Melissa Merz

**** * **** ******

Arlington, VA **202

202-***-****

adxnrg@r.postjobfree.com

Experienced manager

Experienced public affairs, media relations and crisis communications professional

International, national, and regional media experience

Professional Highlights:

Served for more than two decades as a chief spokesperson for senior Members of the U.S. Congress, high- ranking state officials and other organizations, including:

oSeven years with U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) and one year with U.S. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR)

oFour years with Attorney General Lisa Madigan (D-IL)

oPublic relations firms, think tanks and trade association experience

Developed daily and long-term strategic and tactical messages channeled through targeted media relationships, speaking opportunities and third-party validators.

Launched comprehensive strategic social media campaigns to attract new audiences and influence consumers.

Managed, supervised, and evaluated subordinate communications managers in both the public and private sectors; responsible for leading teams as large as 20+ personnel

Led communications efforts across media in support of topics such as international relations, public and industry information campaigns, health care initiatives, justice programs, industry-specific objectives, and customer/voter campaigns.

Experience:

Deputy Protocol Officer, 100th Air Refueling Wing and Royal Air Force Station Mildenhall RAF Mildenhall, Suffolk, United Kingdom (Jan 2019- May 2019)

Responsible for distinguished visitors from the United States government to the United Kingdom, via RAF Mildenhall

Organized and sponsored visits of US Congressional Delegations to the United Kingdom related to the United States Air Force, as well as Priority 1 (POTUS and SECDEF) visits to the USAF in the UK

Supported the overall wartime mission of the 100th Air Refueling Wing, RAF Mildenhall, and US Air Forces Europe

Dingo Communications (January 2011 - February 2016) Independent Communications Consultant

Provided executive-level editorial/media outreach/public affairs strategic counsel to clients, including 463 Communications, the Future of Privacy Forum and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

Conducted top-to-bottom reviews of communications assets for clients and provided strategic steps for improvements that created a positive impact on reputation and return on investment.

Developed rapid response systems that included creating messages, writing talking points, op-eds, executive briefings, narratives and other collateral materials.

Prepared, planned and implemented internal and external communications strategies for customers and organizations

Trained communications staff(s) for the DC government and private corporations

Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc.

Consultant; Vice President, Communications & Marketing (February 2011 – November 2011) Independent Consultant (February 2011 - May 2011)

Led and mentored five-person Communications Department as a senior adviser to the president.

Initiated and implemented comprehensive overhaul of the Communications Department to build a solid, effective and accessible communications infrastructure.

Developed and launched media campaign of “bedrock” facts and messaging to promote positive, factual story- telling to win more positive portrayal of the industry.

Evaluated and trained subordinate communications managers across the industry

Prepared and reviewed a wide variety of written materials in support of ISRI’s strategic communication plan

Podesta Group, Washington, DC (February 2010 – December 2010) Principal

Helped build communications plans to support a variety of major corporations in the defense, energy and environmental industries.

Implemented media campaigns to further client objectives in commercial and not-for-profit sectors.

Collaborated with academia, think tanks and others to drive messaging using both traditional and new media (social media such as Twitter, Facebook, etc.) methods

Coordinated and managed logistics for internal and external events, guest speakers, and presentations

NDN, Washington, DC (2008 – 2009) Vice President, Communications

Directed all media operations, including special events such as policy forums, press briefings and book toursfor NDN-affiliated authors.

Developed and executed communications campaigns promoting organization’s president and partnered with other think tanks to heighten profile of papers, press releases and events.

Worked with both national and international media organizations to push stories and interviews for the organization’s mission.

Evaluated, mentored, and led subordinate communications personnel specialized in specific media markets, such as Latinx and African-American media.

Wrote and edited senior level correspondence for the organization to US and International governmental leaders, other think tanks, and lobbying groups

Office of the Attorney General, the Hon. Linda Singer, District of Columbia, Washington, DC (2007 – 2008) Communications Director & Legislative Liaison

Directed and managed all media operations for the legal office of the DC government.

Evaluated and managed a communications office responsible for public engagement and media placement.

Rapidly adjusted plans, actions and goals in response to daily issues

U.S. Senate, Office of the Hon. Ron Wyden (D-OR), Washington, DC (2006 – 2007) Communications Director

Directed and managed all press operations of the Washington office of Sen. Wyden and worked closely with state spokesperson.

Played crucial role in the initial stages of Sen. Wyden’s bipartisan health care agenda, to include national and international media focus, in both traditional and new media venues.

Led, mentored, and evaluated subordinate communications personnel within the Senator’s office.

Office of the Attorney General, the Hon. Lisa Madigan, State of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois (2003 - 2006) Press Secretary

Directed and managed four employees and all media operations for the Office of the Attorney General of Illinois, which employed more than 500 lawyers and staff, to include counselling, personnel management issues, and mentoring.

Prepared Attorney General for all media events, including press conferences, press teleconferences, press fly- arounds, media interviews and background briefings.

Helped formulate and promote unique, creative agenda and issue advocacy to define and distinguish Illinois’ first female Attorney General.

Wrote and issued more than one thousand news releases.

Citizens for Lisa Madigan, Chicago, Illinois (2002 - 2003) Communications Director

Served as chief spokesperson and strategist for then-State Sen. Lisa Madigan’s hard-fought, successful campaign for the Office of Illinois Attorney General.

Worked with policy staff, media consultants and others to develop candidate’s issues platform.

U.S. Senate, Office of the Honorable Dick Durbin (D-IL), Washington, DC (1995 – 2002) Communications Director/Press Secretary

Directed and managed all press operations of the office of Sen. Durbin, including his service as a member of the

U.S. Senate Democratic leadership and assignment to key committees.

Led and managed a very active communications team; this included evaluation and counseling of subordinates and personnel management.

Elected the youngest President of the House Press Secretary’s Association in its history.

Developed aggressive and proactive outreach strategy while working for Durbin both in the House and Senate, including writing hundreds of press releases, setting up thousands of media interviews by reaching out to reporters and oversaw the content and release of hundreds of radio and satellite feeds.

Education (1985 – 1989):

B.S. Journalism Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois.

Language(s):

English (native speaker)

French (excellent reading and working speaking knowledge; four years of university courses in the field)

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