Melissa Eckmann Email & Phone Number

San Diego, California, United States

• Leads and develops a team of internal and external communicators developing employee and executive communications programs and media relations campaigns for six of the 10 Commercial Banking lines of business and functions. • Manages and directs media relations for businesses part of a global brand in a highly regulated industry; develops and executes internal communications for executives leading thousands of employees. • Sits on business leadership teams and consults with executives to develop multi-channel communication strategies that align to business goals, builds and supports the company’s reputation, and promotes employee engagement. • Creates communications strategies and tactics supporting highly confidential organizational changes, crisis issues, and process and policy updates in collaboration with partners across business lines and functions. • Develops and executes internal town halls, executive messaging, talking points, videos, presentations, social media strategies, and articles that ladder up to enterprise-wide and business goals and tell the story of the organization’s ongoing transformation. • Co-led communications as strategies were quickly being developed around unprecedented issues like COVID-19, Payment Protection Program (PPP), Main Street Lending Program (MSLP), and the LIBOR transition. • Keeps diversity, equity, and inclusion goals at the center of all communications strategies.

San Diego, California

• Managed internal communications for Wholesale Banking’s international business line, managing a global team and developing communications for leaders and employees in EMEA, APAC, Canada, and Latin America regions. • Developed an all-new international internal communications program, including hiring outside of the U.S., coordinating regular leader messaging and employee newsletters, and promoting the work of the international regions to their domestic partners. • Accounted for cultural, regional, language, time zone, and governmental differences in stakeholder audiences when developing communications strategies and tactics. • Managed a team of internal communicators focused on executive and employee messaging, storytelling, video development, and in-person events supporting the goals of Wholesale Banking business lines.

San Diego, Ca

Manage internal and executive communications for Wells Fargo Wholesale Banking lines of business

Managed internal and customer communications for Wells Fargo Wholesale Banking related to the Wells Fargo-Wachovia merger.

Founded internal marketing communications department, established vendor relationships, and created strategic communications campaigns to support AES managers and producers. Refreshed and strengthened the look and feel of the AES brand and implemented across the organization. Write, edit, design, and manage internal and external marketing communications, including collateral, advertisements, web content, newsletters, invitations, press releases, sales presentations, promotional giveaways, internal announcements, and client letters.Managed all aspects of annual sales conference and on-site managers' meeting, including location, budget, hotel reservations, menu planning, guest speakers, activities, entertainment, attendee gifts, and post-event analysis. Created and managed two employee newsletters: "Risky Business," a quarterly newsletter with AES branch updates, and "Ideas & Insights," a bi-weekly newsletter with sales tips and strategies for AES producers. Launched marketing efforts to support the cross-sell initiative between AES and Wells Fargo Insurance Services, including email campaigns, cross-sell success stories, and content for the Insuranceworks intranet. Honored with AES Outstanding Achievement Award for 2009.

Working closely with internal clients, developed copy for various collateral pieces, including disclosure statements, check-card carriers, client letters, press releases, websites, sales incentive programs, statement inserts, direct mail, advertising, and client newsletters.Provided direction in creation of company's first employee newsletter, including design, content, and production. Managed the 16-page newsletter, from content to publication and distribution. Maintained online content on intranet and company websites, including corporate, community banks, specialty finance divisions, and investor relations sites.Managed public relations activities, including drafting press releases and media pitching. Wrote, edited, and project managed internal and external communications for holding company and its multiple subsidiaries, including collateral development, client communications, public relations, website maintenance, internal newsletters, and product promotions.Managed annual holiday food drives supporting nine Bay Area food banks, collecting increasing amounts of donations each year. The 2006 food drive collected more than 88,000 pounds of food. Worked closely with graphic designers and external vendors to execute company initiatives.

Wrote and edited press releases, case studies, bylined articles, internal announcements, web content, newsletters, and biographies.Pitched and placed stories with industry and vertical publications, managed ongoing media relations, and monitored press coverage.Secured record number of presenters and media sponsors for annual company conference.Completed market research and investor relations support, including researching potential acquisitions and monitoring stock analyst reports.

Pitched stories and secured media coverage in local and industry publications for clients in gaming, automotive, healthcare, and advertising industries.Wrote, edited, and successfully pitched press releases and media alerts.

Wrote press releases, media alerts, executive biographies, internal announcements, company backgrounders, and copy for marketing collateral.Wrote, edited, and supervised production of monthly company newsletter.Created and executed strategic public relations and communications plans for regional offices and company initiatives.Coordinated media relations surrounding company events, personnel announcements, new products, and initiatives.

Bachelor'S Of Science, Public Relations

Major: Public Relations Minor: Communications Studies Winner of High Tech Connect Scholarship -- Spring, 2000

Professional Certificate, Marketing