CONSIDERING
EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP?
Our approach is thoughtful, genuine and timely.
Carefully matched to your organization's culture.
EVENT PLANNING?
SEEKING HELP WITH
Utilizing your objectives, defining success and recognizing value.
DO YOU NEED A NEW
WEB DESIGN?
Modern, custom, and easy to maintain.


Our services include
association management events website development newsletters sponsorship publications strategy design governance
and more.

We take time to learn and understand your vision, and meet you where you are in the journey. We become your partner in dynamic growth, consistently focused on end goals.

 

Your website is an important first impression and a modern design is the quickest way to improve your organization's image.

Modern, easy to update and affordable.

Nonprofit prices start at $2,500 for new design, plus $600 annual hosting and support. Transition to modern design that is responsive, adjusting to the varying screen size of mobile devices. Easily managed by your staff or volunteers using the DNN content management system. DNN products and technology are the foundation for 750,000+ websites worldwide. 

Warm, Responsive & Smart

People are our highest priority. We focus on the individuals within the organization as the resources for passionate and meaningful growth and change.

We lead to achieve potential. Our team of attentive and responsive professionals are committed to member growth and development. We are especially tuned into the organizational climate and enthusiastically support governance providing comprehensive financial reporting, documentation, meeting and event preparation. We use style guides to consistently portray your organization's culture and vitality across all medias including print materials, website and social media presence. Integrity is the attitudinal hallmark of our relationship with our clients. We will seek every opportunity to leverage meaning and value in the advancement of your organization's goals and objectives.

Events Matter

Whether it be a three day conference, half day training, board meeting or retreat, our team can provide the structure for your organization to host successful educational programs. Training support in all shapes and forms: Symposiums, summits, certification courses, workshops. Conference planning inclusive of – Site selection, financial management, registration, marketing, sponsorship, trade show, program development support, speaker management, audio visual, post conference reports, evaluations and close out. We work with you at all stages of planning, implementation, follow through, utilizing your objectives, defining measures of success, and recognizing gained value.

red barn CORE VALUES & Guiding principles

Integrity
We meet challenges without excuses.
We choose what is right over what is convenient.

People
We build great teams.  

Potential
We believe life is a journey, that we are always improving, and find joy, inspiration and creativity everywhere.
We have a high tolerance for change, knowing that growth and success require adaptability and perseverance.
We thrive knowing we are in the pursuit of greatness - influencing yours and while practicing ours.

COMPLIMENTS

The Red Barn Communications team brings expertise and experience to help any organization achieve its goals and objectives. At WSAE, we have appreciated their ability to help us create a focused strategy, adapt in change and challenge, and exceed our goals and objectives. Red Barn Communications has helped us increase membership, upgrade our communications and technology resources, elevate our educational programming, engage more members, and exceed our goals and objectives.

 

Brenda Orffer, CAEWashington Society
for Association Excellence

In her role with Red Barn Communications, Brit Kramer has been an absolute pleasure to work with. Brit has helped make the Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition website a very vibrant one. Just as importantly, Brit was a central figure in organizing and coordinating the 4th Annual Day in Olympia by the Big Tent that was, by far, its most successful one ever. I would not hesitate for a nano-second in recommending Brit and Red Barn Communications to anyone who asks.

 

Doug LevyBig Tent Outdoor
Recreation Coalition

A few years ago, our organization was challenged with moving out from under a parent entity to become our own separate 501 c 3 organization. Red Barn worked with us step by step from establishing our legal paperwork, bylaws and our web presence. A few years later we are more focused on our mission of accreditation as Red Barn provides positive oversight for our management, administration and customer service

 

Chris Nunes, PhD, CPRE,
Council MemberCouncil on Accreditation for
Parks, Recreation, Tourism,
and Related Professions

Thank you SO much to you and your team for coordinating our Centennial Gala and making such a seamless and memorable event! We are so incredibly happy with how the event turned out. It was so nice to be able to enjoy the event with our guests and count on your team to handle the day of coordination. The space looked amazing and the decorations were perfect! The dancers were such a great addition to the event and our guests really enjoyed that special touch.

 

Emily Madsen
Marketing & Outreach Coordinator Port of Olympia

Red Barn Communications makes a practice of going the extra mile for each and every event we work with them on. While technically they are a contract partner of ours, they truly feel like part of our team. That's not by accident…it’s Brit Kramer’s leadership!

 

Todd CuttsOlympia Downtown Alliance

I appreciate all the support Red Barn has given the organization over the years. It's been a cornerstone of our success.

