Public Relations, Media Relations, Communications
Resume:
Chelsea L. Whittington
*** ******* ****** ****, ** 46402
**********@*****.***
Objective
Savvy, experienced public relations and communications professional with extensive media contacts, social media expertise and proven media placement seeks challenging, impactful leadership position focused on media relations, internal/external communications
Experience
Public/Media Relations and Communications Plan Development, Crisis Communication, Social Media Strategist, Speech/Script Writing, Public Speaking, PR Agency Counsel and Project Management, Team Supervision, Event Planning, Desktop Publishing
Employment History
January 2012 – July 2015 Director of Communications, City of Gary, Indiana
-Established internal/external communications plans for the City
-Secured hundreds of positive media placements annually
-Developed successful Social Media Program and e-newsletter
-Orchestrated all city media/special events
-Served as key spokesperson for the City
-Supervised and developed content for Public Access TV Channels September 2009 – January 2012 Communications Manager, U.S. Cellular Corporation, Chicago, IL
-Developed effective brand and product messaging to impact sales
-Counseled 10 PR agencies on campaign development for the company
-Crafted messaging and speeches for company executives
-Built strong relationships and secured national / trade media placements December 2005 – September 2009 Corp. Communications Manager, Johnson Publishing Co. Chicago, IL
-Pitched/secured media on behalf of Ebony & JET magazines
-Organized promotional events in support of all company brands
-Served as key spokesperson for the company
-Drafted messaging and orchestrated media campaigns for all brands July 2005 – November 2005 Marketing Manager, Trump & Casino Hotel, Gary, IN May 2004 - Present Instructor, Public Relations / Event Planning / Social Networking Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN
April 2002 – July 2005 Public Relations Director, Gary Community School Corp., Gary, IN January 2000 – December 2005 Adjunct Instructor, Desktop Publishing Valparaiso University, Valparaiso, IN
July 2000 - April 2002 Manager of Internal Communications Horseshoe Casino Hammond, Hammond, IN
September 1995 - July 2000 Director of Marketing and Communications Lake Area United Way, Griffith, IN
Education Master of Arts, Organizational Communication Purdue University, Hammond, Indiana
May 1996; Summa Cum Laude
Bachelor of Arts, Broadcast Journalism
Howard University, Washington, D.C.
May 1994; Magna Cum Laude
Skills Proficient with Macintosh and IBM Operating Systems Excellent oral and written communication skills (Moderate Spanish) Strong Desktop Publishing Skills, Event planning, photography, Speech writing, voiceover, social media
Chelsea L. Whittington
Career Profile
Public Relations
From January 2012 – August 2015, I served in the administration of Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson, the City of Gary’s first female mayor and the State of Indiana’s first female African-American mayor. As Director of Communications, I oversaw media relations, crisis communications, social media development/contents, special events, branding and marketing for the city of more than 90,000 residents. In May of 2013, I was voted “Most Influential Woman of Northwest Indiana in Media & Marketing.” My position as Communications Manager at U.S. Cellular Corporation required me to counsel 10 PR agencies nationwide on behalf of the nation’s 6th largest wireless carrier. In addition to developing media materials and strategic communications plans, I crafted speeches and statements on behalf of the CEO and executive leadership team. Building strong relationships with local, national and trade media is also a critical component of my role. Previously, as Corporate Communications Manager at Johnson Publishing Company, I served as a key spokesperson while successfully pitching media placements on a variety of local and syndicated television and radio stations, print and websites. I promoted EBONY and JET magazines, Ebonyjet.com, Fashion Fair Cosmetics, Ebony-Jet Entertainment Group and the Ebony Fashion Fair. I also conducted media trainings for the editorial team members to ensure successful, savvy on-air interviews on behalf of each publication and company subsidiaries. Writing
As a communications professional, strong writing skills are essential. My portfolio includes several writing samples including news articles and press releases. In 1994, I completed a thesis at Howard University entitled “Cracking the Glass Ceiling: African-American Women in Broadcast Management”. It was published and is currently housed in the Moorland Spingarn Library on the campus of Howard. I am highly skilled in the following writing styles:
AP News Style
Broadcast Style
Script Writing
Speech Writing
Poetry
Graphic Design
Graphic design is another one of my strengths. For two years, I worked as a graphic artist for The Times newspaper in Munster, IN. From January 2000 through December 2005, I served as a part-time desktop publishing instructor at Valparaiso University. I am proficient in a variety of design software including Quark Xpress, Photoshop, Microsoft Publisher, Illustrator and others. At my current place of employment, I am familiar with all of the desktop publishing software in current use and lay out the city’s flyers, ads, e-newsletters and other publications as needed. My portfolio includes examples of award-winning brochures, newsletters, annual reports and other publications. I have established working relationships with more than a dozen printers in the Chicagoland area and fully understand both the print process and terminology.
Event Planning
Since the spring of 2004, I have been teaching Special Event planning and Public Relations and most recently Social Networking courses at Indiana University Northwest. For more than 20 years, I have been responsible for coordinating a variety of special events with tasks including media relations, booking guest speakers, designing invitations, menu selection, advertising, motif, etc.
The following is a list of examples:
Gary Air Show, 2015
City of Gary, Mayor’s State of City Address, 2015 - 2012
Bill Signing with Indiana Governor Mike Pence, 2013
City of Gary Special Events (Parades, Dedications, Award Presentations, etc.)
High School Class Reunions 2010, 2015
EBONY Sisterspeak Luncheon 2009, 2008, 2007
EBONY Pre-Oscar Party 2007, 2008
EBONY’s Outstanding Women and Marketing and Communications Luncheon, 2006, 2007, 2008
Taste of EBONY Culinary Event, October 2006, 2007
Win a date with an EBONY Bachelor 2006, 2007
Fashion Fair College Makeover Tour 2006, 2007
References for Chelsea L. Whittington
Karen Freeman-Wilson
Mayor
City of Gary, Indiana
**************@**.****.**.**
Ami Reese
Multi-Media/Graphic Arts Entrepreneur
*******@***.***
Carol Brown
University of Chicago, Harris School of Public Policy 312-***-****
**********@********.***
Kellie Szabo
U.S. Cellular Corporation
******.*****@**********.***
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