Josh Blacksmith Steps Into Role of President and Four New Members Join the Board

CHICAGO, IL / ACCESSWIRE / July 17, 2024 / The American Marketing Association Chicago (AMA Chicago), the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network, announces updates to its 2024/2025 fiscal year Board of Directors (board). The AMA Chicago board is comprised of volunteer leaders based in the Chicagoland area who are impactful visionaries in their respective fields of marketing. Its new leadership slate is effective as of June 2024.

Josh Blacksmith was named President, succeeding Chris McGuire, who will remain on the Executive Committee. Blacksmith formerly served as a Board Member at Large and VP of Marketing Insight for AMA Chicago. Outside of the board, he is Head of Global Integrated Marketing, Experiences & Digital Transformation at Kimberly-Clark.

AMA Chicago also welcomed four new board members:

• Tim Carr, Head of Marketing for Oracle Advertising and a Board Member at Large

• Lauren Nagys, Director of Marketing at Smalley. Nagys has been part of AMA Chicago's Community Programming Committee since 2021 and is now Director, Programming.

• Joe Grigsby, Global Client Lead at VML COMMERCE and a Board Member at Large

• Tony Blasco, Chief Financial Officer at Zeno Group. He joins AMA Chicago's board and Executive Committee as Treasurer.

"I couldn't be more honored and excited to step into my term as President of AMA Chicago," says Blacksmith. "We've been serving Chicago's marketing community for more than 80 years, and it's clear that no other association is better positioned to support all types of marketers at every level of experience across brands, agencies, and service providers. Our board's commitment to members is to empower meaningful connections that further the marketing practice and enrich our community. We're looking forward to delivering on this promise while supporting all marketing disciplines from brand to demand and everything in between."

In addition to its new members, the following members are returning to the board for another term:

• Beverly Moore, MS, MarCom, AMA PCM/CDMP; Secretary

• Lauren Arnold, VP, Membership Relations

• Shanita Baraka Akintonde, MBA, M.Ed., DTM; VP Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion

• Karen Hatfield, VP, Programming

• Sylvia Marten, moving up to VP, Marketing Insights

• Suky Lawlor, moving up to VP, Communications

• Karolyn Raphael, Director of Public Relations

• Megan Hurley, Member at Large

• Gabriel Mitchell, FLMI; Member at Large

The board's Executive Committee includes Executive Director Bonnie Massa, Blacksmith, Blasco, McGuire, and Moore.

"Our Board of Directors is instrumental in carrying out AMA Chicago's mission to provide skill building, community, and connection," said Bonnie Massa, Executive Director of AMA Chicago. "We're delighted to welcome both new and returning members to the board, and look forward to partnering with this impressive, passionate, and knowledgeable group in the year ahead."

AMA Chicago offers a variety of membership options for individuals and groups. For more information, please visit https://amachicago.org.

About American Marketing Association Chicago

AMA Chicago, the largest professional chapter in the American Marketing Association's North American network, is 87 years strong. AMA Chicago provides ongoing development opportunities for Chicagoland marketers to expand knowledge, improve skills, and grow careers through access to innovative marketing thought leaders and cutting-edge programming. Marketers from agencies, brands, small businesses, non-profit organizations, and consultancies are invited to join AMA Chicago to connect with marketers from every industry and skill set. Visit amachicago.org to learn more and join.

Contact Information

Karolyn Raphael
PR for American Marketing Association Chicago
karolyn@wingermarketing.com
312-494-0422

Bonnie Massa
Executive Director AMA Chicago
executivedirector@chicagoama.org

SOURCE: American Marketing Association Chicago

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