 

Will ForesterFriendly Water for the World

Red Barn helped our 250 member fly fishing club expand our online presence by adding Facebook and YouTube pages to our ongoing Web page presence. She integrated the three online features, helped trouble shoot the startup and responded quickly to our needs.

 

Steve JonesClark-Skamania Fly Fishers



MEET THE TEAM

Speaker Speaker

Brit
Kramer

Principal

Speaker

Brit Kramer, CAE

Executive Leadership

Brit is a certified association executive since 2006 with over a decade of experience providing CEO leadership for the Washington Recreation & Park Association. She has taken leadership roles in state and national organizations and is a long-time member and former board member of the Washington Society of Association Executives, receiving the famous Rhinoceros Award in 2013 for distinguished service. Brit's passion is for helping nonprofits raise their profile, and in 2014 founded Red Barn Communications to offer executive expertise, marketing, event and communications serving nonprofits, associations and community groups. People are her highest priority, and she builds a culture of teamwork and collaboration. She works from a home office in their log home on a wooded five acre "hobby farm" in Thurston County. The company name is inspired by the four-year epic journey of building their big red barn.

Speaker Speaker

Shelley
Dahle

Association Executive

Speaker

Shelley Dahle

Association Executive

Shelley discovered association management in 2007 in her transition away from a dental assistant career. The three-month temporary position evolved into six years as the "goto" person for special projects, exhibitor relations and on-site event support for the Washington Recreation & Park Association. In 2015 Shelley earned the certified medical assistant (CMA) and so our clients also benefit from her ability to respond to health situations. Shelley now provides support and leadership for organizations as Red Barn client bases expands. A fun fact is that Shelley is a founding member of the Grape Nuts, specializing in home-made desserts; she is a runner, a wife, and mom to two very smart girls.

Speaker Speaker

Patty Anderson

Association Executive

Speaker

Patty Anderson, CAE

Association Executive

With more than 35 years in association management, Patty worked the bulk of her career for and became a business partner of the Pacific Northwest's premier and first accredited association management company - Melby, Cameron & Anderson (MCA). In addition to helping ensure the growth, stability, and direction of MCA, Patty provided leadership, counsel, and direction to association board members, volunteers, and staff for a portfolio of six professional societies and trade associations. Patty joined SBI Association Management in 2016 when SBI acquired MCA. Until departing SBI at the end of 2020, Patty served as a client team leader and provided senior level knowledge in strategic, leadership, and event management to the clients with whom she worked. The common thread throughout Patty's career has been not only serving, but helping the associations she works with grow and thrive. She is success-driven and passionate about inspiring colleagues to deliver exceptional service and value to their clients. Patty is Certified Association Executive and the 2013 recipient of the Washington Society of Association Executives' "Executive of the Year" award. When not working, Patty enjoys spending time with her husband at their lake house, fishing, or with their pack of Borzoi (Russian Wolfhounds) that she breeds and shows in the conformation ring.



Speaker Speaker

Jen
Dixon

Member Services

Speaker

Jen Dixon

Member Services

It’s a small world. Jen’s future mother-in-law referred her for an administrative position at the Washington Recreation & Park Association in 2007, and this was the beginning of our work family. Quick to pick up technology and new systems Jen excelled at serving members and was the first formal hire at Red Barn as we re-established our work family. Now a proud wife and mom Jen’s family is fully established in Bremerton, which makes our retreats and client events all the more special to see her in-person.

Speaker Speaker

Chivan
Lim

Marketing & Events

Speaker

Chivan Lim

Marketing & Events

Chivan Lim is a graduate of South Puget Sound Community College (SPSCC), earning his Associate’s Degree in Arts in 2018. At SPSCC he discovered his passion for building communities and making his visions come alive. He has also demonstrated these skills with his band WINEHOUSE. Often booking gigs, networking, and communicating with groups, he is dedicated to enhancing the events he hosts. Being an active member of many local communities has given him a great sense of variety and an understanding of what people want to see.


Speaker Speaker

Sowmya Chetlapalli

Administrative Assistant

Speaker

Sowmya Chetlapalli

Administrative Assistant

Originally from Hyderabad, India, Sowmya now calls Lacey, Washington, her home. Sowmya (pronounced SOUW-MYA) easily picks up new technology, enjoys the diversity of projects, and allows Red Barn to scale when needed to meet client needs. Living next to a park with the view of Mount Rainier is ideal for raising a young family. The Grand Canyon however is among their most epic travel experiences.

