Experience

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  Freestyle Strategy

  • Greater Boston Area

  • Founder and Principal

    • Jan 2012 - Present
    • Greater Boston Area

    Melissa, who earned her MBA at Babson College, is a twenty year veteran of the Cause Branding field with a broad agency background in consumer marketing communications. At MRG Consulting she provides strategic assistance to both companies and nonprofits. Her general marketing experience includes positioning, branding, promotions and a variety of public relations activities. She has worked with CNN, Home Depot, Land O’Lakes, Mattel, Motts, NBC, P&G, Timberland, sanofi-aventis, and Yoplait.For nonprofits, she helps organizations with broad range of disciplines such as building corporate partnerships, creating cause-marketing initiatives, developing strategic philanthropy programs, nonprofit positioning, public relations strategy and social media. In this capacity she has worked with American Diabetes Association, America on the Move, 4-H, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, Moffitt Cancer Center, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, STOMP Out Bullying and Vital Voices.

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  PowerPact

  • Greater Boston Area

  • Principal, Senior Vice President

    • 2001 - Dec 2011
    • Greater Boston Area

    PowerPact (www.powerpact.com) is a multi-media promotion agency. Served as Principal, growing and leading PowerPact's Cause Marketing Practice. Provided strategic counsel for CNN, Land O'Lakes, Motts, NBC, P&G, Sanofi-Aventis, and General Mills. Non-profit clients included American Diabetes Association, America on the Move, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, March of Dimes, Moffitt Cancer Center, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Vital Voices.

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  Lifeminders Inc.

  • Herndon, Virginia

  • Vice President, Marketing

    • 1999 - 2001
    • Herndon, Virginia

    Lifeminders, a publicly traded company, provided personalized e-newsletters to tens of millions of opt-in subscribers. Oversaw advertising, public relations and investor relations. Member of senior management team.

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  RDR Publishing

  • Boston, MA

  • Founder

    • 1995 - 1998
    • Boston, MA

    Founder of newsletter publishing firm that specialized in producing customized newsletters for sporting goods manufacturers to communicate with retailers.

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  Cone, Inc.

  • Boston, MA

  • Director

    • 1993 - 1998
    • Boston, MA

    Account Director (promoted through Account Executive, Senior Account Executive, and Account Manager). Led and supported teams in Consumer, Interactive, Active Lifestyle Groups. Initial member of Cone’s Cause-Related Marketing (CRM) Group, which is nationally recognized as a pioneer in CRM strategy. Developed comprehensive marketing, communications, branding and identity plans, and oversaw implementation for consumer product and service companies.Clients included, Home Depot, Timberland, Mattel, Family Education Network, etc.