Joy Brown
Findlay
Summary
Communications professional with proven track record of developing and implementing effective communication strategies. Known for fostering team collaboration and achieving impactful results. Reliable and adaptable, skilled in media relations and content development.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
Work History
Communications Director
Findlay Family YMCA
07.2024 - Current
- Oversee internal and external communications and marketing, including public relations, social media, change communication, and website administration. Duties such as development messaging, video production, and event planning are also part of this role.
- Manage integrated, strategic marketing and communication. Designing, applying, and analyzing recurring and new initiatives that enhance national and local strategic plans is an ongoing priority. Currently leading a team on how to use Y USA’s “No Place Like This Place” ’26 campaign assets for local optimization.
- Targeted campaign creation. Stratified promotion for fundraising events, program launches, and more is focused on audience and ROI-targeted goals.
- Tech-focused leadership. Supervised a social media management platform shift and redesigned all website pages for a Drupal upgrade (one of the first small Ys in the nation to do so).
- Capital campaign communications. Vital messaging for a multi-phase, $40 million campus building project provides opportunities for creative publicity and strategic development.
- Relationship building. YMCA projects, fundraising, and volunteer opportunities facilitate valuable connections and partnerships with local community leaders from sectors such as business, nonprofit, healthcare, and education.
Writer
Raise the Bar Hancock County
02.2023 - Current
- Contribute stories for the nonprofit organization’s monthly newsletter.
- (contract, remote)
Copy Editor
McAllister & Quinn
09.2019 - Current
- Copyedit federal and state grant proposals for higher education institutions, nonprofit organizations, and government entities. In 2022 and 2023, I served on proposal teams that helped secure almost $11 million for initiatives ranging from suicide prevention programming to a dinosaur dig in Wyoming.
- (contract, remote)
Writer
Rooted to Rise – State of Work and Play
01.2023 - 05.2025
- Grant contracted by the Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to write several pieces about the region’s migrants. Infusing personal narratives of those impacted with information from service providers who work with this population, this deeply researched, 15-part series focuses on topics ranging from housing to health care. Completed stories can be accessed at https://www.yourpathtohealth.org/community-literacy-catalogue-for-greater-understanding/
Writer
Community Literacy Catalogue - Immigration
07.2024 - 12.2024
- Grant contracted by the Hancock County Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board and The Findlay-Hancock County Community Foundation to write several pieces about the region’s migrants. Infusing personal narratives of those impacted with information from service providers who work with this population, this deeply researched, 15-part series focuses on topics ranging from housing to health care. Completed stories can be accessed at https://www.yourpathtohealth.org/community-literacy-catalogue-for-greater-understanding/
Associate Director of Media Relations
Ohio Northern University
12.2020 - 03.2024
- Produced, promoted, and supervised media content and strategies for the Office of Communications and Marketing. Oversaw communication projects and introduced emerging technology for enhanced creativity, departmental efficiency, and greater public recognition.
- Managed promotional content creation and distribution for external and internal audiences. Projects ranging from press releases to occasional Advancement messaging were under my purview.
- Writing, editing, copyediting, and proofreading. I guaranteed grammatical correctness, AP Style adherence, and brand alignment; and ensured that content was tightly constructed and creatively presented.
- Content strategy and project management. I supervised editorial and digital campaign ideation, integration, and workflow. I led the department’s weekly Content Team meetings, facilitated collaborative workflow, and participated in relationship building. I also served on Public Relations Society of America’s Strategic Plan Committee.
- GenAI implementation. I was leading the department’s generative AI exploration for appropriate and ethical use and spearheading communication projects.
- Software mastery. I’ve worked with tools such as Microsoft Office, Wrike, Drupal, SharePoint, G Suite, Adobe Creative Cloud, Blackboard, PowerBI, Critical Mention, Meltwater, Canva, Emma, and Anthology for team building, data analysis, and project execution.
- (Budget-related layoff)
News and Communication Specialist
Western Michigan University
12.2019 - 07.2020
- Enhanced earned and owned media content and strategies for the Office of Marketing and Strategic Communication.
- Content creation and strategic communication. I generated story ideas, wrote press releases, produced videos, and crafted long and short-form news and feature articles.
- Copy editing. I assisted with copy editing WMU Magazine and other content ranging from executive-level communications to web pages.
- (COVID-19-related layoff)
Media Relations Coordinator
University of Findlay
09.2014 - 12.2019
- Produced and led earned and owned media content and strategies for the Office of Marketing and Communication, and Enrollment Management and Advancement divisions.
- Primary storyteller. I managed UF’s online newsroom (WordPress): wrote press releases, provided marketing specialists with writing assistance, created webpages; and used Meltwater for media monitoring, pitching, and data analysis. After my hire, UF newsroom posts increased by more than 100 annually, and user totals increased by 40%. In fall 2018, I oversaw website redesign.
- Departmental editor, copyeditor, and proofreader. Larger projects included serving as FindlayMag (alumni) and Faculty Focus magazines editor.
- Crisis communication. My journalistic insight enabled administrators to take effective approaches that met the needs of the university and its stakeholders, the media, and the public.
General Assignment Reporter
The Courier
10.1998 - 09.2014
- Wrote influential stories. My coverage, which ranged from investigative pieces to features, effected positive change within the community.
- Created and presented “Digital Ideas.” This was a proactive training series for fellow reporters and editors pertaining to social media use, information gathering and news distribution; photography; video production; and online newsroom best practices.
- Won awards. I received eight Ohio Associated Press awards for community service reporting, features, breaking news, and opinion columns.
Education
Master of Arts - Rhetoric and Writing
University of Findlay
Findlay, OhioBachelor of Arts - Journalism and History
Miami University
Oxford, OhioSkills
- Digital & Print Content Production
- Project Management
- Writing & Editing
- Social media strategy
- Crisis management
- Multimedia storytelling
- Marketing communications
- Media relations
- Project management
- Marketing strategy
- Web content management
Timeline
Communications Director
Findlay Family YMCA
07.2024 - Current
Writer
Community Literacy Catalogue - Immigration
07.2024 - 12.2024
Writer
Raise the Bar Hancock County
02.2023 - Current
Writer
Rooted to Rise – State of Work and Play
01.2023 - 05.2025
Associate Director of Media Relations
Ohio Northern University
12.2020 - 03.2024
News and Communication Specialist
Western Michigan University
12.2019 - 07.2020
Copy Editor
McAllister & Quinn
09.2019 - Current
Media Relations Coordinator
University of Findlay
09.2014 - 12.2019
General Assignment Reporter
The Courier
10.1998 - 09.2014
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism and History
Miami University
Master of Arts - Rhetoric and Writing
University of Findlay
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
- University of Findlay | Findlay, Ohio
- Designed and taught an undergraduate Advanced News Writing course as a Professional-in-Residence in 2014.
- Have offered several public presentations on my women’s history-focused master’s thesis research.
WRITING SAMPLES
- Metzger Nature Center: A One-of-a-Kind Academic Amenity
- ONU Researchers Discover Key Factor in PTSD Treatment Method that Uses Hallucinogenic
- Taboo topics course uses dialogue to break through barriers
- Cancer-Fighting Compounds: Pharmacy Students Developing New Drug
- Survivor Mode: UF Physical Therapy Student Navigates New Normal Following Health Crisis