Christina Dolan
CORPORATE HEAD OF MARKETING, BRIDGE SENIOR LIVING,
winter park, FL
DOLAN.CHRISTINAL@GMAIL.COM
BA 1988, COMMUNICATION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
MA 1997, MARKETING, ROLLINS COLLEGE, CRUMMER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Christina is an advertising and marketing veteran with more than 30 years of experience working with some of the most recognized brands in the world, including The Ford Motor Company, Volkswagen Group of America, The Walt Disney Company, Universal Parks and Resorts, and Arnold Palmer Enterprises. Over the past several years, her focus shifted to directing healthcare and population health marketing programs for large healthcare systems, clinical trials organizations, the senior living industry, as well as her own marketing consulting firm, Brand Hum LLC. Currently she serves as the SVP, Marketing and Sales, for Sonata Senior Living, a regional operator of senior living communities in Florida. Christina is passionate about giving back. In addition to serving on the Alumni Advisory Board for the Brian Lamb School of Communication, Christina sits on the Board of Directors for the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation. Christina lives in Winter Park, Florida with her husband, Tom, and sons, Shaun and Ryan. In her spare time, Christina enjoys spending time with her family, cheering on her beloved Boilermakers, and walking her black lab, Madison.
Christina’s Twitter page identifies her interests as: Ad Geek, Car junky, Windy City girl at heart, Black Hawks Fan, Bulls Fan, Bears Fan, Cubs Fan, and Boilermaker.
Kellie Hamrick
MANAGING DIRECTOR, CRA,
RANDOR, PA
BA 2003, COMMUNICATION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
As a Managing Director in CRA’s Research Practice, Kellie Hamrick uses her methodological expertise to advise clients on research around a variety of issues, including employee alignment with the corporate strategy, organizational effectiveness, and leader communication. Some of her recent clients include Allegis Group, Dell Technologies, McDonald’s USA, BDT Capital Partners, and Bayer. Since joining CRA in 2005, Kellie has led the development of their measurement approach to elevating organizational performance by conducting cross evaluations tailored to clients’ industries and cultures. She was also instrumental in creating CRA’s proprietary Leadership Communication Effectiveness model, which identifies the specific skills and behaviors leaders need to effectively communicate with their direct reports.
A native of Indiana, Kellie received her B.A. from Purdue University before moving to Pennsylvania to complete her Master’s degree at The Pennsylvania State University.
Josh Miles
FOUNDER, BOLD BRAND LLC
Denver, CO
JOSH@BOLDBRAND.COM
BA, 1999, COMMUNICATION, PURDUE
Josh Miles is the founder of Bold Brand LLC, where he serves as a seasoned brand strategist and fractional CMO for A/E/C and tech firms.
As a past TEDx presenter, Josh has delivered keynotes from the Midwest to the Middle East, including hosting the OG design podcast, Obsessed Show, The Josh & Torrey Show, and formerly co-hosted the PSM Show. Josh is the author of Bold Brand 2.0 – How to Leverage Brand Strategy to Reposition, Differentiate and Market your Professional Services Firm. And Josh is an advisory board member of the Purdue University Lamb School of Communication.
Josh previously served as CMO for SMPS HQ, and co-founded MilesHerndon, a branding agency specializing in brand strategy, corporate identity, and website design.
Josh is a long-standing advocate for bacon, loves to cook keto, hit the gym, and photograph new places in his travels.
Josh splits his time between the mountains of Colorado, and the many roundabouts of Carmel, Indiana.
Kristen Morris
Founder, kdwm
davidson, NC
KRISTEN.D.W.MORRIS@GMAIL.COM
BA, 1986, COMMUNICATION, PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND MATH SCIENCES, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Kristen Morris has more than 30 years in government relations, including serving as a Government Relations Officer for two of the nation’s largest and most prominent health systems, Advocate Health and the Cleveland Clinic. In these positions, Morris directed corporate social responsibility and advocacy strategies. She also has led government relations for two top-ten pharmaceutical companies. She was the divisional vice president of Federal Government Relations for Abbott Laboratories, a Fortune 100 company. In this role, Morris led the company’s Washington, D.C. office. She also led Government Relations and Public Policy for Boehringer Ingelheim, and before that, she managed the American Hospital Association’s lobbying team.
Morris has a history of community leadership having served on multiple not-for-profit boards. Currently, she is a member Purdue University’s Lamb School of Communication Board of Advisors and The Assistance Fund Board. She is also an active member of the selective In Counsel With Women.
Morris received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and began her career in the U.S. House of Representatives where she was responsible for a portfolio of domestic policy issues.
