Bio ~ Emily

Emily Brewton Schilling

Scappoose, Oregon

Communications Consultant
A one-stop shop for communications needs, from writing and editing individual projects to designing and implementing long-term companywide campaigns. I'm experienced in developing effective internal communications channels and content to support an organization focused on continuous improvement, and employee and customer satisfaction. Elements of custom-designed communications programs may include ongoing leadership campaigns, email, social media, speeches and coaching; employee training and empowerment; and organizational assessments based on quality management principles.

My clients are authors, artists, and companies including Ancestry.com, Armstrong World Industries, Compaq Computer Corporation, Cspace, Forbes ASAP, Quokka Sports and NBCOlympics.com. In addition to the technology and manufacturing business sectors, I enjoy working in communications for the arts and cultural nonprofits, including exhibition programming support, website design, social media, grant writing, curating, and compiling catalogues raisonnés using panOpticon database software. I founded and run a nonprofit organization dedicated to researching and preserving my father's artwork, the James E. Brewton Foundation, in 2008 and wrote a memoir about the experience.

Contact me to discuss your communications project.

Background
I began my career in the arts, working in radio, theater, and as public relations and program director at The Philadelphia Art Alliance; while I worked there, the Art Alliance's exhibitions were featured four times in The New York Times. Moving to the corporate sector, I joined Armstrong World Industries, where I worked in employee communications, organization development and quality management. Over the years at Armstrong, I developed skills like brand management, leadership communications, speech writing and coaching, training, and assessments based on the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award criteria.

I helped write and produce three applications for the Baldrige Award, each of which earned site visits by the examiners. Armstrong's ceilings division won the award in 1995. After producing the materials and speeches for the Baldrige Award-winner conferences, I was hired at Macy's West, a division of Federated Department Stores. While managing employee communications for 100 stores, I revamped the publication, empowered the staff to design it, and served on the company's intranet development team. From Macy’s West, I was recruited by Compaq Computer Corp., where I served on the integration teams for Compaq's acquisitions of Tandem and Digital Equipment Corp. I began consulting in 1999.

In addition to business writing, I have edited several books, from fiction to academic nonfiction. I illustrated The Name of the Cat by my mother, Barbara Holland, and I've been exhibiting my artwork since 1990. I serve as the custodian of Marion Holland's and Barbara Holland's copyrights.

Experience
1999-present: Freelance writer, editor, designer, website creator

2008-present: President & Founding Director, James E. Brewton Foundation, nonprofit

1997-1998: Compaq Computer Corporation, Houston, Texas
Manager, Communications, Corporate Quality and Customer Satisfaction

1996-1997: Federated Department Stores, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
Manager, Employee Communications, Macy’s West Division

1990-1996: Armstrong World Industries, Inc., Lancaster, Pa.
Manager, Employee Publications; and Manager, Baldrige Award Communications

1989-1990: Fulton Opera House Foundation, Lancaster, Pa.
Public Relations Director

1987-1989: The Philadelphia Art Alliance, Philadelphia, Pa.
Public Relations and Program Director

1985-1986: The South Street Star, Philadelphia, Pa.
Art reviewer and assistant to the publisher

Guest Lectures
Moore College of Art (1988)
Franklin and Marshall College (1992)
University of Pennsylvania (2014)
Baruch College, State University of New York (panelist, 2019)

Seminars Taught

"Writing Skills," two-day course delivered at Armstrong World Industries, 1990-1996
"Language of Leadership," one-day course developed with Joseph R. DiSanto, Employee Communications Director at Armstrong, 1992-1996

Selected Seminars Attended

"Employee Publications." Larry Ragan and Edmund Arnold, Ragan Communications
"Quality Management." Armstrong staff and Philip Crosby
"Advanced Writing and Interviewing." Tom Hunter
"Baldrige Criteria." Armstrong staff
"Advanced Writing & Editing." Peter Jacobi

Curatorial Work and Visual Art
In 2008 I began working to locate and preserve my father’s artwork (he died young, in 1967), forming the James E. Brewton Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Jim's work was exhibited in group shows in 2012 and 2020; and in 2014 I co-curated a solo exhibition, Graffiti Pataphysic, at Slought in Philadelphia.
Thanks to my work on a client’s catalogue raisonné project, I learned to use panOpticon database software in 2018. I'd enthusiastically recommend panOpticon to any group compiling an artist's catalogue raisonné.
For the past 30 years I’ve been exhibiting my own artwork in Pennsylvania, New York, and in juried online shows.

Memberships
The Authors Guild, Inc.
Catalogue Raisonné Scholars Association

Education
Empire State College, SUNY: B.A. summa cum laude
The Art Students League of New York: drawing and painting
(with Peter Golfinopoulos) 2011-2013

Volunteer Work
Philadelphia Avant-Garde Studies Consortium (PASC)
Steering Committee, 2016-present
United Way of Lancaster County
Communications Advisory Board, 1992-1996
Lancaster AIDS Project
Graphic design services, 1993-1996

ACCOLADES

"That was a great speech!"
--President Bill Clinton, 1986

"Grace under pressure--and she cracked the nut at The New York Times!"
--Marilyn Goodman, Director,
The Philadelphia Art Alliance

"A diamond in the mine."
--Andy Goldblatt, Sales Manager, WMMR-FM

"Emily has done the seemingly impossible by elevating her performance even beyond the rarefied level she achieved. I cannot apply enough glowing superlatives....
Suffice it to say she has been superb."
--Joseph DiSanto, Employee Communications Manager, Armstrong World Industries

"Outstanding communication and organizational skills...."
--William W. Adams, President & CEO, Armstrong World Industries