Experience

  • Boston Public High School teacher

    Economic Development for the City of Boston and Service Innovation

  • Seven years of technology innovation in Executive and Treasury Branches

  • Economic Development Consulting with Milwaukee, WI

    Early-Stage Entrepreneur Education Executive Director

    Non-Profit Fundraising

    Marketing Communication for Placemaking and Business Development

  • M.A. in Global Marketing Communications

    B.A. Political Science

  • Melrose Creative Alliance

    Melrose Together

    Let’s Talk Melrose, Melrose (MMTV)

    Lincoln Elementary PTO co-President

    Women’s Commission

    Melrose Democratic City Committee

Municipal Experience

City of Boston, Boston Redevelopment Authority
Boston, MA • November 2007 – April 2012
Project Lead and Communications Specialist

Boston’s Innovation District

Co-led the initiative from inception through policy development process, execution, and evaluation

Assisted the Mayor’s Office in authoring the vision, strategy, and economic development policy and created/led global communications plan for the Innovation District on the South Boston Waterfront

Acted as a key City Liaison to existing area businesses, potential global businesses, state and university partners, and international delegations

Created and executed global marketing communications 

The Mayor’s Office of New Urban Mechanics

Evolved city services & assisted in the marketing efforts & deployment of viable projects

Produced the Citizens Connect (the City’s mobile app) 2.0 Launch with over 400 engaged citizens and mobile tech entrepreneurs

Managed Innovation District Welcome Home Challenge, a $50,000 global business plan competition, hosted on a crowd-sourcing platform 

In collaboration with program/department management, constructed information architecture, blog content strategy, web design, and social media mix for fourteen city initiatives

Acting City-wide Communications Consultant

In collaboration with program/department management, constructed information architecture, blog content strategy, web design, and social media mix for fourteen targeted initiatives and programs. 


Boston Redevelopment Authority, Planning & Economic Development Agency 

As the Communications Specialist in Economic Initiatives, developed integrated plans, including brand management, website development, and social media integration.

Crafted Immediate and Long-term Communications Plan for the agency

Developed business development recruiting strategy for five key industries through targeted and specialized digital communications

Some key projects include:
Small Business Upgrader

Worked in collaboration with Boston’s Mayor’s office staff and San Francisco’s small business development team to develop an online resource for small businesses to enhance their web presence and social media marketing efforts

Created the website design and informational architecture, linking external partners, social media

Young Workforce Financial Health Campaign

Created a comprehensive campaign to improve the financial stability of young, emerging workers (20-34 years old), including a strong online and integrated social media component

Built relationships with national financial services, retail, and media partners, including Mint.Com, Federal Bank in Boston, PerkStreet Financial, and NECN

Planned large launch event and several neighborhood events to present financial stability education


Mayor’s Food Policy Council

Worked as a team member to identify economic development opportunities for the overarching goal of increasing accessibility and affordability of healthy food options for vulnerable families within Boston

Developed baseline research for mapping existing businesses and vulnerable geographies

Boston Community Leadership Academy (BPS)
Boston, MA • January 2003 – September 2006
Teacher: Journalism and Community Leadership

Created graduating senior capstone class curriculum geared toward project management, community service, and social advocacy 

Developed a tech-integrated classroom where students could create and execute projects that better their school, communities, and developing countries

Created, sought funding, and implemented three annual community service projects connecting over 200 students with 20 volunteer sites for two days

State Government Experience

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Office for Administration and Finance Information Technology
Boston, MA • September 2019 – present

Assist digital projects for departments within A&F Secretariat, including the Department of Revenue, the Division of Local Services, the Human Resources Division, the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, the Group Insurance Commission, and more.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Office of the Treasury
Boston, MA • July 2016 – February 2018
Director of Digital Engagement

Under the direction of the CIO and embedded within the Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment, developed projects that connected the financial education responsibilities of the Treasury directly to constituents via digital citizen engagement. 

Modernized mass.gov/treasury, which included user-experience transformation, transparency and open data, and digital constituent engagement initiatives. 

Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Executive Office of Technology
August 2014 – July 2016
Director of Strategic Partnerships and Co-Founder of GovNext: Digital Services 

Under the direction of the Commonwealth CIO, served as a catalyst for collaboration between Innovation and Technology in Executive Office of Technology Services and Security and external communities, including municipalities, technology associations, quasi-governmental organizations, and IT corporations.

Participated in determining the investment strategy for Governor Patrick’s $1 Billion Bond Fund. Helped recruit and manage our Oversight Board of IT Leaders and Investors so as partners, they could be critical of our investments and support their success.

The MassIT Partnership Strategy is rooted in looking outside of government for expertise, talent, and partnership and finding relationships with high-value and long-term impact. Through external partnerships, MassIT actualized its mission for better digital government while supporting all the communities within the Commonwealth to do the same.

Leveraged experience with government innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystems to help transform IT at the state by crafting the vision, driving the creation of, and managing a Digital Services Division which includes GovNext (a rapid development team), Data Office, and DigitalMass (an in-house digital communications agency).

Created the OPEN RFI initiative for civic tech and govtech startups to meet with decision-makers in the Commonwealth. Over 50 companies have come through the program to get market advice, feedback on product from government potential customers and users, all while exposing government to tech innovation.

Led the Governor’s Community Compact Cabinet Citizen Engagement Best Practice with over 25 municipalities. The Commonwealth’s Office of Municipal and School Technology in partnership with GovNext are helping municipalities create a  documented citizen engagement strategy for deployment of technology solutions, including a public communication strategy and a professional development strategy to ensure that internal resources can effectively engage with users via technology.

Led the transition from the volunteer-based 6in6 rapid innovation initiative into the capitally-funded GovNext project. Co-created the vision and mission, and managed the administration, budget, staffing, project intake, and agency relationships. 

Corporate and Non-Profit Experience

Entrepreneurship Policy Advisors
Milwaukee, WI • May 2013 – December 2013
Scale-Up Milwaukee Project Manager Consultant

In partnership with American Express, the City of Milwaukee, the State of Wisconsin, and six area economic development organizations, assisted in the creation of programs to engage the local community around reframing the context of entrepreneurship to support companies with the ability to scale.

Created communications platforms and strategies for the promotion of initiative programs within the region and nationally; worked with the Mayor’s Office on entrepreneurship policy messaging and project communications.

Managed and supported 12 local Milwaukee staff from eight different economic development organizations and universities.

The Capital Network
Boston, MA • April 2012 – August 2014
Executive Director

Responsible for all administrative, financial, fundraising, and legal functions, including managing a 12-member Board of Directors and a 20-member Advisory Board of investors and entrepreneurs for a non-profit providing extensive seed and series capital education including an engaged community of dozens of investors and more than 20 financial experts who helped upwards of 1,300 early-stage entrepreneurs in Boston annually.

Doubled the annual number of attending entrepreneurs; Managed an annual budget of $180,000, which increased by 20% during my tenure. 

Increased the number of programs from 40 to more than 90 into 10 incubators. Built digital presentation exposure to over 26,000 views of 82 presentations.

American Cancer Society
Weston, MA • December 2006 – November 2007
Regional Program Manager, Income and Community Development

Responsible for implementing development efforts and assisting in reaching and recruiting event volunteers

Managed three events, which raised over $400,000 with over 1,000 participants

Merchandise Mart Properties
Chicago, IL • March 1999 – June 2000
Marketing Coordinator

Produced and marketed quarterly national trade shows for giftware and home furnishing industries, involving over 600 exhibitors and 30,000 attendees.

Established public relations direction, marketing communication guidelines, advertising creative, and website strategic design.

Assisted in the acquisition of competing trade shows, including contract agreements, acquisition details for affected clients, and integrated marketing strategies.

Civic Engagement

Melrose Creative Alliance
Melrose, MA • May 2022 – present
Founder and Treasurer 

The Melrose Creative Alliance supports our vibrant local arts and cultural community by helping creative producers and creative consumers connect with one another and with resources. We provide communications tools and services, and professional development and networking opportunities. We advocate for the arts to be robustly funded and resourced as part of our city’s economic engine and sense of community.

