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