NIRI-Chicago Elects 2014-2015 Officers and Directors

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

The Chicago Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago) has elected 14 officers and directors to its board for the 2014-2015 term. At its annual meeting yesterday, the chapter also recognized two retiring board members.

“Our new board is already hard at work on a comprehensive program of informational and networking programs, starting with our annual golf outing on Aug. 27 and full-day IR Workshop on Sept. 19,” said Lisa Micou Meers, incoming chapter president. “Our goal is to help members cope with investors' growing expectations for disclosure and to foster best practices in investor relations, a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communications, marketing and securities law compliance.”

The NIRI-Chicago Chapter board for 2014-2015:

OFFICERS

President: Lisa Micou Meers, CFA, vice president, investor relations for Anixter International AXE. Meers was previously executive vice president and programs co-chair for the chapter. In addition, she has led NIRI-Chicago's sponsorship program and served on the IR Workshop committee.

Executive Vice President: Victoria Sivrais, managing director, FTI Consulting. Sivrais previously was programs co-chair, treasurer, co-chair of the 2012 IR Workshop committee and chair of the 2011 IR Workshop committee.

Vice President, Programs: David Smith, managing director, capital markets and investor relations, Aviv REIT AVIV. Smith earlier was vice president of membership and a member of the 2013 IR Workshop committee.

Vice President, Communications: Maryellen T. Thielen, senior manager, financial communications, Allstate ALL. Thielen previously was chairman, president, executive vice president, vice president of communications and IR Workshop committee member. The International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) has named her an accredited business communicator.

Vice President, Membership: Elizabeth Allen, CFA, manager, investor relations, FedEx Corp. FDX. This is Allen's second year on the NIRI-Chicago board. She previously was a featured speaker at chapter meetings and served as a member of the NIRI Annual Conference Committee for 2013 and 2014.

Vice President, Treasurer: Ruth E. Venning, director, investor relations, Hospira, Inc. HSP. During Venning's tenure on the NIRI-Chicago board, she has served as chairman, president, executive vice president, vice president of programs, vice president of communications and vice president of membership. She also has chaired five NIRI-Chicago IR Workshops and served as a member of the NIRI Annual Conference committee for two years.

Vice President, Sponsorship: Christine J. Hanneman, principal, Professional Communications Specialists. This is Hanneman's third year leading NIRI-Chicago's sponsorship program. Earlier, she served as vice president-treasurer for six years.

DIRECTORS

Chairman: Elizabeth M. Higashi, CFA, president, Higashi Advisors. Higashi has served as NIRI-Chicago president, executive vice president, vice president of programs and IR Workshop committee member. She also serves on the NIRI Subject Matter Expert Committee and is a member of the NIRI Senior Roundtable.

Director: Lisa I. Ciota, director, investor and corporate relations, SunCoke Energy, Inc. SXC. Ciota has served as NIRI-Chicago chairman, president, executive vice president and vice president of programs. She earlier led the chapter's sponsorship program and co-chaired the IR Workshop committee.

Director: Shep Dunlap, vice president of investor relations for Motorola Solutions MSI. This is Dunlap's first year on the NIRI-Chicago board. He has been a featured speaker at chapter meetings and is a past and current member of the IR Workshop committee.

Director: Dee Johnson, vice president, investor relations, Rubicon Technology RBCN. While this will be Johnson's second year on the NIRI-Chicago board, she earlier served as president and in other leadership roles with NIRI St. Louis. She also is a member of the 2014 and 2013 IR Workshop committees.

Director: Larry Larsen, corporate communications and investor relations consultant. This will be Larsen's third year on the NIRI-Chicago board. He chaired the 2013 IR Workshop committee.

Director: Terri Anne Powers, director of North American investor relations for Paris-based Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE; NYSE: VE). This is Powers' first year on the NIRI-Chicago board. She is co-chair of the 2014 IR Workshop committee and also served on the committee in 2013.

Director: Janine Warell, corporate and investor communications consultant. Warell previously served as NIRI-Chicago programs co-chair and vice president of communications.

RETIRED BOARD MEMBERS

The chapter also wishes to extend its gratitude to directors who are departing the board and will now serve on the NIRI-Chicago Advisory Board:

Kevin P. Kelly, managing director, Morrow & Co., LLC. Kelly served on the chapter's sponsorship committee for the past two years. Earlier, he was chapter chairman, president, executive vice president and vice president-programs and chaired the IR Workshop for three years.

Patricia M. (Patty) Paul, principal, ButtonWood Associates. Paul has served as NIRI-Chicago chairman, president, executive vice president and vice president-programs. She has repeatedly co-chaired the chapter's IR Workshop committee, including the 2014 committee. She also chaired a NIRI national conference and served on the board of NIRI's New York Chapter.

Kelly and Paul join the NIRI-Chicago Advisory Board, which consists of:

• Steven D. Carr, managing director, Dresner Corporate Services, Inc.;
• William D. Chapman, senior director of investor relations, W.W. Grainger, Inc.;
• Thomas J. Laughran, senior vice president, partner, and co-chair of the financial communications/investor relations practice group, Fleishman-Hilliard, Inc.;
• William H. Parke, senior director, corporate marketing and financial communications, CME Group, Inc.; and
• David A. Prichard, vice president, investor relations and corporate communications, Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc.

ABOUT NIRI-CHICAGO

The Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago) works to advance the practice of investor relations and meet the professional development needs of those engaged in the field. The members of NIRI-Chicago include corporate officers, consultants, service providers, academics and others involved in the practice of investor relations a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance. NIRI-Chicago is one of the largest NIRI chapters in the United States and has received several NIRI awards for large chapters over the years, including Best Overall Large Chapter in 2012. More information is available at www.niri-chicago.org.