Erica Bigley
Danville,CA
Summary
Passionate and performance-driven storyteller with over 20 years of experience leading high caliber communications, marketing and branding teams. Offers strategic planning capabilities with background in change management, corporate restructuring and corporate rebranding projects. Demonstrated record of success in building successful teams and managing complex communications goals and objectives.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Achieve
08.2021 - Current
- Member of Senior Leadership Team, reporting directly to CEO and co-Founder.
- Lead all aspects of communications for leader in digital personal finance with responsibility for narrative development, media relations, corporate social media strategy, employee communications and recruiter branding, executive speechwriting and presentations, government relations and advocacy, and crisis management.
- Serve as company spokesperson and regularly conduct interviews on key financial topics including Federal Reserve decisions, interest rates, debt data and regulation. Lead "Hearts & Minds" initiative for state lobbying.
- Developed Achieve Center for Consumer Insights using data and surveys for debt storytelling to top tier, business, consumer finance and tech publications.
- Spearhead employee engagement with quarterly All Hands meetings, monthly messages from CEOs and SVP of Human Resources, surveys, awards and accolades and Fireside Chats.
- Support customer engagement through testimonials, referral program, video production, review sites and Reddit community leadership.
- Lead employee and member brand ambassador program.
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Branding
Ellie Mae
05.2015 - 12.2020
- Responsible for corporate communications, speechwriting, employee communications, creative services, content marketing, social media and crisis communications at Ellie Mae (NYSE: ELLI)/ICE Mortgage Technology, the leading platform provider of digital mortgage technology.
- Managed rebrand of company, including development of corporate storytelling framework, corporate narrative and refreshed brand visual identity.
- Supported investor relations and financial communications including quarterly earnings, annual report development and Board of Director communications.
- Led communications efforts through various M&A events as well as organizational change management.
- Spearheaded executive presence at major events including Ellie Mae Experience, MBA Annual, National Association of Realtors, and more.
- Served on Board of Directors for Ellie Mae Classic Korn Ferry Tour event and grew event for employee engagement and partner and customer development.
Director of Marketing Communications
Accela, Inc.
02.2013 - 05.2015
- Managed team responsible for public relations, government relations, social media, content development, advertising, sponsorship, creative design and executive communications.
- Supported C-suite and Executive Leadership Team (ELT) for speech writing, presentations, interviews and internal meetings, including annual keynotes for CEO.
- Developed brand and messaging standards and corporate storytelling framework.
- Responsible for planning and executing launches to support new products and product updates, M&A activity, and rounds of funding resulting in substantial media and analyst coverage.
- Created corporate videos and customer testimonial series for new agency engagement and reputational awareness.
Senior Director, Global Corporate Media Relations
Visa
04.2011 - 02.2013
- Developed external communications plan and provide strategic counsel for CEO and senior leadership team.
- Secured and facilitated interviews and speaking opportunities for key executives with top tier and key trade publications and wrote and distributed press releases, fact sheets and byline articles.
- Supported all aspects of financial communications including quarterly earnings, monthly Board of Director communications, and media inquiries.
- Facilitated CEO interviews with business press, including opportunities tied to global sponsorship of Olympics.
Director, Corporate Communications
MasterCard
02.2007 - 04.2011
- Managed all aspects of product communications for emerging technologies and payments including mobile payments, P2P, PayPass, Chip and PIN and transit.
- Managed government affairs and electronic payments coalition memberships in coordination with DC and NY-based teams.
- Spearheaded payments security communications and training opportunities.
- Developed social media guidelines and training for executive spokespeople, aligned with corporate goals and objectives.
- Managed media tours in coordination with top banking partners.
Manager, Media Relations
The Thomson Corporation
04.2005 - 02.2007
- Developed, wrote and pitched press releases, byline articles, backgrounders, customer profiles and client biographies for proactive media coverage.
- Managed all aspects of financial communications including earnings, M&A activity, Board of Director communications and Annual Shareholder Meeting.
- Served as the hub for communications for all business units across global corporation and ensured branding and messaging consistency.
- Developed initial social media presence for Corporation.
Assistant Account Executive
Waggener Edstrom
12.2003 - 02.2004
- Managed MasterCard, CeBit and other financial services accounts.
- Developed press releases, media pitches, byline articles, fact sheets and other communications.
- Created media lists and key contacts with tier one, business, technology and personal finance.
- Managed coverage reporting and distribution for key accounts.
Assignment Editor
KTVU Channel 2 News
01.2001 - 12.2003
- Managed story selection for morning and noon broadcasts and served as editorial presence across programs.
- Wrote and edited scripts for air and turned broadcast notes into social media and website content.
- Developed contacts across key departments including government, transportation, entertainment, sports and other topical news areas.
- Frequently served as field producer to conduct interviews, secure b-roll and develop stories for broadcast.
Production Assistant
ABC News
01.1998 - 12.2001
- Managed news production for World News Tonight, This Week and Nightline.
- Handled all aspects of satellite coordination.
- Served as field producer to conduct interviews, develop b-roll, create graphics and navigate storytelling process.
- Supported assignment desk story selection and editorial process.
- Developed content for Political Points daily web broadcast on ABCNews.com with Sam Donaldson.
- Served as DC-based leader for crisis communications and supported broadcasts during 2000, election nights, 9/11 and other historic events.
Education
BS/BA - Secondary Education/English
Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA05.1999
Skills
- Corporate Communications
- Integrated Marketing
- Crisis Communications
- Corporate Positioning
- Branding
- Change Management
- Financial Communications
- Media Training
- Media Relations
- Public Speaking
Personal Information
Mother of two teenagers, rescuer of three dogs, sometimes caddie for my husband. Loves swimming, long walks (usually with the dogs), reading and taking in a good podcast. Voracious consumer of all news, especially political.
Timeline
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Achieve
08.2021 - Current
Vice President, Corporate Communications & Branding
Ellie Mae
05.2015 - 12.2020
Director of Marketing Communications
Accela, Inc.
02.2013 - 05.2015
Senior Director, Global Corporate Media Relations
Visa
04.2011 - 02.2013
Director, Corporate Communications
MasterCard
02.2007 - 04.2011
Manager, Media Relations
The Thomson Corporation
04.2005 - 02.2007
Assistant Account Executive
Waggener Edstrom
12.2003 - 02.2004
Assignment Editor
KTVU Channel 2 News
01.2001 - 12.2003
Production Assistant
ABC News
01.1998 - 12.2001
BS/BA - Secondary Education/English
Bucknell University
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