Experience

Agency Abron

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Jun 2015 - Present

  • Serve as the primary media contact for clients• Develop the public relations plan for clients and their various campaigns • Assist in developing and implementing executive visibility initiatives• Develop company press materials such as press releases, media alerts, pitch letters and talking points • Cultivate strong relationships with the local and national media to secure positive coverage in media outlets ranging from blogs, newspapers, magazines and broadcast networks • Generate story ideas and provide information to media with intent to create, support or enhance stories• Manage company events as needed, in addition to providing assistance in the planning and development



Nielsen

• United States
• IT Services and IT Consulting
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Director of Communications, Strategic Community Alliance and Consumer Engagement

  • Jan 2015 - Jun 2015

  • Gained 123 million new media impressions for Nielsen campaigns within three months• Advised senior management and provided recommendations for promoting Nielsen’s multicultural insights to diverse audiences• Directed three multicultural public relations agencies in developing effective internal and external multicultural communications strategies; responsible for 50% of all communications within the multicultural department and 25% of all Nielsen global communications • Arranged 22 new thought leadership opportunities with audiences within Fortune 500, schools and municipalities; achieved more than 50% the annual department goal within one quarter• Fostered ten relationships with multi-cultural community organizations and the media to increase awareness of Nielsen’s commitment to corporate citizenship and diversity through the sponsorship of events, speaking engagements, social media presence and ad placements• Curated all communications collateral, such as talking points, program ads and social media posts• Promoted awareness of activities, sponsorships and success stories of the only internal department responsible for multicultural outreach throughout Nielsen’s 34,000 employees on a monthly basis• Produced multicultural heritage videos promoting diverse cultures and Nielsen insights; increased YouTube video views 93.9% by leveraging the networks of Nielsen’s organizational partnerships



Johnson Publishing Company

• United States
• Personal Care Product Manufacturing
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Media & Communications Manager

  • Jun 2013 - Jan 2015

  • Developed the public relations strategy and plan for the overall company and various campaigns and grew media impressions to more than 1 billion over a one-year period, an increase of more than 35% • Presented communications recommendations and feedback to the company’s CEO, COO and Chairman• Cultivated strong local and national media relations as the primary media contact, which generated positive media coverage for the company and its brands in media outlets ranging from blogs, newspapers, magazines and broadcast networks (i.e. ABC, NBC, CBS, NPR, BBC, MSNBC Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, The New York Times, USA Today, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, MadameNorie.com, WWD, BET.com, Chicago Sun-Times, Folio.com, Advertising Age and Rolling Out)• Managed all company events for up to 500 attendees; supported event planning and development• Developed company press materials including press releases, media alerts, pitch letters and talking points for the overall company and its business units to announce new products, business initiatives, events and new executive hires; coordinated media interviews with the company's executives and staff members



Hill & Knowlton

• Public Relations and Communications Services

• Account Executive

  • Apr 2007 - May 2013

  Account Executive (2010 – 2013), Assistant Account Executive (2008 – 2010), Intern, Public Affairs (2007 – 2008)Key clients: Aflac, Illinois Lottery, Chicago 2016, Exelon/ComEd, Pringles, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology, the American Optometric Association and the Chicago High School for the ArtsAwards: PRSA 2013 Chicago Skyline Award of Excellence for the Aflac Workforces Report Campaign• Conducted media outreach and maintained a proven successful track record of coverage for clients on the public affairs, corporate and consumer roster with secured placements in outlets such as Chicago Tribune, AOL Jobs, The Washington Post, Newsday, The Sacramento Bee and The Kansas City Star• Organized and implemented client media events including press conferences, broadcast segments and interviews with major media outlets, and speaking engagements and promotional events for several thousand attendees• Arranged deskside meetings with secured interests from outlets such as Katie, The Wall Street Journal, Self, and The Huffington Post• Identified and coordinated spokespeople for client campaigns, from the vetting process and negotiation, through implementation of work• Developed media schedules and served as a handler for client spokespeople, with past experience as the handler for Scottie Pippen; coordinated his media appearances on WLS-TV, WBBM-TV, WFLD-TV, WMAQ-TV, The Tom Joyner Morning Show, Power 92 and The Mix Morning Radio Show• Assisted in managing interns, assistant account executives, and junior-level account executives• Frequently selected to participate in brainstorms and sought out to offer creative and strategic insight to new client pitches and project recommendations for current clients• Developed and managed client’s Facebook page; increased page fans by 98%, page visits by 105%, and engagement by 121%



