Ann Gralen Morris Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Palatine, Illinois, United States

Palatine, Illinois, United States

Little City is dedicated to serving children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities by providing the best options and opportunities to live safely, learn continuously, explore creatively, and work productively throughout their lifetime. By inspiring, advocating, and pursuing success with passion and purpose, lives are changed through hope, happiness, and optimism.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, my role encompassed branding and positioning for Bravanti, including all marketing & sales support strategies and materials, web properties, digital content strategy and marketing, email marketing, social media, PR & thought leadership, special events, and internal communications.• Led a complete digital marketing transformation, creating a performance-focused marketing operation that drives business development • Built and led all-new digital footprint strategy for the organization • Spearheaded name change and re-branding of the company with fresh new positioning, high-impact creative, sophisticated digital presence, and results-driven sales support. Achieved unprecedented increases in marketing impact with new brand.• Brought brand to the forefront as an industry thought leader through original research and book launch

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago

• Member of executive management team overseeing 50 employees in business development; strategic direction; account and agency profitability; account management and budgets; professional development and staff training; and agency marketing• Head of Midwest professional services group providing branding, marketing, PR, and strategic communications counsel and programs to clients in law, accounting, architecture, and financial services • Forged an award-winning new marketplace identity for a midsized corporate law firm resulting in dramatic increases in lateral attorney hires and new matters• Spearheaded successful PR, media relations and thought leadership programs for AmLaw 200 law firms • Served as strategic communications counselor to senior attorneys and C-suite executives on thought leadership initiatives

Chicago

Developed and implemented strategic marketing and communications plans for a number of clients, including Chicago-based midsized law firm Much Shelist, Publications International, Direct Group, PowerSecure, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), the National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) and Eastek International. I oversaw comprehensive PR programs, media relations, marketing communications and visibility campaigns, which helped our clients build compelling brand identities and drive growth.

I successfully managed strategic public relations programs and account teams for a variety of consumer and B2B clients, including McDonald’s, Allied Van Lines, Enesco Corporation and Reliant Energy. For McDonald’s, I launched the first-time appearance of mini-Madame Alexander collectible dolls as Happy Meal toys, along with specially designed 50th anniversary collectible Matchbox cars.

Hunting heads for senior-level PR and corporate communications roles gave me some great experience, kept me connected, and gave me exposure to all facets of our industry and all types of clients. At Bloom, Gross & Associates, a prominent boutique executive search firm in Chicago, I successfully recruited, screened and placed numerous executives in upper-middle-management PR and marketing communications positions throughout Chicagoland and nationally with such clients as Quaker Oats/Gatorade, Jim Beam Brands, Lands’ End, Dell Computer Corporation, Sara Lee Corporation, and Discover Financial, as well as numerous PR, advertising, and marcomm agencies.

I picked up some valuable experience on the corporate side as a company spokesperson and C-suite speechwriter for Spiegel Catalog Company. My responsibilities included serving as company spokesperson, managing marketing and corporate communications programs, speechwriting for the CEO and CFO, VIP events, and managing outside PR agencies. While at Spiegel, I spearheaded the PR launch of “Catalog1”, a joint venture between Spiegel and Time Warner, Inc. My work as a corporate spokesperson garnered positive coverage in such media as CNN, BusinessWeek, Forbes, The New York Times and other prominent national business media.

Bachelor Of Arts, Liberal Arts And Sciences, General Studies And Humanities

Education record

Activities and Societies: Speech Team, Theatre, Band, Orchestra, Choir, Andante Singers