Chicago AMA's 2009-2010 Board of Directors

President Allison Summers SITE International Immediate Past President George Couris Pepper Group President-Elect Cheryl Grandolfo Crowe Horwath LLP VP Chapter Excellence/Secretary Paul Stark DePaul University, MBA Treasurer Christine Redmann Crowe Horwath LLP Treasurer-Elect Scott Ablin Vice President, Business-to-Business (B2B) Marketing Steven Handmaker Assurance Agency Vice President-Elect, Business-to-Business (B2B) Marketing Elena Izakson TNS Global Vice President, Communications Jacine Crittenden Genworth Financial Vice President-Elect, Communications Rose Mulroney Black Jade Creative Vice President, Consumer Marketing Katie Whiting Juice Tyme Vice President-Elect, Consumer Marketing Ann Kostopanagiotou Director-at-Large Kimberly Bachand Aquent Director-at-Large Sherry Courtney MillerCoors

Director-at-Large Sima Dahl Parlay Communications Director-at-Large Patrick Hanlon Thinktopia Director-at-Large Rich Jernstedt Fleishman Hillard Director-at-Large Ted Souder Google Director-at-Large Jesse Spungin ConAgra Foods Vice President, Marketing Research Peter Morich CPR, Inc. Vice President-Elect, Marketing Research Garry Rosenfeldt Midas International Vice President, Membership Lori Chavez Vice President-Elect, Membership Tim Deegan National Research Network Vice President, Programming Matt Valle EmSense Vice President, Strategic Marketing Ellen Albright E-T-A Circuit Breakers Vice President-Elect, Strategic Marketing Jo Ann Ekblad Health Care Service Corporation Executive Director (ex-officio board member) James Heckman American Marketing Association, Chicago Chapter

BIOS ON 2009-2010 BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

President
Allison Summers
Allison's career spans twenty years specializing in live marketing events and experiences and association management. Currently, Allison serves as the Executive Director of the Site International Foundation (www.siteglobal.com). Site is a global network of meetings and event professionals dedicated to delivering business results. Members of Site believe that he highest levels of workplace performance are reached by individuals and teams that are highly motivated and as such motivational experiences are a powerful business tool to reward and unlock human potential to achieve corporate objectives. Her experience also includes tenure with the George P. Johnson Company, GES Exposition Services and On Location Inc. Allison has volunteered with the Membership Committee serving as VP of Membership for 2006-2007, Director-at-Large 2007-2008 and President Elect in 2008-2009. She blogs on management topics from a Christian perspective and is highly interested in all things social media.

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Immediate Past President

George Couris

George is Executive Vice President at the Pepper Group, a full-service marketing firm. He and his team work with clients ranging from startups to F500 companies to create and execute strategic marketing programs. Prior to joining the Pepper Group, he held numerous B2B sales and marketing positions within Michelin North America, eventually managing the marketing strategy for a rapidly-growing $180 million division. George holds a B.S. from the University of Illinois and an MBA from the University of Chicago. George served as VP of the B2B and Strategic Marketing committees, and has been a member of Chicago AMA since 2002. He has earned a black belt in Tea Kwon Do and Hapkido, and also enjoys boating, skiing and broomball.
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President-Elect
Cheryl Grandolfo
Cheryl is a market manager with Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the top 10 accounting and consulting firms in the United States, where she delivers marketing strategy and planning for its risk consulting practice. Previously, she was a sales consultant with Allied Solutions LLC. With nearly ten years in financial services, Cheryl has experience in business-to-business marketing and communications, product management, channel partner management and development. She has been involved with AMA since joining as a collegiate member and has continued to be active after bridging to the Chicago professional chapter. Since 2004, Cheryl has served on the Chicago AMA's Board of Directors, most recently leading the Strategic Marketing Division. She earned her BBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and completed international studies in The Netherlands. Besides a love for chocolate and good eats, Cheryl is passionate about traveling internationally and exploring Chicago.

