VP, Marketing, Enterprise Community Partners
As vice president of marketing at Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., Jon Searles leads teams responsible for designing and executing digital marketing and communications strategies on a large scale for complex businesses and programs. He is also responsible for earned media, focusing on Enterprise’s thought leaders and innovative approach to affordable housing and community development to earn coverage in top tier, trade and local media. Under his leadership, both the quality and quantity of coverage have expanded, increasing media hits by 500 percent since 2011.
Since joining Enterprise in 2010, Jon has developed strategies to promote the breadth of Enterprise’s capital, policy and programs on a national scale. In 2011, he partnered with Public Policy and a broad coalition of industry partners to advance a communications effort to protect the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, ultimately building support for the vital program. He also launched a multi-year effort to garner recognition for Enterprise and its thought leaders, leading to the president & CEO being named among the world’s most innovative social entrepreneurs by Forbes, among other accolades. In 2012, he created a marketing and communications strategy to support the acquisition of the company that would become Bellwether Enterprise Real Estate Capital LLC, and established the new business’s presence in the market. And in 2015, he led the creation of a digital marketing and PR campaign promoting Enterprise’s work in the Gulf Coast during the 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, positioning the company as the leading rebuilder of affordable housing. The results of his content marketing efforts have contributed to Enterprise’s rapid expansion on social media, as well as stories appearing on the front pages of the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and in broadcast news.
Prior to joining Enterprise, Jon served in multiple positions at Fannie Mae in Pasadena, California and Washington, DC. He led the team responsible for the creation and execution of all marketing and communications strategies for Housing & Community Development, including its multifamily business, and served as a liaison between the business and headquarters on crisis-related issues. Jon also worked in Sacramento for two California governors, and received an appointment to promote the state’s community service and volunteer programs.
Jon earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh School of Journalism. In addition to his work at Enterprise, Jon serves as a digital ambassador for The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency, promoting U.S. ventures in Dutch business interests. He also serves on the Public Strategies Committee of the National Housing Conference, a nonprofit that supports the affordable housing community with nonpartisan advocacy, research and communications tools.