Let’s create together

Let’s build your brand together - and have fun doing it. Say hello: jessmerritt83@gmail.com.

Quick hits:
Me in a few words: Collaborative, curious, kind, solutions-oriented, critical thinker

Generation: Elder millennial, but my friends say I’m Gen-Z presenting

Sign: Aries/Taurus cusper who identifies as an earth-lovin’ Taurus, without the stubbornness of course

Favorite hobby: Hiking my way across the country. Fave: The Arches in Moab, UT

Favorite trip: Bali, Indonesia

 

 

RESUME

STRATEGIC CREATIVE LEADER | COPYWRITER | MENTOR | STORYTELLER

CAREER FOCUS 
With 15+ years of experience writing for big brands, I lead a team of creatives through meaningful marketing initiatives big and small to help ensure the output is on-brand and on-strategy. I believe that an empathetic, personable tone can help your brand break through - and always see things from both a visual and verbal lens.

EXPERIENCE
Full-time and freelance copy lead for a wide range of brands:  

2018-current                           ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/COPYWRITER

Publicis                      Campaign, TV, broadcast, branding, digital: +$450k in new biz: Astellas, GSK, Gilead, AbbVie

2016-2018                               ASSOCIATE CREATIVE DIRECTOR/COPYWRITER

FCB Chicago                            Brand launch, product launch, campaign: Allergan, Johnson&Johnson, Michelob Ultra

2010-2016                               SENIOR COPYWRITER 

Leo Burnett                              Digital copy for Altria; Samsung Pay pitch: +$2MM in new biz

Critical Mass                            Site launch, apps, brand refresh: USAA, Miami Travel + Moen

Ulta Beauty                              Product copy, web, social, emails + ads for InStyle & Seventeen 

Various freelance                    Hyatt Hotels, Walgreens, Ace Hardware, Aura Foods, H2O+

2006–2010                             COPY EDITOR + PROJECT MANAGER                                                       

JAK Graphic Design                 I wore many hats at my first agency gig: managed all aspects of                                      
B2B marketing programs: creative: copywriting, image search; project management; legal comms; client comms; client travel 

EDUCATION  MA: English, Elmhurst College   |   BA: English, Illinois State 

SKILLS  Copywriting | Branding | Creative Strategy | Concepting | Problem-solving | Team-building 

CAREER DEVELOPMENT Second City Storytelling Course | Brand New Conference |  
IPG Mentoring for Success | YouTube Unskippable Day at Google NYC | The 3% Conference 

ONGOING FREELANCE  Branding small businesses

HOBBIES  Hiking ∙ Foodie ∙ Yoga ∙ Travel ∙ Meditation ∙ Growth mindset/Self-improvement ∙ Connecting with humanity
Building bigger tables in beer: influencer media, events, speaking engagements, beer babe merchandise, Women’s Month + Mental Health initiatives: beerbabejess.com  |  @beerbabejess  |  craftbeer.com