When you meet Erin Ellison, Black Bear Design's Content Marketing Manager, you're probably going to notice one of the following: her distinctive glasses, her deep connection to her work, or her Midwestern-meets-Southern warmth. She says the glasses are her favorite accessory, and the other two are thanks to the ability to talk to just about anyone about just about anything and a sincere curiosity to learn more about the people she meets; two important strengths when it comes to creating content.
But this only gives you a birds-eye view of what her colleagues call their go-to for everything on paper. From Erin's wide-ranging knowledge of social media trends – proving that not only millennials have a pulse on what's happening on social platforms – to her love of color-coded content calendars and tactics, Erin is also more than a copywriter. She's a strategist who wants to learn about what clients need to build their businesses and how Black Bear can help develop a plan to do just that.
"I've been a writer since I was 17, and getting paid for it since I was 23, so I feel incredibly lucky to be able to do what I love and get to work with this skilled team," says Erin.
"Erin adds a tremendous amount of experience to our team and an immeasurable value to our clients," explains Joel Black, Managing Partner.
Erin earned her degree in art history and worked in marketing and communications in the Atlanta art world for several years before launching a successful marketing and PR agency with a friend and colleague. When her business partner moved to Mississippi, Erin took the opportunity to ramp up her writing again as a fashion and beauty editor for a national magazine. Fashion stuck with her, and Erin often gets compliments on her scarf collection and deep affection for everything in the J. Crew catalog. Her career path may have its twists, but it keeps coming back to one thing: communicating with people.
"Having Erin on the Black Bear Design team is invaluable. Her writing, design knowledge and social media skills paired with her business savvy experience is unheard of in the industry. She is instrumental to Black Bear's continued growth which sets us apart from other agencies. Erin showcases the perfect duality of passion, technical savviness and business rationale that are important not only to our business but our clients' initiative. I cannot say enough great things about Erin. We are extremely lucky to have her on our team," explains Randee Black, Managing Partner.
In her spare time, Erin volunteers as a scholarship reader and advisor for her sorority as well as with Project Open Hand, the Junior League of Atlanta, and the Atlanta Film Festival. She's also training for her first Peachtree Road Race in 2018. As a UGA graduate, you can find her in Athens whenever traffic on 316 makes it possible.