Page People

Issue 6 | December 5, 2024

Welcome to the sixth edition of our monthly newsletter: “Page People.” This initiative aims to spotlight the remarkable individuals who are part of this vibrant community. Each month, we’ll dive into the journeys, insights, and contributions of our members, celebrating the diversity of talent and experience that defines Page. We hope you find inspiration in the stories of your fellow members and that these stories spark connections for you.

Page | Associate Professor, The Ralph Winslow Endowed Professor, Indiana University

Current role: I'm an Associate Professor and the Ralph Winslow Endowed Professor at The Media School, Indiana University. I teach undergraduate and graduate courses in PR research, strategies, internal communication, and organizational communication. I also lead a fashion PR strategy course under our Fashion Media Concentration, blending my academic focus with my past career.

Previous roles: Before joining Indiana University, I earned my Ph.D. from Syracuse University, where I also spent two years as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

A little bit about me: Life took an unexpected turn when I decided to trade the NYC fashion scene for academia. After working as a fashion designer, my partner and I wanted to start a family, so I applied to a doctoral program at Syracuse University, thinking I’d study fashion marketing communication. The same day I was accepted, my boss called with an enticing job offer back in NYC, and I found out I was pregnant with our first child. Talk about a whirlwind! I chose Syracuse, and the rest is history. While my research focuses on employee engagement and communication, my teaching keeps a little of my fashion roots alive.

Fun fact: In 2022, I solo-hiked the W-Trek in Chilean Patagonia with a 25-pound backpack. It wasn’t always graceful—I limped through parts—but it was an unforgettable adventure.

Let's talk: I’m deeply interested in process-oriented change communication and would love to hear insights from fellow members about the opportunities and challenges they’ve encountered in this space.

Meet David Grinberg

Page | Vice President, Corporate Communications, Arcos Dorados

Current role: I’m the Corporate Communications Vice-President for Arcos Dorados, McDonald’s world’s biggest franchisee responsible for 20 countries within Latin America and the Caribbean. I am responsible for managing the company’s reputation by addressing external & Internal communications strategies, as well as handling crisis communications and the Client Services department.

Previous roles: Prior to my current position, I served as Director for Corporate Communications within the Brazilian division of Arcos Dorados, being responsible for managing the company’s and brand reputation in this country. Before that, I was the Sports Marketing Director for Arcos Dorados, overseeing both the two global main sports assets of the McDonald’s system – the FIFA World Cup and the Olympic Games – in their editions carried out in Brazil.

A little bit about me: I graduated in Journalism with Masters in Public Relations and after working years in this area, I was invited to become a “sports marketing professional” within a global big tech company. Without any education in marketing, I was told by my boss at that time that marketing is “communications to a different audience”. With that in mind and my passion for sports, I got into this world where I stayed for almost 10 years and ended up being recognized as Brazil's Sports Marketing professional of the year 2015! After the Rio 2016 Olympic Games I was offered to come back to Corporate Communications – my comfort zone and despite being outdated about 10 years. In 2017 I was recognized as Brazil's Communicator of the Year by the prestigious Brazilian Corporate Communication Association (Aberje). This led me to my position where I am today!

Fun fact: Apart from a corporate executive, I am a semi professional triathlete, having completed 10 Ironman and I am author of a best-seller book called “Rutina de Hierro” (spanish) or “Iron Routine”, where I share how the learnings from the triathlon and sports in general, helped me overcome and beat a very aggressive cancer I suffered in 2018. In 2023 I was declared cured by the doctors and ever since when back to my Ironman career.

Let's talk: The current consumer media habits landscape – lack of attention, content saturation, multi channels, etc.

Meet Jessica Akopyan

Page Up | Executive Director, Corporate Affairs, Amgen

Current role: I'm an Executive Director of Corporate Affairs at Amgen, where I head up our portfolio communications. I lead a team of nearly 20 professionals managing communications for more than 25 medicines across our portfolio. I am so proud of the work we do and love nurturing high-performing teams that make a real difference for our patients dealing with some of the world’s toughest diseases.

