Volunteer of the Month

American Marketing Association Chicago Chapter is managed by more than 100 volunteers.

Every level of our organization is led by chapter members who volunteer their time on our committees, events teams and board of directors.

Through their careers and their service to AMA Chicago, our volunteers give back to the community and make our mission possible, and we appreciate their dedication throughout the year. Each month, we highlight a special volunteer who has gone above and beyond to make a meaningful impact on member value through skill- or relationship-building.

February 2024

Steve Raquel

“I nominate Steve Raquel on the Strategic Relations Committee for Volunteer of the Month. Steve is a Clinical Assistant Professor at Gies College of Business at the University of Illinois/Champaign. He organized a panel of his former students to participate in a panel at this year’s Student Bootcamp. The recent graduates offered valuable insights to current students about internships, getting their first job and life in marketing careers.” 

Jim Heininger, Director of Strategic Relations

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Previous Honorees

  • January 2024: Maggie Bahler Rizzio

    Communications Manager, Archdiocese of Chicago

    “Maggie has been an a true AMA Chicago connector. From her past board tenure to her consistent volunteerism on the Membership Committee, she is truly a gem! Her continued dedication and unmatched enthusiasm have been contagious – encouraging so many to become involved in the Chapter. Thank you, Maggie, for all that you do!” Lauren Banks Arnold, VP Membership

  • December 2023: Brian Harder

    Chief Creative Officer, One Roof Designs Art

    “Brian has been a valuable addition to the team since the day he joined the Communications Committee. He is always willing to jump in on a project, flex his creative muscles, or help other committee members. We are grateful to have him on the Graphics Team!“ Lidia Varesco Racoma, Marketing Graphics Manager

  • November 2023: Larissa Doucette

    Director of Marketing & Communications, National Association of Boards of Pharmacy

    “Larissa’s dedication and commitment is so appreciated! Her continued willingness to raise her hand and lead initiatives, positively impact the AMA Chicago Chapter and help to move our membership initiatives forward. Thank you, Larissa, for all you do! “ Lauren Banks Arnold, VP Membership

  • October 2023: Nicole Tuthill

    Social Media Coordinator, StudioNorth

    “Nicole has been volunteering for AMA Chicago for several years. In her new role as Copywriter Manager she is running a tight ship and keeps our social media posts fresh, exciting and on time! Thank you Nicole!” Lauren Arnold, VP Membership

  • September 2023: Gwen Robbins

    Client Relationship Manager at Zentro Internet

    “Gwen joined the sponsorship committee as an account manager to proactively support our valuable chapter sponsors and she has already made an impact with her strong organization and communication outreach. She keeps our committee on track and helps ensure our sponsors leverage opportunities to share their knowledge with our community through thought leadership content and at live events. Thank you Gwen for all your efforts this quarter!”

  • August 2023: Karen Hatfield at Pythia LLC

    President & Chief Marketing Officer

    With great pleasure and enthusiasm, I recommend Karen Hatfield as the American Marketing Association Chicago Volunteer of the Month. Karen consistently demonstrates a remarkable set of qualities that make her an asset to AMA Chicago and an inspiration to those who have the privilege of working alongside her. One of Karen’s standout qualities is her resourcefulness. She approaches challenges with a creative and resourceful mindset. Her ability to figure things out has been a game-changer for our small team. Karen’s warmth and empathy shine through in every interaction. She makes everyone feel valued and heard. Her sensitivity to our speakers’ needs further underscores her ability to connect on a personal level. Karen remains poised even in the face of rapidly changing circumstances. Her professionalism and thoughtfulness enhance the quality of our discussions and programs. Karen Hatfield is not just a volunteer but a shining star within the American Marketing Association Chicago. She embodies qualities that make her a wonderful colleague, an excellent problem-solver, and a true thought partner. Her dedication and commitment to our organization have enriched AMA Chicago and, most importantly, our members’ experience.

