Celebrating Ragan’s Top Women in Communications Class of 2024
Winners were celebrated at a special awards luncheon in New York City on Thursday.
The 2024 Ragan Top Women in Communication Awards celebrated the trailblazing achievements of the women who have raised the bar for the rest of the comms world through their work developing high-performance, relentlessly creative work across internal and external communications, HR, public relations and beyond
Ragan Communications hosted an awards luncheon on Feb. 29th at New York City’s City Winery, where attendees took time to celebrate each other in the face of both global and internal trials to overcome today’s most urgent challenges.
“This year’s class of Top Women exemplifies the heights that women can reach across our industry when they come together,” said Diane Schwartz, CEO of Ragan. “It’s an honor to recognize their power and celebrate their ability to enact meaningful change through their efforts.”
Ragan also had two Hall of Fame honorees in attendance, who spoke to crowd about their takeaways from their accomplished careers.
“What this industry really needs is great people, and we need one another,” said Marian Salzman, senior vice president at Philip Morris International. “What we need is a workplace that embraces differences, champions strengths, and guides us all through it together.”
Susan Donlon, chief communications officer at KeyBank, acknowledged that her induction as a Hall of Famer wasn’t an individual pursuit.
“I want to thank my team because they always bring professionalism and fun to my role every day,” she said.
Congratulations to all of this year’s winners and nominees.
Bridge Builders
Melissa Buscher, Vice President, Chief Communications and Marketing, Officer SPX FLOW
Laci Hasenour, Vice President of Global Marketing and Global Brand Owner, Berry Global, Inc.
Kimberly Leidgertwood, Vice President, Internal Communications, Cognia
Trish Nicolas, Executive Vice President, rf.engage, Ruder Finn
Yolanda Schufford, Chief Communications & Public Affairs Officer, Beyond Finance
Gina Spatafore, Vice President of Corporate Communications & Public Relations, Ancestry
Angela Sullivan, EGM/SVP of Communications, Xero
Racquel White, Vice President of Corporate Affairs for Royal Canin North America, Royal Canin North America
Crisis Navigators
Marisa Bluestone, Senior Director, Communications, Macmillan Learning
Kristy Campbell, Chief Communications Officer, OneTrust
Gina Czark, System Vice President Public Relations and Content Strategy, CommonSpirit Health
Atalanta Rafferty, Co-Founder and Senior Executive Managing Director, RF|Binder
Sara Sendek, Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Data Dynamos
Jacqueline Boggess, Director of Communications, Corn Refiners Association
Alex Christian, VP, Research & Analytics, EvolveMKD
Karen Cyphers, Partner and Director of Research, Sachs Media
Sally Slater, EVP, Head of Innovation, The Bliss Group
Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Champions
Ti’Ara Brown, Manager, Brand Communications, McDonald’s
Eliza Chlebeck, Vice President, Communications & Community, Andersen Corporation
Jewelyn Cosgrove, Vice President of Government and Public Relations, Melwood
Gigi García Russo, Chief Innovation + Growth Officer, HUNTER
Madeline Hiller, Senior Account Executive, French/West/Vaughan (FWV)
Priscila Martinez, Founder and CEO, The Brand Agency
Leah Reynolds, Principal, Engagement Practice, Buck, A Gallagher Company
Jenny Wang , Senior Vice President, Clyde Group
Dynamic Do-ers
Holland Behn, Lead US PR Manager for Smartphones and Lifestyle – Mobile, Samsung Electronics America
Lenee Breckenridge, Senior Vice President of Communications, UFC
Cortney Collins, Director, US Communications and Employee Engagement at Haleon, Haleon
Kenzie Freeman, Senior Program Specialist, Communications, Institute of Nuclear Power Operations (INPO)
Erin Frostad, Employee Communications and Involvement Manager, Mohegan Sun
Reed Handley, Executive Vice President, Head of Growth, Financial Services Practice Co-Lead, The Bliss Group
Mayra Hernandez Bergman, Vice President, Communications & Marketing, Pepco Holdings
Megan Kessler, Chief of Integrated Marketing and Strategy, PAN Communications
Christina Leeds, Senior Director Public Relations, Amtrak
Stephanie McCay, Director, U.S. Communications, PCL Construction
Claire Nance, Head of Global Communications & Industry Marketing, Activision Blizzard
Jasmine Palmer, Supervisor, Brand Communications, McDonald’s
Krysta Pellegrino, Chief Client Officer, Health+Commerce
Amy Persons, Senior Manager, Earned Media, Aflac
Jordan Phillips, Senior Manager of Public Relations, Avocados From Mexico
Rania Rostom, Head of Global Communications & Marketing for GE, GE
Stephanie Rufo, Senior Manager, Brand PR & Influence, PATRÓN Tequila
Julie Sculley, Director, Corporate Communications, Virgin Pulse
Athena Snow, Senior Manager of Public Relations & Giving, Coldwell Banker Real Estate
Steph Spanos, Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Operations, Exact Sciences
Kristina Spychalski, Head of Communications, Spire Global, Inc.
