company based in Houston, Texas. An accomplished media and communications professional, Grace has achieved recognition as a winner of the Texas Statesman Social Media Award, Social Media Strategist for Gene Locke’s mayoral campaign, Producer of the award-winning television series Destination Houston , Editor of “Best New Magazine” Rice Addict (2004, Houston Press), and a sought-after speaker on Social Media Strategy and Community Development. She specializes in interactive branding and experiential marketing that integrates new technologies with grassroots strategies to build awareness and engaged communities for growing businesses, non-profit organizations, artists, and political candidates.
Grace is a passionate community advocate who has served on the Board of Directors for diverse arts, cultural, and business organizations, including Spacetaker, the Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas, and OCA-Greater Houston. She is responsible for coordinating a number of events, programs, and initiatives – like TEDx Houston, Twestival Houston : Concern Worldwide, Twestival Houston : Charity:Water, Houston@SXSW, Cities in Transition, YouthVote/APIAVote, and the Houston Asian American Film Festival – that benefit the arts, youth, cultural, and political communities. Grace Rodriguez has lived and worked in New York, Houston, Chicago, and Austin; and continues to share her knowledge and expertise as a consultant, writer, and speaker at conferences, workshops, and events throughout the country.
- BOARD MEMBER: CURRENT: Spacetaker; C2 Creative; Philippine American Chamber of Commerce of Texas. FORMER: Filipino American Council of South Texas (FACOST); OCA Greater Houston; Youth Leadership Council; Helping Our Youth; Tagalog Association
- COMMITTEES: TEDxHouston; Co-Chair Planned Parenthood “Party Like A Rock Star”; Gate of Heaven “What It Means to Be an American” Panel Discussion; Arthritis Foundation 2007 Walk; Cities In Transition National Conference; National Alliance for Filipino Veterans Equity; Asian American Family Services Gala; Asian Pacific American Heritage AssociationChinese Community Center; Multicultural Unity Festival
- COORDINATOR: Twestival Houston; Houston@SXSW; EntrepreneurCamp; ArtCamp Houston; Youth for America; NEA/APAHA “The Big Read” APA Writers Panel; YouthVote Coalition; APIAVote; MoveOn.org GOTV; Walk This Way and Vote! Festival; OCA Film Festival; Fashion Shows for Lab 5, Halliday Boyz, and M2M
- SPEAKER, PANELIST, MODERATOR, SEMINAR & WORKSHOP PRESENTER: National Association of Recording Industry Professionals (NARIP); SouthWest Alternate Media Project (SWAMP) “Social Media and Online Tools for Filmmakers”; Interactive Strategies (IS) Conference; National Arts Marketing Project Conference “Podcasting” Panel; Houston Arts Alliance “T3: Tech, Tools & Tips”; Diverseworks DW2 Creative Capital “Marketing & The Internet”; Spacetaker “Social Media Primer”; ArtCamp; FreelanceCamp; BandCamp Houston; PhotoCamp Houston; DAWN Network; University of California, Long Beach – Filipinos in Media & Communications; Rice University – Youth Leadership Conference & Sun Lai Student Conference; University of Texas, Austin – Building a Better FoundAsian (2008, 2007, 2006); University of North Texas – Asian Pacific American Empowerment Conference; University of Houston – APAHA Professionals Night; Alief & Houston Independent School Districts – Career & Professionals Days
CLIENTS & EXPERIENCE
- Community Liaison: Houston City Council Member/Mayor Pro-Tem Gordon Quan
- Social Media Strategy & Consulting: Gene Locke for Mayor of Houston
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Favitt.com
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: VCIG
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Comicpalooza
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Spacetaker
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: SWAMP
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Pulse/Repulse
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Institute for Sustainable Peace
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Salman Solutions
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Playsmint Coach
- Social Media/Branding Consulting: Hill House Consulting
- Social Media: PhillipCares Foundation
- Social Media/Web Strategies & Solutions: Jim Sharp, Justice for First Court of Appeals
- Public Relations: Chand Khan, Candidate for State Representative
- Public Relations & Events: Caroline Collective
- Public Relations & Events: Reign Lounge
- Marketing: Tara Energy
- Marketing Director: NX Media, Inc.
- Marketing Director: Tonic/Tryst Nightclub & Lounge
- Marketing: TOC Lounge
- Marketing & Newsletter Development: Youth Leadership Council
- Planning & Marketing: Texas Dragon Boat Association
- Event Coordination: Rice Addict Anniversary Celebration
- Event Coordination: Joe Bowden Celebrity Sports Weekend
- Event Coordination: Year of the Snake Celebration
- Field Coordinator: Youth Vote Coalition, APIAVote
- Founding Member & Manager: Kracker Nuttz LLC
- Editor/Writer: Rice Addict Magazine; 4A Magazine
- Writer/Contributor: Houston Chronicle; Manila Headline News; Fil-Am Press
- Producer: “Marfa Red“
- Producer: “Destination Houston” – Recipient of Pegasus Award of Distinction
- Host/Anchor: HaloHalo TV
- Stylist & Featured Extra: “The 37th Chamber” Independent Film (Notre Ciel Productions)
- Promotional Solutions: Metrobank
- Promotional Solutions: AIG
- Promotional Solutions: ReMax
- Promotional Solutions: DataLogix
- Promotional Solutions: BHC Healthcare
- … and Social Media/Community Development Advisor & Consultant to numerous artists, musicians, and organizations in need!