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Vice President, Chapter Excellence/Secretary
Paul Stark
Paul helps companies market and develop emerging businesses. He has worked for start-ups in the high tech and insurance industries as well as market leaders such as Siemens Communications and Zurich Insurance.  He earned his undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from Northwestern University. He is currently pursuing his MBA at DePaul. He volunteers with the Cub Scouts and various professional organizations. Paul tries to stay one step ahead of his very active grade-school son and daughter by running triathlons and marathons.
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Treasurer
Christine Redmann
Christine Redmann is currently a marketing executive with Crowe Horwath LLP, one of the top 10 accounting and consulting firms in the United States.  Her responsibilities include overseeing the development of the firm's marketing strategies, the annual planning process, and providing thought leadership to the marketing team. Prior to Crowe, Christine was KPMG's Midwest Marketing Director. In addition, Christine has over 20 years of strategic marketing experience, including a brand management position with Nestle, several years as director of market expansion at Citibank, and a variety of agency experiences serving clients such as General Mills, Abbott Labs, Whirlpool, National City and CitiFinancial. She is a published author and frequent speaker on a variety of direct marketing topics.  She received her MBA from the University of Chicago in 1993 and an undergraduate degree in English Literature from Ripon College in Wisconsin.

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Vice President, B2B Marketing
Scott Ablin
Scott Ablin, PCM, is a seasoned Managed Care and Medicare Marketing leader.  For the past several years, Mr. Ablin has served in senior-level marketing roles for health benefits provider CIGNA HealthCare and DestinationRx, a leading developer of health plan and prescription drug comparison applications. Prior to CIGNA, Mr. Ablin was Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Chicago, Illinois-based I-DEP, a leading provider of Internet-based technology solutions to the legal industry.  Prior to that, Mr. Ablin held a variety of senior level marketing positions at Nextel Communications and Boise Cascade Corporation. Mr. Ablin holds a dual Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Communications Studies from The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, and a Master of Science in Marketing Communications degree with Highest Distinction from Roosevelt University in Chicago, Illinois.  Mr. Ablin has also received designation as a Professional Certified Marketer (PCM) through the American Marketing Association, and as a Certified Business Communicator (CBC) through the Business Marketing Association.

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Vice President, B2B Marketing
Steven Handmaker
Steven Handmaker is Vice President, Marketing and Communications for Assurance Agency, one of the largest, independent insurance brokerage operations in the Midwest.  In this role, Mr. Handmaker is responsible for Assurance’s marketing, communications and branding efforts.  As the company’s top creative professional, he provides counsel on strategic marketing communication initiatives and acts as the primary writer and editor of key company messages.  Mr. Handmaker has 15 years of professional marketing experience, with a heavy concentration on the insurance sector having previously worked for ISMIE Mutual Insurance Company and Near North Insurance Brokerage.  In addition, he has consulted for a variety of businesses as principal of Handmaker Communications Consulting.  He is a graduate of Illinois State University, where he earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Public Relations, with a minor concentration in Political Science.  Well known for an uncanny ability to quote movie lines and obscure song lyrics, he spends what little free time he has traveling, jogging while listening to his iPod, worshipping Bruce Springsteen and helplessly following his Chicago Cubs.

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Vice President-Elect, B2B Marketing
Elena Izakson
Elena Izakson is currently a Vice President of Marketing at TNS Global - a world's largest market research agency. She joined Research International in 2000 as a Marketing Manager. In the course of over eight years she was responsible for a myriad of internal and external marketing programs, both locally and world-wide and continued to look after Research International brand up until the merger with TNS Global in 2009. Elena holds a Masters degree from Northwestern University in Evanston and a Bachelors degree from DePaul University, Chicago.

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Vice President, Communications
Jacine Crittenden
Jacine brings with her a wealth of media and communications experience from her native England where she obtained an undergraduate degree from the University of Birmingham. Jacine currently drives marketing communication programs for Genworth Financial's wealth management division. She is also undertaking the Integrated Marketing Communications master's program at Northwestern University. In her previous roles as Marketing and Business Development Manager with London-based consultancy firms, Jacine excelled at strategic planning and project innovation. Prior to this, Jacine enjoyed a fast-paced career with the BBC's television sport department, as a member of award winning production teams that broadcasted a range of world-wide sporting events (including the Olympics and World Skiing Championships). Jacine enjoys globe-trotting with her husband, portrait painting and supporting community arts and heritage initiatives. [back to the top]


Vice President-Elect, Communications
Rose Mulroney
Business Owner (Black Jade Creative) and Creative Director, Rose Mulroney has over 15 years of innovative design and marketing experience and officially began her career in design, after working for 5 years in the realm of marketing, when she attended Columbia College’s post-grad graphic design program. With a passion for capturing and bringing her clients' vision to life, her talent and skills involve a combination and draw of both the creative and strategic process that results in an effective image and branding program. Her work includes such achievements as: doubled enrollment, increased sales & subscriptions, generated qualified web traffic, heightened sales, boosted attendance. She thrives on collaborating with successful partners, helping them to achieve, and even exceed, their business growth goals. In addition to design, Rose’s personal passion is photography and travel—an inspiring combination that provides the opportunity to build one into the other. [back to the top]


