Stephen Aber.

Work

Communications for organizations doing work that matters.

I've spent my career where communications meets everything else — strategy, operations, research, fundraising, and growth. The work stays consistent: understand the problem, find the people it touches, build what's missing, and say it clearly. I'm AI-fluent and use AI tools regularly to research, draft, and build better workflows — with judgment, not hype.

Focus areas Climate & environment · Policy & regulation · Research translation · AI-enabled communications

84%YoY revenue growth at MyMatR
$90M→$200Msales volume at The Bizzarro Agency
~20%membership growth at NCPLA
1,200+professionals served, ISPE-CaSA

Experience

2023–present

Director of Research Communications

Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF)

I coordinate communications across roughly 45 active environmental research projects and established the organization's first standardized research-to-communications process.

  • Lead a four-person communications team and oversee budget, agencies and vendors, digital operations, and quarterly board reporting.
  • Advise leadership on methane, PFAS, battery safety, recycling, and waste-sector operations.
  • Directed an earned-media initiative that grew broadcast appearances from about 2 local to 4–6, including national and international outlets.

2025–present

Head of Marketing & Revenue Strategy

MyMatR

I lead commercialization, positioning, and go-to-market strategy for an environmental technology startup using AI and computer vision to improve waste and recycling. The company grew from one product to three, with 84% year-over-year revenue growth.

84% YoY revenue growth
2021–present

Chief of Marketing

The Bizzarro Agency

I advise leadership on marketing, organizational strategy, and operations, and built and launched a Global Operations Group to standardize workflows. Sales volume grew from roughly $90 million to $200 million, and the agent team grew from about 20 to more than 50.

~$90M → $200M sales
2020–2023

Executive Director

North Carolina Professional Lobbyists Association (NCPLA)

I led strategic planning, budgeting, governance, membership, and events for a statewide association of government affairs professionals. Membership grew approximately 20%, and financial reserves improved 44%.

+44% reserves
2021–2023

Executive Director

ISPE Carolina-South Atlantic Chapter (ISPE-CaSA)

I led a professional association serving 1,200+ professionals across a seven-state territory.

1,200+ professionals
2019–2024

Marketing & Communications Consultant

The Care Project

I led a rebrand and a new website.

2015–2019

Marketing & Operations Manager

North Carolina Master Chorale

I worked across operations, communications, donor relations, publications, and audience development, and led a comprehensive rebrand during an executive leadership transition.

Education

MPA&Policy, American University · MBA, Quantic School of Business & Technology · MA, Communication, Queens University of Charlotte · MM & BM, Belmont University

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