Wendy S. Knowles Email & Phone Number

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

• Plan, develop, and implement the PR strategies for brands and product categories for North America to cultivate media relations, engage target audiences and increase brand awareness• Execute all communications for product launches, events, promotions, retail stores, partners, etc.• Manage brand and product media outreach for stories, features, reviews, interviews, etc. through various channels (print, web, YouTube, podcasts, and social media channels)• Establish and maintain key relationships with all press, influencers, and brand partners• Research, write, and distribute press releases to targeted media• Organize and secure press meetings during trade shows and consumer events• Compile, analyze, and present reports to C-Suite• Play strong, senior strategic role with VP and cross-functionally with other departments, including marketing, events, product specialists, creative and social media

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

• Consulted and developed marketing and PR strategies to execute projects, campaigns, and launches for local and national clients, totaling over 15 brands• Oversaw all PR for two tech startups and handled media relations for eight other national tech and consumer brands• Secured top-tier national clients through Request for Proposal (RFP) that included strategy, launch events, media relations, and annual PR plans• Developed a thought leadership campaign for a lawyer client of a local PR agency• Secured trade coverage through media relations for two national PR agencies• Assisted in the development of a grant program for nonprofit EarthShare’s NGOs with NRG Energy, Inc.

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

• Created and executed all PR activities as day-to-day client contact for up to seven clients in the consumer electronics and technology industry• Client consultant for developing strategy, messaging, media relations campaigns, product launches, media tours, special events, and trade shows• Developed and maintained relationships with journalists at top national outlets to generate maximum media coverage for brand awareness and sales• Brought in new clients and supported business development in pitch presentations• Managed and mentored an Account Executive

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Appointed by the Board of Directors as Co-Chair of the Events Committee• Responsible for developing, planning, and executing annual events• Oversaw all event details, including committee meetings, timelines, budgets, ticket sales, marketing, promotion, and social media• Managed event logistics, including venue, vendors, and volunteers• Assisted the Board Members in securing sponsorships to reach fundraising goals• Helped raise over $70K for the women of Dress for Success Tampa Bay

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Managed, coached, supervised, and provided ongoing development to a team of full-time National Training Operations Managers• Mastered all concepts surrounding relationship marketing and 1:1 consumer engagement with a thorough understanding of consumer marketing brand strategies• Delivered and supported full-time employee orientations, as well as provided in-market and remote training as needed for all field employees• Developed, maintained, and supported all training content for full-time and part-time employees

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Oversaw all aspects of a relationship marketing campaign for a Fortune 500 client, including every facet of program implementation and execution in multiple markets across the country• Led the launch of a new product in Denver and Salt Lake City which then became the model for a national launch in 18 markets• Led the 2012 Most Successful Business Unit in the country, including improving the Miami market from 22nd to the 2nd most successful market within one year• Analyzed quantitative and qualitative market dynamic reports to ensure alignment with program strategies to attain all goals• Gathered program insights including competitive activity to develop best practices and to champion communication with the client in determining market priorities and opportunities for program execution

Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida Area

• Oversaw management for GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) NASCAR PR accounts (i.e., Nicorette, Commit, NicoDerm CQ, Goody's), which included relationships with Jeff Gordon, Tony Stewart, Richard Petty, NASCAR, ISC, and SMI; these activities served as the primary promotion for the Smoking Control NASCAR program• Developed and activated strategic PR plans to maximize media exposure for GSK rights/assets in support of the Official sponsorship of NASCAR and Jeff Gordon driver sponsorship with Nicorette • Established strategic PR and pre-race plans for the 2009 Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup race, including securing the 500 Grand Marshal program and official Grand Marshal and Honorary Starter country music superstar Trace Adkins• Generated over 997MM media impressions for the 2009 Goody’s Fast Pain Relief 500 NASCAR Cup race

