Amber N. Sims

1382Rural Hill Road #164, Antioch, TN37013 (615) 818-0578

OBJECTIVE

  • Obtain a position where I can effectively utilize my skills in writing, media relations and marketing to help achieve company goals and increase visibility among targeted audiences.

PROFILE

  • Bachelor and master’s degrees in Mass Communication, and four years public relations and marketing communications experience.
  • Excellent communicator, both oral and written.
  • Outstanding interpersonal communication, time management and problem resolution skills.
  • Productive individually or as part of a team.

Software: Windows; Microsoft Word, Excel, and Power Point; Adobe Photoshop;

and SiteMason web design software

Public Relations Tools/ Resources: VOCUS, Bacon’s, LexisNexis, Factiva

Communications Experience

Gish, Sherwood & Friends, NashvilleTN 4/08 - Present

Public Relations Account Executive

Major Duties

  • Project management.
  • Act as the primary liaison between the client and Gish, Sherwood & Friends.
  • Development of strategic marketing communications plans.
  • Maintain budgets and monthly client billings.
  • Drafting of news releases, advisories and press kits to support client initiatives.
  • Review and proofingof all reports prepared by Assistant Account Executive and Account Coordinator.
  • Responsible for planning for events, meetings and presentations.

Seigenthaler Public Relations, NashvilleTN 10/06 – 04/08

Account Coordinator

Major Duties

  • Provide media relations and client services to a wide range of local, regional, and national clients.
  • Drafting of news releases, advisories and press kits to support client initiatives.
  • Execution of strategic communication and marketing plans.
  • Extensive internet research and copywriting.
  • Story pitching and follow-up with media.
  • Event support.

VanderbiltUniversity Division of Public Affairs, News Service Office;Nashville, TN 8/05 –10/06
Editorial Assistant II

Major Duties

  • Write, edit and format news releases, media advisories, etc. for distribution.
  • Maintenance of VUCast, the News Service Web site, including posting of releases to the Web.
  • Maintenance of University Calendar Web site.
  • Research data and coordinate production of Re:VU, Vanderbilt’s fact brochure.
  • Write articles for the VanderbiltRegister, the newspaper of the Vanderbilt Community.
  • Generate and execute marketing plan for the University Calendar and its services.
  • Compile daily and monthly news summaries.
  • Supervision of interns.

McNeely Pigott and Fox Public Relations, LLC; Nashville, TN
Intern / 1/05 – 5/05

Major Duties

  • Wrote press releases and media advisories.
  • Provided clipping service.
  • Research.
  • Pitching/media contact.

TennesseeStateUniversity, Office of Public Relations; Nashville, TN
Intern / 8/04 – 12/04

Major Duties

  • Wrote and distributed press releases and media advisories.
  • Compiled and maintained media contact lists.

Additional Work Experience

AmSouth Bank;Nashville, TN
Teller / 6/02 – 8/05

Major Duties

  • Provided superior customer service.
  • Analyzed customer needs and made appropriate product recommendations.

Education

MiddleTennesseeStateUniversity, Murfreesboro, TN

Master of Science in Mass Communication

May 2008

TennesseeStateUniversity, Nashville, TN

Bachelor of Science in Speech Communication and Theater

Mass Communication Concentration, May 2005; GPA 3.754

Full Academic Scholarship; Dean’s List all eight semesters; Graduated Summa Cum Laude

Invited Presentations

Sims, Amber: Political Marketing to the YouTube Generation: A Case Study. Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication Midwinter Conference. Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. February 29-March 1, 2008.

Civic and Professional Involvement

  • VSA Arts of Middle TennesseeBoard Member
  • Public Relations Society of America, Nashville ChapterMember
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, IncorporatedMember

References

  • Available upon request.