Melody Alexander

Writer • Creative Director • Brand Strategist

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Resume

EXPERIENCE

HALLMARK, Kansas City, MO
Associate Editorial Director, 2017-Current
As an Editorial Director within Hallmark’s Creative Marketing Studio, I oversee a team of writers and editors whose mission is to create marketing that connects our consumers and die-hard fans to the Hallmark brand. I work with other Art Directors, designers, and groups within our company to produce everything from traditional print to digital and email advertising to video to social media.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, Lawrence, KS
Marketing Strategist, 2016-2017
I was responsible for providing creative leadership and strategic thinking for KU’s Marketing Communications group as well as our clients and university partners. I worked alongside our creative teams to ensure projects deliver against goals and objectives. And I worked closely with our clients to represent the creative we develop for their departments, as well as to plan, grow, and innovate the KU brand.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, Lawrence, KS
Associate Creative Director, 2013-2016
Responsibilities included overseeing a team of writers, art directors, and students who are responsible for the KU brand — including the offices of Public Affairs and the Chancellor and Provost offices. I was responsible for the development and delivery of creative strategies and I took part in the creative planning and conceptual direction for our clients’ campaigns, including a new strategic branding campaign for the university. Projects included traditional advertising, radio, TV and video production, digital and email marketing, and social media.

THE UNIVERSITY OF KANSAS, Lawrence, KS
Senior Copywriter, 2011-2013
Responsibilities included research, concepting, copywriting, proofreading, project development, and maintaining the KU brand integrity across a multitude of projects — web, TV, and radio broadcast, direct mail, brochures, and more — to a wide demographic (from teenagers and their parents to alumni to state legislators to leadership at peer institutions, etc.).

DEEP/THE MARLIN NETWORK, Springfield, MO
Copywriter, 2006-2011
Responsibilities included concepting, copywriting, and maintaining the brand voice for clients across a broad spectrum of projects. Projects included advertising, direct mail pieces, brochures, sell sheets, websites, social media, as well as other tactics. Clients: Otis Spunkmeyer, Torani, Everpure, Coffee-mate, Nesquik, the American Heart Assocation, World AIDS Day, Toll House, Dreyer’s, Nescafé.

LITTLETON ADVERTISING & MARKETING, New Bern, NC
Copywriter, 2003-2006
Responsibilities included research, concepting, copywriting, and proofreading for the company’s clientele. Clients: Coldwell Banker, K. Hovnanian Homes, Wakefield Development Company, GSCarolina, the ALS Association, ProVAR, Theo Davis Printing, and City of New Bern.

NEW BERN SUN JOURNAL, New Bern, NC
Assistant Editor of Specialty Publications, 2002-2003
Responsibilities included writing business features and designing layout for specialty publications to support the advertising department for a local newspaper and its regional papers.

CLINTON DAILY JOURNAL, Clinton, IL
Reporter, 1999-2002
Responsibilities included layout, reporting, and column writing for a daily newspaper.

EDUCATION

Master of Science in Journalism and Mass Communications, Expected graduation May 2019
University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS

Bachelor of Arts in Communications, 1999 graduate
Hannibal LaGrange College, Hannibal, MO

AWARDS AND RECOGNITION

Best of Show, Gold, and Silver IHAF Awards, 2018
Regional Gold and Silver ADDY Awards, AAF-KC, 2018
AIGA KC Awards, 2017 and 2018
Silver and Bronze Awards, Telly Awards, 2014, 2015, 2016
Regional Gold, Silver, and Bronze ADDY Awards, Triangle Ad Club, 2005 and 2006
National Finalist and National Winner, Silver Microphone Awards, 2005 and 2006
US Ad Review, 2007
Numerous trade awards for real estate and educational advertising

SPECIAL INTERESTS


KANSAS CITY ROLLER WARRIORS, Kansas City, MO
Head of Marketing and Public Relations, 2012-2016
Working under the Director of Marketing, I helped manage, plan, and execute our league’s marketing and public relations efforts. We worked to develop smart, strategic plans that allow us to connect with and engage our audience in the smartest, most cost-effective manner possible. We coordinated with other league committees to develop PR campaigns, event materials, proposals, and social media content. In this role, I oversaw a team of skaters who help make our goals happen.

VOLUNTEER WORK


AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION, Springfield, MO
Heart Ball probono work, 2008

ALS ASSOCIATION — JIM “CATFISH” HUNTER CHAPTER, Raleigh, NC
Probono work, 2005-2006

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF DEWITT COUNTY, DeWitt County, IL
Big Sister and member of the board, 2000-2002

DEWITT COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, DeWitt County, IL
PR chair/member of the board, 2000-2002

SPEAKING OPPORTUNITIES


69TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COMMUNICATION ASSOCIATION CONFERENCE, Communication Beyond Boundaries, Washington, DC, May, 2019. Topic: We are what we Tweet: An analysis of Twitter content surrounding the 2017 Niger ambush.

WOMEN’S FLAT TRACK DERBY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL CONFERENCE, Fort Lauderdale, FL May, 2013. Topic: Bout Marketing Strategies and Marketing 101.

AAF-KC WEDNESDAY ACCELERATION, Overland Park, KS
December, 2012. Topic: “Major Wins, Minor Budgets: How Three Sports Brands Win Fans.”
Spoke on behalf of the Kansas City Roller Warriors alongside Kansas City T-Bones Baseball and the Renegades Indoor Football.

Instagram

  • Let’s break up, winter. #snow #winter #kansas #lfk #overit
  • Probably the best set of Valentine’s Day cards I’ve EVER gotten. #hallmarklife
  • If I’m the one who buys my son’s clothes and he looks like a cool little beast, that means I have great fashion sense, right?

#instamom #momlife #peanutbutterface #toddlers #toddlersofinstagram #snapseed #acolorstory #shotoniphone #fingerprints #lfk
  • You, my love, are perfection. 
#instamom #lfk #momlife #joy #toddler #toddlersofinstagram #belly
  • Bye, mom!

#instamom #lfk #toddlersofinstagram #momlife #toddlerlife
  • I’m ready for summer.
  • Late-night meeting. Late-night run. 
#momlife #findingtime #fitmom #running #kansascity
  • “Take a picture of us together so you don’t forget about me, okay, Mel-Mel?”
Oh, sweet girl, don’t you know you are unforgettable?
Obviously, I took one anyway. 
#aunting #auntie #auntlife

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