Melissa Kerney Umbarger Email & Phone Number

Greensboro, Nc, Us

North Carolina, United States

• Manage cross-channel communications strategies that utilize traditional, digital and social media tactics;• Manage internal and external technology strategies; coordinate technology needs, tools, training, and processes for BTC staff; manage contracts with technology vendors; make recommendations on technology needs for BTC, including vendors, tools, software and other technology needs;• Develop BTC's online presence, including website and social media platforms and conducting quarterly assessments of BTC's digital engagement, experimenting to grow the visibility and the size and diversity of our list of readers and activists;• Responsible for developing, building, and maintaining BTC’s website and other owned channels;• Maintain working knowledge of the latest research and best practices for UX and accessibility; implement those practices across products and platforms;• Coordinate the maintenance of accurate contact records and effective use of contact management software to increase the reach and depth of engagement with people who follow the work of BTC;• Communicate directly through various channels with the general public and policymakers to present new research, connect people to the policy process and advance understanding of the importance of public policy;• Build and maintain relationships with media contacts;• Prepare BTC staff for media appearances and public presentations by coaching team members on presentations, reviewing and developing effective content and visualizations, and developing consistent talking points for core issues annually;• Maintain working knowledge of the latest research on the most effective framing and messaging of our issues and apply that knowledge to the development of tools and materials;• Work with colleagues to conceptualize reports and other products aimed at accomplishing specific policy goals;• Other duties may include writing, editing, and copy editing as needed.

North Carolina, United States

• Shape the public's understanding of the critical role that equitable policymaking can have in advancing our collective well-being and in so doing builds the will for changes to policies and systems that are informed by people across the state. • Develop and implement-- in collaboration with a team of analysts, advocates and engagement professionals-- multi-faceted communications plans that seek to make research and analysis accessible, amplify policy priorities, connect with partners and priority audiences.Responsibilities:• Develop and implement cross-channel communications strategies that utilize traditional, digital and social media tactics• Manage BTC's online presence, including website and social media and conducting quarterly assessments of BTC's digital engagement, experimenting to grow the visibility and the size and diversity of our list of readers and activists• Develop, build, and maintain BTC website• Maintain working knowledge of the latest research and best practices for UX and accessibility; implement those practices across products and platforms• Coordinate the maintenance of accurate contact records and effective use of contact management software to increase the reach and depth of engagement; • Communicate with the general public and policymakers to present new research, connect people to the policy process and advance understanding of the importance of public policy• Build and maintain relationships with media contacts by pitching stories, creating summaries of research products; Prepare BTC staff for media and public appearances• Maintain working knowledge of the latest research on the most effective framing and messaging of our issues• Work with colleagues to conceptualize reports and other products aimed at accomplishing specific policy goals• Develop technology strategies and coordinate technology needs, tools, and processes for BTC staff• Other duties such as copyediting, design and layout, content creation, team training

North Carolina

Write questions, editing & fact-checking, and proofing for board game brands such as Trivial Pursuit, Speak Out, and Cranium. Layout, design and editing for print and web publications, including annual reports, brochures, business cards, mailings and more. Nonprofit clients have included NC Justice Center, NC Raise Up and Rural Advancement Foundation International-USA (RAFI-USA).Provide website consulting for clients on topics such as strategic content, branding, design & user experience, storytelling, SEO, and more.Wrote crossword/trivia clues for a large app maker's successful crossword app ranked in the top 5 for Trivia Apps on Apple App Store, as a freelancer for the Content Creation Company.

North Carolina, United States

• Coordinate development of BTC’s communication agenda and work plan for fiscal & economic policy proposals;• Develop and maintain systems to support communication coordination and goals;• Manage the communication process and keep products on track for release dates;• Review and edit all BTC policy reports and fact sheets, as well as other materials such as blogs, interactives, videos, memos, and talking points;• Review all materials developed by BTC team members to ensure accuracy, accessibility, clarity, and other communication goals are met;• Stay current on literature and activities related to communications, media, digital advocacy and advertising, and messaging;• Analyze and identify impact of communications activities; Use data to change and improve communications activities;• Edit a variety of products, including quick-turnaround copy for blog posts, fact sheets, analytic publications, background memos, talking points, and other pieces as needed;• Create, design, and/or implement a variety of products such as graphics, charts, videos, social media pieces, external mini websites, and interactive graphics and charts, including quick-turnaround creative assets for blog posts, fact sheets, analytic publications, background memos, talking points, and other pieces as needed;• Create, design, and/or implement digital and print advertising;• Provide education and training to internal and external state and local partners;• Take a leadership role in work with partner organizations around key communication strategies, planning and implementations;• Serve as a leading communications resource to local, state and national partner organizations;• Serve as a resource to the media, state and national groups, and general public in answering questions and providing credible and timely information;• Create and deliver presentations in various venues;• Represent BTC on designated coalitions or committees and at events

Greensboro/Winston-Salem, North Carolina Area

My duties included:• Manage four employees and a stable of off-site freelancers. • Key role in launching a new print magazine and website (1808: Greensboro’s Magazine, 1808greensboro.com) in Sept. 2014. Also serve as creative director and play roles in social media, marketing. • Oversee the content strategy and planning, editing and production of monthly magazine, 35+ print publications a year and three weekly print sections.• Coordinate a yearly production calendar for Advertising Dept.• Manage the Special Sections financial budget.• Generate story ideas, network with potential sources, edit, design and post stories online. Create maps and infographics for publication.• Post and edit stories for online publication.• Create and send bimonthly wine newsletter to 15,000+ customers.• Work with internal and external customers to coordinate and market current projects and generate new sources of revenue. • Member of the Audience Development team, tasked with growing online visitors to our websites.

A lead designer who worked on A1, special projects, life pages and whatever else was thrown at me. Also helped in several redesigns and prototyped new pages. Was a night edit 2-3 times a week for the copy desk. Was responsible for proofing all pages, pageflow, deadlines and troubleshooting. Also edited stories and wrote snappy headlines.I've also served as a training team leader, written a column on cooking, and written for three blogs for the paper. I am also what is known as a super user, which means I am trained in computer and software troubleshooting at our paper. Also, I make a mean chocolate cake.

Wrote and edited city profiles for US Airways and (Delta) Sky magazines. Writing city profiles required traveling, interviews and locating photos and other visuals for publication. Editing profiles required fact-checking, rewriting copy and writing copy to fill last-minute holes, in addition to editing for length, clarity and style.

-- Worked as sports copy editor/designer-- Worked as features copy editor/designer-- Worked stint as swing designer on all desks-- Designed A1, B1, special projects

Master Of Arts, Technology And Communication

Master's Thesis: "Usability and Accessibility: Creating a Guidebook for News Websites" From the MATC website: "Dramatic changes in the way.

B.A., Mass Communication

Activities and Societies: The Johnsonian, The Roddey-McMillan Record, Dinkins Student Union, Kappa Tau Alpha

Continuing Education

- Adobe Dreamweaver CS3 - PHP and MySQL - CSS and XHTML