Public Relations and Corporate Communications Manager

EDUCATION/LEADERSHIP POSITIONS/PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Belmont University, Executive Education Institute (Nashville, TN) 2011-12
Mini-MBA™ Program: BUSINESS MANAGEMENT CERTIFICATION
(Branding, Entrepreneurship, Business Strategy & Theory, Negotiation, Operations Management, Analyzing Financial Statements, Investment & Financing Choices/
Working Capital Needs, Culturally Relevant Marketing & Advertising, Business Management, Media Interview/Press Conference Preparation).

Nova Southeastern University, Shepard Broad Law Center (Fort Lauderdale, FL) 2000-03
Major: Law, JURIS DOCTOR (J.D.) Concentration: Business Transactions/Corporate Affairs
• Practising Law Institute Scholarship Recipient for Communications Law & Corporate Transactions Seminars
• President and Event Manager, Sports & Entertainment Law Society: marketing & fundraising campaigns; developed organization’s budget; supervised officers; conducted entertainment industry seminars and meetings; planned special catered events for networking with 500 community leaders.

University of Central Florida (Orlando, FL) : Dean’s List, Honors College & Scholarships 1995-99
Major: Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies, BACHELOR OF SCIENCE (Honors) and ASSOCIATE OF ARTS (Honors)
• Fundraising, Marketing & Membership Chair, Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity & UCF Vocal Society: Managed marketing communications; planned events, concerts and fundraising campaigns; coordinated all aspects of participation for nearly 1000 students at major events.
• Public Relations & Event Manager, UCF School of Music: Organized Competitions, Concerts & Scholarships with up to 200 participants. Coordinated reunions, special events & performances with students and alumni.

Visit more experience and detailed information at my linkedin page- http://linkedin.com/in/nicolettefontaine

My range of diverse experience and skills in multiple industries include:
• Organizational Leadership
• Business management
• Corporate Communications (Building Strategic Alliances)
• Event Management and Meeting Planner
• Business affairs (Analyzing, Revising and Drafting Agreements; Corporate Transactions;
Negotiation; Due Diligence; Mergers/Acquisitions)
• Business Development
• Public Relations (Media Campaigns, Social Media, Publicity)
• Marketing and Advertising
• Sales Executive (Closing Deals)
• Entertainment Business (Music, Film/TV and Digital Media)
• Licensing (Mechanical, Synchronization, Multimedia, Website Content) Agreements
• Residential & Commercial Real Estate, Recording Studios, Retail Shopping Center Acquisition, Land, Property Management & New Construction
• Artist Relations
• Talent Management and Talent Agency
• Law (Contracts, Technology, Communications, Media, Entertainment, Securities Regulation, Transactions, Copyright & Trademark, Intellectual Property, Conflict Resolution, Antitrust, International Business, Corporate Governance, Legal writing & analysis)
• International Relations
• A&R, Record Label & Music Publishing Administration
• Client Relations and Customer Service
• Photography

My top 5 StrengthsFinder – Leadership Report Strengths are:
Woo
Input
Connectedness
Futuristic
Positivity

PART OF RESUME —

Globally experienced, well-traveled public relations and corporate communications manager recognized for developing key collaborative alliances.
Ready to develop a Company’s growth and profitability; brings a database of several thousand key prospects.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• Strong follow-through; tenacious in pitching, negotiating and closing deals; executing strategies for mass media campaigns
• “Take action” approach in developing valuable strategic alliances and prominent media presence
• Driven to hunt for new business, build outstanding relationships with clients and increase company revenue growth
• Highly adept in event management; creating presentations with dynamic public communication skills
• In-depth business practice and transactional experience in global contracts: e.g., publicity, entertainment (film, television, music), branding, partnerships, corporate entity, distribution, management, sponsorships, endorsements, technology, multi-media, web content, licensing, acquisitions and content marketing agreements
• Focused on ongoing market research & analysis; staying current with lifestyle brand industry developments
• Published technical and creative writer
• Trilingual: Fluent in English, Conversational Italian and Polish

CONSULTING EXPERIENCE (Independent Consultant from 2001-2013)

Consulted with companies in diverse industries to generate growth, visibility and profitability and to provide my expertise for their business in areas of: corporate communications, media relations, event management, artist relations, business development, publicity, business development, creative talent management, marketing, sales, strategic planning, customer service and contract administration. Major Engagements:

• Indie Connect/Virtual Music Conference Nashville, TN 2008-13
o Public Relations, Event Marketing & Social Media Manager for world’s 1st global music conference held exclusively online in a virtual environment: 40+ speaker presentations, digital trade show of 65+ music businesses & artist exhibitors, live showcases, online networking with 500+ artists and industry professionals from over 25 countries. Cultivated authentic relationships with music professionals, bringing quality traffic to company websites.
o Wrote announcements and press releases via multiple entertainment industry websites, blog posts and social media channels.
o Promoted marketing material online (i.e. banners, brochures and email news) that led to multiple online registrations for the event.
o Increased organizational/business club membership and raised organizational profile, by expanding media awareness of the Indie Connect Brand and building strategic alliances with corporations, media outlets and creative professionals.

