Lauren E. Payne

About

My name is Lauren Payne. Experience as a writer, actor, storyteller, and marketing professional taught me to listen openly and sensitively, to work collaboratively and passionately, and to wield words responsibly. Connection to creativity, writing, the arts, and community acted as a compass and guide as I first pursued my degree in Auburn University’s Public Relations and Communications program and then my professional career in Atlanta, working in both agency and in-house team settings.

I am an independent learner and creative problem-solver with strong organizational skills and an eye for detail. I continually seek to develop skills that will enable me to become more of an...

Adept Communicator
adjective | ad·ept
noun | com·mu·ni·ca·tor

One skilled at actively listening, consolidating information, and effectively conveying messages to audiences.

Innovative Thinker
adjective | in·no·va·tive
noun | think·er

One who introduces and uses new thought processes and methods when brainstorming and problem-solving to help create a better outcome than would have originally been possible.

Visual Storyteller
adjective | vis·u·al
noun | sto·ry·tel·ler

One who expresses ideas and emotions, primarily through the use of visual media, to present a complete picture of reality or of possibility.

Resume

Media Cause - Atlanta, Georgia
Copy & Content Manager
September 2023 - March 2024

• Developed a new content strategy, calendar, and resource guide, centralizing MC marketing plans, providing a holistic view of annual content, and improving strategic decision-making

• Owned and refined the blog and case study development process, including facilitating stakeholder interviews, writing, ghostwriting, and editing content, as well as clearing a backlog and initiating a new process for more attainable content quota goals for MC employees

• Conducted competitive analysis & brand audit with key insights on better positioning the brand

• Copyedited sales RFPs & presentations, ensuring brand consistency and improved storytelling

Copywriter & Content Strategist
March 2022 - September 2023

• Developed creative concepts for multi-channel campaigns speaking to specific audiences

• Crafted messaging to fit brand voice & tone, which lead audiences through a cohesive user journey toward a call to action, driving engagement & lead generation for campaign goals

• Collaborated across internal teams and with clients to ensure strategic alignment, ensuring all project goals and deliverables were met

• Created website sitemaps to strategically organize content, and write and edit content pages

• Provided creative recommendations for client campaigns, upsells, opportunities for growth & future work

• Conducted campaign and client research and audits to support creative strategy

• Contributed to internal marketing efforts, helping develop blogs, white papers, and case studies

Freelance Marketing Consultant & Writer - Atlanta, Georgia
Feb. 2021 - March 2022

Goodwill of North Georgia - Atlanta, Georgia
Internal Communications Specialist
July 2019 - July 2021

• Curated internal comms strategy and content, growing employee app registrants 20.5%

• Edited and formatted Board Meetings, Town Halls, and internal meeting and event presentations, ensuring a cohesive narrative and branding across the agency

• Redesigned New Hire Orientation training presentation, ensuring clarity and concision

• Championed new events, increasing employee engagement in annual events by 10%

• Created internal pandemic response plan, coordinating with executives to execute a series of campaigns on safety and wellness, resources, FAQs, and morale, increasing employee engagement with agency comms by 24% in email and 183.33% in app views

• Wrote and designed success stories and DEI initiatives in coordination with leadership

The Carole Kaboya Company - Atlanta, Georgia
Brand Director
Mar. 2021 - July 2021

• Conducted comprehensive communications audit to provide data-based strategy

• Created brand guidelines, ensuring cohesion in messaging and design

• Developed annual communications plan and content calendar, streamlining efforts and highlighting campaign opportunities 

• Assisted in the development of internal processes to increase team efficiency

Mountain View Group - Atlanta, Georgia
Marketing Coordinator & Social Strategist
Oct. 2017 - Feb. 2019 

Marketing Intern
June 2017 - Oct. 2017 

• Managed The Coca-Cola Company account, including project timelines and budgets 

• Developed online organization system to track projects from request to final billing 

• Designed, wrote and edited scripts, presentations and proposals for MVG and clients 

• Developed organic social strategy for MVG, increasing monthly impressions by 662% 

• Conducted research projects and communication audits to inform campaign strategy

• Created on boarding process, increasing training efficiency while overseeing interns 

• Acted as production assistant and voiceover talent for client video shoots

• Set up individualized client FTPs for file delivery during post-production process

• Designed custom Wordpress galleries to showcase past work and win new business

Inner Spark Creative - Auburn, Alabama
Public Relations Intern
Jan. 2017 - May 2017

• Curated and programmed social media content for approximately a dozen clients 

• Wrote and sent news releases to promote client information and brand awareness 

• Positioned the organization as thought leaders by writing industry-specific articles 

• Conducted client and industry research and reported findings used in proposals 

• Built client SEO through citation creation 

Auburn University, University Program Council - Auburn, Alabama
Vice President of Finance, UPC
Feb. 2016 - May 2017

• Directly supervised the planning and execution of 60-80 annual events, ranging from 25 person cooking workshops to 4,000+ person concerts 

• Oversaw 126 volunteers divided between 10 event planning and support committees 

• Lead an organization rebrand that included a human-centered marketing strategy 

• Launched a new website, creating a central information hub and generating site traffic 

• Oversaw all financial planning and transactions for the approx. $1 million budget 

• Increased committee financial accountability by establishing new financial protocols 

• Acted as liaison for UPC and Budget Finance Senate during budget hearing process 

Portfolio

Words hold incredible power, scope for the imagination, and space for transformation; I practice wielding them to feel, to process, to heal, and to bring about change. In my professional and personal writing and creative pursuits, I hope that my work inspires others to do the same.