My name is Laney Wright. I was born and raised in Mattoon, Illinois, and attend Eastern Illinois University. I am an active member of my school and community. 

At EIU, I am deeply involved in both the Sandra and Jack Pine Honors College and the Lumpkin School of Business. Within the Pine Honors College, I aim to strengthen the Honors community through my position as their Social Media Intern and as the Publicity Chair of the Association of Honors Students. In the Lumpkin College of Business, I am an active member of the Dean's Student Advisory Board, serve as the Senior Vice President of Delta Sigma Pi Professional Business Fraternity, and mentor freshman business students through the Freshman Connection program. During the 2024-2025 academic year, I served as a Resident Assistant in Lawson Hall's Business Living Learning Community. This position allowed me to collaborate with leaders in the Department of Housing and Dining and the Lumpkin School of Business.

I currently work part-time for Vita Marketing of Mattoon, IL. Here, I work to create social media content for two local small businesses. This includes static graphics, reels, and stories. I utilize the platform Metricool to schedule posts to Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Google Business. 

I gained skills for this position while working as a temporary Marketing Assistant with the Mattoon Area Family YMCA during the spring semester of 2024 to assist in the planning of their annual fundraiser, May Merriment, which provides scholarships to local youth. It was my responsibility to fulfill all of the needs of the Marketing and Fundraising Director, including, but not limited to: social media campaigns, fundraising and event planning assistance, app development, and developing graphic designs via Canva. Visiting the YMCA Marketing tab, which is dedicated to my positions as the Marketing Assistant and Marketing Intern, will give you insight into my graphic design work.

Outside of campus, I am involved in pageants and served as the Coles County Fair Queen in 2023. I am also currently serving as the Assistant Director of the Miss Mattoon Pageant, the Assistant Director of the Miss Broomcorn Pageant, and a member of the Board of Volunteers for the Coles County Fair Queen Pageant. In these positions, I coordinate events, manage the Facebook page, and assist in planning the annual pageant. I also often judge pageants as a certified judge with the Illinois Pageant Directors Association and mentor youth.

During my senior year of high school, I was able to intern with both the Mattoon Area Family YMCA and Sarah Bush Lincoln Peace Meal. Over this time, I developed a proficiency in the user attributes of Canva that I now apply to my current marketing work. Visiting the tabs dedicated to these internships will showcase my progress and what I have learned.

These experiences have led me to study Marketing with minors in Meeting and Event Management and Digital Media Technology. After completing my degree, I aspire to work for a Catholic organization because of my deep passion for my faith. In this role, I aim to promote the Catholic Church through targeted marketing efforts and utilize my event planning skills. 

I strive to work for an ethical organization because I have dedicated myself to taking advantage of volunteer opportunities through my church, school, and individual exploration. My community service can be reviewed under the service tab of my portfolio.

My technical skills include proficiency in the use of Canva, Metricool, Meta Business Suite, Jorform, and Google Platforms. I have writing skills, with limited experience publishing press releases. My intermediate skills include event planning for fundraisers, professional activities, and social events, and Microsoft Office Applications. In addition, I have basic knowledge of website editing through WordPress, email marketing through Mailchimp, and app development through ClickBid. I have basic skills in video editing through the software CapCut and iMovie, and photography through the class Introduction to Digital Photography. I am proficient in phone systems such as holding and forwarding and in the use of a POS System.

My soft skills include creativity, leadership, planning, adaptability, communication, crisis management, emotional intelligence, dependability, and time management.