Garrett Public Relations >> Michelle Garrett >> Resume

Michelle Messenger Garrett
614-785-7110

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KEY SKILLS

Accomplished writer, editor and public relations professional with more than 19 years of experience.
Winner of International Association of Business Communicators' Silver Quill award for technical writing.
Proven ability to take technical subject matter and communicate it in a fashion understandable to any audience.
Skilled at organizing complex projects, defining project priorities, and delegating tasks.
Demonstrated record of high performance standards, including attention to schedules, deadlines, budgets, and quality work.
Able to communicate and interact effectively with individuals of all levels.
An experienced team player, bringing enthusiasm and energy into group efforts.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Garrett Public Relations Sunnyvale, CA
Consultant/Strategist March 1999 to Present

Independent consultant offering services such as public relations, writing, training, strategy, planning and counsel. Current and former clients include: HP, working with both the storage and enterprise divisions; PlaceWare, a provider of web conferencing and collaboration services, since acquired by Microsoft; Sun Microsystems, working with internal communications; Symantec, working on special projects with the executive vice president of communications; Supplybase, a provider of web-based supply chain management solutions, which was acquired by i2 Technologies in March 2000 in a stock deal valued at $380 million; Arthrocare, a medical technology company; and Trek Aerospace, an aerospace start-up company and producer of the SoloTrek XFV, a personal vertical take-off and landing aircraft.
Developed strategic programs; provided counsel on tactics and strategy; wrote plans, press releases, backgrounders, web scripts, speaking abstracts, newsletter articles and marketing collateral; managed projects, including customer reference and reviews programs; conducted media and analyst relations; provided media training; staffed press meetings; prepared reports; and planned events.

Cunningham Communication Inc. Palo Alto, CA
Account Manager March 1998 to March 1999

Served as account manager on Adobe graphics product division and Hewlett Packard enterprise storage server and high performance server divisions.
Managed three full-time associates, as well as multiple contractors and administrative support, up to a total of nine people at any given time.
Managed annual budget of more than $1million and monthly budget ranging from $60,000-$90,000.
Managed multiple concurrent product launches.
Developed relationships with key press and analysts through media relations and press tours.
Provided strategic counsel to client contacts, including product managers, directors and general managers.
Conducted media training for general manager of HP enterprise storage solutions division.
Developed reviews program approach and managed four concurrent reviews programs with overwhelmingly positive results.
Secured briefings with more than 300 contacts at 182 publications and analyst firms in a six-month period.
Secured more than 280 placements for Adobe graphics products in a six-month period.
Specialized in promoting Adobe Web products, including Photoshop, ImageReady and ImageStyler.
Planned and supported industry trade show efforts, events and conferences, including Web Builder.com, NAB, PC Expo, SIGGRAPH, Seybold and Internet World.
Developed press releases, reports, plans and Q&A documents.
Led weekly team meetings and coached team members daily.
Led and participated in team brainstorms to develop creative product launch ideas.

Silicon Graphics, Inc. Mountain View, CA
Public Relations Specialist April 1997 to March 1998

Developed relationships with key trade press editors and industry analysts, with a focus on those in the manufacturing, CAD, automotive, aerospace/government, AEC, and printing and publishing industries.
Created, pursued and prioritized opportunities for coverage of products and technologies, including application programming interfaces (APIs) such as OpenGL and complex data management (CDM) solutions.
Planned, wrote, edited and coordinated production of press releases and technical white papers; qualified and placed customer application stories.
Managed outside public relations agency relationships.
Managed public relations associate.
Planned and supported industry trade show efforts, events and conferences, including SIGGRAPH and Autofact.
Planned and hosted press visits; responded to media inquiries in a timely and professional manner.

EWI Columbus, OH
Marketing Communications June 1995 to February 1997

Managed projects, including coordination and integration of information and long-range planning and design.
Wrote, edited, designed and produced publications including brochures, newsletters, ads, and case studies for print and electronic media; formulated production schedules and set deadlines.
Developed and launched successful public relations program, including developing press releases and placing articles, to generate publicity and increase visibility.
Created and executed publicity plan to promote international conference, resulting in a 25 percent increase in attendance.
Planned special events including Vice President's Al Gore's visit, as well as trade shows, seminars, receptions and employee functions.

CompuServe Incorporated Columbus, OH
Corporate Communications November 1991 to June 1995

Wrote and edited publications including newsletters, press releases, backgrounders and case studies for international circulation.
Handled media relations for one of world's largest on-line services.
Developed on-line weekly events list and distributed to media contacts via electronic mail.
Spearheaded worldwide customer service newsletter project and served as editor.
Presented customer service training and developed training materials.
Supervised freelance and internal writers; formulated production and assignment schedules.

Ohio Supercomputer Graphics Project Columbus, OH
Project Coordinator March 1989 to November 1991

Directed visualization software product launch and promotion through national publications and the Internet.
Coordinated exhibition at SIGGRAPH for more than 25,000 attendees.
Directed software user group of more than 400 members.
Edited newsletters and technical documentation; wrote proposals, brochures, and articles.
Planned, supervised, coordinated and managed software product distribution.
Managed department operating budget; acted for associate director in his absence.

WOSU-AM-FM-TV Columbus, OH
Development Assistant March 1987 to March 1989

Assisted with fundraising activities, including program underwriting, on-air pledge drives and special events.
Wrote proposals, letters and reports.

EDUCATION

The Ohio State University Columbus, OH
B.A. in Journalism/Public Relations and Political Science
Graduated with honors, Cum Laude.

AFFILIATIONS

2001 President of Silicon Valley Chapter of IABC (International Association of Business Communicators). Served on board two additional years as Vice President of Communications and Past President. 250 members.
Member of Kappa Tau Alpha National Journalism Scholarship Society.

References: Available upon request.

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