Diane McKernan

Work Experience

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Marketing Manager, Michael Baker International, Inc.

Hamilton, NJ | www.mbakerintl.com | 2023 –  Present

Responsible for the development of all marketing communications (print and digital) for an engineering firm serving transportation clients in the Northeast. Lead proposal teams in crafting responses to RFPs/RFQs for clients such as NJDOT, NJTA, DRJTBC, DRPA, MTA, and PANYNJ. Manage all capabilities presentations, advertising, and marketing collateral. Coordinate all aspects of the firm's presence at industry trade shows. Generate all social media content.

• Manage marketing coordinator responsible for all company quals and intranet content

• Write and design all industry award nominations for professional organizations including ACEC, ASHE, ITE, ASCE, NJSPE, PESMC, and ITS-NY

 

Marketing Communications and Proposal Lead, Arora and Associates, P.C.

Lawrenceville, NJ | www.arorapc.com | 2019 –  2023

Responsible for the creation of all marketing communications for an engineering firm with transportation clients in the public sector including New Jersey Department of Transportation, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, among others. Wrote, designed and managed the creation of proposals and presentations resulting in new business.

• Led the production of multiple large-scale proposals concurrently with subconsultant partners

• Responsible for website redesign, including all written content; updated site using content management system

 

Sr. Proposal Specialist and Marketing Communications Manager, Power Business Unit, AECOM, Princeton, NJ | www.aecom.com | 2010 – 2019

Employed in dual role as Sr. Proposal Specialist and Marketing Communications Manager for the Power business unit of a global architectural, engineering and construction company. Wrote and managed the creation of all advertising, marketing collateral, website and intranet content, email blasts, social media posts, press releases, white papers, brand style book, tradeshow creative and corporate videos. Authored strategic, detailed award-winning proposal responses to RFPs, RFQs, and SOQs. Responsible for proposal production process from internal bid approval through submittal to client and presentation.

• Received a Pyramid award for leading a proposal resulting in a $1.4B win

• Wrote script, art directed and produced corporate video: Reimagining Power

 

Sr. Marketing Communications Manager, Next Level Performance (formerly Dittman Incentive Marketing) New Brunswick, NJ | www.nxlperformance.com | 2008 – 2010

Sr. Marketing Communications Manager for a Software as a Service (SaaS) company focused on helping clients improve employee engagement and reward performance. Wrote and managed the creation of all marketing communications (print and digital). Managed team of copywriters and designers. Worked closely with IT to create and publish digital communications. Responsible for budget development, results tracking, and vendor management. Clients included: Bayer, HSBC Bank, Montblanc, Sage Software, and 5/3 Bank.

• Created comprehensive portfolio of marketing communications (print and digital) to support company’s line of new employee engagement and performance improvement products

• Led new product launch of TotalPro Employee Engagement Software, My Departure Lounge Group Travel Management Software, Great Rewards Online Incentive Rewards Portal

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Editorial Services Manager, Educational Testing Service
Princeton, NJ | www.ets.org | 2005 – 2008

Managed team of copywriters and proofreaders in the creation of marketing (advertising, direct mail, and online campaigns) and internal communications (corporate intranet, companywide initiatives, HR communications). Senior copywriter on all new product launches including naming, brand development, advertising, direct mail, print collateral and online initiatives. Partnered with art director to create concepts that promoted the ETS brand and its premier assessments – the SAT®, GRE®, TOEFL® and TOEIC® tests and related test-prep materials.

• Partnered with ad agency to create the TOEFL “Go Anywhere” campaign, which employed a mix of digital direct response and social media marketing

• Created branding, marketing collateral, and YouTube video for ProofWriter® – a proprietary software tool designed to help students improve their writing skills

 

Sr. Marketing Manager, RCN Telecommunications                                            

Princeton, NJ | www.rcn.com | 2001 – 2005

Directed creative services team including art director, graphic artists and web developer. Managed the creation of campaigns to drive customer acquisition, up-sell and retention initiatives for telecommunications company. Responsible for the creation and implementation of consumer-focused communications including welcome kits, user manuals, sales collateral, direct mail, and advertising (print, online, out-of-home, and broadcast).

• Lead copywriter in the creation of all ‘voice of the company’ communications

• Managed the creation of more than 250,000 pieces of direct mail each month to drive service subscriptions (acquisition, upsell, and retention)