  • July 2023: Iris Kelley

    Vice President of Digital Marketing, Shift7 Digital

    Vice President of Digital Marketing, Shift7 Digital Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago “Iris has been an asset to the Membership Committee. In a short time, she’s made great strides to connect with our Shared Interest Groups, helping to push this initiative forward and engage the membership. We appreciate her attention to detail, communication and organizational prowess. Thank you, Iris, for all you do the AMA Chicago Chapter!” – Lauren Banks Arnold VP, Membership

  • June 2023: Samantha Amy and Sara Naatz

    Membership Volunteers

    Membership Volunteers “Samantha and Sara embody our commitment as volunteers to serve the AMA Chicago membership. Shortly after joining, I watched them jump in and contribute in any way they could to the success of chapter events. It was a pleasure to see them shine as they co-led the planning and execution of our Annual Membership Celebration in June. As a team, they pulled all the elements together for a successful event with detail and ensured members and volunteers had an enjoyable experience. Samantha and Sara are reliable, proactive, full of energy, and efficient, and it is my honor to recognize them for their dedication to our chapter.” – Beverly Moore, Secretary

  • May 2023: Jim Heininger

    Founder & Principal, Dixon|James Communications | SIG volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Jim has been an ongoing presence at AMA Chicago events and when called upon he never hesitates to step in to fill a gap. I appreciate his contributions as a member, and as a discussion leader, of the brand SIG and non-profit SIG. Jim’s willingness to volunteer to be part of the AMA Chicago community is why we are recognizing him as Volunteer of the Month.” – Chris McGuire, President

  • April 2023: Sylvia Marten

    VP of Marketing and Communications, VNA Health Care | Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Sylvia Marten recently joined the Marketing Insights committee and began creating immediate value – stepping in to help create clarity around critical actions for the team. In the month of April, Sylvia took on the leadership and development of our April Member Advisory Council (MAC) survey, the 2023 Volunteer survey and then also created a brilliant, insight-rich summary of BrandSmart 2023 analytics that drove great engagement in the May board meeting. Thank you, Sylvia, for your tremendous contributions as a volunteer to support our Chicago marketing community!” – Josh Blacksmith, Board of Directors, Member at Large

  • March 2023: Beth Marshall

    Senior Marketing Associate, Segall Bryant & Hamill | Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Beth works her email analytics magic for AMA Chicago every month without fail. We rely on her data to show us where we need to implement changes or rejoice in the choices we already made. She is a well respected member of the volunteer family. Thank you, Beth!” – Bonnie Massa, Executive Director

  • February 2023: Jay Ford

    CMO, Sigma Chi Foundation | Strategic Relations Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Jay has been a fantastic volunteer and representative for the Chicago marketing community! Jay was a powerhouse volunteer in helping create and launch a Marketing Boot Camp for Students. Jay was the glue that held the event together, kept things running smoothly, and created an inviting, educational experience for both speakers and attendees.” – Kara Lineal VP, Strategic Relations

  • January 2023: Nicole Tuthill

    Social Media Coordinator, StudioNorth | Copywriter Manager, AMA Chicago

    “Nicole Tuthill has been a diligent contributor of her excellent copywriting skills to the communications committee for more than two years. She has recently stepped up to become the group’s copywriter manager and has already shown strong leadership skills. Her dedication and talent are greatly appreciated by the AMA Chicago, and we are delighted to nominate Nicole as our Volunteer of the Month.” – Karolyn Raphael, VP, Communications

  • December 2022: Kristian A. Alomá, PhD

    Founder & CEO, Threadline | LinkedIn Live Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Kristian brings his passion for branding and experience design to every engagement he’s involved in as a volunteer for the AMA Chicago. As one of our volunteers and hosts for the AMA Chicago’s LinkedIn Live program, he leads every conversation with thoughtful dialogue and brings out the best in the guests being interviewed — in turn, supporting AMA Chicago’s mission to help Chicago’s marketers expand their knowledge and grow in their careers. Thank you, Kristian!” – Leslie Marshall President, AMA Chicago

  • November 2022: Carina Smith

    Senior Marketing Specialist,  Adage Technologies | Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Carina Smith adds tons of value to the programming committee. Not only can Carina plan, but she also executes flawlessly. Carina partnered with our executive director to head up our nonprofit workshop in November, and it got great reviews. AMA Chicago appreciates all of your contributions!” – Michelle Robin, VP Programming