Vice President, Consumer Marketing
Katie Whiting
Katie is the senior marketing manager for Juice Tyme, a concentrated juice and beverage manufacturer for the foodservice industry on Chicago’s Southside. She works with a variety of distributors nationally whose customers include universities, national restaurant chains, casinos and healthcare facilities. Prior to joining Juice Tyme, Katie worked in the marketing department for Aquent, a global creative and marketing staffing company. Katie has a B.A. from Indiana University and has been an AMA volunteer for 4 years. She is a proud White Sox fan and avid runner. 
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Vice President-Elect, Consumer Marketing
Ann Kostopanagiotou
Ann brings with her a wealth of marketing and advertising experience having worked with clients in retail, packaged goods and the food and beverage sectors. During her 13+ years, she’s worked agency-side at top firms including JTC Advertising, Frankel (now Arc Worldwide), 141 Worldwide (now OgilvyAction) and most recently with MARC USA. She currently acts as Senior Marketing Consultant for agencies and clients, helping to build brands and meet business challenges across all media - advertising, online, national promotions, channel marketing, events and direct. Ann also serves as Account Director with the Taproot Foundation working with not-for-profit organizations in the Metropolitan Chicago area, and is a Board member of the Hellenic Professionals Society of Illinois. Ann has a B.A in Marketing Communications from Columbia College, and has been involved with the AMA since 2007. Among her many interests, Ann enjoys good wine, cuisine, family & friends, travel and as a native Chicagoan.has a bias as it being the best city in the world...loving to explore all the culture and arts. [back to the top]


Director-at-Large
Kimberly Bachand
Kim Bachand is an Interactive Design Recruiter for Aquent, a marketing, creative and interactive staffing firm. Kim relocated to Chicago from Dallas in 2009, where she served as an active member for the Dallas/Ft. Worth American Marketing Association. With over 10 years experience in the advertising industry, Kim has held positions as Account Executive, Print Production Manager and also has extensive experience in staffing for the creative industry. She earned her BA in Journalism from the University of North Texas, and soon after graduation started her career in advertising. Kim enjoys improv and is currently taking classes at Second City. She loves exploring new Chicago restaurants and has learned that there is life beyond Texas barbeque.[back to the top]


Director-at-Large
Sherry Courtney
bio coming soon
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Director-At-Large
Sima Dahl
Sima is president of Parlay Communications, Ltd., a boutique agency providing marketing communications and public relations to entrepreneurs, small businesses and divisions of large corporations. She is a veteran marketer with nearly 20 years of B2B experience whose hallmark is her knowledge of integrated marketing strategy, guiding clients from “Message to Mindshare™.” Prior to founding Parlay, Sima worked for software giant SAP. She has an undergraduate degree in Communications from the University of Illinois and an MBA with distinction from DePaul University. She is a long-time volunteer who most recently led the B2B Division to record-breaking performance. She resides in West Bucktown with her husband David, her cat Ginger and her dog Schatzi. She enjoys spending free time dining with friends and cycling.[back to the top]


Director-at-Large
Patrick Hanlon
Patrick Hanlon is founder and ceo of global idea engineering firm Thinktopia®. His book Primal Branding: Create Zealots for Your Brand, Your Company and Your Future is in six languages and was listed in Britain as one of the top ten books to read for a ‘crash course’ in marketing/branding. In a prior life, Hanlon was executive and group creative director at New York agencies TBWA, Ogilvy, Lowe, Hal Riney and others. Thinktopia® clients include Levi’s, Yum! Brands, Microsoft, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Wrigley’s, and American Express. They have conducted business on every continent except Antarctica (which gives them their stretch goal). Hanlon speaks to marketing organizations all over the world, is included in Absolut Book, and is part of an executive task force for the Advertising Research Foundation.

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Director-at-Large
Rich Jernstedt
Rich is executive vice president and senior partner, marketing, on the corporate staff of Fleishman-Hillard.  His focus is on providing strategic counsel, strengthening client relationships, and supporting the firm's growth initiative. Rich has 40 years of experience including military public affairs, and both corporate and agency work.  One of the top strategic thinkers in corporate, product and non-profit branding, Rich has significant experience in brand positioning, reputation management and cause-related marketing. During his 26 years with GolinHarris, he played an integral role in the firm's growth from a local Chicago agency to an international leader.  He was CEO for 12 years. Rich is on the board of directors of several professional organizations--Arthur Page Society and the Institute for Public Relations.  He's a founding board member and past chairman of the Council of PR Firms, and is a member of the American Brands Council.  In the community, Rich is a board member of the Lincoln Park Zoo, workforceChicago, and Off The Street Club.

