Open to opportunities

Melissa Watkins

@melissawatkins

Message

Strategic PR and communications leader delivering C-suite counsel, media training, and reputation growth.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek senior communications or PR leadership roles where I can provide strategic counsel, media training, crisis management, and measurable earned-media growth in collaborative, mission-driven teams.

I am a communications consultant with over a decade of experience building, managing and protecting reputations for startups, Fortune 500s and agencies. I deliver C-suite level insight and executional excellence across PR, integrated marketing and crisis response.

As owner and principal of Out Box Communications, I have led communications execution for almost 100 organizations and served as Mid-Atlantic agency of record for UScellular for 21+ years, earning awards and national placements. I specialize in media relations, executive visibility, thought leadership amplification and crisis communications.

I partner with marketing teams to craft measurable integrated campaigns, provide media training and strategic counsel, and drive earned media that increases sales, visibility and stakeholder engagement.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Owner / PR Counsel

Current

Out Box Communications

Feb 2002 - Present (23 years 10 months)

Founded and led a PR consultancy delivering integrated communications, media relations, crisis counsel and executive media training for ~100 clients, serving as Mid-Atlantic agency of record for UScellular for 21+ years and consistently exceeding media placement targets.

Public Relations Strategy Media Relations Crisis Communications Thought Leadership Content Strategy Community Relations

Current

Director of Public Relations

Current

Amsterland

Aug 2022 - Present (3 years 4 months)

Drive earned media and lifestyle PR for national consumer brands (including Wondercide), increasing earned media placements 206% in 2023 and 93% in 2024 and contributing to a 33% sales lift for key product launches.

Earned Media Campaign Strategy Influencer Relations Cross Channel PR

Public Relations Manager

The Home Depot

Jan 1999 - Dec 2002 (3 years 11 months)

Built the PR division for The Home Depot’s interior design business, managed a $500K budget and agency relationships, and drove 700M+ impressions in under two years via national media coverage and community events.

Budget Management Agency Management Events Campaign Execution Stakeholder Engagement

Marketing & Communications Manager

Georgia-Pacific

Jun 1998 - Nov 1999 (1 year 5 months)

Planned and executed integrated marketing campaigns for structural panels and engineered lumber divisions, managed a $6M budget and agency relationships, and led a product campaign that sold out railcar shipments.

Integrated Marketing Budget Management Merchandising Campaign Management Product Marketing Sales Enablement

Marketing & PR Manager

Equifax

Nov 1995 - May 1998 (2 years 6 months)

Managed public relations, advertising, events and corporate communications, created internal and external newsletters, and increased positive publicity by 200%, earning a Golden Eagle Award.

Corporate Communications PR Events Internal Communications Media Relations Newsletter Production Brand Management

Associate Account Executive

Biggs-Gilmore Communications

Jan 1993 - Sep 1995 (2 years 8 months)

Managed advertising, direct mail, marketing and PR for major clients including Upjohn Animal Health, supported a $2M ad revenue account and coordinated an international product launch.