Corporate Communications, Investor Relations & Public Relations Awards Judging Committee

A global public relations leader, communications strategist, board of directors chairman, and entrepreneur. Margy’s 30-year career spans public relations, corporate marketing/communications, journalism, and economic development. Margy and her team embrace the AI journey while advocating fiercely for sustaining uncompromised content quality and the value of original ideas to differentiate thought leaders and brands.

Margy led Akrete to a 2025 Gold Stevie Award in the PR Agency of the Year – U.S. and Canada category. Akrete has recently been recognized in the PRNews Agency Elite Top 120 and in the 2025 PRWeek Best Places to Work awards. The firm is consistently listed in multiple O’Dwyer’s rankings including sustaining a #3 national ranking for nearly a decade in the real estate finance and development category. Margy has been recognized as a Woman of Influence (GlobeSt.com/2023) and is a 2026 Top Women in PR and Communications honoree in the business entrepreneurs category.

Margy founded Akrete in 2011, with a vision to rally a team of top B2B writers, media professionals, and marketers under the firm’s “work where and when it makes sense” business model. Offering media relations, PR advisory, corporate communications, and content marketing services. Team Akrete is known for its ability to articulate and amplify complex ideas and content, connecting with target audiences on a human level.

Akrete has served a client roster of well-respected global companies such as JLL, KeyBank, BGO/SunLife, Unispace, Hines, Fortune Brands, and many more regional B2B enterprises. Margy and her team are proud to measure multiple client relationships in decades through continuous evolution and innovation.

A trusted advisor to CEOs and senior executives at critical business junctures, Margy is also a widely published ghostwriter. She has led PR initiatives that range from globally coordinated corporate and transaction announcements, to sustained visibility programs promoting brands and investment locations.

Before founding Akrete, Margy led the Great Lakes office for a New York City-based PR firm and served in multiple PR agencies and in-house corporate marketing roles. She also served as a freelance journalist published in outlets including The Wall Street Journal, Travel Channel, and multiple trade publications.

Margy spends much of her time outside Akrete serving on Boards of Directors advocating for entrepreneurs from all backgrounds and walks of life. Most recently she has served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of SomerCor, a leading Small Business Administration (SBA) lender, and as a Board Director for the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center (IMEC), serving on the Governance and Executive Committees of both boards. Margy also holds a leadership position on the Urban Land Institute’s global Marketing Communications Forum and is a regular guest speaker.

Margy’s professional affiliations have also included the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), Vistage, the Forbes Agency Council, Commercial Real Estate Executive Women (CREW), The Goldie Initiative, CoreNet Global, and a variety of other community and industry organizations. Margy lives near Chicago, Illinois (USA) and enjoys global travel and genealogy research.

From 2015 to 2023, Ricky served two terms as a Miami Beach City Commissioner, chairing the City’s Finance Committee and overseeing a nearly $1 billion budget. He spearheaded voter-approved General Obligation Bond programs totaling nearly $600 million to fund infrastructure, parks, public safety, and cultural projects.

Ricky is deeply committed to arts and culture, serving since 2004 on the Board of Trustees of the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, including a term as Chairman, where he helped secure the landmark $30 million gift that named the center. Nationally, he was appointed by President Barack Obama to the President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanities and was an early organizer of the Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) Miami Chapter. In his local community, Ricky proudly supports Big Brothers Big Sisters, Best Buddies, Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, and The Children’s Museum. Ricky earned his B.A. in Economics from Boston College, his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from St. John’s University School of Law, his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School, and a Master’s Degree in Urban Policy from the University of Southern California. An avid athlete and adventurer, he has completed marathons on multiple continents and Ironman triathlons worldwide.

Kristel Artates is a seasoned publicity and customer engagement professional with a decade of experience behind award-winning work across fintech, telecommunications, and consumer brands. An internationally-licensed Crisis Communication Planner (CCP), she brings a results-driven perspective shaped by leadership roles at Metrobank, Globe Group, and Ogilvy Philippines.

