Nina Nolan Rouse Joins O’Connor Connective as President
O’Connor Connective, a strategic communications and consulting firm for companies and nonprofits, announces Nina Nolan Rouse as the organization’s president, effective July 8, 2024. This will allow founder and CEO Bridget O’Connor to focus on client strategy and growth as the firm expands its reach and services.
Rouse is a skilled communicator with extensive experience connecting with and converting audiences through a full range of strategic, integrated communications and marketing activities. She brings to O’Connor Connective a proven track record of building strong teams, optimizing resources and increasing overall operational excellence.
For the past 17 years, Rouse served St. Norbert College in various roles including the Director of Communications and Marketing. Previous roles included Senior Web and Social Media Specialist as well as Digital and Creative Services Manager. Rouse led a team of 10 within the college’s marketing communications department that functioned as an internal agency for various college clients.
“I’m excited and grateful for the opportunity to join O’Connor Connective as president,” said Rouse. “My past experiences building bridges with varied groups of stakeholders, leading cross-functional teams, enhancing operational excellence and advancing marketing and communications goals for dozens of clients at St. Norbert College aligns with the needs of O’Connor Connective today.”
Rouse holds a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and a Bachelor of Arts degree from St. Norbert College where she pursued an art major and Spanish minor. In 2023, Rouse graduated from a 16-month executive leadership cohort program through the Center for Exceptional Leadership at St. Norbert College.
Rouse was recognized with a “40 Under 40” award from Insight Publications in honor of her professional accomplishments and civic service to the New North Region. She also received St. Norbert College’s Exceptional Service award for providing leadership and meritorious service to the organization.
Rouse serves as a Board Member and the Communications Chair of PRSA Northeast Wisconsin and is in her second term on the Board of Education in the School District of Bonduel. In the past, she has served with the Shawano Area Community Foundation, Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay and the Diocese of Green Bay.
The breadth and depth of Rouse’s skillset which includes organizational and team development, enhancing operations, marketing and communications strategy, planning and execution, and relationship-building is met with excitement at O’Connor Connective.
“I have known and admired Nina’s talents for nearly two decades,” said Bridget O’Connor, founder of O’Connor Connective. “She is a life-long learner dedicated to helping organizations tell their story. She’s mentored and managed teams and she’s created integrated systems for optimizing communications and marketing delivery. These are key elements, along with her passion for digital communication, that will further serve our clients and our company well as we advance within this era of communicating with and through the world of AI. Perhaps most importantly, she aligns with our culture, philosophy, and commitment to advancing leaders and our community.”
This strategic hire further allows O’Connor to join Executive Vice President Michelle Dejno and Vice President Lindsay Arndt in driving strategy and client services. On the horizon for O’Connor includes the expansion of offerings.
“We continue to grow our team’s creative and digital talents,” said O’Connor. “You can expect this to be an area of focus as our clients’ needs will quickly evolve in the coming years. Strategic communication and marketing are on a fast-track of change—which is incredibly exciting and filled with potential.”
Founded in 2013 and based in De Pere, Wisconsin, O’Connor Connective advises CEOs, presidents and senior leaders to define and communicate their vision to engage, retain and recruit customers, employees and supporters. The company does that by integrating strategy, marketing, creative, public relations, and training to achieve organizational goals. Clients include privately held and service-based companies and nonprofits from across the country. O’Connor Connective is a certified Woman-Owned Business Enterprise (WBE).