Angie leads integrated communications strategies and campaigns for Fortune 250 consumer finance company Synchrony, advancing the company’s people-first culture, future of work, DEI and tech innovation. She has over 18 years of public relations and public affairs experience across the corporate, government and philanthropy sectors. Angie previously led global communications for the IBM Foundation and served as New York City press secretary for U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. She began her career in national television news. Angie graduated with a bachelor’s degree in political science and cinema and media studies from Wellesley College and lives in New York.

Christina Vega Magrini is the Vice President of Corporate Communications at Forbes. She is a global communications professional specializing in shaping the reach, impact, and perception of a global media brand and C-suite executives. In her current role, Christina has a strong focus on securing high profile media placements, brand messaging development, product, editorial, and business PR, media training, crisis communications and implementing results-oriented thought leadership programs. Christina plays a role in managing publicity efforts for all Forbes platforms including Forbes editorial and franchise lists, Forbes products and Forbes Live Events. As Vice President of Communications, Christina collaborates with departments across the company including product, human resources, marketing, research, events and editorial teams to identify and develop narratives that reinforce the company’s leadership position and overall brand purpose. Prior to joining the Corporate Communications team, Christina started her time at Forbes in digital operations, working for the Chief Digital Officer, Forbes Media. Christina graduated from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT with a double major in marketing and finance. She currently lives in New York with her husband and son.

Damon Jones leads efforts to ensure the world’s largest consumer goods company is recognized as one of the most trusted brands in the world. He leads a global organization responsible for P&G’s image and reputation and that of its nearly 100 brands. P&G’s global communications discipline includes brand and corporate communications, digital and social media, stakeholder engagement, issues advocacy and crisis management. Leveraging P&G’s significant industry presence, advertising spending and convening power, Jones also directs a broad portfolio of citizenship and advocacy efforts focused on driving equality for women, people of color and other under-represented groups. A trusted advisor to the C-suite, Jones has a proven track record of leveraging reputation and relationships to drive brand and business success, while guiding and enabling the company to be a force for good and a force for growth.

Halley Knigge serves as director of communications for REI Co-op, leading the teams responsible for showcasing the co-op’s impact work, highlighting its passionate employees and helping current and future members see themselves as part of the co-op–and outdoor–community. Prior to REI, she spent four years as a spokesperson for Alaska Airlines, where she also designed and launched the airline’s first company blog. At Alaska, she helped explain an airline merger, helped inspire adventures near and far, and sometimes ghost-wrote tweets for a certain Seattle quarterback. She’s also dabbled in healthcare, nonprofits, education and daily newspapers. She grew up on Mr. Rogers, so her no. 1 core value is to always be a helper, and currently serves on the boards of the Tacoma Urban League and the Washington Trails Association. She lives and rabblerouses in Tacoma, Washington with her stay-at-home artist husband and first grader.

Lou Dubois is an experienced content and creative executive who specializes in modernizing brands through innovative storytelling, products and campaigns. In his current role as Sr. Director, Head of Content, Creative & HDTV at The Home Depot, he leads a team of 30+ creative professionals tasked with working across the organization to tell the story of Home Depot, its strategic priorities, history, product and people, to audiences internal and external. Previously, he built and led similar teams at Hilton and its 19 brands, 6,800+ hotels worldwide and its employees, and at NBCUniversal, working across the media and entertainment conglomerate’s 50+ brands worldwide. In each of those roles, his teams have been responsible for multiple award-winning brand films and episodics, for leading multi-platform content initiatives and for developing and growing storytelling practices and the products/platforms to support them across the organizations. In his career before brands, Dubois led social and digital newsgathering and strategy at NBC News for a team that worked on the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, the 2012 Presidential Election and more, where his work was recognized with both a Peabody and an Emmy Award. He began his journalism career at Sports Illustrated and has also worked at Inc. Magazine, the Associated Press and Social Media Today. He holds a degree in journalism from Flagler College in St. Augustine, Florida and lives in Park City, Utah.

Michael Kaye is an award-winning public relations professional serving as the head of brand marketing and communications for Match Group’s ARCHER and OkCupid. Michael has written for Adweek and PRWeek, and has been interviewed by ABC News, Axios, Business Insider, CNN, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Kaye is also an adjunct instructor at New York University and the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and previously served on the board of the Human Rights Campaign.

Sarah Alspach is SVP, External Affairs at bluebird bio, where she is responsible for driving bluebird’s external engagement — including corporate communications, investor relations, patient advocacy, government affairs and alliance development — in support of the company’s mission — pursuing curative gene therapies to bring patients and their families more bluebird days.

