IABC DC Board Of Directors
President: Debbi Jarvis
president@iabcdcmetro.org
Debbi Jarvis is Vice President, Corporate Citizenship and Social Responsibility for Pepco Holdings, Inc. (PHI). Jarvis is responsible for strategies around corporate goodwill in the communities served by the electric utility holding company and its three operating utilities, Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric. Jarvis heads up philanthropic efforts and oversees the development of CSR goals, policies and programs for the company. Jarvis, a former anchor/reporter for NBC4 in Washington, has also led the company's Media Relations and Corporate Communications and served as the face and voice in radio and TV commercials for Pepco, Delmarva Power and Atlantic City Electric. Before joining PHI, Jarvis had 20 years of experience in TV and radio news, advertising and working on numerous charitable campaigns
President-Elect: Makini Nyanteh
president-elect@iabcdcmetro.org
Makini Nyanteh is the senior director of Internal Communications for MedImmune. She oversees the design, strategy and management of all internal communications channels while leading a global team responsible for change, leadership, executive, and electronic communications.
Before joining MedImmune, Makini led the Global Employee Communications team at MeadWestvaco, a global packaging manufacturer headquartered in Richmond, Va. Previously, she was vice president of Communications Strategy at Wachovia Securities, then the second-largest retail brokerage in the U.S. Makini has more than 18 years of professional communications experience focused on employee, strategy and crisis communications. She has worked in the public and private sectors for notable companies including Whirlpool Corporation, Potomac Electric Power Company, Whole Foods Market and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Makini holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Maryland, College Park, and enjoys adjunct teaching at the collegiate level.
Secretary: Jennifer Overstreet
secretary@iabcdcmetro.org
Jennifer Overstreet is a marketing and communications writer for the National Retail Federation. She works to promote special events, create irresistible copy, and engage audiences. Prior to joining the NRF, Jennifer worked for several years in public relations and marketing for Perceptive Software, a Kansas City-based technology company, where she focused on thought leadership and customer relationship programs.
Co-Vice Presidents, Awards:
Beth Martino
silverinkwell@iabcdcmetro.org
Beth Martino is a senior director for public affairs at the American Health Care Association. In this position, she is responsible for developing and implementing communications that help support long term and post-acute care facilities across the country. Beth previously served as associate commissioner for external affairs at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and director of communications and press secretary for Kansas Governor Mark Parkinson and Governor Kathleen Sebelius. She has a Bachelor’s degree, summa cum laude, in political science from Washburn University, and a Master’s degree in journalism from the University of Kansas. Beth and her husband, Stephen, have a 6-year-old daughter, Cate, and a 3-year-old son, Keaton.
Jim Miller
silverinkwell@iabcdcmetro.org
Jim Miller, Business Development Manager at Metro Productions, works with clients in nearly every industry: defense, healthcare, education, non-profit, and corporate. When Jim isn't working, he loves spending time with his family-- wife of 8 years Lesley, and their 4-year-old daughter Stella. The Millers love to travel, and Jim has been to 41 countries in his journeys so far. He also loves skiing and watching college football.
Vice President, Communications & Media:
Damien Skinner
comms@iabcdcmetro.org
Damien Skinner is the Marketing Coordinator for NewsChannel 8/TBD.com, the Washington metro area’s only 24-hour hyper-local news channel. At NewsChannel 8, Skinner plans special events, on-air/online contests and develops trade agreements. Skinner is also a co-producer for original television programming on NewsChannel 8. He serves as the news channels liaison to sales, news and research departments for special projects and sales initiatives. Damien’s career has spanned public relations firms, advertising agencies and broadcast media marketing. Skinner is a graduate of Ohio University, with a B.A. in Anthropology. He holds a Master's degree in public relations and corporate communications from Georgetown University.