Speaker Speaker

Meleea Russell

Development & Operations

Speaker

Meleea Russell

Development & Operations

Meleea comes to Red Barn with over two decades experience in the areas of fund development and organizational operations. Prior to working with non-profit organizations such as Muscular Dystrophy Association of Puget Sound, Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s Zoo Society and Youth for Christ, she served as Athletic and Teen Director for the Centre at Norpoint/Metro Parks WA and Athletics Director for the City of Lacey Parks and Recreation Dept. She and husband, Scott, have lived 26+ years in Tacoma WA area, where they raised their two, now adult, daughters. Meleea is a Southern CA transplant where she graduated from San Diego State University in ’95 with a Recreation Admin degree and relocated to WA in 1996. Her passions included all things family and travel! (Most specifically, international travel)

Speaker Speaker

Ted
Clark

Technology

Speaker

Ted Clark

Technology

Luckily Ted found programming in high school in the 80s. Modifying a formula that output triangles to create Christmas tree branches led to the realization that computer programs were just little chunks you created and put together to solve bigger problems. Since then he has worked with dozens of computer languages, database and application platforms to help organizations find solutions cost effectively. Ted has worked with and for non-profits, organizations and enterprises of all sizes. These include Boeing, Microsoft, multiple Washington State agencies, and Community Youth Services among many others. For Cayzen in Lacey, Ted has worked at Labor and Industries on contract for 14 years. The other passion Ted found in the 80s was a love of drums. Besides being with his current bandmates for 30 years, he regularly performs at church and enjoys a good challenge, such as joining the high school for Little Shop of Horrors or hand-drumming for Olympia’s Procession of the Species.


 

Speaker Speaker

Candace Wood

Accountant

Speaker

Candace Wood, MBA, CPA

Accountant

Candace is a University of Washington alumnus where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Accounting with a non-profit minor and an MBA. She has spent most of her professional life in the finance industry and has worked in banking, mortgage, the State Auditor’s Office, and the non-profit sector. In the fall of 2017, she opened her own tax and accounting services firm in Olympia specializing in non-profit and small business accounting services. And a fun fact is she was recently awarded the South Sound “Exceptional Woman” recognition by the South Sound Soroptimists!

Speaker Speaker

Kate
Rappe

Design

Speaker

Kate Rappe

Design

Trained formally as a print designer, Kate admits that print is where her heart is. But today most of Kate's projects have digital elements or are designed for the web. She is all Apple and generally does most design work in Adobe CS5 and completes many projects using MS Office. (Creative Suite – In Design, Illustrator, Photoshop, Acrobat, Microsoft Office – Word, PowerPoint, Excel and Knowledge of WordPress, Drupal & HTML.) Each job is different and requires an effective balance of creative talent and technical skill. For some, it might be capturing a unique look and feel for a new company. For others, it may be finding the most creative way to express an already strong brand. She prides herself on loyalty, honesty, and having fun. Whatever the project, Kate's goal is to complete it within budget, on time, and to put a smile on your face. She works out of her Ballard home studio in Seattle with her loyal studio dog, Ellie.





Preferred PARTNERS/who we work with

CLIENTS PAST & PRESENT

Administration
& Governance

 American Academy of Park and Recreation Administrators

American Parks & Recreation Foundation 

 Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition

 Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Related Professions

 Flooring Association Northwest

 Washington Acupunture and Eastern Medicine Association

 Washington Society of Association Executives

Websites

 American Academy for Park and Recreation Administration

 Big Tent Outdoor Recreation Coalition

 Council on Accreditation of Parks, Recreation and Tourism Related Professions

 Flooring Association Northwest

 Friendly Water For The World

 Leadership Outfitters

 Olympia Downtown Alliance

 Partners for Parks

 Together!

 Tumwater Artesian Brewfest

 Washington Society of Association Executives

Events

 2017 Eclipse VIP Campout at the Imperial Stock Ranch – A Red Barn Event

 Experience Olympia & Beyond

 Meeting Professionals International, Washington State Chapter

 Olympia Downtown Alliance – Event Partner

 Port of Olympia

 Tumwater Artesian Brewfest - Partner

 West Olympia Business Association

Projects

 Arbutus Folk School

 Child Care Action Council

 Clark-Skamania FlyFishers

 King County Medical Society

 Leadership Eastside

 Recreation & Conservation Office

 Tumwater Area Chamber of Commerce

 Washington Nonprofits

 West Olympia Community Visioning Group

Charity

 HOC Rose Blind Horse Sanctuary Rescue - website