Previous roles: Since joining Amgen almost six years ago, I've held a number of roles, and most recently led global media relations at Amgen, handling strategic media strategy and enterprise reporter engagements. Also at Amgen, I’ve been the interim lead for obesity communications for 12 weeks, led Amgen Foundation communications in our lead up to the launch of LabXchange with Harvard and launched a new asthma medicine during the pandemic. Before Amgen, I held senior media relations roles at Edelman and what’s now Burson in offices across Chicago, NYC and LA.

A little bit about me: Growing up on a farm in rural Upstate New York was a formative upbringing. Creative storytelling and advocating for the rural community were standout moments from my teen years that inspired a lifelong love of communications. In fact, the first time my parents had ever set foot in NYC was also the same day my father drove a U-haul truck full of his only child’s belongings to a 5th floor walk-up apartment in Manhattan. It’s been an amazing journey in this field – and one that has opened up the world to me but also allowed me to continue to honor my heritage in hard work and making a meaningful difference for underserved communities.

Favorite place: Currently my favorite place is actually Las Vegas. I love to escape for a night or two to dream big with my husband and eat delicious food, as well as shop of course!

Let's talk: Inspiring tomorrow’s leaders, building and maintaining a team culture, leading through change, issues management, authentic thought leadership, creative media strategies, breaking through the noise on social media and communicating with brevity.

Meet Michon Ellis

Page Up | EVP Corporate Affairs, Head of Issues and Crisis Practice, Golin

Current role: I'm currently Executive Vice President in the corporate affairs group and lead the Issues and Crisis practice for Golin.

Previous roles: Before joining Golin and running my own communications consultancy (LimeGreen) for 15 years, I spent nearly a decade working on national and global communications campaigns at McDonald’s Corporation, where I was responsible for issues and crisis mitigation, employee communication, and consumer public relations. I specialize in developing proactive risk mitigation strategies, crafting crisis-ready communication frameworks, and delivering impactful messaging that reinforces trust and credibility across public, private, and regulated sectors.

A little bit about me: I have always gravitated toward media relations and corporate affairs assignments early in my career, finding excitement in the challenges they presented. At the time, I didn’t realize you could build an entire career around helping companies address their issues before they escalate into crises or guiding them through recovery when crises do occur. Those early experiences taught me the critical importance of foresight, strategic communication, and the ability to navigate complexity under pressure. They also sparked my passion for helping brands protect their reputations and emerge stronger from difficult situations, ultimately shaping the path that led me to where I am today.

Fun fact: I played running back for Miami University (Ohio), a Division I football program.

Let's talk: I’m particularly interested in understanding how organizations build and sustain relationships with policymakers, navigate legislative and regulatory environments, and advocate for initiatives that align with their goals.

A Farewell to Roger Bolton

As we approach the end of the year, we want to take a moment to express our sincere gratitude to Roger Bolton for his extraordinary leadership as CEO of Page. Roger has dedicated countless hours to elevating our profession and fostering a vibrant community of communicators. Please join us in thanking Roger for his invaluable contributions, and watch a special message from our community below.

Page People News

📖 Worth the read - Your fellow Page members, Matt Ragas and Ron Culp, have released their latest book, Business Acumen for Strategic Communicators: The Workbook. With insights from industry leaders Stacey Tank and Pat Ford in the foreword and afterword, this practical guide is designed to help you understand and speak the language of business, empowering you to become a more effective advisor. Check it out!

🎧 Listen to this - In the latest episode of #TheNewCCO podcast join Ethan McCarty, João Belo, April Yue, and Dan Gaynor as they discuss how AI is revolutionizing the communications industry at the Page Up Annual Conference. You don't want to miss these insights on leveraging AI for strategic advantage and overcoming adoption challenges.

Is there something or someone you'd like to spotlight in our next newsletter? If you have published something recently, got recognized for a professional achievement or would like to highlight a fellow member's accomplishment, please let us know by sending an email to Mia Skwiot at mskwiot@page.org.