Matt Hodson Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Develop, implement and manage all communications, branding, marketing, media relations and social media strategies, and corresponding budget, for the 17-team, 15-member Division I college hockey conference.• Serve as Association spokesperson, while providing media preparation and counsel for Association executives.• Manage outside vendors and agency partners in broadcast, web, digital and multimedia story production, along with part-time and/or junior-level Association employees.• Charged with increasing Association exposure and revenue, I have:1) Initiated the #WeAreWCHA social media campaign and successful launch of a new digital network, while introducing multiple web, video and broadcast-based initiatives to increase Association digital impressions by 160.5 percent and social media followers by 114.1 percent in four years.2) Developed organic and paid marketing campaigns promoting WCHA.tv, growing annual viewership for the live streaming platform by 57.9 percent and, upon leading successful rights-fee negotiations with a new platform partner, annual net revenue by 602 percent.3) Conceived, pitched and, along with League Commissioners, landed first-ever WCHA Women’s League multi-game television package on FOX Sports North and FOX Sports Wisconsin (now in its third season).4) Created and executed internal and external messaging to foster brand awareness, affinity and stakeholder engagement at Association-wide and member-institution levels, such as a multi-platform rollout for a new Men’s League business model and Women’s League fundraising initiative (both resulting in positive media coverage and fan reaction in all targeted local and national markets).

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Provided communications support and account management for two business-to-consumer clients (Castello USA and MOM Brands), along with H&R Block Dollars & Sense, the tax company’s cause marketing initiative.• Assisted in developing a comprehensive H&R Block Dollars & Sense public relations and communications plan for fiscal 2015 – an initiative that earned a PRWeek Award as Cause-Related Campaign of the Year.• Helped develop and execute a multi-phase communications initiative to enhance consumer awareness for national taste test-winning varieties of Malt-O-Meal cereals.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Provided media and public relations support, including crisis response services and spokesperson duties, for the Offices of the President, Government and Community Relations, Vice President for Research and Vice President for University Services, along with the Graduate School, Law School, Extension and Board of Regents.• Developed and executed strategic communications plans for Board of Regents meetings, including creating press materials, managing media opportunities, preparing briefing documents and crafting editorial submissions.• Identified communications priorities, developed messaging and provided strategic counsel for key University initiatives, such as the president’s annual budget and “Operational Excellence” plan.• Collaborated with department-level communicators to create and implement media plans promoting University research, placing stories in Twin Cities-area outlets, significant national outlets and internationally via the BBC.

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

• Produced and directed all external and internal communications, branding, marketing, media and public relations efforts, while serving as a spokesperson for the nonprofit dedicated to affordable housing.• Wrote, edited and produced quarterly newsletters, monthly eNewsletters and the organization’s annual report, highlighting resident stories, volunteer accomplishments and housing development updates.• Managed all aspects of the 2011 Annual Meeting & Celebration. The event set organizational records for resident participation and overall attendance.• Coordinated property grand opening celebrations, including securing media coverage and the involvement of city, state and federal government officials.

San Francisco Bay Area

• Was the primary media relations contact for Stanford’s baseball and women's swimming and diving programs, served as the secondary contact for Cardinal football and administered the department’s internship program.• Assisted in shaping the department’s overall strategic vision, including enhancing its digital and social media presence via video and other multimedia content.• Provided media preparation and counsel for student-athletes, coaches and university administration, while serving as a spokesperson.

San Francisco Bay Area

• Served as a liaison between the club and media, balancing the needs of players, field staff and front office personnel with those of print, television, electronic and radio media members on a local and national scale.• Co-planned and implemented all media relations aspects of the 2002 and 2003 Major League Baseball playoffs and the 2007 All-Star Game, including working with national and international media and serving as a liaison to MLB.• Coordinated all media relations efforts during Barry Bonds’ controversial 2007 all-time home run record chase and his 2001 single-season home run record campaign, including serving as a club spokesperson and assisting in strategic and crisis communications counsel for team executives.• Assisted with the planning and execution of annual KNBR/Giants Winter FanFest (a pre-season event that drew a capped crowd of 4-5,000 fans each year).• Wrote, edited and produced all department materials, including daily press releases and the club’s annual media guide. Traveled as club’s media relations representative during Spring Training and one-third of all road trips.• Managed department’s two seasonal assistants, consisting of one full-time and one part-time employee for up to 10 months each year.