2008-07-31 23:52:01 -
www.iabcchicago.com - The Chicago chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC/Chicago) today announced its board of directors for the 2008-2009 program year.
"IABC/Chicago has more than 500 members who help their organizations communicate to a wide range of audiences, both external and internal," said Karen Utterback, ABC, incoming chapter president. "In the past, organizations
tended to focus on top-down communication. Today, technology advances and new channels, such as social media, enable an overwhelming amount of information to circulate at all levels. IABC/Chicago's board works to help business communicators break through the information clutter and drive their organizations' success through effective communication strategies and practices."
President: Karen Utterback, ABC, editor at the Government Finance Officers Association. For the past two years, Utterback was IABC/Chicago's director of finance. She also has volunteered with IABC/Chicago's accreditation committee since becoming an accredited business communicator (ABC) in 2005.
Secretary: Elise Van Buskirk, senior account manager, Paladin Marketing Resources. This is Van Buskirk's first year on the IABC/Chicago board.
Director, Finance: Sangita Katsuri, global training and communications manager, Motorola. This is Katsuri's first year on the board. Most recently, she was a volunteer on the marketing committee.
Director, Strategy: Mary Hills, ABC, principal, Peak Marketing and Communication as well as adjunct faculty member, Keller Graduate School of Management. Hills has been a member of the IABC/Chicago board since 2003. She currently is serving a three-year term as director of marketing for the IABC Accreditation Council.
Director, Communications: Jim O'Reilly, vice president, Midwest region, D.S. Simon Productions. This is O'Reilly's first year on the IABC/Chicago board.
Director, Marketing: Maryellen Thielen, ABC, communications and investor relations consultant. Thielen most recently served as co-director of accreditation.
Co-Director, Accreditation: Joanne Kitsos, ABC, senior consultant, strategic communications at Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Kitsos has been a board member for seven years and has served on the accreditation, awards, communication, membership and program committees.
Co-Director, Accreditation: Diane Laux, ABC is a communications consultant and independent writer, as well as a past IABC/Chicago president.
Director, Membership: Doug Kramer, director of communications, Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP. This is Kramer's first year on the board.
Director, Professional Development: Robert Mark, chief executive officer, CommAvia. A past president of IABC/Chicago, Mark most recently was its director of sponsorships.
Director, Volunteers: Kathryn Jandeska, independent consultant. This is Jandeska's third term overseeing the chapter's volunteer efforts. Earlier, she served two terms as director of membership.
Director, Sponsorship: Shawn Kahle, APR, managing director, Arment Dietrich. Previously, Kahle was co-director of professional development.
Co-Director, Awards: Katie Schuyler, media associate/media planner, Starcom Worldwide. Schuyler has headed the awards program for the past two years.
Co-Director, Awards: Laura Taylor, manager - communications and government relations, Advocate Good Samaritan Hospital. This is Taylor's first year on the board.
Acknowledgements
The current IABC/Chicago board members extend their gratitude to the following for their hard work and many contributions to the chapter:
Nadine Sudnick, ABC, president of Sudnick Business Communications. Sudnick served on the IABC/Chicago board for four years, most recently as 2007-2008 co-president.
David Grossman, ABC, APR, Fellow PRSA, president and principal thoughtpartner(TM) at dg&a (David Grossman and Associates). Grossman was co-president this past year.
Amanda Dvorchak Harris, corporate communication analyst at Humana. Harris is stepping down as secretary and earlier was director of awards. She continues to volunteer for IABC/Chicago.
Kristi Daeda, human resources manager, Tave Risk Management. Most recently director of communications, Daeda continues to head a volunteer project to redesign the IABC/Chicago Web site.
Kate Neal, director of communications and external programs, Northwestern University School of Communications. Neal previously was director of membership. She continues to head a volunteer project to research potential social responsibility initiatives for IABC/Chicago.
Greg Gordon, senior vice president, research and strategy, L.C. Williams and Associates. Gordon was co-director of professional development last year, his fourth on the board. Gordon also serves on the board of trustees of the IABC Research Foundation and consults on IABC/Chicago research projects.
The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) is a global network of communication professionals committed to improving organizational effectiveness through strategic communication. Established in 1970, IABC serves more than 15,000 members in 70 countries with a multi-disciplinary approach to corporate communication, public relations, employee communication, marketing communication, media relations, community relations, public affairs, financial communications and government relations. IABC/Chicago (www.iabcchicago.com) is the oldest IABC chapter in the world and one of the largest IABC chapters in the United States, with about 500 members.
IABC/Chicago
Maryellen Thielen, ABC
(773) 685-4410
mtthielen@aol.com 