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Director-at-Large
Ted Souder
Since joining Google in 2001, Ted has overseen the creation of account management teams in the Chicago, Detroit and Dallas offices.  Currently he runs the travel vertical in the Midwest, where his team manages all aspects of the Google experience for several of the world’s largest travel companies.  Prior to joining Google, Ted was the Director of Advertising at Echo Networks, an award winning online music company.  Earlier he held numerous ground-breaking client service, sales and marketing roles with Excite, AOL and the Denver Business Journal.  In 2006, he was named one of the “25 Most Extraordinary Minds in Sales and Marketing” by HSMAI.  He is an avid traveler though he says the best trip is traveling with his wife and two kids to Harbor Island, Bahamas where he and his wife Lori were married.  Ted has a business degree from the University of Denver.
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Director-at-Large
Jesse Spungin
Jesse is a Vice President of Shopper Marketing for ConAgra Foods and is currently responsible for managing marketing activation at retail for all Consumer Foods Brand across all Sales Channels. Before joining ConAgra Foods in 2000, Jesse led the marketing efforts for other well know national consumer brands such as Bazooka Bubble Gum, Ring Pops, Push Pops and Crunch & Munch popcorn. Jesse holds an Executive MBA from the Graziadio School of business at Pepperdine University and a Bachelor of Science degree from Fordham University. He is originally from the East Coast and currently lives in Chicago with his wife Tracy and dog Scoop. Jesse also sits on the nonprofit board of Youth Outreach Services.
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Vice President, Marketing Research
Peter Morich
Peter is the Vice President of Consumer & Professional Research, Inc (CPR) a Chicago-based full-service survey research firm with a focus on on-line, telephone, and other quantitative methods.  As a 2nd generation market researcher, Peter has held exactly zero other jobs.  “Resume?  I think I can spell that,” Pete said when asked about this bio. As a long time (since 1989) on-and-off again member of the Chicago AMA, Peter has seen the organization at its best and worst. He hopes his energy, enthusiasm, and passion will help continue the organization’s recent success. Pete has a hard-earned degree in Marketing from DePaul University. He and his wife of 11 years (Liza) have two young boys, Brett (7) and Reid (3) and live in Lakeview.  Outside of CPR, Pete is an enthusiastic athlete, active in rugby (the sport of kings), racquetball, and basketball (even playing with the likes of Michael Jordan AND Barack Obama!).
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Vice President-Elect, Marketing Research
Garry Rosenfeldt
Garry is the Director of Marketing Research for Midas International in Itasca, IL, the world's largest provider of automotive services. He began his career about 15 years ago in the financial services industry where he provided expertise in database marketing and model building for such companies as USAA in San Antonio, Texas, and  Allstate Insurance in Chicago. Prior to his current position at Midas International, he was a Senior Research Analyst at Harris Bank in Chicago where he oversaw the development and implementation of a variety of customer focused initiatives ranging from segmentation algorithms to profitability models to customer retention programs. At Midas, Garry’s responsibilities include advertising effectiveness tracking, brand health measurement, customer satisfaction, as well as moderating the occasional focus group. He received his undergraduate degree in marketing from the University of Missouri-Columbia and later his master's degree in marketing research from DePaul University. Garry is married with 2 children and in his very infrequent free time enjoys playing the piano and composing his own music. [back to the top]


