Michael Piccorossi

OVERVIEW

Senior Digital Strategist with extensive experience with all phases of digital product development (editorial tools and workflow, features, design, content management, user experience, analytics) audience development (social media, email, multimedia, SEO/GEO) and information technology (web development, infrastructure). Extensive experience building and managing cross-functional digital teams and third-party vendors. 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

KFF (formerly Kaiser Family Foundation)
Washington, DC (2023 to present)
Sr. Digital Product Manager

  • Collaborate with research, production, design and communications on day-to-day publishing of health policy reports, articles, graphics and data to kff.org using WordPress CMS.
  • Conceptualize and develop innovative new methods for publication of complex research products using Figma prototyping, WordPress, DataWrapper, Flourish and other custom tools.
  • Close collaboration with third-party engineering vendor (10Up/Fueled, WordPress VIP) refining editorial publishing tools and workflows leveraging core and custom Gutenberg blocks and third-party integrations.
  • Lead product manager working with external engineering and design teams on comprehensive WordPress code refactor and visual design refresh of kff.org, including new block theme, information architecture, taxonomy, typography, and publication templates.
  • Assess success and reach of digital projects (traffic, SEO/GEO) using Google Analytics, Google Search Console, and SEMRush

C-SPAN
Washington, DC (2022 to 2023)
Vice President and Chief Digital Officer

  • Managed development of C-SPAN OTT Lightning app, working with internal project management and engineering team and third-party application developer
  • Launched online donation program targeted at small-donors
  • Led user research and design phase for redesign of C-SPAN.org home page and primary video publication page (recommendations were never implemented)

Pew Research Center
Washington, DC (2009 to 2022)
Managing Director, Digital Strategy

  • Led multi-year digital transformation effort across organization. Established digital-first culture for publishing and dissemination, and built team of 20 across multiple disciplines including digital product, design, engineering, social media, video, user experience and audience measurement.
  • Developed and executed digital publishing, brand and audience development strategy, in collaboration with executive leadership and communications. Increased average monthly unique website visitors from 500K to 4MM during my tenure.
  • Managed $3 million annual operational budget
  • Established use of digital analytics tools (Google Analytics, Chartbeat, Parse.ly, Facebook Insights, Twitter Analytics) to measure digital brand reach and impact.
  • Built internal capacity for ongoing audience research and testing for digital products  
  • Established use of social media for content promotion and brand awareness
  • Collaborated with Art Director and communications to develop unified brand strategy for multiple digital properties, products and social media in collaboration
  • Created information architecture and user experience for responsive website design. 
  • Managed migration of multiple digital properties using diverse content management systems to WordPress VIP.
  • Managed internal resources and vendor development and application of custom taxonomy

Georgetown University School of Continuing Studies
Washington, DC (2017 – 2019)
Adjunct Lecturer

  • Developed curriculum and taught Digital Analytics and Measurement class as part of Master’s in Integrated Marketing Communications program  

U.S. News & World Report
Washington, DC (1999 to 2009)

Director, Online Operations (2006 to 2009)
Director, Information Technology Services (2004 to 2006)
New Media Technology Manager (1999 to 2004 )

  • Collaborated with Editor, Publisher, and Marketing Director to develop short- and long-term online business, content, and partnership strategy
  • Managed $1 million annual operational budget
  • Managed usnews.com web programming, production, design and analytics team
  • Led site redesign, coordinating multiple internal resources and third-party vendors to develop new site architecture, navigation, user interface, visual design specification.  
  • Expanded use of blogs, user comments, social networking, and video  
  • Managed external vendors and internal staff on full life-cycle of key technology initiatives including building a custom Content Management System and E-Commerce platform

Kate Waller Barrett Elementary School
Arlington, VA
Communication Arts Coordinator (December 1997 to June 1999)

George Mason University
Fairfax, VA

Department of Modern & Classical Languages
Instructional Technologist (August 1995 to December 1997)

Tsuchiura City Public Schools
Ibaraki, Japan
Assistant English Teacher (August 1991 to April 1992)

EDUCATION

Ed. M.
Specialization: Early Childhood/Elementary Education
Graduate School of Education
Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

BA, Communications
Specialization: Radio/TV/Film
Rowan University (Glassboro State College), Glassboro, NJ