  • October 2022: Desmon Walker

    Partner, Narratent Digital Marketing | Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “From the moment Desmon Walker joined the programming committee, he’s been enthusiastic and eager to add value. Recently, Desmon worked tirelessly to secure our panel for the upcoming Signature Speaker Series event in February in tandem with volunteering to field questions from our online audience at hybrid events. Desmon, we appreciate your positivity and dedication to AMA Chicago.” – Michelle Robin, VP Programming

  • September 2022: Rene Reiter

    Marketing Director, Supply Clinic | Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “The Membership Committee is proud to nominate Rene Reiter as our Sept 2022 Volunteer of the Month. Rene’s zealous, “can do” attitude and welcoming spirit make her a true asset to our committee. She makes her mark on our members with personal phone calls and her warm welcome at in person events. Cheers to you, Rene, for all you do for our chapter!” —Lauren Banks, VP Membership Relations

  • August 2022: Christine McKenzie

    Director of Content Development, Built-Right Digital | Communications Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Christine McKenzie has contributed greatly to the AMA Chicago’s website with high-quality content for its blog. She has stepped up and tackled recapping some of the chapter’s most popular programs so that we can continue to share knowledge with our members. We are delighted to nominate Christine as our August Volunteer of the Month.” – Karolyn Raphael, VP, Communications

  • July 2022: Lauren Nagys

    Global Marketing Manager, Smalley | Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Lauren Nagys always shows up with enthusiasm and a smile for our committee calls. She was instrumental in securing our speakers for this year’s CMO Forum. Lauren delivers on her promises and is not afraid to simply reach out and ask potential speakers if they would like to present even if she doesn’t have a connection. I am so glad she is part of our programming committee.” – Michelle Robin VP, Programming

  • June 2022: Tracy Crane

    Senior Social Media Strategist, StudioNorth | Communications Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Tracy Crane has been an organized and dedicated leader for our social media team, always ready to help—even with her busy day job workload. In addition to overseeing the social media calendar, she recently implemented an RSS feed on Twitter to bring more exposure to our job postings. We are honored to nominate Tracy as our June Volunteer of the Month.” —Karolyn Raphael, VP, Communications

  • May 2022: Strategic Relations Committee

    “Our hats are off to our Strategic Relations committee because of their work putting together our first College Student Marketing Bootcamp in April 2022 at Columbia College. As VP of the committee, Kara Lineal built this team in three short months then planned and implemented this first of its kind event. Thank you to all the team members who put this event together Shanita Akintonde, Elfi Gabriel, Joshua Blount, and Jeri Bingham.” – Shannon Lee, AMA Chicago President

  • April 2022: Carina Smith

    Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Marketing Specialist, Adage Technologies

    “Congratulations to Carina Smith, our Volunteer of the Month for April 2022! Carina is always willing to raise her hand and help. From facilitating the registration table at BrandSmart, to welcoming members at Connex, Carina works with excellence, commitment and dedication. We thank her for her positive attitude and passion as a volunteer for the Membership Committee.” – Maggie Bahler Rizzio VP, Member Relations

  • March 2022: Joshua Blount

    Strategic Relations Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Chief Visionary Officer, Techeters

    “Joshua Blount helped introduce the AMA Chicago Strategic Relations Committee to out-of-the box ways of reaching our audience using technology. Whether we’re reaching student marketers or local startups, Joshua adds value to our Chicago Chapter campaigns through his unique approach to outreach. Joshua Blount has been a fantastic volunteer and representative for the Chicago marketing community!” – Kara Lineal VP, Strategic Relations

  • February 2022: Kevin Davis

    Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Director, Marketing & Communications, Erie Family Health Center

    “Congratulations to Kevin Davis, our February Volunteer of the Month! Kevin is an integral member of the membership committee and is bringing his expertise to our DEI initiatives. Kevin developed a calendar of key observances, highlighting monthly celebrations, such as Black History Month in February and Women’s History Month in March. He diligently meets with board leaders on a quarterly basis to ensure that the chapter is on track to meet its DEI targets. We appreciate Kevin’s commitment to the chapter!” —Maggie Bahler-Rizzio, VP, Membership

  • January 2022: Doug Scherer

    Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago | CATI Supervisor, CPR Inc.

