KATIE (FITZ)GERALD STRATEGIST Objective Seeking a role in brand strategy or in digital strategy at an advertising agency or product innovation group.
Education VCU Brandcenter M.S. in Mass Communications concentration in Communications Strategy Graduation: May 2009 GPA: 3.5 University of South Carolina B.A. in Advertising Minor: French Graduation: August 2007 GPA: 3.67 Université de Pau et Des Payes DʼAdour Study Abroad Fall 2005
Professional Experience TAXI International creative agency based in Canada, New York and Amsterdam Strategic Planner New York, NY November 2009 - August 2010 • Developed brand plans, communications strategies and digital plans for agency clients including New York Life, HBO Go, New Holland, ClearWire Rover brand and Blue Shield of California • Responsible for research on all clients and new business opportunities • Did research and helped with presentation development on more than 10 new business pitches • Strengthened relationship with client Kraft by creating a blog where I wrote about new product ideas and beverage trends • Wrote competitive reviews for New York Life and ClearWire Rover brand • Wrote mobile communications brief for Blue Shield of California • Wrote social media strategy and did execution for TAXI NYC and Food Content Alerts • Completed international survey on life with food sensitivities for Food Content Alerts • Wrote Wikipedia entry for Rover client and Food Content Alerts
JWT International full-service agency with over 200 offices in 90 countries Trendspotting/Strategy Intern Global Office in New York, NY July 2009 - November 2009 • Managed, contributed to AnxietyIndex.com and JWTIntelligence • developed and executed social media strategy for AnxietyIndex.com and JWTIntelligence • Wrote The Best Brand Responses to the Recession • Contributed to 10 Trends for 2010 and 100 Things to Watch in 2010 • Assisted planning department by contributing trends research to projects
Naked Communications An international communications planning group, known as a group of “brilliant misfits” Communications Planning Intern New York, NY May - September 2008 • Conducted consumer research, competitive analysis, contributed ideas and helped build communications plans for new business pitches to J&J and Unilever • Distilled the creative ideas of 6 different agencies to create an over-arching strategic idea, which resulted in the “Letʼs Fix Dinner” campaign for Stoufferʼs • Shot and edited two short films: an interview with artist Brad Holland and one about the people in the Soho neighborhood • Contributed research and ideas in brainstorms for current clients like Malibu Rum
OʼKeefe Brands Brand consultancy, has won over 100 industry awards including AdWeekʼs “Southeast Agency of the Year” Freelance strategist Richmond, VA December - May 2009 • Repositioned the commercial side of a local bank to appeal to small-medium business owners and better align with the retail side of itsʼ business • Interviewed employees of the bank as well as current clients on the business side • Contributed to building of the brand architecture and writing of the brand beliefs credo • Brainstormed creative ideas for how to reach the target audience
Donʼt be a stranger Flavors.me/KatieFitz LookitsFitz@gmail.com @KatieFitz 803.413.6708 Brooklyn, NY
Other Experience Freetimes Newspaper Alternative weekly paper in Columbia, SC that covers local news, politics, art, music and food Advertising Sales Intern Columbia, SC Spring 2007 • Acquired new advertising clients • Designed ad for current client • Wrote segments for the paper and did research for writers
Time Warner Cable Cable, Internet and residential phone service provider, second largest cable operator in the U.S. Corporate Marketing Intern Herndon, VA Summer 2006 • Formulated the idea and design for an online game for Time Warner film “The Ant Bully.” Worked with TWCʼs advertising agency to develop and produce the game • Helped coordinate and develop marketing efforts for all TWC service areas
National Student Advertising Competition National competition held by the American Advertising Foundation, client for 2007: Coca-Cola Integrated Marketing Communications Director University of South Carolina, Spring 2007 • Led multiple focus groups with teens • Created non-traditional event idea for campaign • Aided in creation of the creative concept.
The Martin Agency Creative advertising agency, ranked #3 Best Agency in the U.S. by AdAge Student Workshop participant June 2005 • Chosen as one of 15 students nationwide for the student workshop • Created fully integrated campaign for Hanes ʻBarely Thereʼ brandʼ • Presented campaign to the heads in the agency
About • • • •
Conversational in French MRI Simmons, Radian 6 and Keynote Training for the NYC Marathon and fundraising money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Work from VCU Brandcenter helped the school win the OʼToole Portfolio School Award, 2009
Donʼt be a stranger Flavors.me/KatieFitz LookitsFitz@gmail.com @KatieFitz 803.413.6708 Brooklyn, NY