Melissa Ayers Email and Phone Number

Lead architect of the internal and external communications strategy for Ohio’s largest health payer.Manage a communications team of six professionals to execute communications plans through avariety of platforms, including media interviews, presentations, social media, video, monthlynewsletters and other written materials• Directly manage and plan annual employee engagement meetings for 600 employees.• Provide communications counsel for the legislative passage of the $27 billion biennialbudget—directly impacting 600 employees, 135,000 medical providers and 3 million Ohioans.• Develop and implement strategic communications plans for various Department priorities,including two statewide public relations campaigns to highlight how Ohio Medicaid hashelped individuals gain better health, employment and stability. Media coverage reachedmore than750,000 Ohioans.• Led the development and implementation of Ohio Medicaid’s first internal communicationsoffice and establishment of brand guidelines. Coordinated organizational roll-out to gainbuy-in and support. Brand is now consistently used by all organization offices.

Managed a diverse communications team of more than 25 professionals. Developed acomprehensive communication strategy, including media relations, social media, and graphicdesign projects. Strategically planned, wrote, and edited communications materials.• Implemented yearly statewide media campaign to highlight thousands of constructionprojects and reinforce the need for increased transportation funding. Campaign hascontinued for eight years and resulted in hundreds of positive news stories statewide.• Developed, managed and implemented internal communications strategy to connectExecutive Leadership to nearly 5,000 employees. Utilized videos, intranet, monthly 16-page newsletter, weekly email updates and in-person events. Implemented a yearlyemployee engagement survey to track effectiveness, which saw a nearly 5 percent increasein employee satisfaction within 4 years.• Led strategic communications planning to gain public and legislative support to leverage ofthe Ohio Turnpike, resulting in record investment in Ohio’s transportation infrastructure.

Managed client initiative and relationships, and oversaw agency operations in Washington, DCregional office. Led message development for national media campaigns-“Click It or Ticket” and“You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.”• Led presentation, development and implementation of national media campaigns tohighlight the importance of passenger vehicle safety, child passenger safety, seatbelt use,not drinking and driving, and the dangers of distracted driving. Planned and executed morethan 15 media events nationwide.• Coordinated and executed national media events for the Secretary of Transportation,including three national satellite media tours and four national safety campaign kick-offevents.• Planned Intelligent Transportation Society of America national conference. Managed mediarelations and on-site client support.

Led message development and national communications efforts for U.S. Secretary ofTransportation’s top priorities, including National Congestion Initiative, traffic safety campaigns,and on-the-ground crisis communications support for multiple catastrophic events. Served as theliaison with business offices to manage and execute public affairs and communications initiatives.• Planned, developed and executed more than 30 events in more than 20 states, resulting inmore than 100 media reports.• Lead communications professional for on-the-ground crisis communications support forcatastrophic events, including Hurricane Katrina, I-35 bridge collapse in Minnesota andbridge collapse in northern California. Planned and executed executive briefings, mediatours and ground support to local crisis communicators.• Prepared Congressional materials for more than five Congressional hearings for U.S.Secretary of Transportation and provided on-site media relations.• Developed and implemented national public awareness campaign lasting more than 4 years.• Agency lead for message development and national kick-off events for “Click It or Ticket”and “You Drink. You Drive. You Lose.”

Served as department spokesperson. Coordinated the Department’s statewide news conferencesand public relations events, including news releases, speeches and talking points.• Pitched news stories and served as a point of contact for local and national media outlets,editors and news directors regarding Ohio’s $10 billion construction program and otherdepartmental activities.• Aligned agency office leads to ensure consistency of key policy messages. See less