Charli Sharp, APR

Experience

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  Meridian Group

  May 2012 - Aug 2012

  Public Relations

  • Supported account work and media relations efforts for STIHL, Inc., Wounded Warrior Project, Hypertherm and Independent We Stand• Increased awareness and helped STIHL Tour des Trees cyclists in their fundraising efforts by working with local media on hometown stories; wrote and distributed press releases for the STIHL Tour des Trees, resulting in 12 placements

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  Hampton Roads Chamber

  Aug 2012 - Dec 2012

  Communications and Marketing

  • Wrote media advisories for the Chamber’s events with the U.S. Secretary of Defense and Virginia State Senators, which combined, resulted in more than 50 articles and media mentions from Virginia and Washington D.C. media outlets.• Developed press releases, wrote blog content, and managed the website and online newsroom

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  Dale Carnegie Training

  Dec 2012 - Aug 2013

  Assistant

  • Designed marketing materials and worked with the sales team to develop marketing strategies, including utilizing social media channels to drive course enrollments and awareness of the training program’s offerings• Innovated a new training measurement to determine performance and return on investment for one of the company’s largest accounts

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  Susan G. Komen

  May 2013 - Aug 2013

  Public Relations

  • Developed a PR strategy for the annual Race for the Cure event, which included engaging breast cancer survivors and pitching their stories to local media to drive awareness and participation for the event and the organization• Developed content for the organization’s channels, including the website, newsletters and social media accounts, wrote bylined articles for local publications on behalf of executives, and pitched local media

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  MikeWorldWide

  Sept 2013 - Aug 2017

  • Provided senior-level account planning and supervision for major agency accounts, working as part of bi-coastal teams across practice areas and offices• Developed brand communications plans and managed client projects from concept to completion on time and within budget with the support of a junior team, which included consumer and media events, deskside tours, announcements, launches, press visits, etc.• Responsible for account profitability and the management / tracking of staff and budget allocations under the supervision of senior account leads to minimize over-servicing• Worked with senior leadership to identify and secure incremental opportunities for existing accounts• Managed up to senior account leads regarding progress on deliverables, campaigns and team member’s progress• Ensured all accounts were strategically on target with client’s business objectives at all times; proactively offered solutions on when / how to pivot to ensure client objectives were met• Coached a team of three direct reports, while project managing entire account teams across practice areas; provided mentorship and delegated to junior staff • Drove media results for clients across accounts; proactively pitched media and displayed strong leadership to ensure the team continued to secure coverage for clients while simultaneously developing and maintaining strong relationships with journalists and influencers• Actively involved in new business initiatives, including developing proposals and attending pitches• Anticipated client needs and coached the team to prepare in advance; possessed a track record and strong ability to handle difficult situations with clients and identified when to seek senior input• Fostered strong client relationships with day-to-day’s and key decision makers on accounts• Maintained deep knowledge of the client’s industry and category to inform plans, strategies and campaigns that aligned with business objectives in order to grow market share Show less

  • Account Supervisor

    Oct 2016 - Aug 2017

  • Senior Account Executive

    Jan 2016 - Oct 2016

  • Account Executive

    Jun 2015 - Jan 2016

  • Associate Account Executive

    Sept 2014 - Jun 2015

  • Account Coordinator

    Sept 2013 - Sept 2014
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  Virginia Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB)

  Aug 2017 - Nov 2018

  Director of Brand Communications

  • Led all brand communications, content marketing and social media efforts to position Virginia Beach as a must-visit, year-round leisure travel destination, in addition to leading corporate communications efforts and thought leadership programs• Led a cross-functional team responsible for the development, execution, and ongoing optimization of a comprehensive social media and content strategy, resulting in 15% channel growth and increased blog traffic • Conducted all proactive and reactive media relations efforts across consumer and trade media; conducted desksides and attended key media events / tradeshows• Generated 359 media placements, a 50% increase from the previous year, increased share of voice by 14% while competitive set’s share of voice decreased by 28%, and maintained 100% positive sentiment• Monitored and tracked all PR results and reported on progress and successes to leadership• Developed a comprehensive issues management and crisis communications plan, led crisis communications efforts for out-of-market media and provided strategic counsel for addressing issues across traditional and social media channels• Managed and provided strategic guidance to agencies; actively involved in the procurement process and served on the RFP review committee to identify new agency partners• Advised the international team to ensure a cohesive communications strategy and all messaging on brand globally• Managed yearly budgets and mapped out expenditures based on strategic plans• Participated in 40 hours of supervisor/HR-focused training; effectively managed and coached direct reports and conducted interim and annual performance evaluations Show less

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  Sharp Learning

  Dec 2018 - now

  Founder

  Sharp Learning is the premier training platform designed exclusively for the marketing and communications industry. We offer high-quality, expert-led eLearning courses, focusing on practical, scenario-based training suitable for professionals at every stage of their career.Established in 2018, Sharp Learning was created to fill a critical gap between academic learning and workplace readiness. Our flagship Job-Ready program sets the standard for equipping entry-level new hires with the skills necessary for immediate, impactful contributions in the workplace.As our journey has progressed, our scope has broadened significantly. Today, we offer an extensive selection of courses designed to support and advance professionals at varying levels of their career — from those just beginning to seasoned veterans in the field. Each course is crafted to deliver not just theoretical knowledge, but practical skills and insights that align closely with the evolving demands and opportunities within the industry. Show less