Kelly Communications

I’m Laura Kelly, the Kelly in Kelly Communications. I love storytelling in all forms, and I can’t wait to help you tell yours.

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Hi! I’m Laura Kelly, and I can’t wait to help you tell your story.

With over 15 years of communications experience, I’ve told a lot of great stories. Each one is unique and exciting, and yours is, too. Here’s more on what I do, and some of the places I’ve told great stories.

Skills

Professional Experience

DICK’S SPORTING GOODS                                                                                              

Senior Communications Manager,
Office of the CTO                                                          

3/21-Present

• Lead communications efforts for 600-person Technology team, including multimedia presentations, livestream events, CTO Weekly emails, and round tables.
• Develop and implement public relations and recruitment communications strategy for Technology organization, including ghost writing for the CTO, influencer engagement, and third-party partnerships.
• Mentor employees and leadership in presentation skills, writing skills, and management skills.

Content Manager,
Product Development                                                                              

6/19-3/21

• Led cross-functional teams to create impactful brand messaging for private label brands, including brand refreshes, implementing QR codes on in-store products, writing video scripts for online conversion, and establishing private label YouTube playlists to increase SEO.
• Identified third-party opportunities to expand private label brands. Created proposals including earning projections and managed strategy end-to-end. Such proposals included subscription boxes, event activations, and online digests.
• Researched consumer trends to recommend design, marketing and communications strategies to most impactfully reach the customer, including in-person focus groups, consumer surveys, and third-party research.
• Managed team members and conducted weekly 0-3 one-on-one meetings to create meaningful growth opportunities for direct reports.

CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY                                                                                    

Associate Director, Social Media                                                                          
 7/18-6/19

Social Media Manager                                                                                                                             8/15-6/18

• Expanded Carnegie Mellon’s social media department. Through evaluations of peer institutions, top brands, and consumer data, recommended a strategic organic and paid plan to senior leadership, which resulted in doubling the total audience. This growth resulted in approval for new hires and a promotion to manage the group.
• Built social and communications strategies to align seven schools and colleges and dozens of programs and initiatives with the overall university goals. 
• Developed and proposed a plan to create a presence at SXSW to improve awareness among tech community; presented proposal to senior leadership and managed end-to-end execution with stakeholders across campus and departments. Resulted in earned media placements, and VC and corporate partnerships. Received Employee Achievement Award for successful presence.
• Drove revenue through the development, proposal, and approval from senior leadership of a digital marketing plan for Giving Tuesday, resulting in an 82% increase in gifts year-over-year.
• Chosen to engage with high-profile alumni in an effort to drive applications and donations. Influenced key stakeholders including Emmy-award-winning actors, technology leaders, and business innovators to increase endowment.

• Directed numerous initiatives, including chairing an ongoing cross-departmental social media committee and leading the social media strategy for President Obama’s Frontiers Conference. Resulted in increased KPIs and expanding the role of social media as a part of the strategic plan.
• Led and managed cross functional teams. Collaborated with individuals university-wide to develop and implement holistic marketing and communications campaigns for major initiatives including the Tony Awards and World Economic Forum.
• Served on university-wide branding committee with senior leadership to develop and implement new brand standards.

INNOVATION WORKS

Digital Communications Manager                                                                                                          
1/14-8/15

• Served as marketing mentor to numerous startups to create marketing and communications plans and pitches. Companies have gone on to receive follow on funding and to be acquired. 
• Charged with increasing public awareness of Innovation Works and its portfolio companies by pitching and landing stories in major digital publications, including Mashable, in order to increase interest in the Southwestern PA investment community. 
• Developed and managed community outreach programing, including events around National Robotics Week, the White House Makers Faire, and Demo Days.
• Seized opportunity to work with the White House, including developing a plan and gaining approval internally and with the White House, to leverage national coverage of the White House Makers Faire to increase the visibility of IW companies.

COLDWELL BANKER REAL ESTATE PITTSBURGH

Marketing Coordinator

10/11-1/14     

• Established and managed social media initiatives for the Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh brand and its 13 branch offices resulting in ~400% audience growth.
• Raised nearly $250,000 as point person for the Make-A-Wish® Foundation of Western Pennsylvania and West Virginia, Coldwell Banker Pittsburgh’s chosen philanthropy, through event planning and marketing campaigns. 
• Wrote and distributed weekly e-newsletter to over 900 real estate agents communicating new marketing initiatives, planned promotions, upcoming events, etc.
• Wrote and oversaw designed marketing materials, including listing presentations, direct mail pieces, eMarketing, online and print advertising, etc.
• Planned, promoted and executed recognition events for top 25 producing agents, top 200 producing agents and all agents and staff.

SCAREHOUSE

Promotional Freelancer  

6/11-6/15                                                             

• Identified potential partnership opportunities.
• Copywrote press releases, video scripts, blog posts, etc.
• Served as on-air spokesperson for promotional videos and on-air host for podcasts.

VISITPITTSBURGH

     Partnership Development Coordinator

     8/08-10/11

• Wrote/designed monthly Partner Pieces e-newsletter, distributed to 750+ organizations.
• Wrote monthly e-blast copy for 28,000+ visitor inquirers.
• Established social media team to reinforce VisitPittsburgh’s goals through popular social media sites and hosting several video tours. 
• Contributed to back-end web content creative and production for VisitPittsburgh.com.
• Wrote copy for website, news releases, features and tourism magazine.
• Copyedited website content, news releases, features and tourism magazine.
• Planned monthly partner networking events for 100+ people, including invitation design and venue selection.