Experience

Limestone County (AL) Economic Development Association

• United States
• Non-profit Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communication & Research Specialist

  • Nov 2022 - Present

  Limestone County, Alabama, United States



Blake Williams Communications

• President & CEO

  • Aug 2020 - Nov 2022

  Athens, AL ➤ Successfully establishing and growing a full-service Marketing & Public Relations Consulting Firm based in Limestone County, while leveraging past clients and a broad networking base to generate consistent business. ➤ Working with clients including Athens Main Street, Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, and the Limestone County Economic Development Association. ➤ Effectively providing businesses and government agencies with strategic media planning, digital marketing, content creation,… Show more ➤ Successfully establishing and growing a full-service Marketing & Public Relations Consulting Firm based in Limestone County, while leveraging past clients and a broad networking base to generate consistent business. ➤ Working with clients including Athens Main Street, Greater Ardmore Chamber of Commerce, and the Limestone County Economic Development Association. ➤ Effectively providing businesses and government agencies with strategic media planning, digital marketing, content creation, website development, and social media management. ➤ Strategically planning and implementing high-impact tourism publicity programs, generating maximum paid and earned coverage, ROI and publicity. ➤ Employing media relations, research, and database strategies that promote clients' cities/locations as premier destinations to enhance the awareness and increase visitation from the U.S. And abroad. ➤ Proactively pitching and securing positive tourism media stories on a regular basis, with an emphasis on consumer coverage on TV, in print, and online. ➤ Efficiently writing press materials including news releases, pitches, alerts, fact sheets, and talking points to amplify key messages, as well as ideating, planning, and executing group or individual press trips. ➤ Identifying and formulating partnerships with external companies to enhance destination appeal, while handling outreach to secure television, online video, and film sponsorship opportunities. ➤ Providing administrative support to clients' PR Departments, including updating, maintaining, and optimizing media contact lists, drafting monthly PR reports, maintaining PR budgets, and pulling editorial calendars for key publications. Show less



WHNT News 19

• United States
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• News Producer

  • Jan 2020 - Aug 2020

  Huntsville, AL ➤ Came aboard in a part-time capacity and received a full-time position within 3 months, managing and approving content and teases for air, while selecting graphics that explain and showcase stories, reinforcing station branding. ➤ Consistently wrote factual, accurate, clear, compelling, easy-to-understand news stories, and developed newscast content by understanding and embracing research, branding, and logistics. ➤ Strategically collaborated with the News team to select stories for… Show more ➤ Came aboard in a part-time capacity and received a full-time position within 3 months, managing and approving content and teases for air, while selecting graphics that explain and showcase stories, reinforcing station branding. ➤ Consistently wrote factual, accurate, clear, compelling, easy-to-understand news stories, and developed newscast content by understanding and embracing research, branding, and logistics. ➤ Strategically collaborated with the News team to select stories for coverage, as well as aggressively responded to breaking news with a sense of urgency. ➤ Successfully executed newscasts without any on-air errors, and met all deadlines prior to air, including timing of newscast, executing changes as needed, while overseeing quality control of the newscast when in the booth. ➤ Selected and made maximum use of video, graphics, live shots, and all tools available to achieve superb storytelling, as well as dug for new information to advance stories and generated unique content for the assigned newscast. ➤ Set-up interviews as needed for Reporters, Anchors, and Photojournalists, while overseeing story developments through to completion, helping the story get views and achieve results. Show less



Greater Starkville Development Partnership

• United States
• Public Policy Offices
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Communications Intern

  • 2019 - 2020

  Starkville, MS



Mississippi State University

• Higher Education
• 700 & Above Employee

• Account Executive

  • Jan 2019 - Dec 2019

  Starkville, Mississippi ➤ Worked directly with the client and managed the Account team to meet the client's goals, including the day-to-day execution of the account strategy, client service, and project management. ➤ Focused on media and influencer relations, thought leadership, and overall communications strategy, as well as handled content strategy, creation and distribution, social management and strategy, along with data-driven analysis/reporting. ➤ Effectively ensured quality control by editing and… Show more ➤ Worked directly with the client and managed the Account team to meet the client's goals, including the day-to-day execution of the account strategy, client service, and project management. ➤ Focused on media and influencer relations, thought leadership, and overall communications strategy, as well as handled content strategy, creation and distribution, social management and strategy, along with data-driven analysis/reporting. ➤ Effectively ensured quality control by editing and approving all deliverables before dissemination to clients, while supporting team members to ensure campaigns were delivered on time and service level agreements were achieved. ➤ Consistently delivered high-quality results and mastered execution, as well as confidently interacted with client contacts through email, calls and in-person meetings as needed. ➤ Actively sought out every opportunity to learn from agency Senior Team leads and consistently reiterated the daily approach to become more efficient, while learning to comfortably tell clients what they need to hear vs. What they want. Show less



Mississippi State Athletics

• Photographer

  • Jan 2016 - Jan 2019

  Starkville, Mississippi ➤ Successfully executed a large variety of photography assignments including on location, studio, and events for the Department's use and archival purposes. ➤ Captured and produced high-quality images appropriate to each purpose and presented a positive image of the Athletic Department in conjunction with SEC and NCAA regulations. ➤ Planned the composition of photographs, analyzing subject material, exercising artistic judgment, and selecting and adjusting appropriate equipment, lighting,… Show more ➤ Successfully executed a large variety of photography assignments including on location, studio, and events for the Department's use and archival purposes. ➤ Captured and produced high-quality images appropriate to each purpose and presented a positive image of the Athletic Department in conjunction with SEC and NCAA regulations. ➤ Planned the composition of photographs, analyzing subject material, exercising artistic judgment, and selecting and adjusting appropriate equipment, lighting, angle, props, and background to produce the highest-quality photographs. ➤ Effectively collaborated with colleagues to handle production and office activities, as well as served as a source of information on photographic equipment and techniques. ➤ Strategically determined each project's goals, locations, and equipment needs by studying assignments and consulting with the Media Relations and Marketing staff. ➤ Ensured the consistent output of high-quality photos that met the needs of various media, as well as ensured images were edited, processing, adjusting, and enhancing digital files for optimum final results. ➤ Participated in strategic and creative concept development for various media, while keeping abreast of new developments and technology, exploring new techniques that improved creative and workflow processes. Show less

• Interactive Content Producer & Intern

  • 2018 - 2019

  Huntsville, AL ➤ Successfully supported multiple Producers with content creation for the station's website, while learning and participating in the daily production of fast-paced newscasts, including aiding in story research. ➤ Wrote scripts for live newscasts, created graphic elements, and conducted/logged interviews, in addition to shooting and editing packages, as well as supported Reporters in making phone calls. ➤ Efficiently scanned and read multiple news sources, including utilizing social media… Show more ➤ Successfully supported multiple Producers with content creation for the station's website, while learning and participating in the daily production of fast-paced newscasts, including aiding in story research. ➤ Wrote scripts for live newscasts, created graphic elements, and conducted/logged interviews, in addition to shooting and editing packages, as well as supported Reporters in making phone calls. ➤ Efficiently scanned and read multiple news sources, including utilizing social media to gather information, while also sharing station content and public videos and writing posts specifically for the station's social media accounts. Show less



WZDX

• Intern

  • May 2017 - Aug 2017

  Huntsville, Huntsville, AL ➤ Interned in the Weather Department, learning Baron Lynx system and how to put a show together, as well as worked with the News Department, writing stories for the web. ➤ Successfully drove radar during wall to wall coverage of tornado warnings, while also helping Reporters and MMJs with stories and contacts.