    “Doug Scherer is a quiet warrior – always there when you need him, working in the background to make sure all the pieces are in place. His responsive and proactive nature make him a joy to work with. Thanks to Doug we are able to effectively collect the data we need to stay in touch with what our members need.” – Carolyn Crafts, VP, Marketing Insights

  • December 2021: Kathy Alexander & Beverly Moore

    “Kathy Alexander and Beverly Moore have been the driving force behind the reboot of the chapter’s Special Interest Groups in recent months. Their dedication and diligence in creating this new group of places for our marketers to meet and share, as volunteers, is what keeps AMA Chicago an exciting hub for marketers in Chicago.” – Bonnie Massa, Executive Director

  • November 2021: Lidia Racoma Varesco

    Social Media Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Brand Strategist & Creative Marketer, Lidia Varesco Design

    “Lidia has been an outstanding leader on the Communications Committee. Her creativity and strategic mindset have helped our committee increase our following and engagement on each AMA Chicago social media channel. We thank her for her insights and positive attitude as a volunteer for the Communications Committee.” – Karolyn Raphael VP, Communications

  • October 2021: Sajna Razi

    Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Faculty in Marketing, University of Illinois at Chicago

    “Sajna Razi has been an active participant on the Marketing Insights team during this entire calendar year and led several important projects, including most recently a KPI dashboard template to track and monitor performance for committees’ key strategic initiatives, both at the committee and board levels. In addition, she developed the BrandSmart attendee evaluation summary that combined online in-event and post-event surveys.” – Carolyn Crafts VP, Marketing Insights

  • September 2021: Kristina (Clementi) Shoda

    Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago | Senior Category Marketing Manager – Beverages, Canopy Growth Corporation

    “Kristina (Clementi) Shoda has been an outstanding volunteer for the AMA Chicago, Community Programming Committee. She led the efforts with Constellation Brands to secure phenomenal senior level speakers for the September Signature Speaker Series. Her proactive approach has put the speakers at ease while ensuring the event provides relevant and inspiring content for all of our attendees.” – Amanda Willard VP, Programming

  • August 2021: Katryna Deligiannis

    Blog Editor, AMA Chicago | Senior Social Media Manager, Morningstar

    “Katryna’s enthusiasm and high-quality work on the AMA Chicago Communications Committee and the chapter’s blog should be commended. We thank her for her positive attitude and excellent writing contributions as a volunteer for the Communications Committee.” –Karolyn Raphael, VP, Communications

  • July 2021: Guysheena Gibson

    LinkedIn Group Manager, AMA Chicago | Program Specialist, American Bar Association

    “Guysheena’s dedication and independent work to maintain and elevate the AMA Chicago’s LinkedIn Group over the past few months has been incredible. We thank her for her leadership and positive energy as a volunteer for the Communications Committee.” –Karolyn Raphael VP, Communications

  • June 2021: Volunteer Management Team

    “AMA Chicago’s extraordinary volunteer management team is our Volunteer of the Month because of their dedicated commitment to our volunteers over the last 12 months and both of the inspiring volunteer house parties they produced! Thank you Lauren Banks, Laís Titton and Maggie Bahler Rizzio!” – Karolyn Raphael VP, Communications

  • May 2021: Karen Hatfield

    President & Chief Marketing Muse, Pythia LLC | BrandSmart Planning Committee

    “Karen Hatfield joined the BrandSmart committee in the fall of 2020 and made huge contributions. She used her experience, connections, and branding prowess to help make BrandSmart a powerful event, securing several key speakers, and organizing the pre-conference networking event. She moderated several sessions with poise and panache. She is a fantastic strategist and committee rock star!” – Cindy Bond VP, Executive Programming

  • April 2021: Marketing Insights Team

    “This month’s award goes to an entire team of dedicated volunteers who stay on top of a never-ending stream of data to inform Chapter initiatives. This past quarter, the team was instrumental in the finalization of a new Member Journey initiative and providing insights into Email Marketing initiatives that led to new strategies for streamlining member communications. The team is led by Kathy Alexander and Carolyn Crafts, supported by team members Beth Marshall, Peter Mitchell, Sajna Razi, Andrew Samaniego, and Christian Terry.” – Kathy Alexander VP, Marketing Insights

