Melissa Watkins
@melissawatkins
Strategic PR and communications leader delivering C-suite counsel, media training, and reputation growth.
What I'm looking for
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
Owner / PR Counsel
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.
Director of Public Relations
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.
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.
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.
Managed public relations, advertising, events and corporate communications, created internal and external newsletters, and increased positive publicity by 200%, earning a Golden Eagle Award.
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.
Education
Degrees, certifications, and relevant coursework
Western Michigan University
Bachelor of Arts, Public Relations
Activities and societies: Press Officer, 1996 Summer Olympics
Completed a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations and served as Press Officer for the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta.
Tech stack
Software and tools used professionally
Availability
Location
Authorized to work in
Job categories
Skills
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