SAMANTHA LEONORE MENDAROS

Phone | 408 427 4403 Email | samantha.mendaros@gmail.com Website |samanthamendaros.com Twitter | @smendaros

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Corporate Communications Fellow | Ketchum Inc. June 2013 to Present (San Francisco, CA) Provides key support for major accounts on the west coast, including the United States Farmers & Ranchers Alliance, Biotechnology Industry Organization, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Chase Sapphire Preferred and Walmart Sustainability: Involved in all major functions of public relations, including: Brainstorms: Participates in brainstorming sessions to generate creative ideas for campaigns and slogans Media relations: Builds media lists and develops press releases, pitch emails, backgrounders and fact sheets Social and digital media strategy: Monitors clients social media channels, researches influencers in the industry space, recognizes trends and opportunities for engagement, maintains editorial calendars, identifies sharable content and drafts posts using brand voice and positioning Event planning: Assists in planning, executing and staffing client events, including researching venues and potential partnership opportunities; managing invites, RSVPs and registration; coordinating travel, accommodations and meals; developing timelines, itineraries and briefing books; and working with vendors to manage space setup and teardown Manages client websites and databases: Produces content for client websites, responds to inquiries and moderates conversations as a community manager and makes real-time updates to databases central to maintaining client websites

Participates in client phone calls and is responsible for sending daily email updates to client Manages trackers and produces reports and presentations to demonstrate effectiveness of client campaigns Functions as the knowledge-keeper for long-term project details and handles additional projects on an as-needed basis Works with third-party vendors such as media outlets, hotels, restaurants and travel agencies to track invoices and payments Provides billing support for accounts: ensures rates and fees are correct and compiles monthly activity reports

Public Relations Intern | Melwood Global January 2013 to May 2013 (Boston, MA) Created media lists and pitched stories to local, statewide and national media Prepared press materials under deadline for distribution to print and broadcast media Tracked traditional and social media and prepared reports on industry trends and coverage Supported client projects and campaigns with research, data and analysis

Press Intern | Office of Massachusetts Senate President Therese Murray May 2012 to December 2012 (Boston, MA) Monitored news coverage of the Senate President in print and online publications Developed institutional knowledge of the policymaking process and issues including healthcare and education Created issue briefs and fact sheets on topics ranging from Cape Cods tourism industry to drug abuse in Massachusetts for the Senate President to use when giving media interviews and participating in televised panel discussions Assisted the press team in writing speeches and preparing talking points for live events Managed all local press: wrote news releases for distribution in the Senate Presidents District and secured clips in the Cape Cod Times, Old Colony Memorial, Plymouth Patch, Falmouth Patch, Bourne Enterprise, Kingston Reporter and Barnstable Patriot Drafted and designed monthly newsletters sent to 3,000 constituents Composed entries for the Senate Presidents Plymouth Patch blog Took photographs and managed image content on the Senate Presidents website

TECHNOLOGY

AND

NEW MEDIA

Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite and public relations software such as Cision and Factiva Fluency in social media including Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, LinkedIn, YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, Foursquare and Vine

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Science in Journalism Boston University, College of Communication Major in News-Editorial Journalism, Minors in Political Science & Public Relations Relevant Memberships: Public Relations Student Society of America (Edward L. Bernays Chapter) Graduated: May 2013