Michelle Trautman, Director, Marketing Communications, SPX FLOW
Nancy White, Senior Director, Communications, Healthcare Businesswomen’s Association
Alison Zurcher, Director, Internal Communications, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Leaders
Jodi Amendola, CEO, Amendola Communications
Dawn Buzynski, Assistant Vice President, Communications, Hy-Vee, Inc.
Katie Clark, Vice President of Communications, Mattress Firm
Anne DeAngelis, Executive Vice President, Employee Engagement, Zeno Group
Vanessa DeGier, AVP, Communications, Providence
Nina Devlin, Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer, Vertex Pharmaceuticals
Keally DeWitt, VP Marketing & Public Policy, GAF Energy
Megan Doern, Public Relations & External Communications Leader, Deloitte Consulting, LLP
Theresa Dolge, EVP, Chief Media Relations Office, Evoke Kyne
Monique Fahlstedt, Senior Director, Internal Communications, ESPN
Melanie Fatouros-Richardson, Vice-President, Communications and Government Relations, SkipTheDishes
Brittany Geldmacherm, SVP, Head of Corporate Brand & Communications, Scopely
Erin Griffin, SVP of Marketing & Communications, Riddell
Mara Hedgecoth, Chief Communications & Marketing Officer, APCO Worldwide
Suzanne Hendery, Chief Marketing, Communications & Customer Officer at Renown Health, Renown Health
Jennifer Hines, Chief Communications Officer, Tyler ISD
Jessica Hohn-Cabana, Sr. VP of Global Communications, Cloudera
Katie Huang Shin, President, Big Valley Marketing
Ashley Kline Shapiro, Vice President, Publicity ABC Entertainment, The Walt Disney Company
Melissa Lander, Vice President, Communications, Trinity Health
Kate Laufer Gorenstein, Founder & President, KLG Public Relations
Lisa Lesniak, Senior Vice President and Chief Public Affairs Officer, Advocate Health
Amanda Marotti, Director, Strategic Communications & OCM, AWL Strategies, LLC
Johnna Muscente, Vice President of Communications & Public Relations, The Corcoran Group
Rebecca Nunez, Founder & CEO, The MRN Agency
Lauren Pearson Riley, Director of Communications, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
Joellen Perry, Global Head of Public Relations, SAP
Dalya Qualls White, Senior Vice President, Chief Communications Officer, BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Melissa Sachs. Senior Vice President, Communications, Link Logistics
Lauren Triffler, Director of Corporate Communications, HARIBO of America
Hannah Vazzana, SVP, Chief Communications Officer, Hilton Grand Vacations
Heather Young, Vice President, Communications, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST)
Mentors & Coaches
Samantha Anderson, Vice President, EvolveMKD
Cindy Auten, Senior Partner, Communications, ICF
Ellen Bremseth, Director, Strategic Communications, Milhouse
Elizabeth Erpelding, Head of Partner & Client Experience, Marketing and Communication, Albertsons Media Collective
Jessie Monroe, Communications Consultant, Alliant Insurance Services, Inc.
