Polished Professionalism

Jennifer Emmons Blackman has forged a professional path that’s been anything but linear, and it’s precisely this circuitous journey which sets her apart. With 20 years of experience spanning industries from education and technology to retail and restaurants, Jennifer has covered diverse terrain. She’s held leadership roles in operations, sales, and client services and is as comfortable speaking with C-level executives as with summer interns.

Jennifer’s formal entrée into the realm of nonprofit development began in 2012 when she was invited to serve on the steering committee of Texas Advocacy Project’s largest fundraiser, the Black & White Ball. She subsequently joined the Project’s staff as Director of Development & Communications. In this capacity, Jennifer oversaw all development and communication efforts. She led fundraising events and giving drives; co-created and launched Teen Ambassadors of Hope –an annual campaign to promote awareness of healthy teen relationships; and published a monthly e-newsletter. She also wrote grants, press releases, and cultivated influential media contacts.

An active community member, Jennifer has helped numerous organizations throughout the years including the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH), Innocence Project of Texas, Thinkery, and The SAFE Alliance.

Jennifer earned a BA in History from UCLA and an MBA from the University of Texas. She served on the Board of Directors of Candlelight Ranch, a Central Texas nonprofit which delivers nature-based programs for families and children of all abilities and needs to learn, explore, and heal. An avid traveler, Jennifer intentionally seeks out occasions to immerse herself in unfamiliar cultures and ideas. To date, she has visited thirty countries and has lived on three continents.