With a strong background in Public Relations, Social Media, and Digital Marketing, I specialize in crafting impactful narratives that drive engagement and amplify brand presence. I have led successful media campaigns, managed influencer partnerships, and developed strategic communications for high-profile clients, including major festivals and government entities. My expertise spans press release writing, securing media coverage, budgeting, and performance analysis, all of which contribute to my ability to deliver measurable results. Passionate about storytelling and audience connection, I thrive in dynamic environments where creativity and strategy intersect.

Eric Cross

With a strong background in Public Relations, Social Media, and Digital Marketing, I specialize in crafting impactful narratives that drive engagement and amplify brand presence. I have led successful media campaigns, managed influencer partnerships, and developed strategic communications for high-profile clients, including major festivals and government entities. My expertise spans press release writing, securing media coverage, budgeting, and performance analysis, all of which contribute to my ability to deliver measurable results. Passionate about storytelling and audience connection, I thrive in dynamic environments where creativity and strategy intersect.

Available to hire

With a strong background in Public Relations, Social Media, and Digital Marketing, I specialize in crafting impactful narratives that drive engagement and amplify brand presence. I have led successful media campaigns, managed influencer partnerships, and developed strategic communications for high-profile clients, including major festivals and government entities.

My expertise spans press release writing, securing media coverage, budgeting, and performance analysis, all of which contribute to my ability to deliver measurable results. Passionate about storytelling and audience connection, I thrive in dynamic environments where creativity and strategy intersect.

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Work Experience

Communications & Social Media Manager at AIA Houston – Architecture Center Houston
April 2, 2025 - Present
Lead social media strategy for AIA Houston and Architecture Center Houston, concepting, shooting, and editing original photo/video content to drive sustained growth across Instagram, TikTok, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Launched and scaled Architecture Center Houston’s TikTok account to 2.3K followers within six months, including producing viral videos. Manage communications and PR efforts such as press release writing, media pitching, and promotion of flagship events (Health SES, Gulf Coast Green, Galveston Sandcastle Festival, Architecture Houston Annual Gingerbread Build-Off). Support marketing operations and event execution via calendar/website management, registrations, facilities rentals, committee coordination, and on-site event support.
Social Media Manager at Next Generation Recruitment and Staffing Agency
September 1, 2024 - March 31, 2025
Spearheaded a data-driven social media strategy increasing brand awareness and engagement, resulting in 25% growth in LinkedIn followers and 15% increase in job applications within the first three months. Developed and executed targeted paid social campaigns using SEO and audience segmentation to boost job visibility and applicant conversion rates for Fortune 500 partners. Collaborated with internal teams to create industry-specific content for entry-level and executive job seekers across multiple platforms. Implemented analytics tracking and reporting to optimize content performance and refine posting strategies for higher interaction and lead generation.
Account Coordinator, Public Relations & Social Media Management at Spears Consulting Group
August 1, 2022 - August 31, 2024
Managed multi-platform social media strategies for high-profile clients and events, including National Fried Chicken Festival and Célébrez en Rosé Music & Wine Festival. Drove PR and social campaigns combining influencer partnerships, press releases, and targeted advertising to maximize event buzz and ticket sales. Led influencer marketing initiatives to boost event attendance and engagement. Orchestrated media outreach securing coverage across outlets including WBOK, Fox Channel 4, KHOU, and NOLA.com. Developed press releases, media advisories, monthly newsletters, and social graphics for New Orleans City Council members to ensure consistent messaging and increase community engagement across Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Digital Content Coordinator, Social Media & Web Publishing at Farouk Systems – CHI Haircare
January 1, 2022 - August 31, 2022
Managed multi-platform social media campaigns, influencer relations, and product promotions for CHI Haircare, Biosilk Haircare, Beyond Glow Skincare, and CHI Footwear. Contributed to double-digit sales growth in key product categories, with 20% increase in online engagement and website traffic. Developed influencer gifting and partnership strategies to increase creator collaborations, resulting in lift in brand mentions and UGC content. Produced monthly reporting on media mentions, social analytics, and campaign performance to deliver data-driven insights that refined content strategy and improved ROI.
Horizon Media Assistant Brand Strategist at Horizon Media
March 1, 2020 - January 31, 2022
Led strategic marketing initiatives for the Little Caesars account, supported by data analysis and execution of high-impact campaigns. Designed marketing materials, pitch decks, and graphics to enhance brand visibility and increase consumer engagement. Compiled monthly reports analyzing campaign performance, media placements, and influencer content results; provided actionable insights to optimize future content strategy and improve engagement and conversion. Managed and verified content title records to ensure organization of promotional video and image assets and streamline asset retrieval. Analyzed Nielsen data to evaluate competitor media performance and provided data-backed recommendations for planning and market positioning. Created and managed pivot tables to organize and analyze media budgets and competitor data to streamline reporting and improve efficiency in media planning.

Education

B.S., Public Relations (Minor: Marketing) at North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University , Crosby School of Journalism & Mass Communication
August 3, 2015 - May 10, 2019

Qualifications

Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
January 1, 2022 - July 27, 2026
Social Media Content Marketing Certification, HubSpot Academy
January 1, 2020 - July 27, 2026
Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate
January 1, 2022 - August 19, 2026
Social Media Content Marketing Certification (HubSpot Academy)
January 1, 2020 - August 19, 2026

Industry Experience

Education, Media & Entertainment, Professional Services, Government, Non-Profit Organization