  • March 2021: Trudi Gentry and Sarah Hirsch

    “Trudi Gentry and Sarah Hirsch have been exceptional volunteers for the AMA Chicago, Communications Committee. The pair dove in with tenacity on a special project for member acquisition and have demonstrated true leadership by tackling the research and campaign creation without much precedent. Affectively known as the “Membership Campaign Co-chairs,” we are very grateful to have their perseverance and commitment.” – Chris Ertel VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • February 2021: LinkedIn Live Team

    “AMA Chicago has a strong, talented and cohesive team of volunteers to lead our LinkedIn Live events. Thank you to Allison Summers, Sima Dahl, Leslie Marshall and Tracy Crane for developing our strategy and launching this new series without a hitch. We appreciate your leadership and execution!” – Chris Ertel VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • January 2021: Laís Titton

    Marketing and Sales Specialist, StratusComm | Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Laís has been a wonderful addition to the Membership team! Her energetic work style is contagious as she consistently cheers on team members, always wiling to take on a new task when needed. She brings creativity and enthusiasm to everything she does and her passion for AMA Chicago is evident – even as she works from her office in Brazil! Thank you, Lais, for being such a valued member of the team!” – Doug Davila VP, Membership, AMA Chicago

  • December 2020: Karolyn Raphael

    President, Winger Marketing | Communications Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Karolyn is a true team player and valued asset to the Communications team and the Chicago Chapter. Karolyn inspires creative ideas and insightful approaches to our commitment to deliver value to the members of our community. A true brand steward, Karolyn ensures our communications reflect the tone, character and energy of our chapter and our team. Thank you, Karolyn, for all of your contributions. We are happy to have you!” – Chris Ertel VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • November 2020: Peter Mitchell

    President, Strategic Intent, LLC | Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “As an integral member of the AMA Chicago Marketing Insights team, Peter led the recent update to our Member Journey Map, working with committee members and the AMAC Board to develop a highly intuitive and engaging model. His approachable and collaborative style brings teams to consensus and keeps projects moving forward. Peter is quick to share his wealth of experience in using data and insights to refine strategy within our marketing community. Thanks Peter, for all you do!” – Kathy Alexander VP, Marketing Insights, AMA Chicago

  • October 2020: Tracy Crane

    Social Media Strategist, StudioNorth | Social Media Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Core to the Chicago Chapter of the AMA is our value in content, community and opportunity. Tracy Crane exemplifies all aspects of those values. Tracy has been an integral part of our social media efforts. Her dedication to timely, quality content keeps the AMA Chicago a fundamental resource for our members. She brings tremendous acumen to our strategy and planning initiatives. Her energy and commitment are both inspirational and infectious. Thank you, Tracy, for all you do to advance our community of marketers!” – Chris Ertel VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • September 2020: Carolyn Crafts

    Partner, FullSurge | Google Analytics Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Carolyn has been instrumental in wrangling the deluge of Google Analytics data into meaningful insights to help our Communications and Membership committees understand the impact of their efforts. An enthusiastic member of the team, Carolyn is always ready to tackle new issues and quickly respond to ad-hoc requests. She brings a wealth of expertise and experience in brand insights and strategy to her role on the Marketing Insight Committee, including positions with Cars.com, Entertainment Cruises and Tribune. Thanks Carolyn, for your dedication and commitment to AMA Chicago!” – Kathy Alexander VP, Marketing Insights, AMA Chicago

  • August 2020: Sue Ter Maat

    SEO Content Strategist & Writer | Blog Manager, AMA Chicago

    “Sue’s blog efforts this past fiscal year helped us to achieve some of the Communications Committee’s more audacious goals of providing an increase of consistent value-added content for our community. Even during unprecedented times these past few months, she continued to write 1.5 relevant posts per month. She was also instrumental in helping us craft and distribute our stance against racism in early June in the form of blog and social media, with a post titled Dear Chicago. Her recent 3-part blog series focused on our workshop speaker Dan Golden and shared valuable information on SEO. Thank you, Sue, for sharing your writing talents with our community, and for your continued commitment to the AMA Chicago.” – Shannon Lee President-Elect, AMA Chicago

