Leslie OwensCell (601) 259-2875; lolowens@gmail.com

EDUCATION: Communication Major with an emphasis in Public Relations, Mississippi State University (1999-2003)

SOFTWARE APPL.: Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Publisher, Outlook, Quark, Dreamweaver, WordPerfect, Paint Shop Pro 5, Adobe Acrobat 5.0, Adobe Photoshop, Picasa

EXPERIENCE:August 2015 – August 2016 Mad Genius Advertising Agency – Account Executive:

Meeting and liaising with clients to discuss and identify their advertising requirements; working with agency colleagues to devise an advertising campaign that meets the client's brief and budget; presenting alongside agency colleagues the campaign ideas and budget to the client; working with employees to brief the media staff, creative and research staff and assisting with the formulation of marketing strategies; liaising with, and acting as the link between the client and the advertising agency by maintaining regular contact with both, ensuring that communication flows effectively; negotiating with clients and agency staff about the details of campaigns; presenting creative work to clients for approval or modification; handling budgets, managing campaign costs and invoicing clients; monitoring the effectiveness of campaigns; undertaking administration tasks; arranging and attending meetings; making 'pitches', along with other agency staff, to try to win new business for the agency.

February 2013 – August 2015 Mississippi Blood Services – Marketing/Communications Coordinator:Assist with Public Relations for MBS, Assist with handling Public Relations activities, which include responding to media requests and development of feature stories; Work with various managers on the development of an annual promotional calendar in support of the mobile & fixed site collections goals; Assist with developing and maintaining a high impact internet and social media presence for the organization as a method for effectively communicating with our supporters and to solicit future supporters/donors; Assist with the marketing and branding efforts of MBS; Work with various supporters to portray the importance of giving blood; Help to develop various marketing themes and/or promotions used by MBS; Assist with internal communication efforts including new materials the field recruiters can use for the promoting of setting up blood drives across the state; Help coordinate special events for MBS including in center promotions, Run for Blood 5k, commercial shoots, radio commercials, live remotes, etc.; Work with graphic design artists on certain projects and helped to ensure accurate use of the MBS logo as well as determining the appropriate use of graphics in marketing materials, t-shirts and other promotional items; Duties entail technical knowledge for planning and accomplishing the mission of the PR Department as well as their areas in Donor Resources.

May 2006 – Feb 2013 Mississippi Department of Transportation (MDOT) – Public Information Officer:Work in a professional capacity related to the functional responsibility of the Public Affairs Division within MDOT; Duties entail technical knowledge for planning and accomplishing the mission of the Media Department as well as other areas in the Public Affairs Division; Serve as spokesperson representing MDOT, maintain direct contact with media and the public through television/radio interviews covering road/bridge closures, roadway hazards, and weather related incidents; Distribute hurricane preparedness information and evacuation routes to the media and public; Develop marketing materials (brochures, handouts, logos, fliers, etc) for MDOT; Write various articles and perform copy and layout duties for monthly newsletters; Attend special events and work with the registration committee or other various committees, write articles and take photos to cover the event; Serve as Chairperson for the Health and Wellness Committee/Program at MDOT and have held the position for the past two years; Coordinate meetings and special events on a regular basis; Worked in the Training Unit which entailed maintaining employee training records in training data base called Hubert, setting up video equipment for events, setting up and coordinating special events by ordering lunches and working with various caterers, acting as liaison for the Training Department with other departments in the agency; Coordinated the United Way Campaign for the agency the past four years; Worked in the Map Sales Department, meeting the public and maintaining good customer service.

July 2005 – April 2006 Central Mississippi Cheerleading/Deep South Cheer – Marketing Director / Cheer Coach:Work included supervising, coordinating and directing a variety of marketing and related functions, and maintaining information in a computer database; Performed technical and administrative duties developing contacts through public relations and marketing efforts on behalf of Deep South Cheer; Served as spokesperson for the organization; Planned, coordinated, organized and directed gym activities, special events and cheerleading competitions; Performed copy/layout techniques to develop the newsletter, created fliers and update the website; prepared brochures and other

marketing materials using various computer software; Represented the company by traveling to competitions; managed fund-raising events, and conducted marketing activities and exhibitions at other gyms and schools; Maintained good customer service to all customers; Helped manage the office by taking payments and phone calls, resolved customer complaints, and scheduled gym activities; Conducted private cheerleading lessons, coached and taught cheerleading techniques; Took orders for cheerleading apparel.

June 2003 – June 2005 Brunini, Grantham, Grower & Hewes, PLLC – Marketing/Business Development

