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  • Stacey Ellis

Stacey Ellis

​310-367-4912
​
staceyjoellis@gmail.com
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About Me


Hello, and welcome. I'm Stacey Ellis and I created this space to give prospective employers insight into my capabilities, accomplishments and aspirations in the areas of business, corporate communications, public relations and organizational change management.

Though highly symbiotic, I view these business functions as distinct practice areas requiring similar skills and I deeply enjoy and excel in them all.
 I hope you find the summaries and links to work samples throughout the site helpful. Please contact me if I may elaborate on my experience and qualifications.
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Communications professional for businesses with 10 to 10,000+ employees. Prosci-certified organizational change manager, skilled in adapting and communicating complex initiatives to multiple stakeholder groups.  Experienced crisis communicator with proven ability to perform in a complex, fast-paced environment. ​​

Career Objective

​Seeking a staff or consultant position in qualified areas of excellence: 
  • ​Chief of Staff
  • Director of Communications
  • Director of Public Relations
  • Organizational Change Manager 

 ​Industries:
Lifestyle, Not For Profit, Consumer Technology, Healthcare, Hospitality

Locations:
Able to consider San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco and work from home.

Areas of Specialization

  • Staff Oversight, Training and Mentorship
  • Corporate Communications
  • Public Relations
  • Organizational Change Management With Emphasis in Communications

Public Relations & Communications

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$400 Million Masterplan Renovation, Hotel del Coronado

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When the 132-year-old Victorian seaside resort began a massive multi-year, multi-phase $400 million masterplan renovation, I was called upon to lead communications strategy with a goal of maximizing local support for the project, driving occupancy and rate in the midst of ongoing construction, and creating awareness and demand for new and future features of the resort over a three-year period. Challenges included ensuring message alignment through all communications channels while mitigating unforeseen complications due to record rainfall and the onset of Covid-19.

Communications Channel Mix

  • Public Relations
  • Employee Communications 
  • Executive Communications
  • Dedicated Masterplan Website
  • Social Media 
  • Documentary-Style Videos
  • Email Marketing
  • Trip Advisor Reviews
  • Community Events
  • In Room Magazine
  • Local Government Relations

Communications Skills

  • Writing (AP Style)
  • Public Speaking & Company Spokesperson
  • Team Mentorship & Management
  • PR Agency Management
  • Photo/Video Asset Development 
  • Contributing Writer, In Room Magazine
  •  Employee Communications
  • Executive Communications
  • Strategic Planning and Budget Management
  • Crisis Communications Strategy & Messaging
  • Certified, Organizational Change Management

Digital Communications Skills

  • Social Media Analytics
  • Employees Intranet and Newsletters
  • Video Conferencing
  • Website Development (Weebly, Wix)

Example: Community Milestone Celebration Event

February 2020: The Del Breaks Ground on 142 new guest rooms, conference center and underground parking lot as part of Phase 2 of the masterplan renovation. A community event was created to commemorate the day. 
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Left To Right: City Council Member Mike Donovan, Coronado Mayor Richard Bailey, Representative for Ownership Kathy Breedlove, City Manager Blair King, General Manager Harold Rapoza.
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To commemorate the day a steel beam was signed by all employees and participating civic leaders. The beam was designated to be used in the construction of the project.

Additional Work Samples for Hotel del Coronado

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Masterplan Renovation Phase One Included  the Opening of a New Restaurant.
Serea Opening Press Release
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Phase One Included Significant Improvements to the Vista Walk Event Space.
Vista Walk Press Release
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Holidays at The Del Included Promotion of Holiday Dining, Ice Rink and FrostBite Lounge. 
Travel Channel Video Here
holiday_happenings_release_2019_final.pdf
File Size: 59 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Brand Public Relations 

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Kimpton PR Brand Handbook

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In 2014, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants closed its fourth institutional real estate investment fund with a goal of acquiring $500 million worth of hotels over three years. To help ready the company for growth and change, I established stylistic PR brand standards to assist more than 30 PR agencies in six countries and dozens of in-house PR managers in the U.S. in elevating the company's reputation with consistency of message and voice. The PR Brand Handbook described vital brand attributes such as voice, personality and editorial stylistic references in a manner that was consistent and reflective of new brand standards. The adoption of the PR brand handbook contributed to the growing sophistication of the brand and positioned the company as a global player in the boutique hotel segment. Today, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants owns or operates 60 hotels and 80 restaurants in 10 countries. ​

kimpton_pr_brandbook_final_copy.pdf
File Size: 1416 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Public Relations Agency Experience

