We are a full-service communications agency with deep roots in Chicago, client-tailored solutions and a history of delivering results.

An expert in communications strategy and messaging, Carolyn draws on her deep background in government, broadcast journalism and politics to counsel Grisko’s clients on reputation management, crisis communications and building relationships with community, corporate, civic and government leaders. Carolyn has established working relationships with independent communications agencies in the global marketplace through IPREX, which she serves as secretary-treasurer. Carolyn is a Leadership Greater Chicago fellow and active in Chicago’s civic community. She invites you to bring her your most pressing communications challenges.

As Vice President of Public Relations, Terri Cornelius utilizes her extensive communications and broadcast media experience to provide public relations strategies for clients. Terri leads her team in developing impactful messages and targeted media plans to reach priority audiences and elevate awareness of client initiatives. She is also a crisis communications and reputation management expert who helps clients protect their brand. Terri’s clients include Willis Tower, ComEd, WTTW and Echoes and Reflections. Before joining Grisko, Terri spent more than 25 years in broadcast news and programming.

Elisabeth brings integrated strategic experience and an expertise in marketing to Grisko that enhances our clients’ brands through a commitment to business objectives, consumer insight and effective activation in all media types. She ensures all creative work upholds our clients’ brand standards down to the smallest detail by immersing herself in all facets of business—always learning the intricacies of their processes/products and understanding their target audiences to the core. She has led successful campaigns for both local and national clients including Ventra, the American Heart Association, the Coca-Cola Company and Cingular Wireless. Her experience spans retail, consumer package goods, banking, cellular, technology, transportation and nonprofits.

Beth oversees Grisko’s finances, contractual arrangements, human resources and company policy matters. She also teams with client account leads to ensure our services are provided on time and on budget. Since joining Grisko in 1997, she’s worked closely with CEO Carolyn Grisko to steward the agency’s growth from a three-person public affairs firm to the full-service integrated communications agency it is today; ardently maintaining the agency’s signature collaborative culture through more than two decades. Prior to Grisko, Beth managed the public relations and media outreach for a Chicago hospital, giving her an invaluable understanding of the agency’s needs on the operations side.

Joe and his team at fjorge bring our creative ideas to life by developing customized web applications, optimized content-managed websites, integrated mobile apps and data-backed digital strategy solutions. As a trusted partner with more than a decade of experience delivering digital products that consistently outperform expectations, fjorge helps us determine the best possible solutions not just for the web, but for our clients’ business as a whole. Joe’s team has supported the successful website development for Commonwealth LNG and the Illinois Attorney General, built content management solutions for Echoes & Reflections and ComEd, and facilitated digital needs across our client base.

With nearly two decades of experience and as founder of RubyRose Strategies, DeRondal serves as Grisko’s strategic communications advisor, working with clients to develop strategic messaging and collaborative communications that drive initiatives for their engagements. A “big picture” thinker, DeRondal delivers across traditional and emerging platforms – particularly in the realms of corporate communications, crisis, social media, and grassroots outreach – to construct favorable outcomes.

Deeply passionate about philanthropy and engaged in Chicago’s civic community, DeRondal is a proud Leadership Greater Chicago Fellow and currently serves on the boards of Forefront, the Publicity Club of Chicago, the Western Michigan Alumni Association and the Associate Board of Navy Pier.

As a highly accomplished creative director and writer, David has made a career of delivering thought leadership that has taken brand messaging to new levels of performance and brings those skills to Grisko. At every step, he is focused on developing powerful and award-winning campaigns that create buzz and deliver tangible business results for clients ranging from mid-size businesses to Fortune 500 corporations. The list includes industry leaders such as McDonald’s, Rust-Oleum, Johnnie Walker, Kraft Foods, Marriott, Olive Garden, Lands’ End, Anheuser-Busch and International Trucks. He looks to the ever-evolving media and consumer landscape to continue fueling his passion for learning and drive for success.

A former congressional staffer and communications aide to corporate, educational and governmental clients, Tanner has broad experience engaging with unique audiences and building connections through messaging that moves and inspires.

At Grisko, Tanner assists a range of clients – from a multinational industrial conglomerate to local agencies – in tracking the issues of the day, connecting with key stakeholders and delivering strategic communications with real impact. Above all, Tanner enjoys helping Grisko clients find the right path, and the right words, to achieve their goals, whether in the public square or the private sector.

Michael’s expertise in creative messaging, media relations and presentation coaching relies on his 25-year background as a national award-winning journalist, political strategist and social entrepreneur. He has served as a campaign manager and communications director on races for the White House, U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Michael is also the author of the acclaimed book, Unlock Congress, and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Adlai Stevenson Center on Democracy. Michael has leveraged these experiences to launch successful social impact companies; raising millions of dollars and attracting national media coverage to advance their missions. He helps clients design their most powerful stories and coaches them on how to communicate with confidence – and connect.

John brings his extensive experience in local political and policy issues, reputation management, media relations and community outreach to Grisko. When working with today’s overextended news media professionals, he practices the art of cutting through the clutter to get to the bottom line as quickly and thoughtfully as possible. He approaches all clients and news media with a sense of balance and integrity. John has worked in leading communications positions with the City of Chicago’s financial departments, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and DePaul University.

