Elizabeth Friedland

You've found Elizabeth Friedland. I do new school PR and I dig digital.

Elizabeth Friedland began her career while still a journalism student at Indiana University – Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI). There she worked at the campus paper, The Sagamore, first writing a sex and relationship column (under the guidance of her public policy internship with Planned Parenthood of Indiana) before taking on the role of staff writer. (One could imagine how well a sex column went over in a red state.) During her senior year she took on her first public relations role as a PR assistant at Sease, Gerig and Associates in Indianapolis, one of the state’s oldest and most well-connected communications firms. After being exposed to the exciting, fast-paced and powerful world of PR, Elizabeth Friedland decided to turn her focus toward pursuing a career in public relations rather than journalism. After graduation, she joined three-sixty group, an ad agency in Indianapolis, as a public relations assistant, helping to execute PR campaigns and special events for clients such as the Indiana High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and The Heartland Film Festival. (Ask her about riding around with Hayley Joel Osment, child star extraordinaire.) With some real-world experience under her belt and hungry for even more, Elizabeth Friedland was ready to move to The Big City. She accepted a position as a public relations account executive with Janine Gordon and Associates, a boutique PR firm in the heart of Manhattan. There she worked with luxury brands including The Capital Grille, CARGO Cosmetics, Diptyque Fragrances, Mustela Skin Care, Swann Art Gallery and Auction House and Time Life Publishing. Working in the capital of the media world was rewarding; Friedland achieved placements and built relationships with top-tier outlets such as O, the Oprah Magazine, Vogue, The Today Show, CBS Sunday Morning, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and many more. She also learned how to throw a major cosmetic brand launch party on Fifth Avenue for under $7,000 – complete with catering, a florist, music and staging. Top that. While she loved living and working in New York (although her bank account would tell you a different story…), Elizabeth Friedland decided to move back to Indianapolis in 2008 to join TrendyMinds as the first account executive in their newly launched public relations department. Later she was promoted to Director of Strategic Services, overseeing the strategic services line, which encompassed all marketing and communications activities, in addition to general account, client and staff management. In this position, her role was much broader than just PR; she also worked closely with the interactive and creative directors to write web copy, consult on website and logo design, craft SEO strategy, script and produce videos and coordinate various other client initiatives outside of the traditional scope of PR. Friedland also led new business pitches, proposal/contract writing, and spearhead many internal agency changes, including TrendyMinds.com web copy, the renaming of the service lines and copywriting for agency materials including brochures, sales kits and the employee handbook. Clients included Author Solutions, Carmel Symphony Orchestra, ChaCha, Cincinnati Bell, Eli Lilly, IndyHub, IU Health, Kiwanis Club of Indianapolis, Sigma Theta Tau International, Starbucks, Spirit & Place Festival, Teachers Credit Union and more. Elizabeth Friedland is presently a senior public relations manager for Bandy Carroll Hellige, an advertising agency with offices in Louisville and Indianapolis. She oversees the Simon Property Group account and its assigned staff. Friedlad is also a regular contributing blogger to TalentZoo.com’s PR industry blog, Flack Me. Elizabeth Friedland been recognized both locally and nationally for her work in the industry, including: IUPUI EDUDev conference (panelist, “Social Media for Higher Education Professionals”) Blog Indiana Conference 2009 (presenter, “Social Media Reality Check”) 2009′s Vocus’s “Analyzing Social Media” webinar (featured speaker, along with Sarah Evans) The Indianapolis Star “Biz Buzz” podcast and business column (featured guest) Guest lecturer at Butler University, Franklin College, IUPUI and Purdue University Selected as MetroMix’s 2010 “Top Tweeps” Quoted as an expert source for several articles, including pieces in the Indianapolis Star, Indianapolis Business Journal, Inside Indiana Business, Metromix and PR Week

Director, Strategic Services at TrendyMinds

September 2008 - January 2011

TrendyMinds is a full-service advertising agency, offering creative, interactive and strategic service lines. I served as the Director of Strategic Services, overseeing the strategic services line which encompass public and media relations, social media, marketing, event planning and any internal and external communications activities, in addition to general account, client and staff management. I handled client initiatives at all levels, from new business development and proposal writing to long-term planning to the day-to-day duties that propel our projects forward. I also liase with the directors of the interactive and creative lines to write web copy, consult on branding/logo design, craft SEO strategy, script and produce videos and coordinate various other client initiatives. Among my responsibilities and highlights: • Account lead for clients including Eli Lilly & Company, Teachers Credit Union, Cincinnati Bell, Sigma Theta Tau International, Author Solutions,Carmel Symphony Orchestra, ChaCha, Starbucks, IndyHub, Planned Parenthood of Indiana, Fishers Arts Council, La Plaza, Clarian Health (currently IU Health), Spirit & Place Festival and more • Responsible for daily account management and client communication, supervision of staff members and all duties as they relate to strategic services, which includes: internal/ external communication planning and execution, public relations, media relations, marketing plans, ad buying, fundraising campaign planning, sponsorship/partnership matchmaking, event planning, market/focus group/survey research, reputation/brand management, media training, crisis communications, business development, brand alignment and social media communication • Led new business pitches and proposal/contract writing • Spearhead many internal agency changes, including TrendyMinds web copy, the development of our service lines, copywriting for agency materials (brochures, sales kits, employee handbook, etc.)

PR Account Executive at Janine Gordon Associates

2007 - 2008

As a public relations account executive with Janine Gordon and Associates, I specialized in media relations for luxury lifestyle clients. Among my responsibilities and highlights: • Lead account executive for luxury lifestyle clients including CARGO Cosmetics, Time/Life Publishing, Diptyque Fragrances, Share Our Strength, Mustela Skin Care, Swann Art Gallery and Auction House and The Capital Grille • Top-tier placements for clients such as hits in O (Oprah Magazine), The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, "Today Show," "Entertainment Tonight," USA Today, Vogue and ABC's "World News Tonight" • Created and presented new business pitches that resulted in agency-of-record status for two well-known, international lifestyle brands • Was the lead in planning, executing and managing a cosmetic sub-brand launch party on Fifth Avenue with a budget of just $7,000; guests included beauty editors from all major outlets, including InStyle, Vogue and producers for The Oprah Winfrey Show • Negotiated the renewal of cosmetic spokesperson contracts with major celebrities including Lindsay Lohan, Courtney Cox and Denise Richards

Public Relations Coordinator at three-sixty group

2006 - 2008

All aspects of PR including writing press releases, media kits, pitch letters and other media documents. Heavy media relations; successful placements both locally and nationally.

Public Relations Assistant at Sease Gerig and Associates

August 2005 - June 2006

Public Policy Intern at Planned Parentood of Indiana

January 2006 - May 2006

Columnist/Staff Writer at The Sagamore

August 2003 - December 2005

Began on staff writing a weekly op/ed column; later promoted to staff writer covering a wide range of beat (a&e, hard news, features, etc)

Regular contributing blogger at Talent Zoo Media

October 2011

I am a regular contributing blogger to Talent Zoo Media's "Flack Me" blog, discussing current PR trends and topics.

Senior PR Manager at Bandy Carroll Hellige

January 2011

Strategic and day-to-day management of PR accounts (primarily Simon Property Group) and account staff, including media relations, crisis communications, monitoring and measurement and social media strategy.

Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis

2001 – 2006

Journalism

public relations, strategy, digital, crisis communications, social media, media relations, account management, event planning, SEO, new business development, marketing, communications, writing, blogging, speech writing, reproductive rights, politics, human rights, design, fashion, New York, Brooklyn, advertising