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Account Executive
Leveraged client news, product launches and events to drive awareness and support for NST clients. Represented Timken Museum of Art, U.S. Grant Hotel and Grant Grill restaurant, The Marine Room, San Diego Zoo and Wild Animal Park. Represented NST on board positions with Travelers Aid Society and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
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Vice President & Culture Leader
Directed campaigns for clients within real estate, tourism, hospitality and health and wellness industries. Created employee-relations initiatives including mentorship, recognition and performance-based rewards leading to improved morale and reduction in turnover.
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Organizational Change Management

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Social Media Marketing Integration

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As Facebook began to emerge as a powerful customer relationship and marketing channel, I initiated Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants' inaugural social media marketing program. The goal: To expand brand awareness and grow marketshare through direct relationships with guests, and amplification of Kimpton's signature familial and irreverent brand voice. Facebook and Twitter were deployed first at the brand level, followed by a nationwide rollout to 80 hotels and restaurants.

I led a multi-phase, systematic change process to ensure:
  • Readiness for Change
  • Adoption of Change
  • ​Expansion of the Program Over Time
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Success factors included:
  • Phased Implementation Timeline
  • Effective Sponsorship
  • Committed Work Group
  • "Champion" Model (empowered team) ​
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Social Media Adoption Timeline

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Organizational Change Management

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Enterprise Social Software Integration (Yammer)

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As Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants approached its 30-year milestone and billion dollar revenue mark, the company recognized a need for better systems for real-time communication among 10,000 employees at 125 properties in 26 cities and multiple countries.  To become prepared to meet its future, preserve its unique workplace culture and continue to be a Fortune 100 Best Place To Work,     I was one of a three-person team to manage the adoption of the enterprise-wide social sharing tool Yammer.
Primary Goals:
  • Preserve Kimpton's Unique Company Culture During Period of Rapid Growth Toward Global Presence
  • Create Knowledge Base for Expedited Training & Employee Onboarding
  • Improve Problem Reporting 
  • Expand Reach and Frequency of Executive Communications
yammer_intro_letter.pdf
File Size: 71 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Strategy: 
  • Enlisted Executive Sponsor & Advisory Board
  • Created Content Plans for Executive Team Leaders
  • Hosted Lunch & Learns for Home Office Users
  • Incentivized Interaction With The Tool With Surprise & Delight Rewards
  • Added Training to New Employee Onboarding
  • Shared All Publicity & Company News to the Platform
yammer_editorial_calendar.pdf
File Size: 18 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

ceo_yammer__email_final.pdf
File Size: 52 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

newsletter_transition_plan_final.pdf
File Size: 68 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

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Editorial & Publishing

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Editorial Director, LifeIsSuite.com

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​As Public Relations Director for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants overseeing the Kimpton brand and local PR programs for nearing 100 hotels and restaurants in dozens of cities in the U.S. and Canada, I was aware of the inspiring stories we had to tell. 
But many of our greatest feature opportunities were subject to fierce competition for space in our most desirable media outlets. ​
To leap ahead of news cycles and reach new Kimpton customers and loyalty members directly, I gained executive support to radically enhance the way the company communicated with loyal and prospective guests through the addition of a Kimpton-owned blog. With unanimous executive support, I created LifeIsSuite.com and served as editorial director in addition to my duties as director of public relations and communications. ​​

Business Benefits

  • Inspired Reasons To Travel
  • ​Promoted Direct Bookings
  • Loyalty Member Engagement
  • Resource for Jounalists
  • Supported Sales Team

Required Skills

  • Writing
  • Organization
  • Creative Storytelling
  • Editorial Oversight
  • Art Direction
lifeissuite_relaunch.pdf
File Size: 645 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

lifeissuite_relaunch.pdf
File Size: 645 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

Responsibilities

  • Blog Development Oversight
  • Editorial Director
  • Content Planning
  • Staffing
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Affiliations 

Association of Change Management Professionals
Volunteer Writer, Member Newsletter

Culture First
Member, Community of Business Professionals Advocating for Strong Company Culture
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