SKILLS SUMMARY

Writing and editing Marketing communications Grant proposal writing Public relations

Graphic design Creative problem-solving Project management Leadership

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

ADMINISTRATIVE ANALYST Village of Waterford, Waterford, Wisconsin 2013-Present

Project manager

~ New website development – Bidding, review, and transition

~ VoIP phone system for all village government buildings

~ Business incubation of paddle sport rental on Village Hall property

Communications

~ Developed effective communication plans for road construction projects that were adopted as a model by neighboring

communities and engineering contractor for work with other community construction project

~ Initiated media and public relations process for timely and effective information delivery to citizens and decision-makers

~ Created a citizen engagement program for delivering information directly to citizens through website notifications and

social media venues

~ Revised newsletter, The BRIDGE, into a 20-page quarterly newsletter that is the sought-after source for relevant, in

depth information on Village government news; increasing ad revenue by to cover printing and mailing by over 30%

~ Website – conducted staff training for new website; design pages, write content and procedures posting to site

~ Page layout and design – designed logos, brochures, print and electronic forms, signage, posters, business cards;

cutting costs by as much as 50% in some instances by designing in house and seeking competitive pricing

~ Provide polished public communication and correspondence for staff, Village Board and Committees

Grant Proposal Writing and Grant Administration

~ Wrote successful grant proposals totaling nearly $400,000, including grants from WI DNR stewardship and the Racine

Community Foundation.

~ Administrator for three grant awards

Special Projects

~ Member of the team to halt drawdowns of the Fox River – successful campaign petitioning state legislators, Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources staff/officials with letters to the editor, news releases, website and newsletter content

~ Member of the 7-member Core Development Team for the Fox River Water Trail, working with the organizations in

Wisconsin and Illinois and the National Park Service to develop a 220-mile water trail; my participation included logo

design, printed materials, electronic forms and procedures for data collection of access, segment descriptions, hazards,

and skill levels for paddling the trail

~ Member of the WaterLIGHTS project team which includes with University of Milwaukee School of Architecture and

Urban Planning Associate Dean, principal of Hark design collaborative, Racine Art Museum, and Racine Arts Council

for light sculptures to be installed along the Fox River. In the process of submitting several grant proposals including a

National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant.

Barbara J Messick 262.492.6343

bjm.writer@gmail.com

7741 Big Pine Lane, Burlington WI 53105

COMMUNICATIONS DIRECTOR Raymond School District, Franksville, Wisconsin

~ Increased public awareness of school events and activities through news releases, website, social media, newsletters.

~ Created concert programs, award certificates, handbooks and directories in-house, eliminating publishing expenses.

~ Developed consistent message and appearance for all school forms and printed materials.

~ Streamlined scheduling process and communications through design of digital forms.

~ Over 94% success in placing news releases.

~ Designed new school logo.

~ As Safety Coordinator, developed crisis plan and related materials.

~ Increased grant funding for school district by 92%.

FREELANCE GRAPHIC DESIGN Writing, marketing consultant, Burlington Wisconsin 2004-05

REGIONAL COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST Lutheran Social Services, Waukesha, Wisconsin 1998-2004

~ Created print advertising and marketing communications materials for over sixty programs in a 14-county area.

~ Developed eight-page quarterly newsletter for staff.

~ Organized events, from ground-breaking ceremonies to fund-raising activities.

~ Developed a theme and marketing strategy for regional program which was then adopted by entire agency throughout

Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT Burlington Area Chamber of Commerce, Burlington Wisconsin 1993-1997

~ Managed day-to-day office operation.

~ Created consistent marketing communications strategy of news releases, brochures, advertising and newsletters.

SPECIAL PROJECTS AND SKILLS

Internship at Aspin Procurement Institute (Wisconsin Procurement Institute) — various writing /editing projects.

Editor and publisher of The Historian, quarterly newsletter for the Burlington Historical Society.

Layout and design of Spotlight on the Arts, bimonthly newsletter of the Burlington Area Arts Council.

PC and Mac platforms

Software: Adobe Creative Suite, Word Office Suite, Google Applications, and Social Media.

Grant proposal and grant administration

LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY

Vice-president of Printing and Design, ChocolateFest Operations Committee.

~ reformulated event brochure/program to maximize space for information and advertising revenue.

~ Festival news releases.

~ Art in the Garden — developed application brochure, news releases and feature articles.

Board of Directors: Burlington Area Arts Council; Burlington Historical Society; UW-Parkside Alumni Association

President: University of Wisconsin-Parkside Adult Student Alliance

Member: UW-Parkside Government Relations Committee

Founding Member: Author’s Echo, Burlington area writers group

EDUCATION

University of Wisconsin-Parkside cum laude graduate, B.A. English w/writing concentration

Honors

~ Academic Achievement Award in English

~ Distinguished Student Award

~ Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities

~ UW-Parkside Award of Outstanding Graduate from the School of Liberal Arts

~ Wingspread Fellow