Sandy Hook Promise and Pillar Search & HR Consulting are excited to announce that, following an extensive and competitive candidate search, Anita Issar has joined as Vice President of Marketing.

Reporting to Sandy Hook Promise’s Chief Operating Officer, Dawn Lyons, Anita will oversee the development, planning and execution of all SHP brand marketing, internal and external communications, media and public relations, web content and digital marketing management, social media, collateral creation, and graphic design. She will strengthen thought leadership and awareness across a range of audiences and ensure consistency in messaging across all touchpoints, internally and externally.   A member of the leadership team, Anita will have a vital role in driving Sandy Hook Promise’s mission and ensure support for the organization’s strategic growth to expand program reach and effectiveness.

Anita is a strategic marketing executive who brings deep experience in brand management, strategy, innovation, and omnichannel marketing across FMCG and mission-driven organizations. Most recently, Anita served as the Vice President of Marketing and Communications of Bowery Residents’ Committee, one of the largest providers of programs and services for individuals experiencing homelessness in NYC. Prior, Anita spent over a decade in marketing leadership roles at PepsiCo including leading global brand management of billion-dollar brands Pepsi Zero and Diet Pepsi, global innovation of PepsiCo’s core carbonated soft drink franchise, and omnichannel marketing of the North American beverage portfolio, including Gatorade, Starbucks, and Mtn Dew, with retail giants Walmart and Target.

Anita earned her MBA with a concentration in marketing from Columbia Business School, and her Bachelor’s Degree in biology from New York University.

Says Anita, “I am honored to join the talented team of Sandy Hook Promise to build upon their vital work of educating and empowering youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities.”

About Sandy Hook Promise: Sandy Hook Promise is a nonpartisan organization that was founded and led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on December 14, 2012. Sandy Hook Promise is dedicated to preventing gun violence and creating a culture of inclusivity, safety, respect, and kindness in schools and communities across the United States.

Sandy Hook Promise Foundation is a 501(c)(3) that offers a range of evidence-informed programs and initiatives designed to empower youth, educators, and community members to recognize the signs preceding violence and to take steps to prevent it. Their programs include educational resources for schools, youth leadership programs, and community-based campaigns to raise awareness of the impacts of gun violence.

Sandy Hook Promise Action Fund is a 501(c)(4) that champions a holistic policy platform that promotes gun safety, youth mental health, and violence prevention education. The organization works at the state and federal level to pass nonpartisan legislation through inclusive partnerships, diverse grassroots education, and community mobilization.

Through its work, Sandy Hook Promise aims to build a movement of individuals and organizations committed to promoting gun safety, mental health awareness, and social and emotional learning. The organization has received widespread support from educators, parents, and lawmakers, as well as celebrities and public figures, and continues to play a vital role in the national conversation around gun violence prevention.

Learn more about Sandy Hook Promise here.

About Pillar Search & HR Consulting: A woman-owned business based in Boston, Pillar Search & HR Consulting provides executive search/recruiting and human resources consulting expertise to nonprofit and mission-driven organizations, working with senior leaders and boards of directors to hire and develop the very best talent across all functional areas of the organization. For more information, please visit www.pillarsearch.com.