Vice President, Membership
Lori Chavez
Lori Chavez has more than 14 years of B2B and B2C of marketing experience in mixed-use and shopping center retail and real estate.  She was most recently VP of Marketing for Jones Lang LaSalle, a leading financial services firm specializing in real estate. Prior to Jones Lang LaSalle, Mrs. Chavez served as Director of Marketing for Equity Office, where she was responsible for development and marketing of a new small business category. Before joining Equity Office in 2001, Mrs. Chavez was responsible for launching the Shops at North Bridge, the premier location of Nordstrom, the luxury Conrad hotel, 60 boutique retailers and nine blocks of shopping off of Michigan Avenue. Mrs. Chavez holds a Master of Business Administration degree with distinction in Marketing Management and Marketing, Research and Analysis from DePaul University in Chicago, IL.  She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Finance degree from the same university.  Mrs. Chavez has also received numerous awards from trade organizations.  In her personal time, Mrs. Chavez enjoys competing in long-distance cycling, marathon and triathlon events.  She enjoys traveling and cooking with her husband and their two miniature dachshunds.
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Vice President-Elect, Membership
Tim Deegan
Tim Deegan is an account executive for the National Research Network (NRN); the consumer research division of General Growth Properties (GGP), a full-service consumer research company focusing on the design, execution and analysis of research studies. Tim is responsible for creating mutually beneficial business development opportunities with retailers, marketing and advertising agencies, and consumer research companies. He is committed to delivering flawlessly executed studies designed to help companies make accurate business decisions. Tim received his B.A. in Communication Studies from the University of Iowa and holds his PHR certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. Tim is a long-standing member of the American Marketing Association and has served on the Membership Committee for several years.
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Vice President, Programming
Matt Vale
Matt is currently Vice President of Sales for EmSense, a leading-edge neuroscience firm delivering insights in the areas of advertising, packaging, media and the shopping experience. Matt has nearly 15 years of experience in research-based consulting. Prior to EmSense, he held senior roles with MarketTools, managing the Central Region and the P&G Team. Matt also consulted with several Fortune 500 clients while with Information Specialists Group and NFO WorldGroup. He began his career with Thomson Reuters. Matt is currently a member of the AMA Market Research Council, and has previously chaired the AMA Annual Market Research Conference. He holds an MBA and BA in Statistics from the University of Minnesota, and an MA from The Fletcher School at Tufts University.
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Vice President, Strategic Marketing
Ellen Albright
Ellen is the Communications Manager for E-T-A Circuit Breakers, a German manufacturer of electrical components for equipment.  There, she manages E-T-A's North American segment of the global branding strategy through advertising, editorial and on-line initiatives.  Ellen graduated with a Bachelors of Business Administration from the University of Iowa and has been a volunteer of the Strategic Marketing committee for two years.  She enjoys to reading and taking advantage of all that Chicago has to offer - from restaurants to entertainment - whenever she can. [back to the top]


Vice President-Elect, Strategic Marketing
Jo Ann Ekblad
As a Sr. Marketing Consultant in the Web Communications division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico — Jo Ann currently oversees the planning, development and implementation of enterprise–wide Web-based media communication strategies and campaigns. Previously, she spearheaded book marketing for the Law Practice Management section of the American Bar Association, and as Director of Marketing was involved in all aspects of the marketing cycle from research and sales forecasting to e-mail marketing and book release activities. Prior to her 2006 relocation back to her native Chicago from southern California, Jo Ann spent over 15 years in corporate brand management, marketing communications and strategic planning for some of the world’s best-known brands in media, travel and publishing, including Fox TV, Marriott and The Sports Club LA. At Marriott she developed customer acquisition strategies and implemented branded resort marketing programs for eight regional upscale resorts. As the Managing Editor of Fox Kids magazine — with a circulation of 4 million — she re-branded the magazine to create a unified brand between the magazine, television, cable, radio and Internet. Jo Ann holds a BS in Communications from the University of Il linois and joined the Strategic Marketing Committee a year ago. Jo Ann loves the Cubs, running and is a two-time, “Top to Bottom” Grand Canyon hiker ('01 and '05).
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Executive Director, Chicago AMA
James Heckman
James is the interim executive director for the Chicago chapter of the AMA. He has been a volunteer and board member for several years, most recently as Vice President, Strategic Marketing. He is president of Little Wolf, Inc., a Naperville, Illinois-based marketing and sales consulting firm where he works in business development for a number of clients dealing with online and email marketing, brand identity, peer-marketing, technology development and mobile marketing. Previously, he was vice president of sales and marketing at Mir Internet Marketing, Inc., an Oak Park, Illinois-based Internet marketing consulting firm. James joined Mir in August 2006 from the American Marketing Association (AMA), where he served as director, Internet communications. He came to the marketing sector with a journalism background, having worked as the Chicago editor for LocalBusiness.com, an Internet startup focusing on emerging new technology companies in the U.S. Prior, James was the senior staff writer for the AMA’s Marketing News magazine. James earned an MBA from the University of Chicago, with concentrations in Marketing, Finance and Entrepreneurship. He is married with three children and in rare moments of free time enjoys reading and science fiction.

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