Career History

Morris Marketing Group                   

2015-Present                  

Memphis, TN

Boutique marketing communications agency servicing a wide variety of industries, including healthcare, financial services, nonprofit, hospitality, entertainment, gaming, food and beverage, and consumer goods and services

Vice President and Chief Operations Officer

Recruited by CEO to build marketing communications firm from the ground up. Led a team of ten marketing communications professionals to deliver integrated, results-driven, consumer-focused marketing communications campaigns

  • Built business from two employees to 10 while managing day-to-day operations, including directing and mentoring employees, building and solidifying client relationships, and providing human resources and accounts receivable duties
  • Partnering with Leadership Memphis and the Shelby County Health Department, we created and executed a Covid-19 education campaign to reduce vaccine hesitancy, achieving 28% market penetration and garnering 51 million impressions across paid, owned, and earned channels, with 81% of respondents reporting being influenced by the campaign
  • Created, managed, and distributed all media communications, efforts, and events for Memphis in May International Festival, garnering $2 million in earned media and 1.4 billion impressions while reducing negative publicity for the ending of a beloved 39-year-old event and a violent incident that occurred in the event location two weeks before the event started
  • Partnering with global medical device manufacturer Medtronic, we created and executed a successful public relations reputation enhancement campaign garnering $165K in earned media value and capturing 14.7 million impressions across 10 regional market
  • Directed end-to-end, award-winning, multichannel marketing communications campaign for multiple brick-and-mortar and online locations for famous Memphis BBQ institution Corky’s BBQ garnering 32% increase YoY for holiday sales, $273K in earned media, and saw a 17% increase in social media fan base

Caesars Entertainment

2005-2015        

Tunica, Mississippi (Memphis market)

Leader in casino-entertainment and hospitality operating resorts and casinos on three continents, including brands Harrah’s, Caesars, and Horseshoe, and London Clubs International. (NASDAQ: CZR)

Regional Manager Marketing Communications & Sponsorships | 2013-2015

Promoted to increase effectiveness of marketing communications and sponsorships for Caesars Mid-South operations. Managed $250K budget.

  • Oversaw the creation and production of marketing communications efforts and implementation of newly integrated digital communications fixtures throughout the casino
  • Acquired over 5K new email addresses and increased social media engagements by 35% through creative on-site activations, including Memphis in May Music Festival
  • Secured over $1M in earned media by increasing brand recognition through strategic partnerships
  • Built, trained, and nurtured a lean, highly effective creative team maximizing traditional and electronic communications with marketing sponsorship opportunities
Regional Manager Public Relations | 2007-2013

Promoted to manage PR functions and guide internal communication initiatives. Nominated and secured 20+ community and professional awards. Steered at least seven high-profile crisis communications situations to successful outcomes. Involved in 20+ large-scale special projects, including company rallies with 5K employees, special marketing campaigns and initiatives, employee events and recognition banquets, news conferences, and writer familiarization trips. Created and oversaw special event news conferences and events for national brands

  • Created and executed a high-profile celebrity tease and grand opening announcement public relations campaign for the $45 million renovation and rebranding of Harrah’s Casino Resort and Paula Deen Buffet, earning $5 million in earned media
  • Created and executed American Cancer Society Harrah’s Hope Lodge Memphis $2M donation and building dedication announcement garnering $300K in earned media value
  • Created and executed special marketing and PR initiative in Atlanta to support Air Tran air service from Atlanta to Tunica achieving $760K in earned media value with a 70% increase in visitors from Atlanta
  • Created, managed, and executed PR and crisis communications efforts for three casinos, five hotels, a convention center, ten restaurants, a golf course, two concert venues, a sport shooting facility, a spa, and an RV park garnering more than $20 million in earned media, creating and overseeing a special multi-day BBQ Contest/Carnival event, and consulting, creating, and managing internal and external communications for multiple high-profile crises
Awards and Recognitions
  • Multiple PRSA VOX Awards 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
  • Multiple PRSA VOX Awards and Named Best of Show 2016
  • PRSA VOX Gold Certificate for Caesars Mid-South Flood Crisis Communications
  • Caesars Entertainment Shining Star
  • Caesars Entertainment Chairman’s Award for Internal Service
  • Silver Hermes Creative Award for Paula Deen Buffet PR
  • Multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze Hermes Creative Awards for Internal Communications
  • Multiple Gold, Silver, and Bronze MarCom Creative Awards for Internal Communications     
Professional Associations

American Marketing Association – Memphis Chapter

President (2020-2021) | President-Elect (2018–2020) | Communications Chair (2017–2018)

Public Relations Society Of America

Member (2009–2019)

Education

Bachelor of Arts (BA) – Communications

Mississippi State University | Starkville, Mississippi

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