• Lopez Law LLC Orlando, FL 2010-13
o Marketing & Business Development Consultant and Virtual Law Clerk: Responsible for business and client development for law firm practice; managed and revitalized content and marketing for website and social media. Managed active caseload: Analyzed cases in the areas of personal injury law, products liability and family law. Legal writing: drafted memoranda, briefs and correspondence.

• Jeannette Romeu Music Management/Electric Butterfly Records/Galaxy Girl Entertainment Miami, FL 2001-13
o Director of Media Relations and Artist Relations: Increased Global exposure of brand and music through launching aggressive Marketing & PR campaigns; positioned brand to target niche audiences; wrote/distributed press releases; management of emails/news to capture attention of growing international fan base; successfully gained publicity in publications, websites & television.
o Business development & Event Management: secured and accelerated number of bookings/performances for tour schedule and a variety of recording and video productions. Managed major events and performances (e.g., FL Film, Recording & Entertainment Council Star Gala, Ultra Music Festival, Winter Music Conference, Bang Music Festival, In Focus Magazine & Lesesne Media Group special events.)
o Online Sales/Downloads: reached 200,000+ digital downloaders worldwide through content delivery websites.
o Launched digital media & marketing campaigns: online, on air, at events, social media & in print.
o Arranged speaking engagements and interviews with media outlets, at venues, festivals, award shows, television, lifestyle web networks, radio stations, Internet radio and video podcasts; prepared client and creative production team for performances.
o Reviewed & negotiated licensing, booking, production & distribution agreements for artists’ music with entertainment corporations.

• Ladd Smith Music Management/Argill’s Music Publishing Nashville, TN 2007-13
o Publicist; Director of Corporate Communications: Grew business by establishing Strategic Alliances with Corporations at conferences, entertainment events and trade shows through: Corporate Sponsorships (e.g., Yamaha Guitars: Main Event Sponsor, Major financial donation of over $18,000 for Ryman Auditorium’s All Star Guitar Night, NAMM’s longest running, widely recognized and most successful sponsored event. As a result of the initial sponsorship deal, Yamaha continued its contract as main event sponsor for 7 years).
o Launched PR Campaigns: wrote & distributed press releases; created email promotions and newsletters for fans, wrote content and restructured social media websites. Produced extensive media coverage; generated a larger fan base that extensively increased music (audio/video) downloads.
o Yielded greater number of client’s Media interviews with publications, websites & TV and publicity at trade shows, festivals and conferences.
o Negotiated licensing & distribution contracts for artists’ music w/ entertainment companies (e.g., Truefire.com, a global interactive video instruction company (with new technology & digital formats: software disks, downloads, video channel streaming, mobile apps & shifted-time online courses).
o Secured Endorsement deals with popular equipment, instrument & clothing companies (e.g., Yamaha, Samick Guitar Corp., Voyage-Air, Seymour Duncan, Dunlop, Fender, Gretsch Guitars, Sam Ash Music, Meyer Sound, Line 6, G&L Guitars)
o Implemented business & marketing plans; researched performance of competitors in the marketplace; positioned artist’s brand to target niche audiences for artist’s music; digital media marketing, traditional marketing, and radio broadcasts.
o Booked performances & Managed special events: Guitar Player Magazine International Guitarist Competition, Universities, Yamaha Guitar Clinics, Ntl Association of Music Merchants (NAMM Trade Show for vendors’ equipment & instruments), John Lennon Tourbus Shows, EDCT Coalition of TN Charity Events, ASCAP Showcases, Florida Music Festival, Gaylord Opryland Competitions and numerous Nashville studio sessions; Organized national tour schedule/travel itinerary; sold out merchandise at events.

EMPLOYMENT/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Entertainment Business Affairs Manager, Norman Gillis & Associates (Law Firm) Nashville, TN 2007-13
• Generated new business/steadily growing number of clients in Nashville’s highly competitive environment; Legal & Business affairs for entertainment companies, business owners and creative talent; Corporate communications; Drafted contracts and transactions (e.g., web content, digital streaming, distribution, licensing, multimedia, publishing, film, television, music, joint ventures & corporate formation filings), business correspondence, copyright documents, prepared & issued licenses, researched cases in litigation & court filings.

