Melanie Thompson

Current

Account Executive at KGBTexas Public Relations / Advertising

Past

Community Relations Coordinator at Texsan Heart Hospital
Marketing Coordinator at Home Court America
Sports Editor at Daily Texan

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Education

The University of Texas at Austin

Recommended

1 person has recommended Melanie

Connections

64 connections

Industry

Public Relations and Communications

Websites

Melanie Thompson’s Summary

Seasoned public relations and marketing professional with experience in a variety of industries, including health care, construction, IT and advertising. Skilled facilitator in strategic planning, media relations and event management. Recognized for strong writing and editing capabilities for publications, press releases, bylines and Web copy.

Melanie Thompson’s Specialties:

• Writing / editing
• Media relations
• New business proposals
• Publication management
• Event management
• Project management
• Team organization

Melanie Thompson’s Experience

Account Executive

KGBTexas Public Relations / Advertising

(Public Relations and Communications industry)

March 2007 — Present (2 years 9 months)

• Public relations account executive for national and local accounts.
• Oversee strategic planning and media pitches for accounts, including push for online coverage through blog relations and social media techniques.
• Publication manager for a 40-plus paged employee publication and for a 12-page internal newsletter. Role includes story calendar development, assigning stories, managing a five-person writing team, coordinating freelancer efforts, coordinating photography and editing stories and publication.
• Conduct executive media training and staff interviews, write news releases and author bylined articles.
• Assist with agency's business development, including searching for relevant RFPs, organizing proposals and working with agency's managment team to write strategic proposals to earn the company new business.
• Serve as agency's editor -- edit RFPs for new business activities, co-workers press releases and byline articles.
• Conceptualize and spearhead strategic partnerships between clients to maximize KGBTexas' impact on their business.
• Coordinate with advertising and marketing colleagues for cross-agency projects.
Community Relations Coordinator

Texsan Heart Hospital

(Public Relations and Communications industry)

July 2006 — March 2007 (9 months)

• Devise marketing strategies that bring new clientele to the hospital.
• Write copy for brochures, newspaper and radio advertisements and direct mail pieces.
• Work with local design company and printers to coordinate production of marketing pieces.
• Successfully pitched story ideas to local television stations including WOAI, KENS 5 and KSAT 12.
• Head the Texsan Heart Group, a 15-person panel of employees that discusess improvements to the hospital and plans employee events.
• Coordinate community events including quarterly-held Her Heart educational program, which promotes knowledge of the prevalence of heart disease in women.
• Responsible for success of concierge staff including hiring, scheduling and annual reviews.
Marketing Coordinator

Home Court America

(Marketing and Advertising industry)

August 2005 — July 2006 (1 year )

• Plan, design, implement and track marketing efforts, including in-house flyers, brochures, Web advertisements, magazine ad campaigns and direct-marketing pieces.
• Responsible for creating daily guest traffic to drive membership numbers and club revenue.
• Maintain communication between departments to improve service given to guests and members.
• Coordinate and run tournaments, leagues, camp fairs and court rentals.
• Work within constraints of a budget to maximize marketing efforts and promotions.
• Create, develop, sell and maintain sponsorship packages to allow local businesses to advertise in the facility.
Sports Editor

Daily Texan

(Public Relations and Communications industry)

January 2002 — May 2005 (3 years 5 months)

• Organize, design and develop special sections of the newspaper including advertising supplements.
• Act as liaison between the editorial and advertising staffs.
• Lead weekly sports staff meetings to discuss story ideas and critique the paper.
• Work with writers to develop their writing skills and edit stories.
• Honorable mention award from Southwest Journalism Congress for best magazine / special section.