To Whom It May Concern:

Over the past two decades, I’ve waded through many an applicant fresh out of college seeking a position they really were not qualified for. But when Nick Clark applied for a position in the Advancement Dept. at Juan Diego, I saw an eagerness to learn, to grow, to try new approaches, and to work hard. Even though I anticipated this would be a stepping stone for him, I also guessed that he would take our school leaps and bounds into the technological communications age before moving on. I don’t know that I’ve ever been more right about anyone.

Nick had only been working at the school for a few weeks when he managed to instill enough trust in the Technology Dept. to give him access to the website. Nick maneuvered this delicate waltz so well they teamed together to revamp the entire structure. He learned the necessary html code to execute his vision, and collaborated with each department to ensure their program was well represented on the website. Not only could current students and parents find their way to sports schedules and lunch menus, it was creative and fun for newcomers looking for alternative education in Utah. The year we launched the new site, our web hits leapt from 4,800 per month to 48,000 per month. Enrollment jumped, with most new applicants citing the website as their reason for inquiring.

Nick not only proved that he was creative, but he understood the thinking process of younger adults who grew up in the Information Age. In addition to developing event invitations, programs, flyers, sports club logos, and the usual fare that we are called upon to create in Juan Diego’s Advancement Dept., Nick became a wonderful resource to other schools in the Catholic Diocese. He conducted in-service seminars with other advancement directors, teaching them how to use their websites as tools for recruitment and communications with their various constituents. When the Diocese developed a strategic plan – and budget - for marketing the Catholic schools in Utah, Nick was consulted and then contracted to develop a brochure and the www.utahcatholicschools.org website.

Even after Nick left Juan Diego, he continued to provide contracted support for our website, and periodically with the Diocesan marketing efforts. Elementary schools whose meager budgets could not afford hiring staff to overhaul their print materials and websites contracted Nick instead. Improving their image and refreshing their message on the Internet resulted in greater donations and increased enrollment.

I continue to refer business associates and friends with start-ups to Nick as I know he is quick, talented, resourceful and a good listener. He’s the best risk I ever took in hiring someone “with potential” because he lived up to it. I appreciate my continued association with him, and highly recommend him for the talent and skills he has honed. Please feel free to contact me, 801-984-7604, or mollydumas@jdchs.org if you wish to discuss his work further.

Sincerely,
Molly Dumas