Michelle Bonner

About Michelle Bonner

Storytelling is the most powerful way to put ideas into the world.” -Author Robert McKeeI’ve built an amazing career around telling extraordinary stories - some that have earned me a few Emmys, Associated Press awards, Golden Mic honors, and the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award for Excellence in Journalism. Once hailed as a \"groundbreaking journalist; the first female to be named the \'lead\' sports anchor in a major television market,\" my experience as a reporter and anchor provided me with the fundamental skills that now drive my success as a public and media relations expert.Currently, I serve as the Vice President of Public Relations at Adams & Knight, a leading integrated marketing agency in the Northeast. My work is dedicated to crafting powerful narratives that not only resonate with audiences but also shape perceptions, strengthen brand loyalty, and drive measurable outcomes. I leverage strategic insights and innovative communication approaches to position brands as industry leaders, ensuring their messages break through the noise and make a lasting impact.As Seen In: ESPN CNN Fox Sports ABC USA Hockey Magazine US Lacrosse MagazineWriting Tutor:

Experience

1. Vice President of Public Relations

   Adams & Knight

   Jun 2022 — Present · CT, US

   Head of PR & Communications with a track record of building and scaling narrative-driven communications programs that drive national visibility, consumer demand, and brand transformation.Key Impact Scaled earned media +935% by leading a narrative-driven communications strategy that transformed PR into a primary growth engine Grew impressions from 15B to 37B+ YoY, significantly increasing national visibility and brand relevance Consistently secures top-tier coverage: NYT, Vogue, Forbes, Travel + Leisure, Tonight Show, Colbert Led communications strategy and crisis management across tourism, finance, healthcare, and education sectorsRecent Signature Campaigns & Results:Connecticut Pizza Capital of the U.S. Built and scaled a category-defining national narrative that repositioned Connecticut’s brand and drove measurable consumer behavior Generated earned media placements and 19B+ impressions, with 11M+ social engagements Increased nationwide search demand by 68% and drove a 37% rise in long-distance visitation Elevated New Haven to global recognition as a Top 10 Trending Travel Destination (Skyscanner) Delivered the largest brand perception shift in state history, with 80%+ of surveyed audiences reporting Connecticut as more fun and more welcoming Transformed earned media into a primary driver of brand relevance, audience growth, and real-world actionChristmas Movie Trail (nation’s first) Created and launched nation’s first film-inspired tourism experience, transforming holiday content into a scalable, consumer-facing platform 1,600+ earned media placements, including coverage on The Tonight Show featuring Jon Hamm and Lindsay Lohan Positioned Connecticut at the center of the holiday entertainment and travel conversation Earned HSMAI Adrian Awards (Platinum, Gold, Best of Category)“Welcome to Connecticut” Campaign Drove 4B+ earned media impressions and coverage on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Education

• Northeastern University

  Bachelor of Science (BS), English Language and Literature, General

Skills

• Award Winner
• Final Cut Pro
• Broadcast Journalism
• Storytelling
• Television
• Interviews
• Video Production
• Public Relations
• Enps
• Media Relations
• News Writing
• Sports Writing
• Press Releases
• Broadcast
• Broadcast Television
• University Teaching
• Journalism
• Writing
• Broadcasting