Client Endorsements
James AbruzzoManaging Director and Executive Vice President, Nonprofit Practice
DHR International
Co-Director and Co-Founder
Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership - Rutgers Business School
President
Abruzzo Associates
Jersey City, NJ
"Erika has executed her tasks at DHR International far better than any person that I have had the good fortune to work with in my 30 years in the industry, and because I have knowledge of the entire firm, I can definitively state that she is among the top performers in her dual role with the firm. She has taught herself HTML and has completely revised the Nonprofit Practice website, contract and promotional material. She is my editor of choice, has written copy, answered client Requests For Proposals and supported other members of the firm in those areas. On that basis, I would strongly recommend Erika."
Mike Burroughs
Former Managing Director and Executive Vice President
Former Co-Leader, Aerospace & Defense Practice and Healthcare Practice
DHR International
St. Louis, MO
At DHR International, Erika Vela oversaw, designed and executed a marketing campaign driven by three practice leaders in three distinct markets - Nonprofit, Aerospace and Defense, and Healthcare. The marketing campaign was to launch DHR International's new Leader Assimilation© service in these fields and create a demand for it via direct mail and email.
"Erika Vela has provided excellent marketing support to DHR International, a 'top five' global retained executive search firm. She designed, developed and refined three separate brochures for the firm's Nonprofit, Aerospace and Defense, and Healthcare Practices. Her guidance was well conceived, tactful and on target. We relied on her expertise for formatting, editing and overall consultation. Her Microsoft Publisher skills are superb as well. Throughout the three projects she has been a valued resource to our firm. Due to the excellent results we have enjoyed, her valuable contribution to our business and her delightful personality, we will continue to rely on her for writing, editing, design and also publishing of information materials. We consider her a valuable member of our team. I highly recommend her to you as well."
Later, as Managing Principal of Segue Consulting LLC in St. Louis, MO, Michael Burroughs contacted Evela for an additional project:
"When I was launching my private practice in executive recruiting and coaching I retained Erika to assist me with various graphic arts projects such as logo development, etc. Erika was very helpful and creative and a great business partner. She works in a timely manner and provides great value. I highly recommend her to assist in graphic arts and writing projects."
Cicely Cottingham
Fine Artist
www.cicelycottingham.com
West Orange, NJ
Erika served as a website consultant for Cicely Cottingham, assisting in planning and organizing material for presentation to a wide audience. The project was completed over a few months.
"When I mentioned to a colleague that I had an idea for an online business, he put me in touch with Erika immediately. I am a fine artist and a designer and the online business will be a commercial enterprise and one of several revenue streams to support my fine art endeavors. Although I am still developing content for the online business, of high priority was a website for my paintings and works on paper. Erika was of enormous help in getting my art website completed and up. When we met, her calmness, openness, clarity and directness gave me a high degree of confidence in her skill and professionalism. She was the magic charm that go me going; and efficient and professional through the completion of the project. When I am ready to embark on the online business, I know who to contact."
Roseli Golfetti, Ph.D.
Professor of Physiology
Division of Life Sciences - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
New Brunswick, NJ
Ms. Vela was referred to Dr. Golfetti when Dr. Golfetti came to Rutgers as a sponsored professor from Brazil. Dr. Golfetti needed to get some professional and personal documents translated from Portuguese to English and she asked Ms. Vela to assist her. In due time, Ms. Vela completed the projects and Roseli was able to submit them to the appropriate parties.
"Working with Erika to translate my professional degree certifications from Portuguese to English and write my personal documents and letters, I found her writing ability and her insights on my projects insightful. She was sharp, diligent and punctual in her work. We worked together on many of my files over a span of time and she was always reachable and responsive. Erika was a pleasure to work with and I fully endorse her work."
Kamal Khan, M.D.
Associate Director
Office for Diversity and Academic Success in the Sciences - Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey
Professor
Health Issues in the African American Community
New Brunswick, NJ
"Erika's writing brought in over $80K in funding to ODASIS in one year, and allowed our programs to continue to service aspiring health care professionals from underrepresented populations. She was also instrumental in ODASIS' marketing and branding efforts, designing and creating office materials, national presentations and organizational forms and student contracts. Erika, too, led scholarship workshops and provided one-on-one resume advising for our top students, coordinated a Saturday high school SAT Prep program, was my TA for my 300-level Africana Studies course, and ran CASE, a one-credit internship program supplement to my class. Among her other accomplishments at ODASIS in her 5 years of service, Erika always brought in new ideas and much energy. She was a valued member of the ODASIS team and I highly recommend her. She is the best of the best!"
