Open to opportunities

Michele Sewart

@michelesewart

Communications leader at Executive Director, Inc., directing employee and community communications that advance organizational purpose.

United States

Message

At Executive Director, Inc., I direct integrated employee and external communications across print, web, social media, and earned media. I partner with senior leadership on messaging and lead communications that build relationships with community stakeholders.

At Sheboygan Area School District, I served as project manager and communications lead for a district-wide SharePoint initiative to modernize internal communications. I also developed programs to build community trust and measured their effectiveness.

At Missouri Department of Transportation, I served as communications project lead and public information officer for a bistate traffic management and incident response center. I designed a community safety education program and managed a $100,000+ marketing budget and agency partnership.

Earlier, I led an employee communications transformation at Applebee's Services International and initiated an intranet redesign at MoDOT that became the statewide standard. As owner and senior communications consultant at Write Pen Communications, I developed research-based strategies and content for clients including H&R Block and Sprint. I'm PMP-certified.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Senior Communications Manager

Current

Executive Director, Inc.

Apr 2021 - Present (5 years 6 months)

Develops and directs integrated employee and external communications strategies across print, web, social media, and earned media. Serves as strategic communications partner to senior leadership and oversees multi-channel content development.

Employee Communications Community Engagement Executive Communication Multichannel Content Development Stakeholder Management Social Media Strategy Media Relations Project Management SharePoint WordPress Google Analytics Hootsuite Adobe Creative Suite

Senior Communications Specialist

Sheboygan Area School District

Nov 2019 - Mar 2021 (1 year 4 months)

Served as project manager and communications lead for a district-wide SharePoint internal communications initiative. Developed and executed strategic employee and public communications programs to build community trust.

Project Management SharePoint Internal Communications Public Communications Social Media Media Relations Data Analysis

Senior Communications Specialist / Public Information Officer

Missouri Department of Transportation

May 2013 - Oct 2019 (6 years 5 months)

Served as communications project lead and PIO for a bistate traffic management and incident response center. Developed and implemented integrated marketing, social media, and employee communications strategies, and managed a $100,000+ marketing budget.

Public Information Crisis Communications Marketing Social Media Employee Communications Community Engagement Budget Management Vendor Management Video Production Storytelling

Communications Project Manager

Applebee's Services International

Jan 2012 - May 2013 (1 year 4 months)

Led an enterprise-wide employee communications transformation initiative from requirements gathering through launch. Designed and delivered a multi-modal employee training and communications program, significantly increasing platform adoption.

Project Management Change Communications Training Webinars Stakeholder Engagement Communications Strategy

Owner / Senior Communications Consultant

Write Pen Communications

Feb 2003 - Jan 2009 (5 years 11 months)

Served as strategic communications consultant to a diverse client roster including H&R Block, Sprint, and the American College of Clinical Pharmacy. Delivered research-based communications strategies, content development, web design, and copyediting.

Communications Strategy Content Development Web Design Copy Editing Customer Relationship Management Project Management

Assistant Public Relations Manager

H&R Block

Mar 2004 - Apr 2006 (2 years 1 month)

Developed executive communications including on-brand messaging, talking points, and speeches for senior management. Contributed to intranet redesign and content strategy, improving employee information access and platform engagement.

Executive Communication Speechwriting Intranet Redesign Content Strategy Employee Engagement

Communications Specialist

National Association of Insurance Commissioners

Aug 2001 - Feb 2003 (1 year 6 months)

Led development of internal employee communications programs including an online employee newsletter. Served as a primary public relations resource for national media during high-profile situations following September 11, 2001.

Internal Communications Internal Newsletters Public Relations Media Relations Crisis Communications

Associate Editor, Women in Business Magazine

American Business Women's Association

Jun 1998 - Aug 2000 (2 years 2 months)

Developed editorial calendar, wrote cover stories and feature articles in AP Style, coordinated layout and publishing schedules, and created publicity materials for internal and external audiences.

Editorial Planning Writing Editing AP Style Layout Publishing Publicity