  • July 2020: Cindy Bond

    Principal & Founder, Bond Digital | VP, Executive Programming, AMA Chicago

    “We honor Cindy Bond as AMA Chicago’s Volunteer of Month for her continued dedication and perseverance. 2020 has certainly proven to be a challenging year for us all, and no less for Cindy and the Executive Programming Committee. Through Cindy’s leadership, the team persevered through the cancellation of the in-person BrandSmart conference, pivoting to a wonderful two-day virtual event of amazing programming, speakers and sponsors. Hats off to Cindy who has now agreed to anchor BrandSmart 2021!” – Allison Summers President, AMA Chicago

  • June 2020: Elina Yufa, Bernie Verwiel, Lidia Varesco Racoma & Lauren Banks

    Volunteer Management Team, AMA Chicago

    “Each of you has been named our Volunteer of the Month as our team of brilliant Zoom House Party planners for our first-ever virtual volunteer recognition event. I am so honored to have the opportunity to work with each of you individually and in our high-performing Volunteer Management project team. You all came together quickly with your creativity, ingenuity and top planning skills to bang out a vision and execution that resulted in an amazing and unique evening to celebrate our volunteers during an unprecedented time.” – Judi Myers Director, Volunteer Engagement , AMA Chicago

  • May 2020: Barbara Kalicki

    Digital Analytics Consultant, InfoTrust, LLC | Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Barbara has been integral in converting our programs to virtual events, providing the tools, expertise and back-end operations to create seamless experiences for our marketers to connect. Her commitment to our program development and delivery is outstanding; this is her second time being honored as a volunteer of the month in 2020!” – Bonnie Massa Executive Director, AMA Chicago

  • April 2020: Dean Petrulakis, Chris McGuire, Julia Parisot & Nichole Mumford

    Sponsorship Team, AMA Chicago

    “We are calling out Dean Petrulakis, VP of Sponsorship, and his team Chris McGuire, Julia Parisot and Nichole Mumford as our volunteers of the month for their exemplary effort and dedication this fiscal year in strengthening the chapter’s partnerships with agencies and marketing service providers in our Chicago area marketing community. They are each a consummate professional, and the chapter is grateful for their passion and volunteer spirit.” – Bonnie Massa Executive Director, AMA Chicago

  • March 2020: Shari Matras

    BrandSmart Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Shari has been instrumental in shaping our BrandSmart conference for the last two years. Not only does she have her finger on the pulse of marketing today, but she has a remarkable ability to identify thought-leaders with a fresh and compelling point of view and engage them to become part of our conference. Thank you, Shari. We’re so lucky to have you on the team.” – Cindy Bond VP, Executive Programming, AMA Chicago

  • February 2020: Sue Ter Maat

    SEO Content Strategist & Writer | Blog Manager, AMA Chicago

    “Sue is a master blogger and blog manager! Her unique topics, timely content and keen brand representation have brought us a consistent stream of evergreen content to our website, which is driving high engagement and increasing SEO results. Thank you, Sue! We’re so honored to have you!” – Shannon Lee VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • January 2020: Barbara Kalicki

    Digital Analytics Consultant, InfoTrust, LLC | Programming Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Barbara has shown excellent commitment and dedication to the programming committee, our chapter and her position as chair of the Digital Trends for 2020 event. Her experience and abilities shined with an impressive panel of subject matter experts, actionable content and great event execution that made this an overall, high impact experience for our members!” – Michael DiFranco Director, Programming, AMA Chicago

  • December 2019: Lauren Banks

    VP, Account Services, Creative Marketing Resources | Membership Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Lauren brings a positive attitude and her incredible organizational skills to her role as a connector on the membership committee. She interacts with members, new and established, and makes them feel welcome and connected to the organization. She is constantly recruiting volunteers and making sure individual needs are met through introductions and follow-up. Lauren is willing to help out with any task and we appreciate her commitment to the membership team.” – Maggie Bahler, Director, Member Engagement, AMA Chicago