Young & Powerful

• Netherlands
• Professional Training and Coaching

• Chair

  • Apr 2012 - Jan 2013

  • Coordinated grassroots efforts within the Chicagoland area for the Obama 2012 presidential campaign; organized events for 50-300 attendees, including debate viewing parties, voter registration drives, canvassing and phone banking• Leveraged relationships with individuals and organizations to raise more than $16,000 in campaign funds for Obama's re-election • Planned and orchestrated an Obama campaign fundraising event for 250 guests raising $16K from a target audience of young professionals with moderate incomes; event honored Chicago area "Rising Stars”, young professionals making a difference in the community• Implemented media relations tactics to gain media visibility around the organization's initiatives and events• Organized and implemented an inauguration celebration event for >300 people in both Washington D.C and Chicago• Encouraged political engagement and advocacy involvement amongst young professionals through partnerships with organizations such as Chicago Urban League’s Metroboard, 100 Black Men of Chicago and various African-American fraternities and sororities; boosted event attendance by 50%



Weber Shandwick

• United States
• Public Relations and Communications Services
• 700 & Above Employee

• Consumer Public Relations Intern

  • Oct 2006 - Feb 2007

  Clients: Kraft South Beach Diet products, Campbell’s V8 and the Got Milk? campaign• Scanned media outlets to identify client-relevant media coverage and prepared clip reports and summaries as needed by teams and client• Researched and coordinated vendors for client events• Conducted media outreach for client coverage for Kraft’s South Beach Diet food line and Campbell’s V8, and secured coverage in Better Homes & Gardens for Campbell’s V8• Developed and maintained media contact lists



Ch'rewd Marketing and Promotions

• Account Executive

  • Jul 2005 - Sep 2006

  Clients: Nike, Def Jam, Hidden Beach Recordings, Virgin Records, Interscope Records, Reebok and Mercedes Benz• Prepared and distributed monthly client activity reports and recaps• Managed field-marketing representatives on daily and special projects• Managed clients on the company roster and served as a day-to-day contact• Implemented marketing tactics through grassroots initiatives• Served as a liaison between staff members, senior management, and clients• Assisted senior staff and project managers with daily administrative tasks



Slang Music Group

• Musicians
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Assistant

  • 2004 - 2005



Atlantic Records

• Musicians
• 700 & Above Employee

• Urban College Marketing Representative

  • Jun 2002 - Dec 2004

  • Marketed and promoted Atlantic Records urban artists on local college campuses• Created, developed, and executed the college marketing plan at the local level• Developed and maintained relationships with local college media• Coordinated campus events to increase awareness of Atlantic Records artists and brand • Prepared monthly reports, event proposals and recaps • Marketed and promoted Atlantic Records urban artists on local college campuses• Created, developed, and executed the college marketing plan at the local level• Developed and maintained relationships with local college media• Coordinated campus events to increase awareness of Atlantic Records artists and brand • Prepared monthly reports, event proposals and recaps



ABJ Community Services

• Civic and Social Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Volunteer

  • 2004 - 2004

  -Mentored and tutored children in the after school program-Taught tap dance to the children in the after in the after school program-Assisted program associates where necessary -Mentored and tutored children in the after school program-Taught tap dance to the children in the after in the after school program-Assisted program associates where necessary



Hidden Beach Recording

• Marketing Representative

  • 2002 - 2004