Coordinator and Human Resources Assistant: Performed technical/administrative duties regarding the agency’s website, trained staff on the use and maintenance of employee’s Blackberry hand-held computer devises, and acted as a liaison between the non-technical user and other technical staff; Assisted in the MIS department trouble shooting computers as needed; uploaded software on computers and taught staff how to use the software applications; headed up the implementation of the Blackberry hand-held computer devises for all attorneys and acted as liaison with the Blackberry vendor, and responded to end-user questions concerning requirements and capabilities of the Blackberry system. Assisted in the testing to ensure Blackberry system met client needs; Assisted in developing technical user documentation and training materials for the firm; Provided training to attorneys regarding networking opportunities available through the World Services Group website; Maintained and updated agency’s website; closely monitored websites of other competitive firms to stay abreast of new website trends and made recommendations for firm’s website; Worked independently on small projects or as a part of a project team for larger projects; Worked with a variety of businesses and/or law firms to help market and maintain relations for Brunini; Prepared articles to highlight attorney achievements in legal periodicals/journals and local newspapers; assisted with preparation of firm brochures and other promotional materials; Designed t-shirt and booth requirements for special events and competitions; Developed advertisements for newspapers and business/law journals saving the firm thousands of dollars per ad; Prepared and distributed committee notices, reports and meeting minutes; Coordinated and made arrangements for the annual firm business development retreat, special off-site meetings, committee meetings, agency Christmas party, business development luncheons and various functions; Ordered various supplies & give-aways; Operated the agency switchboard and fax machine; Assisted callers with various types of information and maintained good customer relations; Worked as an assistant in the Human Resources Department for six months.

Sept 2002 – April 2003 MSU Diagnostic Instrumentation & Analysis Laboratory – Public Relations Intern: Work included technical, administrative and functional duties, assisting with public relations activities of the DIAL lab; Duties entailed interviewing staff for articles, writing articles, working with Quark and Photo shop software programs to create a newsletter for the DIAL lab; Used copy and layout techniques to develop the newsletter; Answered the telephone and assisted callers with various types of information; Typed letters and memorandums and performed other duties as assigned.

Summer 2002 Mississippi Development Authority (MDA) – Public Relations/Tourism Intern:Conducted technical, administrative and functional work in the Division of Tourism assisting with the golf program; Assisted with advertising and promoting golf facilities and tourism in the state; Set up a database in Excel which included researching, compiling, managing and maintaining information on all golf courses located in the state by geographic area; Worked extensively to research and compile the amenities of all golf facilities by contacting each facility and asking them to provide MDA with a brochure and a golf scorecard; Developed a Reference Guide of all golf courses in the state for easy access to look up various amenities; Worked with various computer software programs including Microsoft Word, Excel, and Photo Shop; Employment was in an administrative, professional capacity in an area of work related to the public relations/marketing functional responsibility of the MDA; Work entailed functional and technical knowledge for planning and accomplishing the mission of the division as well as other aspects of the Tourism Department at MDA; Work experience included supervising, coordinating and directing a variety of public relations and other functions.

SPECIAL QUALIFICATIONS: Certified Professional Trainer through the University of Southern Mississippi (USM), PRAM (Public Relations Association of Mississippi); Chairperson for Health and Wellness at MDOT, Selected as a member of MSU Campus Activities Board (CAB) assisting with fundraising and special events, Chairman of Health and Wellness for MDOT, MSU and Brandon High School Cheerleader – 10 years, Phi Mu sorority T-shirt Chairman – entailed designing t-shirts, working with vendors on design, pricing, orders, collecting money and distributing t-shirts; member of Beta Club, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Future Business Leaders of America, Brandon High School Hall of Fame, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Most School Spirited, Class Favorite; Class Beauty; Volunteered with Stewpot missions, church nursery, Crossgates swim club, Red Cross, Salvation Army, American Heart Association; and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Wild Pursuit for the Cure annual fundraiser.

HOBBIES: Running, tennis, kickball, coaching, swimming, gymnastics, painting, arts and crafts, cheerleading, and attending sporting events.

ASSOCIATIONS: PRAM (Public Relations Association of Mississippi); YUPS (Young Upcoming Professional Society); PRAM Emerging Practitioner Award Nominee

CERTIFICATIONS: USM’s Training & Development Certification Program (Certified Professional Trainer)

LEADERSHIP: I am currently a Coach for Fleet Feet Jackson’s Half & Full Marathon Training Programs; Currently serving on the Ryanman Foundation board helping with sponsorships for the race; Chairperson for Health and Wellness Committee at MDOT for 2 years, Mississippi State University and Brandon High School Cheerleader-10 years, All-American Cheerleader - 2 years, Ranked 6 th

and 9th in the Nation in the College Cheerleading Stunt Partner Competition in 2002 and 2003, Selected to become a cheerleading instructor for the National Cheerleader Association (NCA) and the Universal Cheerleader Association (UCA), Assisted with fund-raising and special events. Member of the Campus Activities Board (CAB) at MSU, Phi Mu Sorority T-shirt chairman - entailed designing, ordering, collecting money and distributing T-shirts, Beta Club, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club, Future Business Leaders of America Club, Who’s Who Among American High School Students, Nominated for the Brandon High School Hall of Fame, Selected Most School Spirited, Class Favorite and Class Beauty in the Beauty and Beau Pageant.

VOLUNTEER: Served the past 3 years with the Alzheimer’s Association of Mississippi as the Tackle ALZ Chair; Have been a Pacer for Fleet Feet Jackson’s Training Programs; Volunteered working the Sante South for Alzheimer’s Mississippi event; Served 2 years with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s “Wild Pursuit for the Cure” fundraiser held at the Jackson Country Club; volunteer with Community Stewpot Missions, church nursery volunteer, and Crossgates Swim Club, assist children with swimming techniques and cheerleading techniques, volunteer for various associations (Red Cross, Salvation Army and the American Heart Association)

REFERENCES: Provided by request.