Vice President, Finance: Jim Chase
finance@iabcdcmetro.org
Jim Chase is a Printing Officer at the U.S. Office of Management and Budget. He first joined IABC in Minnesota, and is currently serving his seventh term as vice president for Finance with IABC/DC Metro. A former journalist, Jim was equipment editor for Backpacker Magazine, Managing Editor at Skiing, and editor/ publisher of Cross Country Skier. His experience also includes corporate communication copywriting, Web development, corporate training, and print technology. Jim formerly ran the creative “shop” at the U.S. Department of the Interior, and now publishes the federal Budget, for which he develops a wide array of XML-based automated publishing. He is author of Backpacker Magazine’s Guide to the Appalachian Trail.
Co Vice Presidents, Membership:
Katy Kain
membership@iabcdcmetro.org
Katy Kain currently serves as a marketing communications supervisor for Triple Canopy, a global provider of security and mission support services. With an extensive background specializing in internal and external communications, she helps oversee the marketing and corporate communications function. In this role, Katy works closely with the executive management team to develop both internal and external messaging and strategy. She is responsible for all marketing and communications initiatives to include internal and external marketing campaigns, collateral development, advertising, events, public relations efforts, as well as management of the company’s website, employee Intranet and social media presence. Katy previously worked for Deltek as a public relations specialist and for Nielson Business Media in employee communications. This is Katy’s fourth term with IABC/DC Metro.
Meghann Scherrer
membership@iabcdcmetro.org
Meghann Scherrer is the Director of Communications at the Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO), a member-based organization that supports entrepreneurs around the world. Meghann is in charge of the organization’s social media efforts, event marketing, branding, writing, and editing, as well as suppport for EO’s media strategy. She also liaises with member communications officers in 40 countries, which allows her ”to travel to some pretty cool places and meet some incredible people.” A Philadelphia native, Meghann graduated from Rutgers University with a BA in Communications, and is currently pursuing an MS in Organizational and Corporate Communications at Northeastern University.
Vice President, Sponsorship: Monique Hanis
sponsorship@iabcdcmetro.org
Monique Hanis has more than 20 years experience in strategic communications. Since 2007, she has been Director of Communications for the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), responsible for PR communications in support of the association's strategic priorities and lobbying efforts. Previously she held similar positions at America’s Community Bankers, Mortgage Bankers Association, Independent Community Bankers Association, and Bankers Trust in New York. She earned her BA in Economics from Rutgers University and her Masters in International Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Co-Vice Presidents, Professional Development:
Sherie Winston
prodev@iabcdcmetro.org
Sherie Winston founded Social Medians, a digital strategy consulting practice. She began her PR career after working more than 15 years as an award-winning business reporter. Previously she served as the Director of Communications and Marketing for the International Ironworkers Union. Sherie earned a MPS in December 2008 from Georgetown University in Public Relations/Corporate Communications. She also has a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Jane Watrel
prodev@iabcdcmetro.org
Jane Watrel is a hybrid—a general assignment reporter for News4, with a master’s degree in Corporate Communications/PR from Georgetown University. As a military spouse, Jane has a special interest in stories relating to the Armed Forces. In 2008, she was honored by the Blinded American Veterans Foundation for her work on behalf of wounded troops. She is a member of the PenFed Foundation’s Advisory Board.Jane has done volunteer PR work for The Center for American Military Music Opportunities and the PenFed Foundation.
Immediate Past President: Angelo Ioffreda
pastpresident@iabcdcmetro.org
Angelo Ioffreda is currently Senior Director of Internal Communications and Recognition at NII Holdings (Nextel International), a Fortune 500 Company that provides wireless services to more than 10 million customers in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Peru. With more than 20 years of strategic communications experience at The World Bank Group; Sodexo; AOL; Robinson, Lerer, and Montgomery Strategic Communications, and the U.S. Department of State, Angelo is adept at the design, development, and implementation of effective, innovative communication and marketing strategies to engage people and drive business results.
Angelo has a MBA from Wharton, a M.A. in International Affairs from the University of Chicago, and a B.A. from Grinnell College in Anthropology and Biology. He was a Presidential Management Fellow as well as a Watson Fellow.
