Communications & Analytics Professional

Joe
Merrill

I turn complex ideas into content that moves people. Six years building enterprise social strategy, executive thought leadership, and data-driven communications at scale.

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500K+
LinkedIn followers grown
28K
CEO followers built
10K
CHO followers built
+47%
Engagement rate lift
30+
Subsidiaries advised
18K+
Facebook followers grown
About

I am a professional insight storyteller, a creative writer who became an analytics professional. At Centene Corporation, a Fortune 19 healthcare company, I built the social media function from the ground up: governance frameworks, measurement infrastructure, executive voice programs, and reporting systems that turned data into strategy. I coached C-suite leaders on LinkedIn best practices, growing their presence from zero to recognized voices in healthcare. I recently completed my MBA in Business Analytics at the University of Missouri, deepening expertise in customer segmentation, predictive modeling, and data mining.

Corporate Content

Brand storytelling for a Fortune 19 healthcare company, making complex topics human
Foster Care Impact
Empowering Self-Directed Care
Supporting Healthy Homes
Centene Core Values
Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement
Duals Coverage
Fortune World's Most Admired Companies
Member Impact Story
Centene: Facebook Reel
Centene: Facebook Reel
Centene: Facebook Reel
Centene: Facebook Reel

Thought Leadership

Executive voice programs, coaching C-suite leaders to build authentic presence at scale
Sarah London, CEO, Centene Corporation
Heartland Forward Launch
Perspective-Led Thought Leadership
Healthcare & DEI Leadership
Fortune 500 Recognition
UChicago Booth Commencement
Healthcare Innovation & AI
Dr. Alice Hm Chen, Chief Health Officer, Centene
HMACON 2025: Food is Medicine
Medically Tailored Meals
Health Equity Perspective
Medicare & ACA Policy
Healthcare Equity Leadership
Health Care Leaders: Future of Care

Analytics & Strategy

Data-driven frameworks, executive coaching, and performance insight systems
C2
Executive LinkedIn Coaching Program
C-Suite Presence Development
Coaching

Developed and delivered training programs for Centene executives on LinkedIn best practices including content strategy, engagement techniques, audience development, and platform algorithm fundamentals. Coached leaders on translating their expertise into perspective-driven posts that build authentic credibility rather than broadcasting announcements.

CEO: 2K to 28K followers CHO: under 1K to 10K Perspective posts: 3x benchmark Content strategy Engagement training Platform best practices
Q1
Enterprise Analytics Insights
Cross-Channel Performance Analysis
Insight Report

Narrative insight-driven performance report replacing platform-by-platform readouts. Three strategic findings with observations, learnings, and recommended actions. Replaced raw metric summaries with a decision-ready framework leadership could act on immediately.

3 strategic insights Impact posts: 2x lift 3 platforms Executive-facing format
YE
Executive LinkedIn Analytics
C-Suite Account Performance Review
Analysis

Year-end analysis of Chief Health Officer's LinkedIn presence across 25 posts. Developed a weighted scoring model (0.6 x engagements + 0.4 x impressions) to identify balanced high performers beyond single-metric optimization. Found perspective-driven posts outperform informational content by nearly 3x above benchmark.

+125% impressions YoY +78% engagements YoY Top post: 5.58% ER Weighted scoring model
CoE
Social Media Center of Excellence
Enterprise Governance Framework
System Build

Built enterprise governance infrastructure for a Fortune 19 company: sequential content production timelines, tiered stakeholder approval workflows with Legal, Compliance, and Clinical sign-off, and an escalation decision-tree for sensitive issues. Deployed across 30+ health plan subsidiaries as the operational backbone of Centene's social function.

30+ plans advised 6 approval stages Compliance-safe Escalation protocol

Resume

Communications, analytics, and strategy professional

Six years of enterprise communications, social strategy, and analytics at Centene Corporation (Fortune 19), paired with an MBA in Business Analytics from the University of Missouri. Expertise in executive thought leadership, data-driven content strategy, measurement frameworks, and cross-functional stakeholder management in regulated environments.

Download Resume (PDF) View LinkedIn Profile
Highlights
  • Centene Corporation, Senior Specialist Corporate Communications and Social Strategy
  • MBA, Business Analytics, University of Missouri St. Louis (2026)
  • BJ Strategic Communications, University of Missouri Columbia (2017)
  • FleishmanHillard, Copywriting Intern
  • Python, Excel, SQL, Khoros, SEO, Photoshop, Co-Pilot

Get in touch

Let's build something worth following.

Currently exploring new opportunities in communications strategy, content leadership, and marketing analytics. Based in St. Louis, open to remote.