Lisa Merkl Email & Phone Number

Houston, TX, US

Houston, Texas

• Senior Research Media Relations Editor & PIO, 10/21-present Research Media Relations Editor & PIO, 06/17-09/21 Beats: Research Institute, Academic Institute, Genome Sequencing, Infectious Diseases, RNA Therapeutics.
• Telling the story -- through writing and publicity -- of the pioneering, transformative research being conducted at the Houston Methodist Research Institute and how it is and will be brought to the bedside at Houston.
• Oversee media efforts for all of Houston Methodist's priority research areas, collaborating closely with our media relations team members, as well as our Leading Medicine blog and Academic Institute teams.
• Working with local and national media to deliver the latest news and expert interviews on Covid-19, its variants, vaccines, treatments, precautions and recommendations from our scientists & physicians on how best the.

• Sr. Media Relations Specialist, 9/11-6/17Media Relations Representative, 9/05-8/11Senior Science Writer/Editor, 9/03-8/05Beats: UH Health initiative, College of Optometry, College of Pharmacy, School of Nursing.
• Oversee/manage health, science and research news at the university
• Manage external communication strategies for health and science beats
• Offer strategic PR counsel to clients and triage news to maximize ROI
• Write, edit and proof news releases, media advisories, tip sheets, magazine articles, newsletter copy and other special projects
• Ability to distill complex and technical information into layman’s terms for a mainstream audience

• Beats: Women’s Services, Neuroscience, Pediatrics, Emergency Medicine, Wellness, Physician Visibility, Medical Breakthroughs, International Affairs
• Proactive and reactive media relations, exceeding placement quotas in broadcast and print media
• Wrote/edited/proofed media materials, bylined articles, brochure copy, newsletters and internal publications
• Onsite PR rep at hospitals with media for events, medical procedures and as an escort
• Back-up photographer for follow-up media placement and internal publications
• Planned and implemented events, such as ABC’s Houston Medical reality TV series premiere, arranging for red carpet, limousines, giant-screen TVs, AV/electrical equipment, catering and decorations for 500 guests; filled.

• Clients: Furmanite Worldwide, Houston Museum of Natural Science IMAX Films, Pennzoil-Quaker State, ServiceMagic.com, InterFit Health, Americaid, Aspect Resources, Rhodia, Round Top Arts Festival, Jiffy Lube.
• Handled both consumer and business-to-business clients and PR initiatives
• Wrote/edited/proofed media materials (press releases, fact sheets, backgrounders, media alerts, pitch letters, technical and feature bylined articles), collateral (newsletter, brochure, website, advertising copy) and.
• Maintained accounts as client contact, creating timelines, compiling status reports, reviewing billing reports to remain within budget, preparing agendas and meeting with clients
• Performed trade and consumer media relations, including securing placement, media list building, “media drops,” media monitoring for story leads, trends and coverage, media backgrounding sessions and interviews, media.
• Supervised assistant account executives, account coordinators and interns; cross-trained peers

• Clients: Emerald Homes, Dietz-Crane Homes, US Home, Espree Homes, Waterford Harbor, Bentwater, Shadow Creek Ranch, Bay Area Ford, Round Top Arts Festival, Sterling McCall Old Car Museum, Abrahams Oriental Rugs
• Hired to start up and manage stand-alone PR department within an ad agency environment
• Wrote/edited/proofed press releases, backgrounders, PSAs, pitch letters, advertorial copy, sales displays, newsletter copy, brochures, marketing proposals and other client support materials
• Weekly publication of real estate advertorials in Houston Chronicle’s Homeline section
• Generated and implemented public relations angles and ideas for stories, campaigns and events
• Media relations, including media list building, creating press kits and securing media placement

• Clients: TeleCheck, Texaco, GTE Mobilnet, Houston Children’s Museum, Serve Houston Youth Corps, Southwestern Bell, Villas of Huntington Park, Jefferson Davis Hispanic Alumni Association, Schlumberger, Jackson Walker.
• Contracted with Bates/Southwest Advertising & Public Relations, Booker/Hancock & Associates, Image Public Relations
• Wrote/edited/proofed press releases, PSAs, media alerts, letters, advertising copy and other materials
• Performed media relations, including pitching stories, coordinating media interviews, building/updating media lists, clipping/categorizing/compiling media clips, coordinating events, compiling recap reports
• Generated ideas for events/campaigns through brainstorming, in-house research and field work
• Researched and maintained files on influential citizens, organizations and clients; developed special target lists

• Solicited interviews from national recording companies and artists for local Houston and Dallas publications
• Wrote feature stories published in the Houston Chronicle This Week, KRBE radio’s The 104 Zone, JAM Magazine, Rivethead, Music News, Public News and The Daily Cougar

Sugar Land & Missouri City

Taught private flute lessons at area high schools and in my home studio.

Sugar Land & Missouri City

Substituted at area high schools for one school year while in grad school to see if I wanted to go into teaching full time and until I found steady work in my first choice career field of PR.

Houston, Texas, United States

Taught stand-alone public speaking classes to approximately 60 students per semester for two years, and worked as a grader for a film class during my final semester as a TA.

Houston, Texas, United States

Wrote press releases on upcoming concerts, handled print media relations, obtained point-of-purchase materials for venues and press kits on artists coming to town, built media lists, corresponded with record companies to arrange details for PR on artists and bands coming into town.

Master Of Arts - Ma, Public Relations Studies & Communication

Activities and Societies: Taught public speaking as a graduate teaching assistant for 2.5 years Master's Thesis - "Exploring the Use of.

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Journalism With Pr Emphasis

Activities and Societies: Eddie Green's Wind Ensemble, Golden Key National Honor Society, Delphian Scholar, Publicity Intern for Pace.

High School Diploma

Activities and Societies: Band - Wind Ensemble, Marching Band, Pit Orchestra, Pep Band (flute/piccolo), National Honor Society, Mu Alpha.