Resume
Amy Soper
soperamy@hotmail.com
linkedin.com/in/amysoper
Marketing | Communications | Digital Strategy | Writing | Editing
soperamy@hotmail.com
linkedin.com/in/amysoper
Marketing | Communications | Digital Strategy | Writing | Editing
I'm a storyteller with the proven ability to deliver messages that connect and sell. I’ve enjoyed a successful career as a newspaper reporter, led the implementation of inbound and digital marketing strategies for the Priority Health Medicare product development team and managed the production of content designed to engage prospective students and other stakeholders. I’m seeking a position that allows me to employ my writing, creativity and organizational skills as part of a collaborative team.
Professional Experience
Marketing Communications Specialist, July 2017 to Present
University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
• Plan, write, edit and publish marketing content that drives undergraduate student recruitment for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through a variety of channels including brochures, newsletters, email, websites, videos and social media. • Serve on the agvisors communications subgroup to plan, coordinate, and staff student engagement events.
• Within my first nine months in this position, freshman applications to the college for the fall semester of 2018 increased by 29 percent compared to the same nine-month application period for the fall of 2017. Applications increased by 27 percent compared to the same nine-month application period for the fall semester of 2016.
Assistant Director of Creative Services, June 2014 to October 2016
Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
• Managed the creation of content that communicated the value of CMU to students and other stakeholders. Projects ranged from generating recruitment communications, to planning radio and television scripts, to writing and editing newsletters.
• Served as a member of the implementation team responsible for launching CMU's "Put Your Stamp on the World" marketing campaign on March 1, 2015. I collaborate with a University Communications team to produce advertisements, radio and television scripts, website copy, billboards, banners and other materials. In its first month, the campaign generated more than 29.6 million impressions.
Senior Communications Specialist, August 2011 to May 2014
Communications Specialist, June 2010 to August 2011
Priority Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Collaborated with team members to develop strategic plans and messaging that contributed to year-over-year enrollment increases in Priority Health Medicare. In both 2012 and 2013, Priority Health individual Medicare Advantage plans achieved the largest market share of these types of plans in Michigan.
• Implemented inbound marketing and lead nurturing campaigns using HubSpot and other online tools. Responsible for developing strategy, writing and editing content, creating landing pages, working with vendors on the design of downloadable materials and integrating these efforts with multiple platforms to optimize search results.
• Planned, wrote and edited marketing communications (direct mail, brochures, web copy, advertising, social media messages, etc.) for government programs including Medicare, Medicaid and MIChild.
• Key contributor to the planning, writing and publishing of Medicare Explained at prioritymedicare.com. This section of the website was designed to help people who are eligible for Medicare understand their options and make it easy for them to choose a Priority Health Medicare plan.
Copywriter, March 2006 to March 2009
Bolger + Battle, Inc., Midland, Michigan
• Solved client challenges by listening to their needs and proposing effective and creative solutions that used a variety of tactics including direct mail, websites, email, speeches, trade shows, radio spots, newsletters and videos.
• Wrote an award-winning Flash video script on behalf of a Dow Chemical Company business. The video was broadcast at international trade shows.
• Created a brand advertising campaign and collateral for the H hotel and its three restaurants. The hotel is now recognized for its high level of luxury and is a regional destination for meetings and special events.
• Produced a marketing communications plan and wrote promotional copy to support the re-branding of Pizza Sam’s following a closure for renovations. As a result, Pizza Sam’s expanded its clientele and became a popular spot to watch “the big game,” enjoy a family meal or meet friends for a drink.
Public Safety Reporter, February 2005 to March 2006
The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Managed coverage of public safety issues including criminal court cases, police and fire news and investigative pieces.
• Coordinated on-location coverage of Hurricane Katrina on behalf of Knight Ridder Newspapers and The News-Sentinel for two weeks in the aftermath of the 2005 storm. I wrote multiple daily stories and provided on-air reports via phone for Northeast Indiana Public Radio, a National Public Radio affiliate.
• Selected as one of about 20 journalists from across the United States to receive specialized homeland security training that involved meeting with high-ranking leaders including the U.S. Assistant Attorney General.
• Appeared as an expert on Court TV and was interviewed by a Cable News Network (CNN) producer in 2005 to provide insight into a quadruple murder and rape I covered that made national headlines.