Kat has experience in integrated marketing, including branding, social media, digital and print. She helps create visual brand stories for each client. From crafting the idea to executing a user-centric approach to every project, Kat is able to draw upon her foundation in traditional design and experience in the print and packaging world to create compelling work. She has developed designs for the American Heart Association, Ventra, Echoes & Reflections and Commonwealth LNG.

Adorn helps Grisko’s clients connect and share important messages with key audiences, particularly those in the African-American and Hispanic consumer segments. She leverages her relationships with influential Chicago community stakeholders and knowledge of cultural nuances to build traction and positive perceptions for brands and organizations across non-profit and private sectors. She started her career at City Colleges of Chicago, went on to Burrell Public Relations, then to Miller Brewing Company, the National Council of Negro Women and Flowers Communications Group.

Kim draws on more than 20 years in accounting, management and business administration to manage the financial operations and reporting at Grisko. Her naturally mathematical mind and meticulous organizational skills allow her to work on multiple projects simultaneously, while delivering strategic insights to the agency and helping to keep client teams on budget.

Prior to joining the Grisko team, Kim served as Accountant & Office Manager for a Chicago-area property management and maintenance company.

Meredith helps clients tell their stories visually through the design and art direction of compelling branding, digital and print pieces. Drawing from her background in art and design, she infuses a fresh creative view on all projects that come across her desk, and strives to make all clients’ work feel as compelling and accessible as possible. Meredith helps lead the creative team with her process of methodical and innovative thinking, and has developed campaigns and designs for clients such as Ventra, ComEd, Generation All, PATF, Commonwealth LNG and Echoes & Reflections.

Jared brings a passion for building strategic communications plans to our team, which he uses to develop impactful and measurable marketing strategies for our clients. Working closely with Grisko’s creative team, his attention to detail ensures materials are delivered on brand, on target and on time. Through his background in journalism and public relations, he helps clients develop comprehensive, cross-channel marketing plans. His experience in corporate, nonprofit and government communications allows him to meet the needs of our diverse client base.

Lauren is a media strategy, planning and buying expert focused on helping brands of any size build relationships with their customers across all communication touchpoints. She leverages her unique combination of agency and sales experience to build, negotiate and execute consumer or B2B-focused plans. She is a Chicago media market expert. Her background also includes technology innovation, shopper marketing, retail execution and experience across all major industries at a local, national and global level. She’s worked with brands such as Procter & Gamble, MillerCoors, ESPN, Hewlett-Packard, Ventra and the American Heart Association.

As an Account Executive, Kristin lends her communications expertise and keen attention to detail to Grisko’s public relations and public affairs teams. She helps lay the foundation for thoughtful media outreach strategies through news analysis and social listening — ensuring a client’s message reaches the right people. Kristin has secured placements in leading publications for clients such as Rush University Medical Center, WBEZ Chicago and the Illinois Public Health Institute. In addition to public relations, she creates and curates social media content that resonates with client-specific audiences across multiple channels.

Alejandra brings 30 years of marketing and communications experience within the public, private and government sectors to Grisko from her native Argentina. A recipient of the Rotary International Scholarship for her postgraduate work in journalism, Alejandra launched her career within the Hispanic media in Illinois and nationally. She bridges a wide spectrum of communities, here and abroad, through her company, Si! Communications. Alejandra loves the challenge of faithfully aligning client aspirations with measurable results. Medline, Walmart, Veolia Water, ComEd, IRMA, Latino Communications for Illinois State Senate and Common Cause for the California Redistricting Commission are a testament to her passionate work.

Sabiha executes proactive media relations and communications strategies for a wide variety of clients in the corporate, nonprofit and public affairs sectors, supporting them through content creation, community outreach, messaging development and media monitoring. An avid learner, she is always interested in cultivating her diverse experience in vastly different industries, including consumer and hospitality. Sabiha is an organized and results-driven strategist with a passion for helping clients effectively communicate their messages to key audiences. She values the collaboration and creativity that this industry provides and is happy to have found her niche at Grisko.

Gretchen is an experienced public engagement, internal communications and journalism professional with a passion for listening. She works with leaders to clarify their goals, understand their audiences and craft messages and communications strategies to help them achieve their goals. Gretchen is especially skilled at distilling complicated information to facilitate conversations between experts and the public. She has led public involvement processes on environmental cleanups from Tennessee to Alaska, and she’s worked on infrastructure projects that touch every neighborhood in Chicago. Before joining Grisko, Gretchen managed international safety communications for an engineering and construction firm.

Margarite has spearheaded successful communications and public affairs initiatives for major clients such as the American Cancer Society, ComEd, PhRMA and the Chicago Bar Foundation. She draws on her deep expertise in strategy, message development, stakeholder outreach and public relations to help organizations enhance their reputation, increase awareness, influence policy and increase revenue. Margarite most recently led communications for the Innovation unit at NORC at the University of Chicago, a leading national research institution.