Patrick McEleney

             Creative Storyteller            

DemoReel

Smiling woman outdoors with a city skyline in the background.

“Patrick made every project we worked on an absolute blast!”

Liv Harper, Communications Specialist, University of Northern Iowa

A smiling man with curly brown hair, wearing glasses, and a floral patterned shirt, standing against a plain gray background.

“It (working with Patrick) was like being part of a creative whirlwind. His ideas were always fresh and exciting, and he had this infectious enthusiasm that made every project an adventure.”

Alex Rivera, Equity Supervisor, The Walt Disney Company

An elderly man with glasses and a beard smiling in a crowded indoor space.

“Working with him was both inspiring and incredibly fun.”

Liam Foster, Creative Lead, The Walt Disney Company

A smiling woman dressed in traditional white attire holding a silver tray with offering items, standing outdoors during a cultural event, with another woman wearing a mask in the background.

“His classes were always the highlight of my week! He made me fall in love with movies and helped me win a student film award.”

Nadia Khan, Former Student, Art Institute of Jacksonville

A young man with short curly hair, a goatee, and a slightly raised eyebrow, standing in front of a colorful graffiti wall. He is wearing a pink and blue striped shirt and a necklace with a pendant.

“He’d toss out ideas in meetings that always sparked excitement —Patrick’s one of a kind.”

Kirk Wallace, Regional Manager, General Services Administration

  • A groom holding a smiling bride during their wedding reception as confetti falls around them, with other guests dancing and celebrating in the background.
  • Two martial artists practicing swordsmanship in a dojo with an audience watching.
  • Three actors on stage in a theatrical play set, with two men and one woman dressed casually, one man holding a mop, and a colorful, detailed backdrop suggesting a European village scene.
  • A man standing on a blue carpet in front of a historic building with a clock tower, decorated for the Paris 2024 Olympics, smiling and making a shaka hand gesture.
  • Group of young athletes in purple shirts gathered around coach holding up a trophy in an indoor gym with banners hanging from the ceiling.
  • Two men smiling and taking a selfie in front of a large statue of a historical figure at a public square on a cloudy day.
  • A person with glasses and a cap holding a film clapboard titled '5G' with a number display. The background shows a garage door.
  • A man with glasses holding a microphone with a furry windscreen, standing outdoors near a gray and blue wall, with several people behind him, some taking notes.
  • A family of four sitting inside an airplane. The woman is holding a baby girl wearing headphones, and the man is holding a young boy holding a stuffed giraffe. They are seated next to the window with various items on the window ledge and an exit sign in the background.

Professional Timeline

2003–2007: Early Education and Leadership Foundations

  • High School Education: Graduated from Clinton High School, where I served as Class President and Captain of the Football, Wrestling, and Soccer teams.

  • College Education: Earned a Bachelor of Arts in Marketing & Finance from St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA (2007), building expertise in strategic planning and business operations.

  • Awards:

    • St. Ambrose Golden Bee Award (2007) for outstanding leadership in the Marketing Club.

2009–2011: General Services Administration – Program Specialist

  • Role: Managed post-9/11 construction and security initiatives across five states for the U.S. Department of Justice, leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and under budget.

  • Achievements: Established a mentorship program that was adopted nationwide.

  • Awards:

    • GSA Outstanding Customer Service Award (2009) for exceptional project execution.

    • GSA Outstanding Customer Service Award (2010) for innovative stakeholder engagement strategies.

2012: Vancouver Film School – Directing and Producing Program

  • Education: Completed a program in Directing and Producing at Vancouver Film School, Vancouver, BC, mastering technical production, creative storytelling, and project management.

  • Professional Experience: Contributed to award-winning films and television shows, including Psych, Arrow, Rapture-Palooza, Chrononauts, and Supernatural.

  • Creative Milestones:

    • Directed Broken Sword, a 10-minute experimental short selected for the Vancouver Student Film Showcase (2012) and recognized for its innovative approach.