Miami, Fl

• Managed the development, coordination, execution, and supervision of all local events and promotions including sponsorship sales, budgets, and PR• Led creative planning and development of events in the market to attain client goals• Proactively created a strategic events calendar for 944 produced and sponsored events

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

• Oversaw corporate marketing programs and initiatives for Village Voice Media, 16 papers nationwide, including database building, Street Team programs and vehicle sponsorships, event development, execution, and sponsorship sales• Expanded brand awareness tactics, sales, market penetration, and non-traditional revenue through the development and execution of new signature events, including Dining Out For Life, Rum Shaker, South Florida Dining Awards, Miami’s 50 Savviest Singles, and Artopia• Led sales team training and development for sponsorship sales, event sales, and added value programs to increase ad sales revenue• Directed the Street Team, a grassroots marketing program (15-20 people), including staffing, budget, payroll, scheduling, and purchasing of all promotional items• Increased business and revenue through innovative and cost-effective promotional, added-value, and third-party programs (i.e., Street Team, CD compilations, swag bags, scratch cards, Eat With Us, movie screenings, website, e-blasts, enter to win, etc.)

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

• Led all marketing, advertising, and promotion plans with NASCAR, Indy Racing League, and Grand-American Road Racing race series marketing staff• Created integrated marketing and promotional programs through local and national media partners, and official race corporate partners with a focus on selling tickets• Spearheaded production of concepts, creative and all advertising (i.e., print, online, radio, TV, billboards, street pole banners) for NASCAR, Indy Racing League, and Grand-American Road Racing events• Developed several off-site promotions, including show car and driver appearances, NASCAR Championship Trophy Tour, Media Challenge and Racefest• Responsible for budget, media selection, and promotions for NASCAR, Indy Racing League, and Grand-American Road Racing media plans• Developed, coordinated, and executed all pre-race and post-race activities during NASCAR, Indy Racing League, and Grand-American Road Racing events

• Assisted with the production of Marketing Department collateral and media buying• Assisted with TicketMaster and other individual-game ticket sales initiatives• Coordinated the production of the monthly newsletter, Baselines• Oversaw the official team fan clubs, Diamond Club and Kids Club• Coordinated fan club's membership sales, member benefits, and special events

• Responsible for event management and production of special events• Worked with Promise Keepers, Rolling Stones, Blessing '97, and 1998 AHL All-Star Game• Other events included WHFS Festival, Tibetan Freedom Festival, and the 1998 Spice Girls US Tour• Production Coordinator for the 1998 New York State Fair (Syracuse, NY) grandstand concert series

• Responsible for all marketing, promotions and ticketing plans and budgets• Generated revenue through advertising, sponsorships, ticket sales and promotions• Performed game day management duties for all home athletic events• Supervised game management staff, including the official table, ticket office, security, ushers, cheerleaders, dance squad, students, interns, halftime entertainment, and volunteer staff• Handled Promotions and Tickets for 1996 NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships• Tournament Manager for men’s basketball and women's basketball conference championships• Tournament Manager for two baseball conference championships• Coordinator of the Cablevision Excellence in Sports youth clinics• Coordinator of the Wendy's "Go to School to be Cool" program with Volusia County Schools• Coordinator of the Athletic Department Speakers Bureau• Advisor, NCAA Student-Athlete Representative Committee and The Varsity Club

• Assisted with the publicity and media relations for 15 intercollegiate teams• Produced media guides, press releases, game notes and newsletters• Primary contact for women's basketball, softball, men's and women's soccer, tennis and crew• Tournament Manager for women’s basketball and softball tournaments• Responsible for the production of the Affiliate, a monthly newsletter for athletic alumni

Master Of Science (M.S.), S.I. Newhouse School Of Public Communications And Whitman School Of Management

Activities and Societies: Graduate Assistant for Athletic Department2-year course of study in conjunction with MBA program, Whitman School.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Communications

Activities and Societies: Intern with FSU football and baseball programs Student Government