Katie Carlson Portfolio

Public Relations | Communications | Travel | Storytelling

Communications, Operations, & Public Relations Industry Experience

  • Account Manager

    • Serving as the primary point of contact and overall client lead, ensuring client satisfaction and providing strategic recommendations
    • Overseeing client projects, managing timelines, budgets and team collaboration to ensure successful execution
    • Analyzing and presenting performance reports, offering insights and data-driven recommendations to clients
    • Managing creative work, managing vendor relationships and ensuring deliverables meet client expectations
    • Developing content strategies, social media calendars, and campaigns that align with client goals
    • Conducting media outreach, pitch opportunities, tracking press coverage and monitoring industry trends for client positioning.
    • Review and approval of client invoices and estimates

    Senior Account Coordinator

    • Pulled and organized reports from research tools like Google analytics
    • Lead logistics and execution on client projects
    • Conducted creative and vendor project management
    • Wrote, edited and proofread a wide variety of materials
    • Researched and drafted content to submit to client social media platforms; sourced and organized content for social media calendars; reviewed social listening tools and generated reports; designed social graphics
    • Monitored for client media coverage, trends, new media contacts; tracked all press coverage and creating media reports; communicated all findings
    • Pulled editorial calendars and highlighted opportunities for clients; created and maintained targeted media lists for broadcast, print, and online outlets, created reporter briefing sheets; drafted pitches and corresponding contact lists

  • Career Development Coordinator

    • Tracked and organized department data and student engagement for annual reporting
    • Managed department marketing such as content curation and design, tracked social media calendar, upheld a consistent brand image and voice, developed mock-ups for future digital projects, and updated the webpage utilizing Morweb CMS, Canva, and Meta Business Suite
    • Ensured successful events, including managing room reservations, ordering catering, rentals, and promotional materials
    • Career coached and advised students throughout their professional journeys
    • Managed office operations, including inventory and ordering, responding to internal and external inquiries, and tracking calendars; developed systems and aligned operations with best practices to improve efficiency and accuracy
    • Supervised a team of three student workers, created training guides, provided onboarding, met for one-on-one feedback, and planned daily work tasks

    Adjunct Instructor

    • Developed curriculum and objectives from scratch for course tailored towards underclassmen still exploring college majors
    • Instructed an in-person eight-week course for a class of ten students
    • Assessed student’s assignments and provided written and verbal feedback to foster growth and learning
    • Received glowing feedback from students regarding course content and value for credit, evaluated feedback to ensure future course improvement

Key Areas of Expertise

  • Content creation, message development, and storytelling

  • Internal and external communications

  • Business operations and administrative support

  • Travel operations and research

Operational & Creative Platforms

  • Project Management: GrowthZone, Workamajig, Asana, CRM databases

  • Analytics & Reporting: Tableau

  • Content & Design: Canva

  • Productivity & Collaboration: Microsoft Suite, Google Workspace

  • Web & CMS: Squarespace, Morweb CMS

  • Communications & Monitoring: Meta Business Suite, Meltwater

  • Social Platforms: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, X, LinkedIn

Travel Industry Experience

  • Road Trip Associate

    • Analyzed traveler surveys, noting road trip beginning and end points, travel dates, time restrictions, and interests
    • Researched road trip pit stops for travelers based on interests indicated on pre-trip survey
    • Curated over three hundred customized road trip itineraries, resulting in numerous happy travelers impressed with the attention to detail regarding the personalization of their trip• Analyzed traveler surveys, noting road trip beginning and end points, travel dates, time restrictions, and interests • Researched road trip pit stops for travelers based on interests indicated on pre-trip survey • Curated over three hundred customized road trip itineraries, resulting in numerous happy travelers impressed with the attention to detail regarding the personalization of their trip

    Travel Operations Intern

    • Prepared road trip itineraries for hundreds of travelers
    • Researched small businesses, destinations, and activity providers to ensure travelers a personalized and high quality experience
    • Maintained accuracy, relevance, and brand consistency for traveler envelope documents
    • Assisted with various operational tasks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and a positive brand reputation

    Pack Up + Go is a modern travel agency, planning trips around the United States. The catch? Your destination is a surprise. Until the day you depart.

  • Field Office Assistant

    • Prepared print and verbal information for a community of over 400 students, lifelong learners, faculty, and staff
    • Ensured port preparation and wrap up procedures were complete and correct to ensure a smooth transition between nine ports of call.

    • Examples include: Taking medicine pack inventory, curating course excursion guides, developing and ensuring accuracy of logistics, and more!

Personal Travel Experience

    • Boston, Massachusetts

    • Los Angeles, California

    • New York City, New York

    • Portland, Maine

    • Nashville, Tennessee

    • Washington D.C.

    • Wisconsin – Wisconsin Dells, Door County Peninsula, Green Bay, Milwaukee, Madison

    • Michigan – Traverse City, Mackinac Island, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

    • Disney (Land, World, and Cruises)

    • Seattle, Washington

    • Grand Canyon Village, Arizona

    • Las Vegas, Nevada

    • Illinois – Galena, Chicago

    • Florida – Key West, Orlando, Naples

    • Charleston, South Carolina

    • Ireland (Galway, Cork, Dublin, Limerick, Dingle, Kilkenny)

    • France (Paris)

    • Italy (Rome)

    • England/United Kingdom (London)

    • The Netherlands (Amsterdam)

    • Portugal (Lisbon, Sintra)

    • Morocco (Casablanca, Beni Mellal, Ouled Mbarak)

    • Spain (Valencia, Barcelona, Costa Brava)

    • Croatia (Dubrovnik)

    • Greece (Athens)

    • Cyprus (Limassol, Choirokitia Village, Valva, Kalo Chorio Village, Kambia Village)

    • Jordan (Wadi Rum, Aquaba)

    • Kenya (Mombasa, Tsavo East/Voi)

Recommendations:

“…I can confidently say she is a standout professional. Katie possesses an exceptional work ethic and a remarkable drive to propel projects forward”

- Supervisor, Alverno College

“She (Katie) would consistently take on new projects, master them, and then ask where else she could support. This was super helpful to the full-time staff and we knew we could count on her to do the work well…

…Due to her work quality, we were able to trust her to take on more advanced duties and have her complete tasks that were more complex. She would also ask very thoughtful questions to learn more about the industry and develop her skills. I know she would add a lot to any team she joins and I highly recommend her as a caring, hard working, and bright professional.”

- Supervisor, Semester at Sea Field Office

“Katie brings enthusiasm, an eye for detail, and a unique perspective to every task. She is a clear and thoughtful communicator whether collaborating with team members or creating content for our travelers. As someone who is always open to personal and professional growth, she has been included in initiatives across various departments and become an integral part of multiple projects.”

- Supervisor, Pack Up + Go