Bio

Mike Holden
Director of Public Relations
American Board for Certification of Teacher Excellence

For nearly 10 years, Mike Holden has been leveraging the internet to market and promote the organizations he’s worked for as well as his own projects.

Since taking over as Director of Public Relations for Washington, D.C. based non-profit ABCTE in the fall of 2008, Holden has used social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to increase web traffic and build brand awareness for the teaching certification organization, while keeping costs at a minimum. In November 2008, ABCTE’s Facebook page had a dozen friends and lacked the content necessary to drive visitors back. With hundreds of fans less than a year later, the page features frequent content updates including news stories, blog entries, event information and YouTube profiles of teachers who have earned their certification through the program. Facebook is now the top referrer of traffic to the ABCTE website. The organization has also received exposure from outlets such as The Washington Post, USA Today and CNN during Holden’s time as PR director.

Prior to joining ABCTE, Holden served as Media Relations Manager for Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, where he worked to launch Wolf Trap’s internet radio station, create the organization’s first podcasts, start a staff blog and generate national and local media coverage for the organization. Holden also worked as Director of Marketing for D.C. area restaurant chain Austin Grill, where he frequently engaged bloggers, increased the company’s use of email and web-driven campaigns, and created unique word-of-mouth-inducing promotions. In one of his most popular promotions, Holden garnered national media attention for the company and drove thousands of customers into its restaurants through a partnership with the NHL’s Washington Capitals that awarded ticket-holders free wings whenever the team scored six or more goals at home. Holden also created a website focused on D.C. area music that includes a Yahoo Group he grew to over 1,400 members and he has utilized the internet to promote his own music. Holden has spoken on conference panels focused on podcasting, blogging and web-based promotion.

Holden holds a degree in marketing from Loyola University Maryland. He blogs at www.mikeholden.wordpress.com.

Return to Webinar Details