November 13, 2018
Interested in a career in marketing or public relations? Hear from Dickinson alumna, Alisa Valudes Whyte '93, CEO/Senior Partner of Merritt Group, a marketing/PR firm hea
Interested in a career in marketing or public relations? Know the difference between marketing and public relations? What's unique about doing marketing and PR for technology companies? Hear from Dickinson alumna, Alisa Valudes Whyte '93, CEO/Senior Partner of Merritt Group, a marketing/PR firm headquartered in the D.C. area with offices in San Francisco. Alisa will talk about her career path, the work of Merritt Group, and how students can prepare for a career in marketing or PR. This will be an informal Q&A with Alisa - please come prepared with questions!
Alisa Valudes Whyte Senior Partner, CEO Merritt Group Alisa joined Merritt Group in 1997 and helped to shape and grow the agency since its founding. Alisa builds marketing, creative and PR campaigns on a national scale for clients in technology, healthcare and government – from venture-funded startups to established market leaders. Over the years, some of her clients have included Microsoft, Samsung, Booz Allen Hamilton, Monster, LexisNexis, Deloitte, Check Point Software Technologies, Corvis, Metastorm, Workfront, Yodlee, RiskAnalytics, Heritage Provider Network, Abiomed, MedGenome, HealthTap, U.S. Pharmacopeia, and others.
Alisa is a champion of Merritt Group’s culture, recognized as a “Great Place to Work” by both Washingtonian and Washington Business Journal. In 2015, Alisa was named a finalist for DC Inno’s “50 on Fire” and, in 2016, a finalist in Women In Technology’s (WIT) Annual Leadership Awards. She has led award-winning campaigns for clients by leveraging a modern mix of marketing, communications and PR strategies to move their businesses forward.
In addition to launching dozens of technology and healthcare start-ups over the years, she’s also worked with a number of more established brands to reposition them in the marketplace. From brand building to name changes, market shaping, perception management, product launches, demand generation, acquisitions, fundraising, crisis scenarios, and more, Alisa provides counsel across a wide range of business objectives. Prior to joining Merritt Group, Alisa worked at Ruder Finn in Washington, D.C., where she conducted media relations and public affairs for a wide range of clients including Citibank Mid-Atlantic and the law firm of Shaw Pittman. She also worked at the international architectural firm of Leo A Daly as part of the marketing team.
She sits on the Board of Directors and Executive Committees of two organizations -- the Northern Virginia Technology Council and Neighborhood Health. She also serves on the Dickinson Magazine Advisory Board. She graduated with a BA from Dickinson College with a major in Policy & Management Studies and a minor in Economics. She spent a semester studying Economic Policy at American University.
Further information
- Location: Biddle Hosue
- Time: 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm
- Cost: Free