Sonia (Crites) Coleman

Current

• Owner at Coleman Unlimited LLC
• Digital Media Manager at NeuConcept Productions Inc.
• Freelance Writer at Various Publications

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Past

• Director of Public Relations at National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)
• Director of Marketing & Communications at National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)
• Development Assistant/Radio Coordinator at AMG International

• Public Relations Writer/Publication Editor at Culver-Stockton College

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1 more...

Education

• Lindenwood University
• Culver-Stockton College

Recommended

4 people have recommended Sonia (Crites)

Connections

200 connections

Industry

Public Relations and Communications

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Summary

Fourteen years experience in public relations, writing, marketing/communications, volunteer management, and publications. Creative and positive with ability to achieve results through both people and technology. Self-motivated, productive writer, manager, and strategic planner.

I also work with my husband's graphic design and website development company (NeuConcept Productions) as Digital Media Manager. I work with clients to develop the strategy and content for their websites.

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Specialties:

Associations, the electrical distribution industry, writing, editing, video producer, Web site content, press releases, magazine editor, project manager, speech writer, presentation creation, volunteer management, executive communication coaching, communication management, implementing technology to be more efficient.

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Experience

• Owner

  Coleman Unlimited LLC

  (Public Relations and Communications industry)

  April 2008 — Present (1 year 8 months)

  Coleman Unlimited helps companies become more successful by delivering high-quality writing, communications, marketing and public relations. Our precision strategy helps organizations communicate clear messages that cut through the clutter and achieve results.
  
  We specialize in associations and the electrical distribution channel.
  
  Offering:
  
  Articles
  Press Releases
  Project Management
  Speechwriting & Video
  Emails/Letters
  Strategy
  Marketing Copy
  White Papers
  Executive Summaries
  Consulting
  Executive Coaching
  Public Relations
  Newsletters
  Brochures
  Conference & Event Promotions
  Presentations
  Website Content & Design
  Graphic Design

• Digital Media Manager

  NeuConcept Productions Inc.

  (Graphic Design industry)

  March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)

  Serve as customer relations for this graphic design and website development company. In addition, I handle new business development, project management, and writing content for new websites as needed.

• Freelance Writer

  Various Publications

  (Privately Held; Myself Only; Writing and Editing industry)

  March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)

  Freelance writing and editing for various publications, associations, and companies.

• Director of Public Relations

  National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Non-Profit Organization Management industry)

  November 2003 — March 2008 (4 years 5 months)

  Oversee all NAED news and communications; serve as communications adviser for NAED Board Chair; manage media relations efforts; supervise multimedia content for four large conferences each year; conceptualize and produce videos; create and administrate department budget; oversee vendors and freelance writers.
  
  Special Accomplishments:
  • Created and launched NAED Newsline, a weekly e-newsletter read by 3,000 members.
  • Redesigned the NAED section in TED Magazine to include special features, news, a new member profile, and product updates.
  • Developed and launched a public relations program to improve the organization’s image and increase press coverage of association events, products, and services.
  • Doubled general session attendance through improved speeches, videos, and presentations.
  • Oversaw publicity efforts for endowment campaign that raised $6.4 million in 18 months.

• Director of Marketing & Communications

  National Association of Electrical Distributors (NAED)

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Wholesale industry)

  1999 — 2002 (3 years )

  Manage all marketing and communication efforts; write and provide creative direction for brochures and other promotional pieces; develop and oversee the NAED Web site; provide direction and support for member committees; develop general session content for conferences; serve as staff liaison to NAED Chairman of the Board; oversee department budget; hire, manage, and develop staff; oversee vendor relationships.
  
  Special Accomplishments:
  • Oversaw complete redesign of NAED Web site.
  • Initiated videos to improve member communication. Feedback was overwhelmingly positive; company now creates between seven and 11 videos each year.
  • Launched an industry internship program with endorsements from industry leaders.
  • Promoted from communications manager to director of department after one year of employment due to performance.

• Development Assistant/Radio Coordinator

  AMG International

  (Non-Profit; 11-50 employees; Religious Institutions industry)

  1998 — 1999 (1 year )

  Established media contacts and held press conferences; assisted in planning, organization, and on-site event management of fundraising banquets; wrote direct marketing letters, newsletter articles, radio promotions, and Web site copy; managed listener response research and media buying with 76 radio stations; improved production and financial support of the radio program.
  
  Special Accomplishments:
  • Assisted with planning, promotion, and management of an 800-person fundraising banquet.
  • Produced and wrote scripts for three promotional videos.
  • Created, implemented and maintained a records management system for the radio program.

• Public Relations Writer/Publication Editor

  Culver-Stockton College

  (Educational Institution; 51-200 employees; Higher Education industry)

  1994 — 1998 (4 years )

  Interviewed, researched, and wrote public relations stories on deadline; wrote admissions advertisements, brochure copy, and news releases; planned, organized, and edited a 160-page publication; led and coordinated bi-weekly publication staff meetings; coached writers; conducted all correspondence with publication publisher.
  
  Special Accomplishments:
  • Acted as primary writer for The Chronicle, C-SC’s quarterly alumni magazine.
  • Taught a two credit-hour publication practicum required for communication majors.
  • Received 13 individual national awards for writing or design.

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Education

• Lindenwood University

  Masters in Fine Arts , Writing , 2004 — 2009

• Culver-Stockton College

  1994 — 1998

Additional Information

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Interests:

reading, writing, crocheting, photography, new technology (my husband's hobby that I am enjoying!)

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Groups:

C-SC Network, PRSA St. Louis, ASAE, SLFC, PRSA, NAED

•    theCrossLinkNetwork
•    Culver-Stockton College Alumni Network
•    Christian Professionals Worldwide
•    A Solo Business - Solopreneurs And Business Owners
•    Public Relations Society of America (PRSA National)
•    Getting Things Done - GTD - SolutionPeople Innovation's Network of Action Innovators
•    Christian Business Leaders Network
•    ASAE & The Center for Association Leadership
•    Mid-MO Pros
•    Designers Talk
•    LinkedWorking St. Louis
•    Worldwide Independent Content Creators
•    Marketing & Communication Network
•    Advertising and Marketing Writers of St. Louis
•    Christian Writers & Authors
•    Electrical Wholesalers
•    National Federation of Press Women
•    PRSA-St. Louis
•    St. Louis Christians Business Networking Group
•    The Alexandria Brown Bag
•    Christian Art and Media Professionals
•    Missouri Networking - Chesterfield/St Charles/St Louis
•    St. Louis Small Business Monthly
•    UHY Advisors "Next Executives" St. Louis
•    St. Louis Networking Events Calendar
•    Video Marketing and Public Relations

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Honors:

2009 NFPW National Communicator Awards:
• First place in Magazine Section Editing – for my work on the NAED Direct section in TED Magazine.
• Second place in Writing for the Web – for the text I wrote for the Cutter’s Kitchens and Baths website.
• Honorable Mention in Special articles, Business – for articles I wrote for IMARK Marketfocus Magazine

Other awards:
• George A. Mahan Prize for Creative Writing, first place in Short Story.
• Guy Cooper Award for Poetry, second place.
• “Twain’s Battle with Copyright Law,” published in The Twainian.
• George A. Mahan Prize for Creative Writing, second place in Formal Essay.
• Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold Circle Awards: Total of 13 individual national awards in writing and design, including a sweep of the Personality Profile Section.

Sonia (Crites) Coleman’s Contact Settings

Interested In:

• career opportunities
• consulting offers
• new ventures
• job inquiries
• expertise requests
• reference requests
• getting back in touch