Melissa Stratis Email & Phone Number

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Hired to tell this international nonprofit's stories through annual reports, brochures, newsletters, e-newsletters, direct mail fundraising, social media, fundraising campaigns, and website. Provided creative direction and project management for IM's external communication. Worked closely with fundraising leadership so all content supported and helped meet fundraising goals. Collaborated on projects with design agencies, web development vendors, search engine marketing vendors, videographers, and a Spanish translator. Developed content for lead generation. Wrote key identity document for fundraising and subsequent branding work.Regular use of Word Press, Campaign Monitor, Dropbox, Sharepoint, Canva, Sprout Social, Loomly, Microsoft Office. Some use of Activ Collab, Slack, Basecamp.

Developed this new role for the college. Produced regular, engaging content for social channels, e-blasts, video, news magazine, blog/website. Organically grew the college’s social media. Creatively problem-solved to meet recruitment needs during the pandemic. Developed a branding message through internal and external research. Additionally developed a brand for the college’s daycare, with a new website and printed identity publication. Reorganized website’s structure and homepage for clearer information funnels. Managed ongoing vendor relationships with a designer, photographer, printing and mailing company, web developer, and videographer.

Hired to help write and edit the Self-Study manuals for Trinity International University. Worked with text written by staff members to create a single, consistent voice. The two major accrediting agencies who received the completed manuals were strongly positive regarding the publications.

Consulted for the first two issues of college magazine redesign. Created a new structure for the publication. Developed a template for planning and schedule cycles. Connected the college with a new designer and advised on photo shoots. Helped brainstorm content. Wrote feature articles, edited and proofread text, and helped with problem-solving.

PUBLICATIONS: Re-created the university magazine. After one year, alumni update submissions tripled, the magazine began to receive regular letters to the editor, and reader response was highly positive. In 2005, Trinity Magazine received the Pride of CASE V Gold Award for Most Improved Alumni/Institution Magazine and the 20th Annual Admissions Marketing Report’s Gold Award for External Publications.MARKETING: Evaluated current marketing to prospective college, divinity, and law school students, and conducted research to re-evaluate brand messaging. The new viewbooks received strong, positive support from admissions offices, faculty, and administrators. By 2007, recruiters regularly reported that prospective students mentioned the schools’ taglines when expressing why they wanted to attend. The TEDS viewbook placed third in 2007 among all graduate school viewbooks in the 22nd Annual Admissions Marketing Report, after John Hopkins’ University and the University of California. In 2007, the Council for Advancement and Support of Education named Trinity a Silver Medal Winner for Publications Program Improvement after reviewing the changes made to the magazine and viewbooks. These awards recognise outstanding efforts in institutional advancement worldwide.PUBLIC RELATIONS: Handled incoming media calls during a campus emergency that received nationwide attention. Hired and trained part-time staff in order to build a system of local press releases and hometown news releases.

PUBLICATIONS: Managed and wrote institutional publications, including the college magazine, seminary newsletter, annual reports, ads, brochures, monthly e-newsletters, president's communications, and appeal letters. Hired designers, photographers, printers, and mailing companies. The autumn 2001 magazine won the Gold Admissions Marketing Award for external publications, and the 2002 annual report won a Merit Admissions Marketing Award.PUBLIC RELATIONS: Built up a public relations program from the ground level. Researched and created databases of local, national, Christian, and other specialised media outlets. Built and developed relationships with journalists. OTHER:- Managed the college web developer- Coordinated special events for one year.- Wrote the script for the Nyack College Advancement video, The Call, which won a 2001 Videographer's Award.

Edited, organised, and designed the monthly newsletter, weekly notices, and sermon brochures for a 1,000-member church.

Arranged dream fulfillment for children with life-threatening illnesses, including trips to Disney World, a mall shopping spree, and a meeting with Leonardo DiCaprio.

Digital Marketing Management Certificate, In Process

Ma, Christian Studies

Activities and Societies: Leadership team for women divinity studentsGraduated Summa Cum Laude

Ba, English/Communications

Activities and Societies: President of English Honors Society, co-editor of the college literary magazine, writing tutorGraduated Cum Laude