Madeline Kouvaras
Development Manager
Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership - Rutgers Business School
Newark, NJ
The Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Leadership needed to revise its 53-page Institute for Ethical Leadership External Analysis report written by a consultant. The Center entrusted Ms. Vela with the task and asked her to complete the revisions that night, as they were pressed for time. In four hours, the document was revised successfully and by the Center's deadline.
"Erika did a fabulous job. There were at least 10 good corrections, which is very admirable for a document like this, and two were quite important. She did a great job and I appreciate her hard work wholeheartedly. This was a tremendous help and an awful lot of work on her part."
Angelo Kramvis
CEO
Axis Test Preparation
New Jersey, New York & Pennsylvania
"Erika's review of my website provided me with key insights into how customers were viewing my business. I was very satisfied with my decision to work with her on building my company's image, and I will continue to use her services in the future. I'd recommend her to anyone looking to improve the way their website communicates with its audience."
Nathaniel Laboy
President
DL Heating and Cooling
Hillside, NJ
Nathaniel had just gotten a new direct client for his specialty work in home heating and cooling, but had no written contract. He needed one fast to establish the validity of his expertise and protect the interests of his client before starting work. Ms. Vela understood the urgency of the matter and provided him a two-page contract within two days. Nathaniel's client signed and his work was completed successfully.
"Erika - thank you for your services and the speedy response in the development of my service installation contract. Hope to continue using your services from now on."
Eva and Walter Masiak
Owners
Eva Hair Salon
Bloomfield, NJ
Eva and Walter were looking to market their business locally and within greater New Jersey. They approached Evela to develop a business plan and create a marketing strategy that would work for their immediate and long-term goals. After a consultation, Evela created a Facebook site for Eva Hair Salon and trained Eva and Walter to navigate their new marketing tool in three in-person meetings.
"Hi, Erika. Both Eva and I are impressed with your professionalism and ability to share the latest technological wizards. Thank you for everything. The site looks great!"
Latino Festival of Monmouth County Executive Board
Latino Festival of Monmouth County
Freehold, NJ
The Latino Festival of Monmouth County needed a branding strategy, a website, and funding materials for supporters of the festival. Evela provided these services for the organization and cultivated a great working relationship with the board.
David Meadow
Managing Director
New York English Learners
New York, NY
New York English Learners was a nascent idea that needed to be developed. Managing Director David Meadow contacted Evela to assist in developing the company's brand via strategic organizational planning, and creating and launching a website.
"Erika did great work on my website and has helped me with other projects as well. She listens actively and compassionately, makes astute suggestions without taking over, and maintains dizzying standards of exactness while delivering everything promptly."
Lubna Muhammad
Owner
Top Shelf Plus LLC
Newark, NJ
When Top Shelf Plus LLC needed an e-commerce website to offer their all-natural products to a worldwide audience, they contacted Evela for overall design consultation and marketing.
"Erika was introduced to me through a mutual friend at an affair I was hosting at my shop, Top Shelf Plus. She has done such a professional job with my website. Everyone who sees the site loves the visual display and the layout. Erika has continuously been there to help me tweak the site to meet my needs. The website has exposed my business to hundreds of new people in a short period of time. I thank her also for sharing her knowledge of internet marketing with my husband and me."
Confidential Name
Confidential Title
Confidential Bank
Confidential Location
This person was referred to Ms. Vela by a client to assist with their resume and other career documents. Ms. Vela and this person first met in person and then worked together on the phone and over emails. Without disclosing confidential details, the result of the collaboration was positive for the person at the bank.
"Thank you so much!! I feel like you are my career advisor!! I appreciate everything!!"
Confidential Name
Confidential Title
Confidential Sales
Confidential Location
This person asked Ms. Vela to write a letter to their executive management as a follow up to their conversation about age discrimination, harrassment and defamation in the workplace. This person had finally spoken up about the matter they had been enduring at work and was asked to submit a written account of the claims to the appropriate reports. After this person supplied the letter Ms. Vela wrote for them to the appropriate reports, the employee in question was removed from the premises and the claimant was provided a company apology.
"Erika - Because of your great work, I was able to settle poor behavior from one of my managers at work. My corporate office took my concern very seriously once they realized the extent of my complaint. Your marvelous writing made a tremendous difference. Thanks!"