Sarah joined bluebird bio in September 2021 as Chief Communications Officer and led communications strategy and execution through a period of significant transformation for the company, culminating with the FDA approval and launch of two first-in-class gene therapies in 2022. Built on a foundation of more than 10 years of leadership in research and development, bluebird is seeking approval for a third gene therapy in 2023 for sickle cell disease.

Prior to joining bluebird, Sarah served as Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, the world’s leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis. She also spent more than a decade at GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) where she was Vice President for U.S. Pharma and Corporate Communications, with responsibility for communications, corporate brand and reputation, and philanthropic giving in the US. Sarah holds a B.S. in public relations from the University of Texas at Austin and lives outside of Washington, DC with her husband and three children.

Stephanie Lowenthal is an award winning communications expert with over 20-years experience from in-house roles as well as in global PR agencies, leading integrated communications programs for the world’s leading brands and hottest tech start ups including Nasdaq, trivago and Builder.ai. Deep experience in developing and building out PR & Communications functions from scratch, developing brand positioning, corporate and internal communications and content development.

Dr. Tiph Turpin is the Global Vice President of Employee Communications at Expedia Group. Her team’s responsibilities include executive communication, enterprise-wide communication, operating division communication, corporate function communication, corporate brand and visual identity, employee events and experiences, and communications strategic operations and measurement. For nearly two decades, Dr. Turpin has led award-winning teams spanning internal, external, legislative, community engagement, and investor communications in corporate, consulting, and nonprofit sectors. She graduated from Georgetown University with a double major in English and Sociology before earning an M.A. at the University of Maryland, and a Ph.D. at Howard University. She’s a lifelong traveler and volunteer who enjoys exploring the world with her family. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Global Glimpse and is passionate about this nonprofit’s work to create life-changing travel experiences for students.

Billy Rielly serves as Senior Vice President, Head of Public Affairs at the Consumer Bankers Association (CBA) in Washington, D.C. In this capacity, he plans and directs the organization’s media and messaging efforts to amplify industry policy priorities and ensure CBA member banks remain well-positioned to deliver on their fundamental missions across every community they serve. Prior to joining CBA, Billy worked on multiple political campaigns, in public affairs representing leading corporate advocacy clients, and most recently spent five years working as a Special Assistant and Communications Director in Congress. He is a native of Pittsburgh who graduated cum laude from Wake Forest University with a major in Political Affairs and Entrepreneurship.

Veleisa Patton Burrell is a trusted counselor to clients and peers alike, providing strategic guidance on integrated communications, including media relations, content development, digital communication and executive visibility. Her talents lie in detailing company values through owned storytelling consistently across mediums to earn media coverage and improve reputation with employees, partners, and clients and industry peers.

In her role as Senior Director of Public Relations and Crisis at Denny’s Brand, Veleisa is responsible for corporate and brand communications as well as crisis, internal, CSR and DEI communications. Prior to joining Denny’s, Veleisa worked in the Texas office of FleishmanHillard for three years. She also previously owned and operated a marketing communications firm, Narrative Evolution. Veleisa graduated from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with a bachelor’s degree in corporate communications and public affairs. She later earned a master’s degree in communication studies from the University of Texas at Arlington.

Side work as a mindfulness facilitator and yoga instructor keeps her mind and body strong and resilient. Veleisa’s volunteer work includes launching the Dallas chapter of ColorComm, a professional network for women of color in communications, and serving as the inaugural executive director. She was named to Public Relations Society of America Dallas inaugural 40 Under 40 list in 2021 and was previously a board director for the chapter.

Mariella Kapsaskis is head of corporate communications for BMW of North America. In this role, she and her team help shape and tell the company’s corporate narrative to essential employee, media, and influencer audiences to maintain a positive image for the BMW Group, its brand, services, innovations, activities, and commitment to and within the U.S. market. Additional areas of focus including overseeing corporate media relations, internal and executive communications, speechwriting, and all US press events.

Kapsaskis’ almost twenty years of communications experience spans a variety of sectors from technology to fashion, luxury, and automotive both on the agency side and in-house, working on the corporate communications teams at Lands’ End and later Mercedes-Benz USA. She joined BMW of North America in 2015 to head up corporate and product communications for MINI USA before taking over as executive and internal communications manager for BMW of North America, the position she held prior to her current role. In addition to her corporate communications background, Kapsaskis holds an M.S. in broadcast journalism from the Newhouse School of Syracuse University.

