Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Affiliations
Certification
Timeline
Summary of Qualifications
Awards
Generic

Gabriel Giannelli

St. Augustine,FL

Summary

Qualified Social Media Director with strong background in social media strategy and servant leadership. Utilizes innovative problem-solving and market analysis to drive company growth and success. Track record of building and leading cohesive teams, adapting to changing business landscapes, and delivering impactful results.

Overview

23
23
years of professional experience

Work History

Founder & Creative Director

First Coast Headshots / Portraits on Black
01.2023 - Current
  • Founded two creative businesses focused on professional headshots and live event portraiture, serving corporate clients, luxury weddings, and national conferences.
  • Manage all branding, content strategy, social media marketing, and client engagement, becoming Northeast Florida's biggest Commercial Portrait Studio resulting in 776 Headshots in the first year.

Senior Public Affairs Leader

U.S. Navy
01.2003 - 01.2023
  • Directed all media and community engagement efforts for Fleet Week NYC (2023), coordinating 20+ live performances and managing cross-platform coverage that earned 3.6M+ impressions and national TV placement.
  • Developed real-time storytelling strategy across platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.
  • Spearheaded social campaigns that grew followers by 40% and boosted engagement by 30%.
  • Led a team of up to 25 content creators, media professionals, and public affairs staff through high-pressure assignments and global deployments.
  • Owned final editorial review and managed risk across all official social media communications, ensuring alignment with brand voice and platform guidelines across joint-force communications.
  • Developed and implemented training programs to enhance operational readiness and team performance.
  • Managed real-time storytelling efforts under pressure, across live events, digital campaigns, and in collaboration with major media outlets.
  • Led cross-functional collaboration across design, video, public affairs, and command leadership to deliver unified brand storytelling.
  • Designed and executed exciting campaigns during live events, driving real-time engagement and public support.
  • Oversaw all training compliance and readiness for a department of up to 25 personnel, ensuring 100% completion of required certifications, professional development, and operational qualifications.
  • Maintained digital and physical records for command inspections and ensured all public affairs staff were deployment ready and technically proficient.

Education

Some College (No Degree) -

Berklee College of Music
Boston

Skills

  • Team leadership
  • Marketing
  • Social media content writing
  • Content scheduling
  • Visual storytelling
  • Community engagement
  • Content development
  • Event promotion
  • Adaptive leadership style
  • Canva
  • Adobe Suite
  • Brand strategy

Affiliations

  • Elected Communications Director, MPI (Meeting Professionals International) North Florida Chapter (term begins 2025); currently serving as Social Media Manager.
  • Alumni, St. Johns County Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program (2024).
  • Member, Meeting Professionals International (MPI) and St. Augustine Visitors and Convention Bureau.

Certification

Navy Marketing training based on Donald Miller's "Story Brand".

Navy Drug and Alcohol Prevention Advocate (DAPA).

Navy Cultural Champion Network Training.

Navy Chief Petty Officer Leadership Training.


Timeline

Founder & Creative Director

First Coast Headshots / Portraits on Black
01.2023 - Current

Senior Public Affairs Leader

U.S. Navy
01.2003 - 01.2023

Some College (No Degree) -

Berklee College of Music

Summary of Qualifications

  • 20-year U.S. Navy veteran with extensive leadership in communications, media relations, and digital content creation.
  • Expert in cross-platform engagement (Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, X, Tik Tok, Threads) and live event coverage.
  • Experienced in storytelling and content planning that builds emotional connection and drives platform growth.
  • Led diverse content teams with editorial oversight and brand consistency in high-pressure environments.
  • Recognized repeatedly with "Early Promote" and "Must Promote" Navy performance marks.

Awards

Awarded 2 Navy Commendation Medals and 7 Navy Achievement Medals., 8x "Early Promote" on Navy evaluations (top performance tier)., Trusted spokesperson and comms strategist for senior military leadership.

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