Teddie is Global Head of Communications, Marketing, & Brand at the International Federation of Accountants (IFAC), the global voice of the accountancy profession. She leads initiatives that elevate the profession’s impact, strengthen trust, & advance the public interest. Teddie has also worked at PwC, Deloitte, KPMG, & Arthur Andersen & has degrees from Cornell University & Columbia University.

Izane is COO and Chief Inspiration Officer at nFold, a strategic proposal and pitch consultancy in South Africa, and an APMP-certified Proposal Professional. With 20+ years in bids and marketing, she’s led high-performing bid teams, is an authorized APMP trainer and international speaker, a published author, and recently wrote a guide.

A strategy, growth, and transformation leader with 20+ years' experience, Natalia is Head of Communications for ABB Robotics across Eastern Europe, the Baltics, and the Balkans. She is an expert in integrated communications and brand strategy, delivering award-winning initiatives with measurable business impact. Natalia is a C-level advisor, MBA lecturer, and author.

Dedicated science and health communications, global multicultural marketing, and business affairs professional with 15+ years’ experience in health IT, innovative community engagement models with at risk populations, and multi-sector partnerships for federal and regional government, non-profit, and corporate programs.

Since founding Ebeling Communications in 2007, David Ebeling has become a top-tier PR strategist in the commercial real estate industry. His nationwide client roster—spanning owners, developers, brokers, investors, lenders, property managers, architects, construction firms, consultants, and CRE tech companies—relies on him for elite, high‑impact media results and overall guidance.

Livia Formisani is a multilingual communications consultant with over 15 years' experience. Prior to founding Starry Sky SARL, a boutique content agency for IT and space firms, she worked as Managing Editor for BMW and EMEA Content Manager at Microsoft Germany. Her clients have included Mozilla Corporation, and American Express.

Ignacio Fossati is an AV tech communications specialist, former journalist and AVIXA-Recognized AV Technologist with more than 20 years of experience. He is the founder of Fossati PR, a Spain-based public relations agency specialized in the AV, entertainment technology and live event industries.

Theodore Harding is Founding Marketing Manager at laiout, an AI-powered space planning platform, building the marketing function from scratch: narrative, campaigns and product voice. He spent six years at Cityscape Digital leading commercial operations and revenue, launching Catalyst, and now advises Cityscape Digital and TEDI-London on technology-driven careers.

As Chief Strategist with 20+ years in communications and PR across agency and client side, Beáta co-founded Next9 Communications (2018), now a Hungarian TOP4 PR agency by revenue with multiple international awards. A yearly TOP50 PR professional in Hungary, she leads regional and local campaigns across PR, social media, & storytelling.

Alicia Jones is the founder of A42 Strategies, a global communications consultancy. A trusted advisor to Fortune 500 leaders, including Fannie Mae, Skanska, and Feld Entertainment, she brings nearly two decades of newsroom and C-suite expertise in media relations, public affairs, and crisis communications, with placements in major media networks.

Rahim is a poised and proven global communications leader with 20 years of public and private sector experience building, protecting and enhancing the reputation of organizations and their executive leadership. He leads corporate communications strategy on digital/social and traditional media channels with a creative, client-centric approach to content curation.

James is an award-winning content marketing leader with 30+ years experience. He has helped brands including BMW and American Express build global content ecosystems that drive curiosity, engagement, loyalty and sustainable growth. Convinced that nobody needs more content, only the right content, he advocates audience-first strategies grounded in editorial excellence.

Meta Magdalena Director of DNA Komunika (Jakarta, Indonesia) is the co-founder and Director of PT Desain Nindya Amarta (DNA Komunika), established in 2013. Specializing in design and corporate communication, the agency leverages creativity and passionate execution to build highly effective design strategies that yield significant, meaningful results for its clients.

Jennifer Martinez is a senior communications leader with 15+ years of experience shaping corporate reputation, driving strategic messaging, and leading high-impact initiatives in complex, evolving environments. As Senior Director, Corp Communications for FBIN, she oversees enterprise-wide communications designed to inform and engage stakeholders and bring the company’s strategy to life.