Born and raised in New Mexico, Felicia Salazar is the Deputy Communications Director for the Department of the Interior serving the Biden-Harris Administration. Previously, she served as Communications Director for Rep. Deb Haaland in the House of Representatives, where she leveraged breaking news, ran press outreach, managed social media, and led national and local communication strategy. Through her previous roles in the Albuquerque Mayor’s Office, New Mexico State Legislature, Democratic Party of New Mexico and U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich’s Office, she carries a specific expertise in communicating on climate change, issues that impact Indigenous communities, and working family priorities. The first in her family to graduate from a 4-year college, Felicia is a proud University of New Mexico alumna.

Marc Johnson is a 20-year veteran in communications. Over his career, Marc has developed a deep expertise in identifying and activating unique data-based insights to develop more authentic brand voice and connection with business stakeholders. Marc is currently Meta’s Vice President of Content Studio, managing a range of creative brand communications functions using social media as a primary channel. His priority focus is to use social and creative communications to empower Meta’s brands to build community with core audiences.  Marc was previously the Vice President of Corporate Communications and influenced numerous sensitive company initiatives including the rebrand from Facebook to Meta, organizational changes, and media relations connected to company earnings disclosures and acquisitions.

Previously, Mr. Johnson was Managing Director of APCO Worldwide’s New York business, and the Global Head of Digital Strategy where he helped clients accomplish their objectives through data analytics and content strategy. His work in issues management and stakeholder analysis has driven critical business goals for consumer and association brands. This work included designing corporate brand activations for Audi of America, connecting IKEA to meaningful public affairs moments, developing new ways to educate people on Red Bull energy drink ingredients, and supporting communications and brand strategy at many other Fortune 500 organizations. Marc has also driven global communications strategy in the public sector including work with the Government of Malaysia where he helped 400 government officials better engage public constituents through the more informed use of social media.

Marc has been a pioneer in reshaping the way agencies approach digital strategy. In 2015, he transitioned the APCO digital strategy team to focus more acutely on using unique data analytics and insights to inform overall communications. This new practice helped clients build a more informed and dynamic communications strategy, and new products and tools for more impactful outcomes.  Simultaneously, Marc built a digital and data analysis curriculum to upskill hundreds of APCO employees to become better strategists using a new set of tools.

Prior to joining APCO, Marc drove campaigns in healthcare, education, and public advocacy sectors at Mindshare in Washington D.C. There, he led and contributed to a range of highly successful projects with UNICEF and Anheuser-Busch. He also managed the website redesign and advancement of digital strategy for Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which won the 2006 Webby Award in the public advocacy category.

Mr. Johnson holds a Bachelor of Arts in Advertising and Mass Media Communication from Hampton University. He is an active board member with America’s Charities, Gideon’s Promise, and the Hampton University Scripps-Howard School of Journalism and Communications. Marc was named to PRWeek’s 40 under 40 list in 2015 and was ranked #5 on The Observer’s Power PR List in 2020.

Kelly Williamson is president of APCO Worldwide’s North America region. As the youngest female member on APCO’s Global Leadership Team, she is accustomed to exploring new territory and capturing opportunities. She’s a strategic advisor and an entrepreneur at-heart. From the founding of APCO’s Raleigh presence and helping grow it into a flourishing business; to regularly galvanizing new and creative ideas from around the world; or simply challenging herself, her clients and her managers to think bigger and act more boldly, Kelly is a force of nature who consistently challenges the status quo.

Her dedication to improving the firm’s culture and infrastructure of APCO is laudable. After beginning her APCO career as an intern in 1999, Kelly now helps global companies transform their business and be prepared for what’s next.

Kelly’s tenure features career highlights across diverse industry sectors and regions. She created APCO’s Accelerate What’s Right program that addresses systemic racism and builds inclusive cultures for APCO teams, clients and community. She’s a specialist in issues and corporate reputation, particularly for regulated industries. She built and initially lead APCO’s key client initiative that trains colleagues globally on how to provide exceptional client service.

In recent years, Kelly was honored several times for her significant career accomplishments. She won a 2022 Top Women in Communications Award in the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champion category; was named a Champion in the 2018 PRWeek Hall of Femme; and was named a 2018 Top Women in PR by PR News.

Kelly is on the board of advisors at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill in the Media and Journalism School and prior to joining APCO she served as a financial management consultant for the Principal Financial Group. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in communication with a concentration in public relations and business from James Madison University.

Morgan Painter-Effron is Vice President, Corporate Communications, NBCUniversal. She is currently responsible for editorial and content creation, helping to tell stories across the NBCUniversal brands and businesses.

Morgan has more than a decade of experience managing global communications across the technology, media and entertainment sectors. Within her communications career, she has worked across media and investor relations, publicity, internal communications, social media, executive communications, digital and content creation.

Morgan earned her B.A. in Communications, Public Relations and Journalism from Purdue University and resides in Manhattan with her family.