Experience

Detroit News, Rural Innovation Exchange, DAC Magazine, others, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Freelance Journalist, April 2021 - Present
Weigandt Communications, Crimson, Idea39, Your People, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Freelance Public Relations Professional, February 2021 - Present  ​
  • Place news stories for clients in education, non-profits, engineering, manufacturing and others
  • Work with leadership on communications strategy
  • Write press releases, pitches, bylined articles and other content
  • Support media relations at events

Michigan Opera Theatre (now Detroit Opera), Detroit, Michigan, USA                                                                                                Communications Manager, October 2016 - February 2021                                                                                                                     
  • Worked with senior management to create and implement PR strategies that drove ticket sales, donations and increased community engagement and awareness
  • Worked with leadership to create “MOT at Home,” a digital campaign to provide regular opera and dance programming to followers during social distancing; served as the primary organizer and disseminator of “MOT at Home” content 
  • Identified and constructed tailored pitch angles to national, local and trade media, placing regular stories in news outlets including the Detroit Free Press, Detroit News, WDET, WDIV, OperaWire and Opera News, among others 
  • Managed social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
  • Edited Bravo Magazine program books creating, commissioning, managing and copyediting content
  • Wrote blog and website content that educated and engaged viewers on upcoming performances and MOT news
  • Curated, wrote and edited monthly Bravissimo e-newsletter, working with department leaders to share pertinent company news with stakeholders and patrons
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Airfoil Group, Royal Oak, Michigan, USA
Senior Account Executive, July 2013 - October 2016
  • Conducted media relations for business to business and business to consumer clients with interests ranging from automotive to marketing to consumer tech
  • Supervised agency intern, including facilitating workload, managing skill development and overall mentoring
  • Led public relations work for the Adcraft Club of Detroit including media relations, social media and day-to-day team management, contributing to a 19% increase in club membership 
  • Wrote engaging pitches, press releases, contributed articles and blogs for clients
  • Managed social media for Airfoil marketing team across platforms including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn
  • Created and maintained strong media relationships across local, national and industry trade outlets
  • Supported up to seven accounts simultaneously, using excellent multitasking and time management skills to balance vigorous workloads 

Reuters/AnnArbor.com/Mode Shift, Detroit/Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Freelance Journalist, November 2012 - July 2013
  • Covered breaking news, features and general assignments in Metro Detroit for Reuters' Detroit office
  • Wrote on community events and general assignments for AnnArbor.com
  • Reported on issues promoting community building, non-motorized transportation and health for Mode Shift

Canning Communications, Detroit, Michigan, USA
Communications Specialist, March 2013 - July 2013
  • Wrote media kits including press releases, program profiles, fact sheets and FAQs for non-profit organizations
  • Followed media to monitor clients' public exposure
  • Created website content

UCSI Group/ UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia*
Public Relations Manager, July 2010 - September 2011
  • Developed and implemented media strategies for UCSI Group, including UCSI University and 20 subsidiary companies
  • Led major PR campaign to promote UCSI Group’s $370 million investment in two national initiatives aimed at developing Malaysia’s tourism and healthcare industries
  • Created all written material for University Vice Chancellor, including speeches, forewords and written comments
  • Collaborated with local media to publicize Group news, including writing press releases, taking photographs and organizing press conferences
  • Edited written materials for Group, including messages from Group Chairman and University Vice Chancellor
  • Produced promotional materials, including profiles, brochures, website content and advertisements
  • Emceed ceremonies and press conferences

AnnArbor.com, digital newspaper, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
Freelance Writer, July 2009-June 2010
  • Covered weekend events and general assignments for Ann Arbor’s largest news bureau
  • Wrote human interest, crime and government stories
  • Photographed newsmakers and events for publication
Production Assistant, December 2009-June 2010
  • Posted news stories online using Movable Type software
  • Assisted news room staff with story research 
 
101.9 WDET, Detroit Public Radio, Detroit, Michigan, USA
News Intern, May 2009-February 2010
  • Reported on state and local news for Metro Detroit’s National Public Radio member station
  • Hosted live radio program Weekend Edition
  • Voiced news spots and feature length stories for local edition of All Things Considered 
  • Attended press conferences and interviewed newsmakers live and by phone
  • Recorded on digital and analog equipment; edited sound bites using ENCO software 

The Hillsdale Daily News, Hillsdale, MI, USA
Staff Writer, April 2008-April 2009
  • Reported on the city of Hillsdale, six townships, two villages, and the education beat
  • Wrote on issues including education, politics, the economy, and human interest stories 
  • Produced three stories daily under tight deadlines
  • Developed story, package, and centerpiece ideas
  • Planned and created photographs to accompany stories
  • Assisted with page proofing
  • Used Associated Press writing style

The Daily Reporter, Coldwater, MI, USA
News Intern, February-March 2008
  • Reported on local events
  • Shadowed reporters to learn techniques and gain experience
  • Internship led to full-time position at the Hillsdale Daily News

BUNAC Work in Britain Program, London, England
Secretary, Accounts Assistant, Recruitment Administrator, June-December 2007
  • Used Microsoft Office to organize and process payments
  • Assisted interviewing job candidates
  • Answered phones and responded to customer enquiries
  • Provided general assistance to a team of 10

Skills

  • Fluent in Italian
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office
  • Proficient in WordPress and Movable Type content management systems
  • Certified yoga instructor

Education

​University of Michigan, College of Literature, Science, and the Arts, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Bachelor of Arts in English and Italian, December 2006     
September 2002-December 2006
  • Studied at the University of Padua, 2004-05, Padua, Italy

* October 2011 – August 2012 was spent traveling Asia, including India, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Nepal, Laos and Myanmar. The documentation of the trip can be found on my travel blog at www.ericainwonderland.com, which was selected as the GoAbroad.com “Blog of the Week.”