JAMES A. MERRITT

**** ******* ***., *********, ** 21215

ad1e70@r.postjobfree.com 443-***-****

A Public Relations and Community Engagement professional with more than two decades of experience in non-profit, human services, health care, public health and crisis communications management.

Highly skilled in: Writing, message development, outreach management, youth and adult training, and relationship building.

Professional Experience:

Byte Back Outreach and Engagement Manager 2019-Present

• Maintained enrollment in virtual classes during an unprecedented pandemic to educate and certify scholars in digital literacy, MOS and Comptia A+ and enrolled more than 200 people from 2020-2022.

• Created a grassroots outreach strategy that educated more than 75 students in basic digital literacy efforts and developed and implemented outreach strategies.

• Built a partner pipeline of more than 50 dedicated partners and established a central referral system to meet recruitment and admissions goals.

• Streamlined the admissions process to include 24-hour information sessions, assessments and class selection.

• Created a volunteer donor program to be implemented in 2023.

• Met monthly registration and admissions goals.

Parker Therapeutic Services Trainer 2014-2019

• Trained at risk youth in a variety of life skills including health and hygiene, anti- bullying, anger management, stress relief, academic counseling, independent living and communication skills.

• Created the youth training curriculum.

• Identified available resources to assist with the personal development of youth participants.

• Assisted mentors in developing action plans to assist youth participants.

• Documented trainings and prepared quantitative and qualitative reports as assigned.

Diamond Healthcare Outreach Manager 2008-2014

• Increased the monthly census to over 90% from under 50% on the psychiatric unit.

• Developed relationships with local healthcare facilities to funnel referrals to the in-patient unit.

• Developed the outreach plan to increase and maintain high census rates.

• Developed, advanced, executed and managed traditional communications strategies and outreach.

Living Legacy Foundation Community Relations Manager 2003- 2008

• Managed the community outreach efforts in 22 counties throughout Maryland for the organ procurement organization.

• Assisted with day-to-day management of PR, communications and content marketing strategies.

• Through targeted outreach, contributed to the increase in organ and tissue donation in Maryland.

• Created and implemented an outreach plan that executes the goals set forth by the Living Legacy Foundation's Board of Directors.

• Built alliances with healthcare organizations and civic groups that support the outreach goals of The Living Legacy Foundation.

• Expanded outreach efforts to a youth audience with creative programming centered on the issue of organ and tissue donation in the African American community.

Bon Secours Baltimore Health System Public Relations Manager 2000-2002

• Managed media outreach activities for 15 campuses of the $60 Million a year healthcare system.

• Drafted/edited press materials, media relations pitches and contributed articles.

• By managing a $100,000 budget, I increased media coverage for the healthcare system 50%

• Presented monthly outcome reports before the Board of Directors.

• Marketed physicians to target populations via advertising, public relations and community outreach activities.

Booz, Allen & Hamilton Senior Consultant 1999-2000

• Implemented a strategic plan for the closing of the U.S. Army's JACADS facility. The plan included a closing ceremony, national media outreach and coalition building.

• Planned outreach activities that introduced the U.S. Army to various communities throughout the country with community roundtables, public meetings and press conferences.

The Woodbourne Foundation Public Relations Manager 1997- 1999

• Managed public relations activities for eight campuses for the behavioral health system.

• Improved media coverage of the health system by 200% with public relations outreach.

• Conducted media training exercises for the entire executive management team (25 members).

• Developed and implemented a crisis management plan for the health system. Stanton Communications Assistant Account Executive 1995-2000

• Managed the media outreach activities for seven non-profit, private sector and public sector accounts.

• Wrote press releases, organized press conferences and generated media coverage for clients.

• Managed media outreach surrounding special events and new product launches.

• Coordinated media related research and database management. Education

Iowa State University Ames, Iowa

Bachelor Of Arts: Marketing/Communications May 1995

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