Confidential Name
Confidential Title
Confidential Taxi Company
Confidential Location
This person had been advised in writing by the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) that their driving privileges were going to be suspended shortly after they received the MVC's letter. This person needed to prove that the points on their license were not a reflection of their inability to practice responsibility on the road, but rather evidence of their personal turmoil with poor health and the responsibility of providing for their family through their work on the road. Ms. Vela wrote a letter to the MVC detailing this unique situation and included medical records from institutions this person had visited inside and outside of the United States in the timeframe of the accrued points on their license. The MVC then granted a temporary hold on the person's license suspension until a hearing was scheduled. After the hearing, this person was able to continue driving with no problem.
"Erika was so attentive to my specific case. She really asked me all the right questions and walked me through every step of the process. I especially appreciated her honesty about the gravity of my situation with the MVC. Thankfully, she pulled me through so much paperwork and trouble. Erika's work is great."
Confidential Name
Confidential Title
Confidential Nurse Agency
Confidential Location
This person had been in a car accident and could not communicate with the police officers in English. According to the police report, this person's car had suffered no physical damage and she was the culprit of the accident - both false statements. Having read the police report carefully, Ms. Vela recognized where the accident had been misconstrued to the benefit of the other party involved. Ms. Vela then contacted the police department and this person's insurance company and followed up with 1) a letter of explanation of the misrepresented events, 2) a revised police report and scene of the accident drawing, and 3) photographs of the scene of the accident as well as this person's car. The ordeal resulted in the acquittal of this person by their insurance company (and therefore no increase to their car insurance) and all repair costs covered by the other party's insurance company.
"This was a time when I was so scared and angry, but you took care of me and made sure I was OK the whole time. I can't believe how much money I saved on my car repair and insurance increase. Thank you again and again, Erika."
Joyce Sills
Managing Partner
Tradition Baked Goods LLC
Hillside, NJ
Joyce was putting together a pie-tasting event for Mother's Day and needed invitations and order forms for her audience, so she asked Ms. Vela for help. That same day Ms. Vela took the basic information Joyce needed on the flyers and gave her a few ideas for laying out the information. Once Joyce approved the theme and design for her flyers, Ms. Vela designed the accompanying order forms for the date of her event. Joyce's event was a success and her business got the exposure for which she was looking.
"Erika was a life saver when I needed to create and produce invitations and order forms for my business. She was so meticulous in designing them and I loved the outcome. She made it quick and painless to bring my event ideas to creation. Working with her was great, and I highly recommend her work to anyone."
Fran Spellman
Associate
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Chicago, IL
Fran was working with a client and asked Ms. Vela to help her write a sourcing letter for potential networking contacts, recommendations and referrals. She had Ms. Vela look at a draft Fran had been working on and wanted Ms. Vela to make any suggestions or additions Ms. Vela deemed fit. That same day, Ms. Vela sent to Fran a new, revised letter ready to be sent out to Fran's contacts.
"Did I go to the right person or what? This is terrific, Erika, how do I begin to thank you?? I feel very confident sending this out now...A deep, deep bow of thanks to you, Erika...Fannie May, Chicago's own famous chocolate will be coming soon. You deserve every piece."
Nelson Villanueva
President & Coach
Defensor Peru Futbol Club
Harrison, NJ
The Defensor Peru Futbol Club was looking for recognition into the New Jersey League, which required the Club to have a soccer field for practice. The Club did not have this, so Nelson asked Ms. Vela to write a proposal to the Recreation Chairman of the Harrison Community Center asking to use the Center's soccer field for the Club's weekly practice sessions. The letter was written within three days and the Club got its soccer field at the Center.
"No one believed we would be able to use the Harrison Community Center soccer field for our practice sessions. We were told to 'forget it,' that it would 'never happen.' So we asked Erika to write a letter to the Center on behalf of Defensor Peru Futbol Club asking to approve our use of their field. Within 3 days, we got the permission of the Recreation Chairman. Thanks to Erika's quick turnaround of a compelling, persuasive letter, the Club has been practicing at the Center field ever since. When community members and parents walked by our players during our first practice sessions in the new field, they stopped to look in amazement and asked us how we were able to get the field. If it were not for Erika's writing, we would have never been able to use the Center's field or had the chance to enter the New Jersey League. For these reasons, I highly recommend Erika's work."
For more information on our client endorsements or to discuss a specific project, please contact us.