Education Reporter, February 2002 to February 2005
Part-Time Web Editor (casual/contract), April 2009 to October 2009
Midland Daily News, Midland, Michigan
• Led news coverage of education issues with investigative reports, articles about area school boards and features for publication in the daily newspaper.
• Posted stories and photos to ourMidland.com and sent daily news digest to subscribers.
• Organized storyboards, assigned stories, collaborated with the photo editor and supervised progress to ensure publication of annual Back To School section, which increased both advertising dollars and readership.
• Interviewed and mentored candidates for summer reporting internships and Hearst Newspapers fellowships.
Reporter, October 2000 to February 2002
The Morning Sun, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
• Researched and wrote about township government and police news as assigned.
Education and Government Reporter, January 2000 to October 2000
Cadillac Evening News, Cadillac, Michigan
• Served as a Jill-of-all-trades by reporting on Wexford County schools and government, writing obituaries, taking photographs and both editing and designing the Sunday sports section.
University of Arizona, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Tucson, Arizona
• Plan, write, edit and publish marketing content that drives undergraduate student recruitment for the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences through a variety of channels including brochures, newsletters, email, websites, videos and social media. • Serve on the agvisors communications subgroup to plan, coordinate, and staff student engagement events.
• Within my first nine months in this position, freshman applications to the college for the fall semester of 2018 increased by 29 percent compared to the same nine-month application period for the fall of 2017. Applications increased by 27 percent compared to the same nine-month application period for the fall semester of 2016.
Assistant Director of Creative Services, June 2014 to October 2016
Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
• Managed the creation of content that communicated the value of CMU to students and other stakeholders. Projects ranged from generating recruitment communications, to planning radio and television scripts, to writing and editing newsletters.
• Served as a member of the implementation team responsible for launching CMU's "Put Your Stamp on the World" marketing campaign on March 1, 2015. I collaborate with a University Communications team to produce advertisements, radio and television scripts, website copy, billboards, banners and other materials. In its first month, the campaign generated more than 29.6 million impressions.
Senior Communications Specialist, August 2011 to May 2014
Communications Specialist, June 2010 to August 2011
Priority Health, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Collaborated with team members to develop strategic plans and messaging that contributed to year-over-year enrollment increases in Priority Health Medicare. In both 2012 and 2013, Priority Health individual Medicare Advantage plans achieved the largest market share of these types of plans in Michigan.
• Implemented inbound marketing and lead nurturing campaigns using HubSpot and other online tools. Responsible for developing strategy, writing and editing content, creating landing pages, working with vendors on the design of downloadable materials and integrating these efforts with multiple platforms to optimize search results.
• Planned, wrote and edited marketing communications (direct mail, brochures, web copy, advertising, social media messages, etc.) for government programs including Medicare, Medicaid and MIChild.
• Key contributor to the planning, writing and publishing of Medicare Explained at prioritymedicare.com. This section of the website was designed to help people who are eligible for Medicare understand their options and make it easy for them to choose a Priority Health Medicare plan.
Copywriter, March 2006 to March 2009
Bolger + Battle, Inc., Midland, Michigan
• Solved client challenges by listening to their needs and proposing effective and creative solutions that used a variety of tactics including direct mail, websites, email, speeches, trade shows, radio spots, newsletters and videos.
• Wrote an award-winning Flash video script on behalf of a Dow Chemical Company business. The video was broadcast at international trade shows.
• Created a brand advertising campaign and collateral for the H hotel and its three restaurants. The hotel is now recognized for its high level of luxury and is a regional destination for meetings and special events.
• Produced a marketing communications plan and wrote promotional copy to support the re-branding of Pizza Sam’s following a closure for renovations. As a result, Pizza Sam’s expanded its clientele and became a popular spot to watch “the big game,” enjoy a family meal or meet friends for a drink.
Public Safety Reporter, February 2005 to March 2006
The News-Sentinel, Fort Wayne, Indiana
• Managed coverage of public safety issues including criminal court cases, police and fire news and investigative pieces.
