Marissa Sharpless Email & Phone Number

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Global head of organic social media and partnerships for Focus and their portfolio of multi-channel food service brands. Leveraging organic content, community engagement, influencer marketing, and partnerships and collaborations, I champion the team responsible for you falling in social love with some of the world's most delicious brands - Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Lead a nimble, high-performing team responsible for all public relations, organic social media marketing and influencer marketing to support Focus Brands and the Specialty Category of brands (Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon and Jamba). With a focus on creating strategic integrated campaigns that increase awareness and brand affinity that ultimately drive acquisition and sales, the PR and Social Media teams have executed programs that consistently position the brands as category leaders, breaking through the cluttered media and social media landscape.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Oversee a team responsible for the national strategic consumer public relations for Auntie Anne’s, Carvel Ice Cream, Cinnabon, and Jamba, as well as lead PR initiatives and strategic communications that span the category.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Responsible for crafting and bringing to life the integrated strategic PR and social media plans that drove the business and increased awareness for the domestic Cinnabon brand, including brick and mortar locations, eCommerce platform, and licensing and CPG products and partnerships. - Created strategic integrated consumer PR and Social (paid and organic) initiatives that differentiated the Cinnabon brand and drove consumer consideration.- Partnered with the director of marketing, CMO and brand president to shape strategy, establish key messaging and impactful platforms that drove brand awareness in consumer and business media.- Brought the brand voice and consumer storytelling opportunities to life in paid and organic social that resonated with key business targets.- Created strategic events, activations and influencer marketing programming that drove relevancy, brand affinity and allowed consumers to experience the brand in new and innovative ways.- Oversaw and directed creative execution of all social and PR content and materials.- Responsible for driving strategic ideation, planning, programming and results from four agencies (consumer PR agency, development PR agency, social community management agency, social/digital agency).

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Responsible for leading consumer communications for McAlister's Deli and franchise development PR for all FOCUS Brands entities - Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's Bakery Cafe. McAlister's Deli PR- Developed the brand's communications strategy that led to impactful, buzz-worthy and business driving media coverage- Collaborated with VP of Marketing to ensure brand vision, voice and business initiatives were woven through all PR efforts- Worked in tandem with Social Media Manager and Director of Marketing to create fully integrated briefs and campaigns- Platformed the stories of local restaurants that upheld the brand image to increase brand awareness within those communitiesFranchise Development PR- Through strategic media opportunities, supported the franchise development team and their business goals to drive growth and franchise leads for the six brands in the FOCUS Brands portfolio - Platformed each brand's unique business opportunities in trade and niche media outlets to drive interest and awareness within the franchise and business communities- Worked in tandem with the CDO and VP of Sales to ensure communication strategy aligned with sales goals for each brand- Collaborated with digital marketing agency to ensure media placements were utilized in marketing efforts and sales collateral

Hollywood, Ca, Us

Lead regional Senior Account Executive responsible for publicity, marketing and promotions of movie studio, lifestyle and event clients. Clients include Paramount Pictures, Open Road Films, Radius-TWC, BLT Steak Atlanta and BLT Steak Charlotte. - Lead client projects from conception to completion, including designating team member tasks, crafting strategic approach, executive reporting and billing - Expert voice and sounding board to client team while conceiving and executing regional communications and marketing plans - Partner with key stakeholders to ensure strategic short and long term media and marketing plans - Establish and maintain top media relationships to successfully pitch and secure local, regional and national publicity - Plan, organize, coordinate and run media tours with targeted niche media - Secure regional print, TV, radio and online promotional partners through trade opportunities - Manage professional development, responsibilities and workload of two coordinators and two interns

Hollywood, Ca, Us

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Us

Social Media Community Manager representing Walt Disney World Resort in Disney Parks’ first-ever online ambassador program. - Conceptualize, produce, write and host online videos for news, feature and crisis communications- Compose daily written online content for Walt Disney World Resort feature and news pieces- Manage a content calendar that ensures incorporation of messaging from various departments to promote brand activation, products and services - Interact with online community through blog comments, discussion boards, Twitter and Facebook conversations- Brainstorm social media tactics, new social media outlets and upcoming technology to increase exposure of the program

Lake Buena Vista, Florida, Us

An integral member of a sports public relations team involved in every facet of the department such as strategy, fiscal and event budget, pitching to local, national, niche and trade outlets, writing press releases, organizing press conferences and event day media operations. Key responsibilities include:ESPN Wide World of Sports Rebrand Event- One of the core team members of the largest and most influential media event in company's history- Coordinated a press conference featuring high level executives- Drafted key brand messaging and briefed high profile athletes and celebrities before escorting them down a media-lined red carpetEvent Manager – Key youth and amateur sporting events - Developed and led the public relations brand strategy and event operations for two of the company's largest amateur sporting events- Lucratively pitched stories and multimedia content that resulted in increased media coverage in national and niche media- Compiled detailed recap reports for executives documenting impressions, media hits, media members on-site and future publicity plansEvent Staff - Professional Sporting events - Co-project public relations manager for three of the company's biggest and preeminent events - Coordinated photographers to document event, select key photos for distribution to media outlets and draft cut lines- Pitched event spokespersons and high profile athletes for radio and broadcast interviews to increase the exposure of the event - Drafted key talking points and supported athletes, celebrities and executives during media interviews Social Media Coordinator- Spearheaded and launched the first ever company Twitter handle- Developed and coordinated strategy for sports inclusion in company-wide blog - Created multimedia content to help enhance presence in social media outlets

Coordinator of New Media:- Created, produced, wrote, shot, edited and uploaded video content for Facebook and Twitter - Conceptualized and scripted on-air promotional spots for a Facebook and Twitter campaign- Generated and ran giveaways involving the Tampa Bay Rays and Orlando Magic- Worked hand in hand with the Tampa Bay Rays and Orlando Magic to cross promote brands through social networksProduction:- Assisted in all aspects of sports production, such as: field producing, writing of scripts, logging, editing and font coordinating. - Also has seen time in front of the camera as an in-game sideline reporter and color commentator.

Bachelor’S Degree, Unc School Of Media And Journalism

Bachelor’S Degree, Electronic Communication