Leah Etling McElearney
Bend
Summary
Dynamic marketing leader with a proven track record at Yardi Systems, where I founded an award-winning blog that attracted 1 million annual visitors. Expert in content strategy and team management, I excel in driving brand awareness and engagement, and currently hold a 44% newsletter open rate as a contractor for Running USA while fostering long-term client partnerships. Adept at fostering team collaboration and adapting to dynamic market needs. Recognized for strong analytical skills and creative problem-solving abilities. Never afraid to jump in, do the work and get the job done with a smile.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Marketing and Communications
Running USA
09.2008 - Current
- Maintains a 44% + newsletter open rate, with a high volume of communications (2-3 sends/week).
- Responsible for all organization content, encompassing social media, press releases, articles, blogs, newsletters and more.
- Built social media following from nothing to over 6K on LinkedIn, over 10K on Facebook, and over 30K on X.
- Led and executed event marketing to bolster the visibility and drive registrations for 15 annual conferences, each attracting up to 700 attendees.
- Served as the non-profit organization’s longest tenured team member, having navigated three major restructurings.
Marketing Manager
Yardi Systems
10.2011 - 01.2025
- Founded and edited the company's award-winning blog, The Balance Sheet, writing over 900 posts personally and editing more than 2,000 by other contributors. The blog achieved an average of 1 million visitors per year.
- Boosted brand awareness and generated leads while managing more than 30 corporate and ancillary social medial channels on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook and X, with minimal promotional budgets.
- Oversaw corporate public relations efforts, averaging over 150 campaigns per year, distributed internationally.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure consistent branding across all company touchpoints and communications channels.
Education
Master of Arts - Journalism
University of California, Berkeley
Berkeley, CA01-2002
Bachelor of Arts - History
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara, CA01-2000
Skills
- Content and creative strategy
- Partnership development
- Marketing analytics
- Creative direction
- AI optimization for content creation
- Team management
- Deadline-driven execution
Awards
Best CRE Blog, CREtech (2017)
Local Hero (SBNP Staff) - Santa Barbara News-Press (2006)
First Place – Breaking News, National Education Writers' Association (2002)
Fourth Place – Sports Features, Associated Press Sports Editors (2001)
Second Place – Sports Features, California Newspaper Publishers Association (2001)
Timeline
Marketing Manager
Yardi Systems
10.2011 - 01.2025
Director of Marketing and Communications
Running USA
09.2008 - Current
Master of Arts - Journalism
University of California, Berkeley
Bachelor of Arts - History
University of California, Santa Barbara
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