Susan Stipa, Executive Vice President, CG Life
Tech Leaders
Donetta Allen, Chief Social + Digital Officer, HUNTER
Rachel Pipan, Founder, Maneuvre
Kelly Waltrich, Co-Founder and CEO, Intention.ly
Stephanie Wilson, Director, Global Marketing and Communications, ZS
Trailblazers
Diana Castellanos, Head of Marketing & Communications, Atlas Renewable Energy
Adrienne Chance, Senior Vice President of Communications and Executive Director of the SpartanNash Foundation, SpartanNash
Karlin Keller, Senior Director, Employee Communications and Employer Brand, Intel
Erin Lickliter, VP, Associate & Clinical Communications, Bon Secours Mercy Health
Stephanie Lowenthal, Global Head of Communications, Builder.AI
Tess Mattingly, Director, Brand Communications, McDonald’s
Kelly Miller, Managing Director, FTI Consulting
Justine Sacco, Chief Communications Officer, Match Group
Christina Stejskal, VP of Global PR & Communications, Fender Musical Instruments Corporation
Jody Sunna, Vice President of Corporate Communications, Philip Morris International
Nichole Tillman, EVP-Communications, Philadelphia Housing Authority
Cheryl Waide, Chief Communications Officer, Vote Run Lead
Sharlene Wells, Senior Vice President of Public Relations and Organizational Communications, Mountain America Credit Union
Visionaries
Sara Aiello, VP, Corporate Marketing, Trellix
Rhiannon D’Angelo-Parsons, Director of External Communications & Media Engagement, Reynolds American Inc.
Gina Faridniya, Vice President, Spaces, Antenna Group
Tori Fernandes, VP, Corporate Communications, The Walt Disney Company
Sara Garibaldi, President, BODEN Agency
Jenna McMullin, Vice President of Communications, Lockheed Martin, Space
Marisol Mendez Peron, Senior Vice President, Communications & Corporate Affairs, Genmab
Jennifer Moreau, Vice President, Public Relations, Dollar General
Kristina Peterson-Lohman, Vice President, Global Communications, Weber
Amanda Schoch, Chief Communication Officer,, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
Tracy St. Pierre, Executive Vice President, Global Communications & Marketing, Universal Studio Group
Emily Williams, Senior Vice President, Global Strategy Group
Courtney Young, Director Hulu Originals Publicity, Hulu
Jill Zuckman, Partner, SKDK
Rising Stars (Age 30 and Under)
Kristen Blomstrom, Director, The Levinson Group
Julia Brown, Director of Strategy, Kaplow Communications
Jessica Bryant, Account Manager, SourceCode Communications
Samantha Casamento, Senior Account Executive, EvolveMKD
Allison Chavez, Associate State Director of Communications, AARP-Florida
Amy Climenhage, Account Manager, Sachs Media
Sawyer Coffey Noel, Director of Communications and Marketing, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Kelsey Dalton, Senior Media Relations Specialist, City of Hope Orange County
Jane Ha, Manager, Communications, The Walt Disney Company
Sunjay Lee, Account Supervisor, Ruder Finn
Vianca Lopez, Account Manager, The MRN Agency
Samantha Miller, Senior Manager, Internal Communications, Xperi Inc.
Sabrina Negron, Director, FTI Consulting
Annah Otis, Account Supervisor, The Bliss Group
Michele Owen, Communications Director, City of Muncie
Maredie Palmer, Digital Communications and Employee Experience Manager, Dominos
Bailey Williams, Manager, Crisis Communications, McDonald’s
Michaela Zukowski, Senior Manager, Publicity ABC Entertainment, Walt Disney Company
Learn more about our full list of winners here.
Sean Devlin is an editor at Ragan Communications. In his spare time he enjoys Philly sports, a good pint and ’90s trivia night.