Manager of Marketing, Sales & Events, Christina Alzona PA West Palm Beach, FL 2006-13
• Executed comprehensive marketing strategies resulting in $10 million per year in sales. Performed due diligence for target real estate investments. Facilitated deal negotiations with Agent and CPA for investor/purchaser client –(a property management corporation); resulted in the acquisition of a large retail shopping center/commercial building and closed commercial deal for $6.9 million.
• Managed site selection of residential and commercial properties. Wrote content and restructured real estate websites; followed up with thousands of prospects through proprietary lead generation, capture and management system with IDX/MLS platforms & consumer facing websites. This converted one-time visitors into frequent browsers of the sites into quality buyers that substantially increased number of closed sales. Identified and monitored performance of competitors in the South Florida market; organized and managed sales meetings.
• Developed an invaluable database of domestic and international clients & investors. Created and implemented all aspects of the marketing process in real estate from sales strategy, creative, media planning through both in-print & digital mediums, client communications, open houses, networking events, advertising campaigns & social media marketing.

Executive Coordinator to GM/Executive VP, Warner Bros Records Nashville, TN 2009
• Sales and Marketing Department Coordinator, providing corporate affairs and administrative support to Executive VP. Managed market research, internal and external communications and business correspondence with label’s clients, artists and affiliates.

Business Owner/Founder & Licensed Talent Agent, World Artists Agency, Inc. Jupiter, FL 2005-06
• Booked major events/performances statewide (shows, concerts, festivals) for Artists: Galaxy Girl/Jeannette Romeu and Distant Pham.
• Set up guest appearances/interviews (ran meet & greets for Media, VIP & Fans) at venues, outdoor events & conferences.
• Pitched music to executives; Song selected from thousands of competitors for FL
Music Festival & Atlantis Music Conference compilation CD’s.

Intellectual Property Law Clerk, Bradley, Carlisle & Robinson Law Firm, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2005
• Legal research & preparation for high profile federal trademark infringement case of a multi-million dollar Italian Watch Corporation: analyzed trademark laws and intellectual property cases, drafted memoranda, legal opinions & jury instructions, discovery process for fast track trial, researched financial documents and business transactions of client’s corporation.

Public Relations Director, Connexion International Music Festival Jacksonville, FL 2004
• Reviewed 200+ talent submissions; selected top-quality entertainers for festival showcases at the Radisson Hotel.
• Created nationwide marketing campaigns to build brand recognition of festival.
• Chose top industry experts; organized speakers to discuss specific topics at conference panel lectures.
• Speaker, Moderator & Presenter at Events; Created full agenda for seminars and Q&A discussions
• Managed event staff from set up to execution: developed full itinerary (e.g., catering requirements, equipment lists for showcases and seminars. Managed meeting vendors for delivery of services to include food and beverage, production, transportation, security and entertainment. Monitored attendee registrations.

Entertainment Business Affairs Clerk, Copyright Administrator, Warner/Chappell Los Angeles, CA 2003
• Reviewed and analyzed songwriter & music publishing cases and agreements in Legal, Business Affairs & Copyright departments.
• Provided executives my legal & business opinion on many issues (e.g., mergers/acquisitions; negotiations; copyright administration; corporate contract analysis).
• Internal and external corporate communications; drafted inter-office memoranda; conference calls to negotiate/settle royalty splits with entertainment companies.

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP, EVENT & PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• Publicist & Social Media Manager, Vista Point Pictures (Independent Film accepted into Cannes Film Festival & Dances with Films Festival)
• Event & Publicity Manager, Nashville Arts Summit
• Social Media Marketing & Community Relations Consultant, OrlandoBands.com
• Project Manager, Music Therapy Outreach & Arts Advocacy Philanthropies:
o Increased program reach and participant engagement in Central Florida; liaised with students & alumni to promote this community service program.
o Trained & rehearsed volunteers to be actively involved in this project.
• Social Media Marketing Manager, Inside the Music Business and Artists Music Guild
• Production Coordinator, Billboard Magazine Conference & Awards
• Corporate Communications & Strategic Alliance Consultant, LiveMusicTutor.com

• • COMPUTER: Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint & Outlook), Adobe, Keynote, Proficient with Mac & PC, Mac Mail, CRM Lead Generation & Management Databases, Photo editing programs and Social Media websites • RESEARCH: Data mining; keeping track of emerging media, current entertainment news and trends.

Building strategic alliances, Business Development, Community relations and outreach, Corporate communications, Entertainment Business Affairs, Event Management, Marketing communications, Media, Public relations, sales

Sigma Alpha Iota, The Recording Academy

Conversational Italian, English (Fluent), Polish