Founder and head of the GENESIS PR agency, since 1994 in the PR industry. Lecturer at the Cracow University of Economics and the Institute of Journalism at the University of Warsaw. For many years has been a member of the jury of the Golden Clips and IBA competitions in the USA.

Specialising in brand strategy, campaigns, and communications, with 15+ years’ global experience across the US, UK, Australia, and NZ, Chloe helps businesses grow through stronger brand perception and commercial impact. Named in NYREJ’s 2024 Women in Commercial Real Estate list and elected to CMO Alliance’s Customer Advisory Board.

A consultant with extensive experience in communications for companies, associations, and healthcare professionals. She served as director of some of the largest communications agencies for more than 25 years, developing strategies and leading client-service teams.

Michelle has more than 25 years of experience leading internal and external communications, change management, crisis and issues management, community relations, analyst relations and mergers and acquisitions communications.

Dave Reavis is a senior marketing, corporate communications, and public relations executive with 25+ years of experience leading executive communications, media relations, reputation management and brand strategy for Fortune 500 companies and financial institutions. He helps organizations navigate change, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and achieve strategic business goals.

Business writer, marketer, storyteller and strategist winning new clients by explaining solutions and how they create organizational value. Known for curiosity and translating technical details into stories that capture the imagination, which helps grow relationships. Currently working in law, prior work in banking, commercial real estate and ag biotech.

Ginna Ryan is the Co-Founder of Coneqt, an independent marketing and creative consultancy led by Ginna and her business partner, Carmen Maugeri. Together, they bring more than 30 years of experience helping commercial real estate professionals, hospitality operators, business owners and professional service providers tell compelling stories, and drive measurable sales.

As principal and chief marketing officer, Maura is responsible for the strategic marketing initiatives of Common Arts, a collection of distinct design studios serving the built environment. As a key leader Maura works with the four studios of Common Arts: RDC, Studio One Eleven, DyeLot Interiors and PDO.

Amber Smith is Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and IT at SomerCor, where she leads brand strategy, communications, digital engagement, events, and technology initiatives. With experience in financial services, SBA lending, SaaS, and integrated marketing, she is passionate about connecting small businesses with resources that support growth, ownership, and economic opportunity.

Jonathan Starzyk is Bonaventure's Director of Marketing, overseeing brand strategy, communications, and demand generation across the firm's real estate investment offerings. Previously, he was a Senior Marketing Manager at Origin Investments, driving multi-channel lead generation targeting high-net-worth investors. A Pomona College graduate, Jonathan enjoys running, yoga, and travel.

Kimberly Steele is Director of Global Occupier Public Relations at JLL, managing PR initiatives globally and across the Americas for Occupier services. She brings over 20 years of communications expertise. Since joining JLL in 2019, she has led strategic programs that elevate JLL's brand through media relations, executive positioning, and digital engagement.

A communication and public affairs expert with a vast experience in leading international projects, B2B consulting and crisis communication. Graduated from University of Warsaw, holding MBA degree in International Marketing from WSHiFM/ University Rotterdam, University of Durham. Member of International Public Relations Association.

Vonj Tingson is a senior technology and communications leader and co-founder of PAGEONE Group, one of the most awarded public relations and strategic communications agencies in the Philippines and Southeast Asia. Under his leadership and direct creative authorship, the firm has earned over 500 awards by 2026 for integrated campaigns.

A strategic, analytical, and influential Supply Chain Planning & Transformation leader adept at developing, managing, optimising complex global demand/supply planning and logistics networks, leveraging on effective stakeholder engagements. Led multiple business integration and strategic initiatives, including deployment of sales & operations planning (S&OP), and supply chain risk management.

Diane has over 25 years experience in strategy, communications and advocacy. She is currently Senior Principal at Strategy Consultancy, Prescient. Prior to this she was JPA Health Managing Director for the International Region and latterly SVP, Strategy, Integrated Intelligence. Diane has also held senior roles in P&G, GSK, AZ and MSD.