• Coordinated on-location coverage of Hurricane Katrina on behalf of Knight Ridder Newspapers and The News-Sentinel for two weeks in the aftermath of the 2005 storm. I wrote multiple daily stories and provided on-air reports via phone for Northeast Indiana Public Radio, a National Public Radio affiliate.
• Selected as one of about 20 journalists from across the United States to receive specialized homeland security training that involved meeting with high-ranking leaders including the U.S. Assistant Attorney General.
• Appeared as an expert on Court TV and was interviewed by a Cable News Network (CNN) producer in 2005 to provide insight into a quadruple murder and rape I covered that made national headlines.
Education Reporter, February 2002 to February 2005
Part-Time Web Editor (casual/contract), April 2009 to October 2009
Midland Daily News, Midland, Michigan
• Led news coverage of education issues with investigative reports, articles about area school boards and features for publication in the daily newspaper.
• Posted stories and photos to ourMidland.com and sent daily news digest to subscribers.
• Organized storyboards, assigned stories, collaborated with the photo editor and supervised progress to ensure publication of annual Back To School section, which increased both advertising dollars and readership.
• Interviewed and mentored candidates for summer reporting internships and Hearst Newspapers fellowships.
Reporter, October 2000 to February 2002
The Morning Sun, Mount Pleasant, Michigan
• Researched and wrote about township government and police news as assigned.
Education and Government Reporter, January 2000 to October 2000
Cadillac Evening News, Cadillac, Michigan
• Served as a Jill-of-all-trades by reporting on Wexford County schools and government, writing obituaries, taking photographs and both editing and designing the Sunday sports section.
Education
MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY – East Lansing, MI – B.S., Journalism
DELTA COLLEGE – University Center, MI – A.A., Liberal Arts
DELTA COLLEGE – University Center, MI – A.A., Liberal Arts
Awards, Training and Volunteer Work
Awards:
• Platinum Award finalist, Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit, 2013.
• Silver Addy Award, Flash video script about natural oil polyols, 2008.
• Best Deadline Reporting – Single Story, third place, Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Best of Indiana Journalism Contest, 2006.
• Michigan School Bell Award, nominated by Midland County teachers, 2004.
• Series, Special Sections and Special Projects, third place, Association of Food Journalists’ Awards Competition, 2003.
Training:
• Improving Your Strategic Recruitment Communications Plan conference, Academic Impressions, 2015.
• Supervision Excellence certificate, completed 48 hours of leadership training, 2015.
• Inbound marketing certification, HubSpot Academy, 2013.
• Internet Marketing for Smart People, completed 20-lesson online course, 2012.
• Inside Grand Rapids alumna, program for new leaders offered by the Center for Community Leadership, Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.
• Health Care Advocacy Day, represented MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland volunteers, 2010.
• Knight Center for Specialized Journalism Fellowship, homeland security, 2005.
Volunteer Work:
• Pathways to Academic Student Success mentor, CMU, 2014 and 2015.
• Guest and Patient Services, MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, 2009 and 2010.
• Writing Center tutor, Delta College, 2008.
• Platinum Award finalist, Marketing and Sales Executives of Detroit, 2013.
• Silver Addy Award, Flash video script about natural oil polyols, 2008.
• Best Deadline Reporting – Single Story, third place, Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists’ Best of Indiana Journalism Contest, 2006.
• Michigan School Bell Award, nominated by Midland County teachers, 2004.
• Series, Special Sections and Special Projects, third place, Association of Food Journalists’ Awards Competition, 2003.
Training:
• Improving Your Strategic Recruitment Communications Plan conference, Academic Impressions, 2015.
• Supervision Excellence certificate, completed 48 hours of leadership training, 2015.
• Inbound marketing certification, HubSpot Academy, 2013.
• Internet Marketing for Smart People, completed 20-lesson online course, 2012.
• Inside Grand Rapids alumna, program for new leaders offered by the Center for Community Leadership, Fall 2010 and Spring 2011.
• Health Care Advocacy Day, represented MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland volunteers, 2010.
• Knight Center for Specialized Journalism Fellowship, homeland security, 2005.
Volunteer Work:
• Pathways to Academic Student Success mentor, CMU, 2014 and 2015.
• Guest and Patient Services, MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, 2009 and 2010.
• Writing Center tutor, Delta College, 2008.
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