  • November 2019: Jeff Segal

    Communications Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Jeff has been an enthusiastic contributor for content this past year for AMA Chicago. While he regularly creates engaging social media copy for the chapter, he also wrote all BrandSmart 2019 communications this year, and he has contributed to several blog posts. Jeff is a pleasure to have on the committee, not only for his clever words but because he’s fun to work with! He embraces the AMA Chicago brand voice and understands how to emotionally connect with our broad marketing community. It’s a true privilege to volunteer with Jeff on the Communications Committee, and he is very much appreciated.” – Shannon Lee, VP, Communications, AMA Chicago

  • October 2019: Maggie Bahler

    Director, Member Engagement

    “Maggie is a new board member and has jumped in with a great deal of enthusiasm. She is often the first person new members meet, either via a welcome note or during New Member Orientation. She is skilled at driving interest in volunteering and encouraging new members to get more involved in AMA Chicago!” – Doug Davila, VP, Membership Relations, AMA Chicago

  • September 2019: Beth Marshall

    Senior Manager, Marketing Communications, Ariel Investments

    “Organizational transitions are never easy, especially when working with volunteer committee members transitioning from year-to-year. Not only is Beth dedicated to providing quality insights each month, she also played an integral role in ensuring a seamless transition of board leadership within the Marketing Insights committee. Her enthusiasm for providing the board with the information they need to guide the direction of our Chapter is infectious. Thanks Beth for all you do!” – Kathy Alexander, VP, Marketing Insights, AMA Chicago

  • August 2019: Michael DiFranco

    Director of Program Development NVISION

    “Michael has been a valuable contributor to the Chapter working diligently and strategically in recruiting committed volunteers to fulfill our committee needs. He has ambitiously stepped up beyond his position to successfully produce two signature programs to demonstrate his breadth and depth of commitment and experience to add value to the Chapter and deepen its footprint in the marketing community.” – Judi Myers, Director, Volunteer Talent Management, AMA Chicago

  • July 2019: Doug Scherer

    CATI Supervisor, CPR Inc. | Marketing Insights Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Doug has been instrumental in programming our annual member survey this year. With a strong attention to detail and a can do attitude, Doug is great to work with. I really love that he is always ready to help find a new way to ask a question and uncover better insights.” – Kathy Alexander, VP, Marketing Insights, AMA Chicago

  • June 2019: Tom Palmer

    Founder & Owner, Kindel Insights | BrandSmart Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Tom was a key member of the BrandSmart team, helping to strategically review and vet speaker RFP submissions. He also worked hard to plan breakout sessions, identify additional speakers, secure keynote speakers and so much more. Thank you for helping to make BrandSmart a success!” – Cindy Bond, VP, Executive Programming, AMA Chicago

  • May 2019: Rene Reiter

    Marketing Manager, Adage Technologies | Event Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Rene has been a significant contributor to our events as a lead event volunteer, most notably at BrandSmart and Career Smart. Over the last several weeks, Rene has gone above and beyond to provide exceptional registration and intake at our key events, greeting attendees and guests with professionalism, efficiency, and warmth. She has helped new volunteer recruits learn the ropes and given our event and program coordinators peace of mind in providing more than registration to ensure a successful event end-to-end.” – Judi Myers, Director, Volunteer Talent Management, AMA Chicago

  • April 2019: Chris McGuire

    Director of Client Growth and Engagement, McGuffin Creative Group, Inc. | Volunteer, AMA Chicago

    “Chris McGuire is the AMA Chicago chapter Volunteer of the Month in recognition of his energy and thoughtful approach to recruiting partners for the chapter’s Career Smart events. Chris is a new member, and yet he jumped into the project quickly and demonstrated his ability to find opportunities for all involved to succeed. Plus he is a genuinely nice man and fun to work with!” – Bonnie Massa, President, AMA Chicago

  • March 2019: Kathy Alexander

    Founder & Chief Strategist, Beagle Insight, Inc | Chair, Community Programming, AMA Chicago

    “I was blown away at how Kathy took charge to get our March 28 event (Fireside Chat: Courageous perspectives on delivering marketing ROI) pulled together beautifully. Besides being an awesome collaborator, Kathy is incredibly organized and has a broad understanding of what it takes to unite professionals with varying research backgrounds under a common theme.” – Chris Cacci, President-Elect, AMA Chicago

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