PORTFOLIO DIRECTORS
Creative Services : Ann Bevans
creative@iabcdcmetro.org
Writer, graphic designer and web developer Ann Bevans is principal of Ann Bevans Collective. She helps clients articulate messages that matter, and create print and online marketing programs that communicate those messages with impact.
Greater Maryland Special Interest Group: Susan Sperry
maryland@iabcdcmetro.org
Susan Sperry is Principal at RTKL, a worldwide architecture, planning and engineering firm and part of the ARCADIS network. Having spent five years in the company’s Baltimore headquarters, Susan is now based in the firm’s DC office where she oversees marketing and communications across 12 global locations for the company’s commercial practice, including retail, residential, hospitality, mixed-use, commercial office, planning and urban design sectors. Susan is a member of the Urban Land Institute and volunteers with Girls on the Run, a program that works with pre-teen girls to develop self-respect, healthy attitudes and healthy living through running.
Government Communicators Liaison: Jeffrey Brooke ABC
govcomm@iabcdcmetro.org
Jeffrey Brooke, ABC, is Director of Employee Communications for the US Government Printing Office, a Congressional agency. Jeff co-founded and is the current chair of the Federal Communicators Network, which shares communication best practices and administration themes across Federal communication offices. He is also on the faculty (part time) of Northeastern University in Boston, where he teaches organizational culture and communication in the corporate communications graduate program.
Independents: Daria Steigman
independents@iabcdcmetro.org
Daria Steigman, an IABC/DC Metro past president and founder of Steigman Communications, has been helping companies and other organizations tell their story for more than 20 years. She has helped organizations build marketing plans and integrate social media into their communications toolbox, provided strategic counsel on community outreach, conducted business strategy and messaging workshops, and developed marketing materials and other content that have proven effective in building brand awareness and achieving other core business goals. Daria is the author of a bimonthly column for IABC’s CW Bulletin and a blog—both of which focus on the business of running a business, entrepreneurship, communications, social media, strategic thinking, and what she calls “Independent Thinking.”
Networking Happy Hours: Andre Francis
happyhours@iabcdcmetro.org
New Communicators: Vacant
newcomm@iabcdcmetro.org
Senior Communicators Council: Vacant
scc@iabcdcmetro.org
Website: Jim Parsons
webmaster@iabcdcmetro.org
The “grand sensei” of iabcdcmetro.org, Jim Parsons has guided the chapter’s Web site for nearly 10 years. Since joining IABC/DC Metro in 1993, Jim has also served as Secretary and Vice President of Education and Community Affairs. Professionally, Jim is in his 15th year as a freelance writer, covering a wide range of engineering, technology, and business topics for magazines, associations, corporations, and non-profit organizations. He is a 500 Club member, and a three-time Silver Inkwell winner for feature stories and editorials.
Director of Administration: Sherri Core
admin@iabcdcmetro.org
Sherri Core is the founder and president of Core Association Services, Inc., a Fairfax, Va-based association management firm specializing in services for non-profit associations. For the past decade, she has served as Director of Administration for the IABC/DC Metro chapter. She also provides administrative support for the annual IABC Heritage Region conference and its Silver Quill Awards program Other clients include the Washington, DC area chapter of the Public Relations Society of America, and the Potomac Pedalers Touring Club (the largest bicycle club on the east coast). Her firm also works with RMK Productions in managing the day-to-day activities of Women in Technology.
Assistant Director of Administration: Jennifer McLellan
admin@iabcdcmetro.org
General Counsel: Martin Welles
United States Postal Service
legal@iabcdcmetro.org
Martin Welles is a management-side labor and employment attorney with the United States Postal Service. He has litigated more than 75 employment discrimination complaints, and negotiated wage, hour, and work rule collective bargaining agreements with the Postal Service’s nine unions that represent 650,000 bargaining unit employees. In addition to serving as pro bono general counsel for the chapter, Marty is a past VP of Finance and member of IABC's 500 Club.