    • Produced Don’t Speak at Funerals, which won Best International Film at the California Independent Film Festival.

2013–2017: The Walt Disney Company – Entertainment Leader

  • Role: Directed high-profile photo and video shoots for Disney’s promotional campaigns across print and digital media, significantly increasing brand engagement. Developed company-wide training programs for photographers; directed high-profile photo and video shoots for Disney’s promotional campaigns.

  • Achievements: Co-founded the Memory Makers campaign, revolutionizing guest photography and driving an estimated $378 million revenue increase for the Entertainment Division over four years.

  • Awards:

    • Five-time Gold Key Award recipient for exemplary guest service and operational excellence.

    • Walt Disney World’s Co-Innovator of the Year for the Memory Makers campaign’s transformative impact.

  • Creative Milestones:

    • Directed Magic in Motion, a 5-minute promotional film for Disney World’s 45th anniversary, viewed by over 1 million online.

    • Produced Dreams Over Main Street, a 20-minute behind-the-scenes featurette on Disney’s creative process, awarded the Theme Park Media Award at the Orlando Film Festival.

2013–2017: Celebration High School – Head Wrestling Coach

  • Role: Led the wrestling program while balancing professional commitments.

  • Achievements: Set school records for wins, tournament championships, state qualifiers, and team Grade Point Average.

  • Awards:

    • 2016 Orange Blossom Conference Coach of the Year.

2015–2017: Art Institute of Jacksonville – Professor

  • Role: Taught courses in Directing and Acting, Lighting for Digital Film, Broadcast Graphics II, Studio Production, Film Producing, and Visual Effects I & II.

  • Achievements: Mentored students to produce award-winning projects, fostering industry-ready talent. Achieved a 93% student film industry job placement rate.

  • Awards:

    • Professor of the Year (2016) for contributions to student development and academic excellence.

  • Creative Milestones:

    • Directed Neon Shadows, a 12-minute student-led sci-fi thriller, winning Best Student Film at the Jacksonville Film Festival.

    • Produced Tides of Tomorrow, a 25-minute documentary on local artists, screened at the Southeast Regional Film Festival.

2017–Present: University of Northern Iowa – Media Services Manager

  • Role: Direct multi-channel video content, increasing social media audience engagement, develope training programs for students and staff to improve production and technical proficiency.

  • Achievements: Led strategic media initiatives for the Our Tomorrow campaign, raising over $300 million, and managed media operations during the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure seamless virtual transitions.

  • Awards:

    • UNI Excellence in Leadership Award.

    • National Education Media Award for innovative virtual livestreaming solutions.

  • Creative Milestones:

    • Directed Our Tomorrow: The Journey, a feature-length documentary on UNI’s fundraising campaign, winning Best Documentary Feature at the Iowa Media Arts Festival (2020).

    • Produced Through the Lens, a 10-minute narrative short about a student’s journey in media.

    • Produced Iowa Stories, a 5-minute video series profiling local innovators, garnering 500,000 online views and earning the Regent Digital Content Creator Award.

2020–2025: Community Leadership and Creative Contributions

  • Achievements: Directed community theater productions, including Mamma Mia! and Dracula, which became the highest-grossing musical and play in the theater’s 115-year history. Served as Vice President of The Panther Wrestling Club, transforming a financial deficit into a $325,000 surplus within two years while achieving historic competitive success.

  • Awards:

    • Hearst Arts Impact Award for outstanding contributions to local arts.

A man with glasses smiling and holding a baby girl in a pink jacket. They are outside with a reflective glass wall behind them.

With expertise in media strategy, video production, and team leadership, I’ve driven impactful results—like producing award winning films and boosting Disney Entertainment’s revenue by over $350 million in less than four year. I craft compelling campaigns, direct engaging content, and mentor teams to exceed goals. I’m eager to elevate your brand and deliver exceptional outcomes.