Melissa Mckenzie Email & Phone Number

California, United States

Ocean Grove Charter School

San Francisco Bay Area

Freelance Journalist (Jan. 2022-Present): Writing community heroes articles for the Redwood City Pulse (part of Embarcadero Media)Freelance Journalist (Nov. 2021-Present): Writing features, A&E and spotlights for Pleasanton Weekly, PleasantonWeekly.com, DanvilleSanRamon.com and LivermoreVine.com (part of Embarcadero Media)Freelance Journalist (May 2021-present): Writing food and features for The Six Fifty (part of Embarcadero Media).Freelance Journalist (Nov. 2016 - present): Writing community profiles, event previews, home and garden features, design trends and DIY/home improvement articles for the Palo Alto Weekly, Mountain View Voice and Menlo Park Almanac.Freelance Journalist and Photographer (Feb. 2017 - Present): Writing news, arts, community events, business profiles and features for the Santa Clara Weekly/Silicon Valley Voice. Taking photos to accompany stories. This position was also held from Sept. 2014-Sept. 2015.Content Creator (Sept. 2016 - Jan. 2017): Wrote buying guides for Totscoop.comFreelance Journalist (Sept. 2015 - Jan. 2016): Wrote feature and preview stories for the Gilroy Dispatch, Morgan Hill Times and Out & About Magazine Freelance Journalist (Feb. 2015 - Aug. 2015): Wrote arts-related articles for Silicon Valley Community Newspapers and feature stories for the Los Gatos Weekly Times and Saratoga News

Remote

Between May 2018 and June 2019 this was a part-time contract role.Between June 2019 and May 2020 this was a part-time (up to 30 hours a week) position.Upright Position Communications focuses on pre-IPO tech and cannabis companies.Writing: Wrote press releases, case studies, bylined articles, op-eds, pitches, blog postsEditing: Edited pitches and press releases Strategy: Developed client content strategy through story and pitch grids; re-imagined pitches that were falling flatClient Relations: Participated in weekly client calls to discuss current activities and opportunitiesMedia Relations: Pitched press releases and story ideas, followed up on outreach efforts, developed relationships with media and created targeted media lists in Cision

Remote

This position was previously held from March 2015-March 2016.Between September 2017-May 2018 this was a contract position.Between June 2018-March 2019 this was a part-time (20 hours per week) position.Between March 2019 and January 2020, this was a part-time (28 hours per week) position.25th Hour Communications is a boutique digital marketing and communications firm focusing on higher education institutions.Writing: Wrote press releases for community colleges across the country, testimonials, media advisories, white papers and content for various publications on behalf of the collegesMarketing: Wrote college website content, flyers, mailers, eblasts and brochuresDigital Campaigns/Digital Marketing: Created YouTube campaignsInterviewing/Client Relations: Reached out to various department heads for interviews, information and quotable materials for press release contentSocial Media: Wrote social media content for various college pages as well as 25th Hour social media pages.Media relations (2015)Worked on the College Promise Campaign by writing profiles of two-year institutions participating in the program (2016)Media buying (print, radio, television) (2015)Compiled and wrote event listings for SJCC’s The Roar weekly newsletter (2015)

Remote

This was a part-time contract position.Best Version Media is a publication company producing glossy magazines catering to small communities across the country. Writing: Penned each month's cover story, travel feature and artist profile, as well as writing company and non-profit profilesEditing: Edited submitted articles and publication prior to printResearching: Found local non-profits and volunteer opportunities for monthly feature on eachCompiling: Compiled monthly calendar listings, sourced imagesOrganizing: Arranged content for the design team

Remote

This was a part-time role.PAMP is a parents club offering support and resources to parents of young children.Social Media: Managed PAMP's Facebook and Twitter pages, placed and tracked Facebook ad campaignsContent Creation: Brainstormed, sourced, wrote and developed articles for PAMP's blog and newsletterCopywriting: Wrote all copy for newsletters and marketing materialsDesigning: Created all website sliders, postcards, flyers, graphics, advertisements and other projectsAnalytics: Tracked Facebook analyticsManaging: Managed content writing teamEditing: Edited blog and newsletter submissionsEvents: Assisted in the planning of three large annual events (family fun day, rummage sale and preschool fair) in addition to smaller events (fun at the farm days, jump into summer)

Santa Clara, Ca

Santa Clara Weekly/Silicon Valley Voice is a newspaper and website covering news, business, sports and events in Santa Clara and Sunnyvale.Sports Writing: San Jose Earthquakes, Santa Clara University, Wilcox High School, Santa Clara High SchoolFeature Writing: Arts and entertainment, artist profiles, community events, historical pieces; Began art column detailing history of public art within the cityPhotography: Event photography, sports photographyGraphic Design: Copywrote ads, designed advertisements, created graphics; designed 2014 Rotary Christmas for Kids insertLayout/Editing: Designed pages as needed; edited newspaper prior to printLegal Advertising: Designed legal pages; took proof of publication to courthouses for filing, both as needed

San Francisco Bay Area

The Retro Dome was a musical theater company located in San Jose. Media Relations: Served as the first point for inquiries and interviewsPress Releases and Follow Up: Wrote press releases on upcoming events; following up with journalistsMarketing: Devised ways ways to market eventsFreelance work was also performed between Oct. 2017 and May 2018 to run the national PR campaign for the one night only screening of The MeshugaNutcracker! in theaters nationwide through Fathom Events and generate press for GE's latest venture, 3Below Theaters & Lounge, which included media relations for the company's first two stage shows and other events.

San Francisco Bay Area

SEIU 521 is a SEIU local union covering most of the SF Bay Area and Fresno.Speechwriting: Wrote speeches for council meetings, rallies and community eventsPress Releases: Wrote and pitched press releases Op-Eds: Drafted op-eds in various voicesPhotography/Videography: Event photography and videography; editing photos and videoGraphic Design: Created newspaper advertisements; additionally created graphics for online minimum wage game

La Palma, Ca

Relax The Back is a franchised, high-end ergonomic retailer.Press Releases: Wrote press releases for new store openingsGraphic Design: Designed newspaper and magazine ads, product brochuresCopywriting: Wrote copy for product brochures and packagingProject Management: Managed packaging projectsWriting: Re-wrote company's marketing manual

Irvine, Ca

Telmar Network Technology provides products and services that help maintain and grow communications networks for OEMs, service providers, and enterprises world-wide.Event Planning: Planned annual nationwide sales meetingGraphic Design: Designed sales flyersMarketing: Created promotions and giveaways for customersTrade Show Planning: Made travel arrangements, shipped and tracked event materials, ordered branded promotional items

Costa Mesa, Ca

calorieking.com is a weight loss/management website and app. The company produces The Doctor's Pocket Calorie, Fat and Carbohydrate Counter. Content Creation: Created health-related articles for website and newsletterSales: Drafted sales letters, made follow-up calls, took orders, built and maintained relationshipsOffice Management: Customer service, order taking, supply ordering

Master Of Arts - Ma, Counselor Education/School Counseling And Guidance Services, 4.0

includes PPS credential and CWA authorization

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Media And Culture Studies (Liberal Arts)

Activities and Societies: PRSSA, Ad Club

Associate'S Degree, Sociology

Activities and Societies: Cychron Newspaper Staff