Michelle Guglielmo Gilliam
407.917.1177 * Email Me
Career Profile
Communications professional experienced in all aspects of public relations, media relations, social media, promotions, content marketing, branding, email marketing, direct mail and event management. Experienced public speaker skilled in networking, budgeting and development of innovative PR and marketing campaigns.
Achievements
- Ensured best possible return on investment for client PR and marketing projects
- Raised client social media fan and follower counts by 80%
- Developed e-blast and social media campaigns driving additional sales
- Created compelling website copy and downloads to attract prospects, nurture leads and convert them into customers
- Increased attendance at special events by introducing unique PR and marketing strategies
- Increased value of special event auctions by 20%
- Managed team that raised vendor participation in events by 100%
- Decreased special event marketing budgets while maintaining attendance
- Assured local government and celebrity attendance at special events
- Developed innovative public relations campaigns resulting in increased media coverage and sales
- Introduced social media video-production services to agency clients
- Raised awareness of client brands and events through social media campaigns
- Produced large-scale military trade shows with record number of high-ranking speakers
Expertise
- Producing compelling content to attract prospects, nurture leads and convert customers
- Creating social media and e-blast campaigns to drive dollars and donations
- Developing and maintaining relationships with key members of the media and influencers
- Effectively and efficiently distributing press releases to targeted media sources
- Establishing follow-up campaigns to ensure thorough press coverage
- Producing special events designed to raise awareness, sales and donations
- Motivating and managing sales, marketing and production teams
- Consistently meeting rigorous deadlines on budget
- Ensuring best possible ROI on marketing and PR campaigns
Experience
President, Point Taken Communications, Jacksonville, Fla., 2009 – present
Manage all aspects of marketing and communications for corporations, mid-size businesses, small businesses and nonprofit organizations * Develop comprehensive marketing communications plans to manage all promotions, community and media relations efforts * Create strategic messaging to reinforce comprehensive plans * Oversee all marketing and public relations strategies while implementing tactics to support business goals * Establish editorial calendars and design websites to ensure consistent messaging across all marketing channels * Write compelling copy for press releases, e-blasts, newsletters, websites and social media * Design websites to drive leads * Produce small and large-scale events to raise brand awareness * Develop and maintain relationships with key members of the media * Leverage media buys for added value opportunities * Act as spokesperson for businesses and nonprofit organizations
Senior Manager of Public Relations and Special Events, Jacksonville Humane Society, Jacksonville, Fla., 2009 – 2013
Managed non-profit organization’s public relations, special events and development departments * Oversaw team of special events professionals producing three major fundraisers annually * Managed development department budgets * Leveraged relationships with corporate partners to increase donations and reduce costs * Served as organization spokesperson on three weekly television appearances * Recruited and managed special event committee members * Managed special event volunteer communications * Wrote persuasive pitches and press releases to secure coverage in both traditional and social media * Cultivated relationships with journalists and bloggers * Developed content for social media sites * Created and updated organization’s media policy * Trained board members for media appearances * Crafted position statements
Account Supervisor, Burdette Ketchum, Jacksonville, Fla., 2007 to 2009
Developed public relations plans that outline strategies and tactics to achieve PR goals * Created public relations campaigns to support sales goals, marketing campaigns and brand guidelines * Wrote, edited and distributed press releases to targeted media outlets * Developed and maintained relationships with local and national journalists * Created media policies for clients * Managed crisis communications * Analyzed success of PR campaigns * Wrote, edited and presented new business proposals * Developed and managed budgets for marcom and PR projects * Oversaw production of marcom materials to support PR campaigns. Promoted from senior account executive (Dec. 2008)
Public Relations Manager, Amelia Island Plantation, Amelia Island, Fla., 2006-2007
Developed public relations campaigns * Oversaw out-of-house public relations firm * Wrote, edited and distributed press releases to local, national and international media * Developed relationships with national and international media outlets * Promoted company via package creation and management * Served as liaison to the community and press * Produced, edited and published podcasts * Wrote and generated speeches and presentations * Created innovative copy for Web site * Oversaw member communications * Implemented social media campaigns * Supervised press tours * Analyzed success of public relations campaigns
Executive Conference Producer, Institute for Defense and Government Advancement (IDGA), New York, N.Y., 2004-2006
Increased revenue by more than $1.3 million for IDGA* Managed production, marketing and sales teams to produce conferences for the military / defense industry * Maintained profit and loss responsibility for portfolio of events * Consistently secured repeat vendor business from conference to conference * Steadily increased conference attendance by 25 percent * Researched and developed unique conference and session topics * Recruited military and civilian leaders as speakers * Networked with high-level DoD personnel and vendors * Oversaw content of conference, website and marketing materials * Wrote and edited dynamic copy for promotional brochures * Supervised on-site conference personnel * Produced and executed awards ceremony for a large-scale military event
Producer, “The People’s Court,” New York, N.Y., 2000-2004
Managed show tape days while preparing litigants for program * Oversaw production personnel, crew and assistants * Organized production schedule and guided guests through taping * Cold called and interviewed litigants * Analyzed content of cases for air * Booked guests * Wrote and edited synopses of claims for production crew * Proofread and edited scripts for air * Promoted from assistant producer (May 2001) and associate producer (May 2002)
Television News Experience:
General Assignment Reporter, Substitute Anchor, BRC TV-13, Stroudsburg, Pa., 1999-2000
Associate Producer, News 12 New Jersey, Edison, N.J., 1998-1999
Staff Writer, WSVN-TV/ FOX 7, Miami, Fla., 1997-1998
Education
Villanova University – Villanova, Pa. * B.A. Communications / Minor in Spanish
La Universidad de Sevilla – Sevilla, Spain * Study abroad program through The Council on International Educational Exchange
Amerispan Language Study Program – Buenos Aires, Argentina * One-week abroad language and culture study program (April 2004)
CONVERSATIONAL IN SPANISH / PROFICIENT IN AP STYLE
Additional Writing Experience: Manuscripts published May 2009 in Jacksonville Magazine, Nov. / Dec. 2008 in 904 magazine, April 2002 in Skirt! Magazine
Knowledge of SharpSpring, MailChimp, Constant Contact, DonorPerfect, ACT! database software, Sitefinity & Sensei CMS, WordPress, FirstGiving, Eventbrite, PC & Mac operating systems, Microsoft Office suite, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Dreamweaver
Awards & Recognition
Jacksonville Business Journal Women of Influence Honoree 2023
Pet Age Women of Influence 2018
Speaker, Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida Nonprofit Works Annual Conference 2019
Mentor, Jacksonville Business Journal Mentoring Monday 2020
Jim Moran Institute for Global Entrepreneurship Small Business Executive Program Participant, 2020
Membership
North Florida School of Special Education, Vice President
Nonprofit Center of Northeast Florida, Business Partner
First Coast Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Member
Springfield Mommies Group, Former President
Springfield Animal Care & Rescue Club, Former Marketing Director
Sustainable Springfield, Former Advisory Board Member
Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council Inc., Member
Northeast Florida Builders Association Sales and Marketing Council, 2009 Public Relations Director
Featured In:
Michelle Gilliam: Exhibiting Proficient Leadership In Media And Information Management
Yes, You Do Need A Communications Plan!
Point Taken President Featured In Native Society
Point Taken President Honored As Woman Of Influence By Pet Age Magazine