Transforming a Local Nonprofit into a Digital-Ready Organization
When Sean Brownlee joined the Community Emergency Response Volunteers of the Monterey Peninsula (CERV), the organization had no online presence. Serving as CERV’s Digital Communications and Marketing Director, Sean designed and launched the nonprofit’s end-to-end digital ecosystem from scratch, building a foundation that transformed local emergency preparedness outreach.
Under his leadership, CERV gained a full digital footprint: a professional website, integrated social media presence across Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, and a CRM-driven email newsletter program powered by Mailchimp. Sean implemented SEO best practices and Google Search optimization to increase visibility and community engagement. He also led CERV’s accessibility campaign to ensure that all digital communications were inclusive and compliant with federal accessibility standards, a key step toward broadening disaster preparedness outreach to every member of the community.
Sean further advanced CERV’s institutional capacity by registering the organization with SAM.gov, enabling CERV to apply for and manage federal grants. This step was crucial in expanding CERV’s ability to secure funding for community resilience and disaster-preparedness initiatives throughout Monterey County.
Strengthening CERT Programs Across Monterey County
As both a Logistics Chief and Zone Captain for the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) in Monterey, Sean played a pivotal role in operational readiness. He supported equipment management for 10 CERT teams across Monterey, Pacific Grove, and Carmel, overseeing inventories, coordinating procurement, and ensuring field teams had reliable communication tools and training materials during emergencies.
His leadership helped modernize CERT’s communications infrastructure, developing and managing Monterey CERT’s website, digital channels, and internal communication systems. Over three years, he worked to design and implement a formal communications policy that improved coordination among team captains and municipal agencies. Today, Monterey CERT stands as one of the most robust and digitally integrated CERT programs in the nation, recognized for its readiness and cohesion under the FEMA framework.
Driving Collaboration and Public-Private Partnerships
Sean’s impact extended beyond technology. He was instrumental in connecting public agencies, local governments, and private foundations to CERV’s mission. His digital leadership supported numerous high-impact initiatives, including:
- Reviving MontereyCo.Recovers.org, improving county-wide disaster coordination with multilingual and accessible tools.
- Supporting the Listos California Regional Project, which has reached nearly 100,000 individuals with disaster-preparedness education across Monterey, Santa Cruz, and San Benito Counties.
- Helping secure major grants from the Community Foundation for Monterey County, Cal Fire Foundation, and Ability Central Philanthropy to fund recovery programs, wildfire education, and inclusive healthcare communication initiatives.
Leadership Through Service and Strategy
Sean’s experience exemplifies how digital innovation, nonprofit strategy, and public service intersect. His work with CERV and CERT demonstrates how well-designed communication systems can amplify community resilience. By uniting technology, policy, and volunteerism, Sean continues to show how structured, mission-driven leadership can transform disaster readiness and inspire long-term civic engagement.
Quote of Endorsement
“Sean Brownlee's volunteerism is exemplary. He is ALWAYS willing to help. He seeks (and finds) ways to improve the status quo. He is ALWAYS respectful of others. Sean is a man who never demands or asks for thanks or respect. He just does the job with a smile on his face. As a result, he commands great respect among the members of our community. This respect flow from not only what he does, but also how he does it, so willingly and with such grace.”
— K. Lee Whitney, President, CERV of the Monterey Peninsula
Learn More
To learn more about Sean’s continued work in disaster response, public-private partnerships, and digital communications leadership, visit the Professional Experience page.