Melissa D. Watkins, president and owner of Out Box Communications, Inc.

Melissa Watkins is president and owner of Out Box Communications, a full-service public relations and communications agency, in Richmond, Va. The company, which has been in operation for 9 years and serves a variety of clients in various industries.
Out Box Communications provides strategic public relations counsel and planning, promotions, media relations, writing and community relations services. The agency has served U.S. Cellular for the past 6 1/2 years as the agency of record for the Mid-Atlantic Market. During this time, Out Box has received a best agency pitch award, 9 monthly “best placement” awards and 5 weekly awards from U.S. Cellular.
Prior to Out Box, Melissa served as a national spokesperson and headed the public relations department for EXPO Design Center, the design division of The Home Depot in Atlanta, Georgia (corporate headquarters).
Melissa also worked in integrated communications at Georgia-Pacific Corporation in building products where she oversaw all marketing and communications for the Structural Panels and Engineered Lumber Divisions. Melissa’s background includes serving as a marketing and PR manager for a division of Equifax for Elrick & Lavidge a full service research firm. During this time, Melissa also served as an international press liaison at the 1996 Summer Olympic Games for the Public Relations Society of America – Georgia Chapter.
Melissa also has previous agency experience where she worked as an account executive at Biggs-Gilmore Communications (Kalamazoo, Mi) where she served on the agency’s largest account, Upjohn Animal Health in addition to serving other clients in agriculture and the non-profit sectors. Melissa holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Relations, and minor in Journalism from Western Michigan University and has completed advanced training in media relations, public speaking and marketing. Melissa lives in Midlothian, Virginia with her 2 children, Alec and Allie and her husband Jimmy.

Out Box Communications has worked with the following clients:
 U.S. Cellular (Mid-Atlantic Region)
 TAP-IN, not for profit healthcare agency funded by the American Health Initiative
 Sandler Training, largest sales and management training franchise in the U.S.
 Vital Key, electronic health records device
 Getloaded.com, one of the largest internet transportation brokers in the U.S.
 Children’s Museum of Richmond
 St. Joseph’s Villa, nonprofit agency
 Synergy Systems/RLS WORX, internet recruitment and technology company
 New Visions New Ventures (part of the Small Business Administration --- State of Virginia)
 Partner MD, boutique health care practice
 South River Compounding Pharmacy
 Arena Racing USA (in-door stock car racing series)