Experience
A Well-Rounded Perspective
Michelle Merlo is a nationally recognized business-to-business communications expert with more than two decades of experience in public relations and marketing communications. Michelle excels because she proved herself in each area of the field: as a newspaper reporter, as a corporate communications representative and as senior management for a marketing/communications agency. Michelle believes this perspective gives her the experience that clients need to ensure a properly executed communications strategy. Her work includes:
- Market research
- Strategic planning
- Media relations
- Promotional material creation
- Expert positioning
- Special event creation/facilitation
- Brand awareness
- Coalition building
- Advertising services
- Writing for a variety of formats
Her experience in marketing and communications includes successful work for many multi-million-dollar entities, such as:
- Two major international trade unions
- A global utility industry manufacturer
- A global metallurgical research and development firm
- A national educational publisher
- Several national and regional non-profit organzations
- School districts and specialty education institutions
Positions held include throughout her career include:
- Company principal
- Account supervisor
- Senior account manager
- Communications director
- Community relations coordinator
Michelle’s journalism credentials as a reporter included positions with a weekly and a major daily newspaper. She worked a variety of assignments from criminal and federal court to community parades. Her byline was found on sports, education, politics, features, and municipal news. During her time with the daily newspaper, Michelle was consistently one of the top three reporters in daily story production.
Putting on the Hard Hat
Michelle is gaining national recognition for her work with in the construction industry. She consults in the United States and Canada for a range of construction industry clients, including labor- and management-sector accounts. Her work with the construction industry has earned her awards on the local, regional, state, national and international level. Some of her favorite highlights include:
- Steered international communications and media relations during the reconstruction of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater.
- Maintained positive community relations during a school district construction project that increased taxes by 43 mills
- Facilitated the implementation of major marketing pilot projects for a major trade union, the aspects of which were developed into international “best practices” templates
Hitting the Books
Michelle has extensive experience in education communications, and currently advises a national educational publisher on marketing and media projects. Past work includes education reporting, consulting, or marketing services for:
- University of Pittsburgh
- Carnegie Mellon University
- Community College of Allegheny County
- Pittsburgh Tribune-Review
- Western Pennsylvania School for Blind Children
- Keystone Oaks School District
Lending a Helping Hand
Michelle has logged many successes in the non-profit communications community. She maintains a multitude of connections in the non-profit sector and offers pro-bono services as appropriate. She is the media and marketing advisor to The Crossroads Foundation and a council member of Christ the Light of the World Parish. Career highlights include:
- Revamping the public image of the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy
- Managing international media relations for Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater house museum
- Directing the Western Pa. School for Blind Children’s 1988 Greek Week to record-breaking donor levels
