Nicolle Heller Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

Chicago, Illinois

Help diverse clients develop and put into action strategies to achieve their communications goals. Create materials and pitch stories on behalf of clients, including Extra Mile Public Relations, CTL Group, Walsh Communications, and the Pioneer NetworkHighlights: --Earned feature for a commercial real estate design client in an influential trade --Secured USA Today article on a charter school graduate’s college success

Chicago, Illinois

Develop and implement communications strategies and activities to achieve the company’s media, public relations, thought leadership and issues management objectives Lead proactive and reactive media relations efforts, awards and speaking programs on behalf of HCSC and its executives

Burr Ridge, Illinois

--Serve as a one-person PR department for this 8,000+ member organization, positioning it as the world’s premier spine society and its spokespeople as thought leaders--Fulfill 100-140 media requests annually from consumer, trade, and analyst outlets--Create materials, including press releases, pitches, articles, annual reports, video and podcast scripts, and social media and web content to promote NASS and its products Highlights:--Managed years-long media interest (Wall Street Journal, New York Times, CNN) in The Spine Journal’s controversial articles about a medical device company’s practices--Co-created a nine-part animated campaign for members’ websites, “9 for Spine,” which has been viewed more than 18,800 times on YouTube. --Host onsite press room for 30+ consumer, trade, and analyst journalists at NASS annual meeting, pitching stories and setting up interviews with spine specialists

Northfield, Illinois

--Created events and materials (press releases, pitches, VNRs, web content, and media training materials) to educate audiences about the critical role of pathologists in health careHighlights:--Pathologists were featured in top media outlets, including “The Today Show” and the New York Times, educating the public about 9/11 victim identification processes--Co-created and promoted reminder program to ensure timely health testing. Featured on local TV news in 30 markets, Ladies’ Home Journal, Good Housekeeping

Built awareness of Alzheimer’s disease and the association through media outreach. Trained spokespeople and created media materials, (press releases, articles, online content, chapter turnkey kits, statements, opinion editorials, and pitches)Highlights: --Collaborated with President Ronald Reagan’s family and an internal team to create a communications plan for his eventual passing from Alzheimer’s disease--Persuaded Newsweek to expand a planned cover story on Alzheimer’s disease to include a sidebar on caregiving and association resources, causing a 300% increase in calls and website traffic

Worked with diverse clients, including the Illinois State Board of Education and Illinois Coalition Against Tobacco, to develop and implement media strategies to achieve their goals Created materials including opinion editorials, pitch letters, brochures, and news releasesHighlights:--Co-created and pitched an event in which inner-city teens counted tobacco ads near their school. The Chicago Sun-Times and WLS-TV stories and public outcry put pressure on the City Council to pass a ban on tobacco advertising near schools.

Supervised a four-person team that worked on a variety of accounts, including Brookfield Zoo, Illinois Family-to-Family Child Care Initiative, and the Illinois Hospital AssociationDeveloped and executed communication strategies to reach clients’ audiences, including lawmakers and local and national media Highlights:--Earned positive coverage for the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy in People and Chicago media by promoting speakers, including Rosa Parks --Wrote and placed persuasive opinion editorials for multiple clients in daily newspapers throughout Illinois to advance their legislative goals