IABC/Chicago Elects 2008-2009 Board of Directors

CHICAGO--(Business Wire)--
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

Copyright Business Wire 2008