NIRI-Chicago Elects 2017-2018 Officers and Directors

The Chicago Chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago) has elected 13 officers and directors to its board for the 2017-2018 term, effective July 1. The chapter also recognized a departing board member at its annual meeting.

"Our new board will create and lead our chapter's professional development and networking programs with a great diversity of expertise and experience," said Dee Johnson, incoming chapter president. "We've already made plans for a strong launch to our 2017-2018 program year, starting with our annual golf outing on Aug. 30 and full-day IR Workshop on Sept. 15."

The NIRI-Chicago Chapter board members for 2017-2018:

Officers

President: Dee Johnson, principal, Dee Johnson Investor Communications LLC. Johnson most recently was the chapter's executive vice president, previously served on the membership and IR Workshop committees, and chaired the 2015 IR Workshop. She earlier was president of NIRI St. Louis.

Executive Vice President: Elizabeth Allen, CFA, staff director, investor relations, FedEx Corp. FDX. Allen earlier served as the chapter's vice president of membership and a member of the NIRI Annual Conference committee for three years.

Vice President, Programs: Victor Jendras, managing director, Q4 Inc. This is Jendras' first year on the NIRI-Chicago board.

Vice President, Communications: Maryellen T. Thielen, APR, ABC, president, Forest Glen Communications LLC. Thielen also has served as NIRI-Chicago chairman, president, executive vice president and IR Workshop committee member.

Vice President, Membership: Monica Gupta, financial communications manager, W.W. Grainger, Inc. GWW. This is Gupta's first year on the NIRI-Chicago board.

Vice President, Treasurer: Ruth E. Venning, executive director, investor relations, Horizon Pharma HZNP. Venning previously was NIRI-Chicago chairman, president, executive vice president, and vice president of programs, communications and membership. She served on the NIRI Annual Conference committee from 2013 to 2015 and was chair of the NIRI-Chicago IR Workshop for several years.

Vice President, Sponsorship: Christine J. Hanneman, principal, Professional Communications Specialists. Hanneman earlier served as vice president-treasurer.

Directors

Chairman: Larry Larsen, executive director, corporate communications, Golin. Larsen previously served as NIRI-Chicago president, executive vice president, programs co-chair and chair of the 2013 IR Workshop committee.

Director: Shep Dunlap, vice president of investor relations, Mondelez International MDLZ. This is Dunlap's third year on the NIRI-Chicago board. He currently is a director on the NIRI national board, was co-chair of the 2015 NIRI Annual Conference committee and has served on the NIRI-Chicago IR Workshop committee.

Director: Lisa (Meers) Gregory, CFA, vice president, investor relations, Anixter International AXE. Meers previously was NIRI-Chicago president, executive vice president and programs co-chair.

Director: Leslie H. Kratcoski, IRC, vice president, investor relations, Snap-on Incorporated SNA. This is Kratcoski's first year on the NIRI-Chicago board. She currently chairs the 2017 IR Workshop.

Director: Terri Anne Powers, director of North American investor relations for Paris-based Veolia Environnement (Paris Euronext: VIE, U.S. OTC: VEOEY). Powers was a member of the 2017 NIRI Annual Conference committee, NIRI-Chicago vice president of programs and co-chair of the 2014 IR Workshop committee.

Director: Victoria Sivrais, founding partner, Clermont Partners. Sivrais previously was NIRI-Chicago president, executive vice president, programs co-chair, treasurer, co-chair of the 2012 IR Workshop committee and chair of the 2011 IR Workshop committee. She also served on the 2015 and 2016 NIRI Annual Conference committees.

Departing Board Member

The chapter extends its gratitude to Bill Franklin of Discover Financial Services DFS, who is stepping off the board after serving as vice president of membership and director-at-large.

The Chicago chapter of the National Investor Relations Institute (NIRI-Chicago) provides professional development and networking opportunities to practitioners of investor relations, a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance. For more information, visit www.niri-chicago.org.

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