Pius Awuagha
Harrisburg
Summary
Skilled public relations officer with over 10 years of experience in fostering positive relationships between organizations and media. Strong communication skills and confident presentation abilities to deliver promotional campaigns, media addresses, crisis management and reports to executive management. Committed to providing organizations with positive interactions with the media to maintain reputation, strengthen consumer loyalty and establish credibility.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Public Relations Officer
Highwire Public Relations
11.2017 - Current
- Facilitate inquiries and requests from media outlets, verify the legitimacy of sources and collaborate with colleagues on content development.
- Write information-rich content to pitch to the public in promotional offers and campaigns by interviewing shareholders, community members and product consumers.
- Create factually correct and professionally written responses to crisis situations to uphold organizational integrity and maintain character and reputation, preventing loss and saving up to $500,000.
- Manage the expenditures of the communications department and ensure that all campaigns stay within budget.
PR Assistant
Deseret Digital Media
08.2013 - 10.2017
- Worked with colleagues to address media coverage and promotional opportunities, create publicity campaigns with a value of $70,000 and identify improvements in communications.
- Assisted in designing and executing nearly 20 promotional campaigns to build product awareness, garner positive media attention and boost the company's reputation.
- Wrote press materials and delivered presentations to media representatives.
PR Intern
Silverline Communications
09.2012 - 07.2013
- Utilized social media outlets to increase customer followers by posting relevant messages, interesting product facts and blurbs about upcoming developments and promotions, helping increased the engagement rate from 1% to 3%.
- Researched and collected data for use in press releases about a new product line released during the winter of 2012.
- Assisted during the presentation of four different promotional campaigns and met the deadlines and budget requirements for each one.
Education
Master of Arts - Communication
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTBachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UTSkills
- Strategic thinking
- Research
- Media outreach
- Market research
- MS Office
- CMS expertise
- Teamwork
- Interpersonal skills
Conference Presentations
- PR, Social and Traditional Communication Conference – (2022)
- Crisis Management Today – (2021)
- Public Relations and Cultural Awareness; Talking to Different Markets – (2021)
- TOPO Summit 2019: "Reflecting, Rethinking, and Redefining Strategies and Tactics to Grow Revenue Faster" – (2019)
Conference Attendance
- Public Relations Today – (2022)
- The Future of Conferences and Events: A PR Planner's View – (2021)
- Five Steps to Hold a Virtual Press Conference – (2020)
- Crisis Communication and Strategic PR – (2019)
- Women in PR and Communication – (2018)
Honors and Awards
- Commended for consistently strong writing skills in researching, drafting, editing and organizing content for release to media. (2019-Current)
- CLARION Awards, AWC, Public Relations One-time Campaign Finalist – (2018)
Professional Affiliations and Memberships
- The Public Relations Society of America - (2022)
- Association for Women in Communications - (2021)
- National Communication Association - (2019)
Certifications and Licenses
- Certificate in Strategic Media Communications - (2021)
- Public Relations Strategy Certificate - (2019)
- Digital Marketing Certification - (2018)
- Accredited Business Communicator (ABC) - (2017)
Hobbies and Interests
I volunteer twice a month at the local YMCA, where I teach youth the basics of writing and public speaking. I am an avid runner and have completed five marathons in the last two years. I enjoy photography and baking.
Profession Relevant Skills
- Strong written and oral communications skills to write and edit content, pitch and deliver promotional offers and collaborate with media for positive publicity.
- Creative self-starter who can take information and transform it into something unique, authentic and memorable.
- Skilled at using technology and social media to increase sales and build brand awareness and educate customers about product offerings.
- Proven organization and time management skills and an understanding of effective financial practices to guarantee that all campaigns are delivered on time and within budget.
- Innovative problem-solver who can find solutions to unexpected crises, which positions the company as a responsible leader that is committed to full disclosure and trustworthiness.
- Profound understanding of the importance of good publicity, reputation management and timely response to PR inquiries in the development and success of an organization.
Timeline
Public Relations Officer
Highwire Public Relations
11.2017 - Current
PR Assistant
Deseret Digital Media
08.2013 - 10.2017
PR Intern
Silverline Communications
09.2012 - 07.2013
Master of Arts - Communication
University of Utah
Bachelor of Arts - Communication
University of Utah
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