Janna McMahan

*** **** **** ****** *******, NC 27601 acvv8b@r.postjobfree.com 803-***-****

CAREER OBJECTIVES:

I am a senior communications professional with a twenty-year history working with a remarkable variety of nonprofit, academic, entrepreneurial and corporate clients. My diverse career enables me to rapidly learn the intricacies of any industry and network to make the professional connections necessary for success. I specialize in reputation management and thought leadership, developing messaging, branding, content and communications plans that result in impact and consistency across platforms. Whether crisis communications, media relations or product launches, I create strong business narratives that build positive awareness and protect the reputation of clients.

CAREER EXPERIENCE:

Director of Marketing and Communications 5/11-8/15

SC Small Business Development Centers, a federal economic development program

Darla Moore School of Business, University of South Carolina

Rebranded 21-center network under umbrella brand increasing awareness of statewide program and eliminating silos within the network (received commendation from the Association of Small Business Development Centers)

Created and managed network marketing driving consistent brand strength including content management, website, social media, event management, promotional videos, annual report, quarterly newsletter and collateral materials such as brochures and promotional products

Developed and executed business media and public relations strategies including interviewing, researching and writing news releases and feature stories that grew coverage and understanding of the SBDC network

Managed media inquiries and speaking requests for state director and collaborated to write speeches and talking points

Trained staff on effective ways to communicate with the media/presented media relations talk at national association meeting

Wrote business narratives and success stories for clients in manufacturing, importing/exporting, government procurement and technology commercialization

Developed and introduced the network’s crisis communications plan

Resolved client problems and mitigated negative impact on network image

Developed messaging for the South Carolina Legislature and other stakeholders that helped to uphold funding for the network during budget cuts

Raised funds for annual internal SBDC conference meeting or exceeding goals

Built an internal staff site to increase communication with employees and assist them in transitioning to the new brand

Head Writer/Public and Media Relations Director 4/06 – 5/11

Post No Bills, a creative agency, Charleston, SC

Served as an account executive for new business development (B2B and B2C) providing non-conventional approaches to brand awareness opportunities

Collaborated with creative department as a writer to devise and implement advertising, packaging, gifting, promotional campaigns and product launches

Wrote creative briefs, marketing plans, op-eds, copy, messaging, taglines, captions, video scripts, brochures, packaging and online content

Provided media and public relations services including coaching for media interviews, public awareness campaigns and crisis management, as well as conducting interviews, researching and writing news releases, articles and feature stories for both the agency and clients

Clients include the US Olympic Committee, DreamWorks Animation, AMC, Turner Networks, South Carolina Hospital Association, 2008 Presidential Primary Debates in the City of Columbia, Emmis Interactive Communications, Colonial Life Insurance and South Carolina Department of Commerce

Freelance Writer/Media Relations Specialist 1996 – present

Provided a full range of public and media relations services including business narrative, content creation and brand management for clients such as lending institutions, national parks, nonprofits, municipal public events, university events, startups, small businesses and professional associations

Contributing writer to numerous regional and national newspapers and magazines

Director 4/94 – 8/96

Southeastern Art & Craft Exposition, Columbia, SC

A fundraising project of The Columbia Museum of Art

Managed a $100,000 budget, as well as all legal, security and personnel aspects of this three-day public event

Traveled the country to entice high-quality artists to apply to the show

Worked with a board of art experts to select the top applicants as artist vendors

Created and managed all public, media relations and marketing of event

Conducted exit interviews on attendance to study market driving positive change for subsequent years

Director of Public Relations and Marketing 5/90 – 7/95

Columbia Museum of Art and Gibbes Planetarium, Columbia, SC

Served as primary media spokesperson for the art museum and planetarium

Created and managed overall institutional marketing including securing hundreds of thousands of dollars in media sponsorship of exhibitions and shows

Managed all media and public relations including writing news releases and creating elaborate press kits for museum exhibitions

Crafted messaging for capital campaign for new museum location

Assistant Director of Marketing 3/89 – 4/90

Charter Rivers Hospital, Columbia SC

Created and managed marketing for four psychiatric counseling centers connected with the main hospital

Managed speakers bureau for hospital network

Promoted community outreach programming for the hospital network

Assisted in creation of institutional marketing for the hospital network

EDUCATION:

Master of Mass Communication May 1994

University of South Carolina

Thesis: Interrelationships Among Components of Audience Activity: Selectivity, Involvement and Utility, 1994. A study of media consumption by museum audiences. Selected for use as undergraduate study material at USC. Presented at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Conference, Atlanta, 1994.

Bachelor of Mass Communication May 1986

University of Kentucky

AFFILIATIONS: Public Relations Society of America

Contact this candidate