Convener of the most senior communications professionals in Chicago.
Knowledge and insights exchange. Networking and fellowship.
Communication Leaders of Chicago recognizes and celebrates what many in the communication world already know – that Chicago has a large, diverse, and vibrant communications community, representing the very best of our profession.
Communication Leaders of Chicago delivers on the need for fellowship, thought leadership and knowledge sharing among the most senior communications professionals in the Chicago metropolitan area.
Based on the collaborative nature of Chicago’s leaders, CLC’s programs provoke new thinking in response to emerging challenges, encourage strategic dialogue, and provide opportunities for robust discussion.
It all results in facilitating and reinforcing relationships that make a real difference both personally and professionally. And, when these leaders get together, it’s always engaging, inspirational, collegial, and motivational.
We’re focused on bringing together the best – Chicago’s most Senior Leaders of our profession.
We’re proud of the company we keep. We bring together the very best of the greater Chicago area – our industry’s trailblazers, seasoned practitioners and thought leaders.
An invitation-only professional organization, CLC represents current and former C-level executives and leaders in our profession – from corporations and agencies to universities, non-profits, and government, as well as prominent communications academics.
CLC delivers first-rate programming for Chicago’s Leading Professionals.
It’s our mission to create more meaningful ways to strengthen the profession and the people who practice it – fostering a community for sharing new ideas, solving challenges, networking, fellowship, and celebrating achievements.
The variety of initiatives sponsored by CLC include the Chi-alogue Series; timely and relevant research; networking events; and the annual Distinguished Senior Leader Award presentation.
Meet Our 2024 Officers and Board
Jack Modzelewski
Founder and Chief Executive,
JackKnifePR
CLC CO-CHAIR
Ginger Porter
Chief Client Officer, GOLIN
CLC CO-CHAIR
Bill Parke
Founder, W.H. Parke & Co.
CLC FOUNDER & SECRETARY
Virginia Mann
President & Chief Influencer,
Virginia Mann Group
CLC TREASURER
Bridget Coffing
Founder, Coffing Communications;
Retired CCO, McDonald’s
Ron Culp
Professional in Residence, DePaul University
Michelle Flowers
Founder & CEO, Flowers Communications
David Grossman
Founder & CEO, Grossman Group
Jon Harris
Executive Vice President, Chief Communications and Networking Officer, ConAgra
Rich Jernstedt
President & CEO, The Jernstedt Company
Maril MacDonald
CEO & Founder, Gagen MacDonald
Stacy Sharpe
Executive Vice President & Chief Communications Officer, Verizon
Our Rich History
Founded in 2003 to serve senior leaders in our profession, the organization was rebranded as Communication Leaders of Chicago in 2023 to focus more deeply on the needs of today’s top professionals. Today, we are a convener of the best of our profession, promoting collegiality, thought leadership and knowledge sharing in addressing the challenging issues of our times.
Shaping Our Industry
With the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence in every aspect of communication, CLC initiated a first-of-its-kind project with DePaul University to determine the current level of understanding, application and governance of AI. The ongoing initiative – AI-Human Communication Research Project – indicates senior PR leaders are bullish on the potential of AI, while being concerned about AI oversight. CLC plans further AI research as well as other initiatives that help senior leaders understand and tackle seismic changes in the profession.
Distinguished Leader Recognition
The CLC hosts an annual event to honor Chicago’s Distinguished Leader. An inspiration to our entire profession, the Distinguished Leader represents the very best in class of our profession, with a demonstrated track record of high achievements, contributions to our field, and exemplary leadership.
The 2023 Distinguished Leader was Julian Green, Senior Vice President of Communications and Community Affairs, the Chicago Cubs.
Our past Distinguished Senior honorees include:
2003: Thomas Hoog
Chairman, Hill & Knowlton
2004: Harold Burson
Chairman, Burson-Marsteller
2005: John Graham
Chairman, Fleishman-Hillard
2006: Ray Kotcher
Chairman, Ketchum
2007: Harris Diamond
CEO, Weber Shandwick
2008: Helen Ostrowski
Chairman, Porter Novelli
2009: Marcia Silverman
CEO, Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide
2011: Rick Murray
President, Edelman Chicago
2012:
Joan Walker
Executive Vice President, Corporate Relations, Allstate
Edward Reilly
Global CEO, Strategic Communications, FTI Consulting
2013: Bridget Coffing
SVP and Chief Communications Officer, McDonald’s; AL GOLIN, Founder/Chairman, Golin/Harris
2014: Maril MacDonald
Founder and CEO, Gagen MacDonald
2015: Rich Jernstedt
President and CEO, The Jernstedt Company
2016: John LaSage
CEO, Midwest, Burson-Marsteller
2017: Michelle Flowers Welch
Chairman and CEO, Flowers Communications Group
2018: Jon Harris
Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Conagra Brands
2019: Peter Debreceny
Vice President, International, Arthur W. Page Society
2020: Ron Culp and DePaul University
Public Relations and Advertising Program
2021: Stacy Sharpe
Senior Vice President, Corporate Brand, The Allstate Corporation
2022: Jill Allread
CEO, Public Communications Inc.