Melrose Together
Melrose, MA • April 2020 – present
Founder and Volunteer 

Melrose Together is a volunteer group created from Melrose Helps, the City initiative to connect neighbors in need with neighbors who want to help during the COVID-19 pandemic. Melrose Together lists community-driven volunteer opportunities and organizes positive, city-wide events in an effort to sustain community spirit and support local businesses. 

Our mission is to support organizations that serve those in need with an engaged community of Melrose residents. Projects have included a Melrose Together Housing Families fund for recurring monthly donations for direct financial assistance to families, four holiday meal kit drives for Housing Families, weekly food collection for Bread of Life food bank, and several collections of necessities for the Malden Warming Center.

Previous Melrose events include Unicorn Day, Picnic Day, and #ClapBecauseWeCare Friday Nights. 

OneMelrose Override Campaign 
Melrose, MA September 2018 – April 2019
Campaign Strategist & Leadership Team Member

The City of Melrose was in economic crisis and in need to pass a tax override in 2019. Since the law’s implementation in 1982, voters have only approved one previous override.

As a member of the core leadership team, I lead the campaign strategy, field, volunteer recruitment (we had over 200 volunteers for GOTV), and digital engagement.

Our campaign expanded the electorate by 3,000 more voters than in 2015 and won with 55% of the vote. 

Massachusetts State Senate
February 2018 – September 2018
Candidate

As a first-time candidate, challenged the Democratic incumbent and ran to tackle working family issues including student loan debt, affordable housing, and access to affordable childcare. 

Ran a modern, digital campaign and was able to keep our expenses lean and received 45% of the total vote in the Primary.

Melrose Commission on Women: City of Melrose
Nov 2016 – Feb 2018
Commissioner

The purpose of the Melrose Commission on Women is to understand and promote constructive action in areas of specific interest and concern to women and girls in Melrose.

Researched and drafted a report on the State of Childcare in Melrose with municipal policy recommendations.

Education

Master of Arts; Global Marketing Communications
Emerson College, Boston 2000 - 2001

Bachelor of Arts with Honors; Political Science
University of Florida, Gainesville 1995 - 1998

Study Abroad
Richmond College, London Fall 1997

Independent Research Studies
Arts in Education and Local Politics: Chicago Public School System 
Women in Politics: Study of 1996 Republican National Convention

Presentations

May 2016 Northeastern University Graduate Marketing Class 
Building a Place and a Community with Digital Communications,

April 2016
Women (who don’t code) in Tech Panel 

September 2015, Oakland, CA
Code for America Summit: How to Partner with the Outside to Do Better Government 

2010-2012, Boston University
IBM Smarter Cities Case Study Presentation & Tour (x9)

June 2011, Common Boston
Defining the Spirit of Boston’s Innovation District

2010, Emerson MAs
New Media in Gov’t/Design Thinking: Guest Lecturer (x2) 

November 2010, Harvard JFK
Foreign Investment Communications: Panelist 

October 2010, MITX
Brand Transformation: Panelist 

October 2010, MassTLC Unconference
Innovation District Communications: Presenter 

Kind Words on Bold Leadership

Thrilled that my friend Sam Hammar has announced her candidacy for Mayor of Melrose. There is no one better to thoughtfully, creatively, *collaboratively*, and effectively build on the work Paul Brodeur has done, and Gail Marie Infurna & Robert Dolan before him. Speaking as a former Melrose Human Rights Commission member and as a parent with a kiddo in the Melrose Public Schools, it's my pleasure to support & endorse & jump up and down cheering for Sam for Mayor - and to encourage you to get involved, as well!

Mathew Helman
Former Melrose resident

When I started digging into Melrose Public Schools’ funding and budget, Sam Hammar was one of the first people who I connected with. She helped me understand historical context, current state, and how we can best move forward in the short- and long-term.

Her experience, knowledge, dedication, and transparency are essential for Melrose, especially now. I’m so excited to support her in her campaign for Melrose mayor 👏

Lisa Covino
Melrose resident