top of page

Multimedia, Public Relations, Communications,
Marketing Manager & Content Producer

  • LinkedIn Social Icon

Work Experience:

June 2021 - Current
Communications Manager | Mishawaka-Penn-Harris Public Library - Mishawaka, IN 

  • Manage all social media channels: X, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram.

  • Create social media campaigns and calls-to-action, contests and engage with the audience.

  • Design and oversee external communications, including monthly LibraryAware eNewsletter, radio and TV advertisements.

  • Media liaison duties/answer inquiries from media representatives.

  • Write and distribute press releases and website news articles. 

  • Set up press interviews, gather quotes for print outlets and shoot HD video for TV stations.

  • Manage annual marketing budget.

  • Coordinate promotional marketing calendar to meet the needs of the library.

  • Advise administrators and staff about our brand elements and marketing campaigns.

  • Support and train library staff about AP-style communication standards and techniques.

  • Work directly with vendors to ensure that timelines and budgets are maintained.

  • Manage marketing and public relations efforts to increase awareness and use of library services and programs and increase engagement with cardholders.

  • Manage marketing department personnel.

  • Produce creative material such as animated and still graphics, photography, video and written materials for multimedia storytelling.

June 2014 - June 2021
Marketing Director | Plymouth Community School Corporation - Plymouth, IN 

• Promoted positive school and community relations.
• Served as media liaison and designated spokesperson for the corporation with the media.
• Designed and oversaw external communications, including marketing publications, billboards, radio, TV, and newspaper advertisements.
• Managed all social media channels: Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, Vine, Pinterest and Instagram. 
• Created social media campaigns and calls-to-actions.
• Wrote and distributed press releases and website news articles. 
• Arranged press interviews, gathered quotes for print outlets, shot HD video and provided content for TV stations to use.
• Managed annual marketing department budget. 
• Created and implemented the corporation's promotional marketing calendar.
• Advise administrators and staff on using our brand elements and marketing campaigns. 
• Worked with outside vendors, including designers and printers, to ensure that timelines and budgets were maintained.
• Produced animated and still graphics, photography, video and written material for all multimedia storytelling.
• Monitored news media daily and maintained news coverage files for the corporation's websites.
• Advised administration in corporation crises involving media coverage.
• Produced Spotlight on Learning video report for the monthly school board meeting.

Teaching Aspect: 
• 2014-15 - Taught one-hour of Interactive Media Marketing
• 2015-16 - Taught one-hour of Career Information & Exploration Marketing & three-hour Radio/TV CTE dual college credit course

• 2016-17 - Taught one-hour of Career Information & Exploration Marketing & 1.5-hour Radio/TV CTE dual college credit course

• 2017-20 - Taught one-hour of Career Information & Exploration Marketing & 1.5-hour Radio/TV CTE dual college credit course

• 2020-21 - Full-time marketing teacher plus taught 1.5-hour Radio/TV CTE dual college credit course

Feb. 2014 - June 2014
Communication Specialist | Nautic Global Group - Elkhart, IN 

• Served as point of contact for the media.
• Maintained and managed corporate advertising calendar.
• Tracked social media analytics.
• Wrote press releases, dealer bulletins and monthly newsletters via Constant Contact.
• Assisted with digital campaigns for Facebook pages, Owners Clubs sites, online communities and blogs.
• Assisted with presentation materials such as product training, dealer councils, dealer meetings and internal presentations for various meetings.
• Assisted as needed in all marketing functions, including brand/product development, marketing materials development, organization of image and video assets, promotions and budget tracking.
• Plan annual multi-million dollar dealer meeting.

Nov. 2013 - May 2015
On-Air Correspondent (Freelance) | WNIT PBS Public Television - South Bend, IN 

• Live correspondent for various community special televised events, including South Bend's 150th anniversary coverage.

• Experience Michiana weekly TV show on-air correspondent.

• Michiana Rising Star Season II and III on-air correspondent.

• Operated Dejero live GoBox for live remote cut-ins at various community events.

• Set up, shot, wrote and edited 3-4 minute human interest documentary-style multimedia storytelling segments for Experience Michiana.

May 2012 - Aug. 2013
Multimedia Journalist MMJ | ABC 57 News

• Brought ample leadable story ideas to the table daily. 
• Collaborated with the team to produce compelling news content.
• Arranged, shot and edited daily news stories while preserving accuracy, urgency and integrity.
• Cultivated sources among local and federal agencies, advocacy groups, legal experts, and others to break news and drive coverage.
• Adapted quickly to breaking news priorities.
• Operated LiveU backpack for multiple daily liveshots.
• Produced daily recap radio story for 95.3 MNC FM, wrote and posted daily web stories.
• Posted multiple times daily on social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.

Aug. 2008 - June 2012
TV Broadcasting Instructor | South Bend Community School Corporation - South Bend, IN 

• Indiana Occupational Teacher’s License - grades: 9-12
• CTE TV broadcasting teacher for all South Bend High Schools
• Educated students about all aspects of the TV broadcasting industry.
• Established networking opportunities to help students create contacts to help bridge career opportunities.
• Students received three dual college credit hours for successfully completing the first year and four dual college credit hours for successfully completing the second year of a TV program.
• The TV broadcasting teaching position was eliminated in August 2012 due to budget reductions.

Jan. 2007 - Aug. 2008
Public Relations Specialist | South Bend Community School Corporation - South Bend, IN 

• Worked directly under the superintendent to promote positive news within the school corporation through print, TV, radio and website.
• Produced dozens of short narrated video stories for the website, also seen on flatscreen TV monitors with closed captioning at all SBCSC school's atrium area and at all Martin's Supermarket stores across Michiana in the checkout lanes.
• Tripled the number of volunteer mentors by creating and executing an awareness marketing campaign.
• Produced in full a series of public service announcements (PSAs) that aired on local and cable TV stations, radio stations and the SBCSC website.
• Set up press conferences, coordinated media interviews, gathered quotes and photos for print outlets that could not be present, and shot and supplied HD video to TV stations that could not be present to cover SBCSC events.
• Some of my SBCSC video samples can be viewed on YouTube.
• Position was eliminated in August 2008. I was repositioned to the TV broadcasting teacher position above.

Jan. 2003 - Nov. 2007
Television News Reporter | WNDU TV - South Bend, IN 

• Brought story ideas to the table daily.
• Maintained credible confidential sources.
• Executed multiple daily news live shots in the field, the newsroom and/or on set.
• Collaborated with team: worked closely with producers and other news associates to produce high-quality and compelling news content.
• WNDU spokesperson for the "Do the Right Thing" St. Joseph County Sheriff's Dept. children's program.
• Appeared at various community events as a guest speaker.

Nov. 2001-02
Crime & Court TV News Reporter | WZZM 13 - Grand Rapids, MI

• Covered homicides, shootings, robberies, high-profile arrests, court cases and breaking news. 
• Maintained credible confidential sources.
• Executed multiple daily news live shots in the field, the newsroom and/or on set.
• Arranged interviews; wrote daily news stories.

Nov. 1999-01
Cadillac Bureau Chief | WPBN/WTOM 7&4 News - Traverse City, MI

• Responsible for a seven-county area.
• Brought story ideas to the table daily.
• Maintained credible confidential sources.
• Set up and shot daily interviews.
• Researched facts, wrote, edited video, set up daily bureau liveshots.
• Wrote articles for the annual 7&4's Seasonal Outdoor Guide.

Education:

B.A. Mass Communication - Indiana University South Bend

Website created by Judi Lykowski

bottom of page