Jon Nussbaum
LIBERAL ARTS PROFESSOR EMERITUS OF COMMUNICATION ARTS AND SCIENCES & HUMAN DEVELOPMENT AND FAMILY STUDIES, PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA
JONFNUSSBAUM@GMAIL.COM
PH.D. PURDUE UNIVERSITY, 1981
M.A. WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY, 1978
B.A. MARQUETTE UNIVERSITY, 1976
Dr. Nussbaum specializes in the communicative behavior of individuals across the life span. He currently studies how older adults achieve a high quality of life as they manage their family, friendship, and professional relationships encountered within the health care system. Professor Nussbaum has served as President of the International Communication Association, President of the International Society of Language and Social Psychology, editor of the Journal of Communication. He has been appointed a Fulbright Scholar in the UK, and he is a Fellow of the International Communication Association and the American Psychological Association (Div. 20: Adult Development and Aging). Professor Nussbaum teaches courses on research methods, organizational communication, lifespan communication, and family communication. Professor Nussbaum has directed more than 30 dissertations and served on over 120 dissertation committees across numerous disciplines.
Jim Payne
Retired wesh anchorman/cntv host/freelance talent Mount Charleston, NV
Jimpayne135@gmail.com
B.A., PURDUE UNIVERSITY, 1980
Jim Payne joined the WESH 2 News team in 2000. Jim is an experienced, award-winning journalist who believes in making a difference in his community. Jim came to central Florida from WRAL-TV in Raleigh/Durham, North Carolina. He also honed his skills at WRBL-TV in Columbus, Ga.; WKJG-TV (now WISE-TV) in Fort Wayne, Ind.; WTWO-TV in Terre Haute, Ind.; WFLI-TV in Lafayette, Ind.; and the NBC News Southwest Bureau in Houston, Texas.
Jim received journalism’s most prestigious honor, the George Foster Peabody Award, for his work on the month-long investigative series “Building Homes: Building Problems.” The reports detailed problems with new home construction in central Florida. He’s also been honored with an Alfred I duPont Award for his work on the space shuttle. Columbia disaster, the Edward R. Murrow award for his work on the WESH 2 News documentary “Code Blue: Crisis in the ER”; numerous awards from the Associated Press and Radio Television Digital News Association; the Jefferson Award for Public Service; The President’s Award for Volunteer Service; and numerous Emmys. He’s also been named part of Orlando’s Best TV News Team by Orlando Magazine.
He was born in Green Bay, and attended Purdue University in West Lafayette, earning a bachelor’s degree in communications. Jim served as a member of the Board of Directors of Special Olympics Florida for more than a decade and helped fund-raise for the Edgewood Children’s Ranch in Orlando. His best-known community service effort is the Jim Payne Fearless 5k for the Children, raising money and awareness for Kids House, a non-profit organization assisting victims of abuse.
Jim is now a host for CNTV, an award-winning video production company based in Orlando.
Andrea Pender
DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, Manhard CONSULTING
DALLAS, TX
ANDREAP@GEISLERPENDER.COM
BA, 2004, ENGLISH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE, GENERAL, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Andrea has more than 18 years of Business Development experience. With a passion for building relationships Andrea works closely with her clients and uses her leadership skills to mature and develop strong client and consultant relationships. Andrea uses her experience to create an inspiring atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration within the marketing and business development team. As Director of Business Development she manages the team by applying her signature spark of energy to every project she engages in.
Michelle Tucker
edelman EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, EXECUTIVE CREATIVE DIRECTOR, us creative health lead
CHICAGO, IL
MDTUCKER6@GMAIL.COM
BA 1995, COMMUNICATION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
For more than 25 years, Michelle has championed results-driven campaigns for world-class consumer and healthcare brands… everything from big rigs to breast cancer to bourbon to baby food and everything in between As Executive Vice President, Executive Creative Director at Edelman, she leads her teams in crafting purpose-driven campaigns that shape culture and create meaningful impact. Recent campaigns such as TUMS Prop Bites Super Bowl campaign, Up the Antibodies for AstraZeneca, Deck the Everything Day for HomeGoods, and Un[ ]spoken Mental Health for the City of Chicago have been recognized in myriad industry awards including: Cannes Lions, Clios, PR Week Gold, PR Platinum, MM&M, Webbys, Echoes, and the John Caples International Awards.
During tenures at Havas Worldwide Chicago and FCB Chicago, Michelle applied her talents to accounts ranging from Visa to Jim Beam to Ragu Pasta Sauce, solidifying her passion for elevating creative storytelling and delivering consistently rewarding experiences for audiences.
Michelle was recognized as one of the 2023 Distinguished Alumni from the School of Liberal Arts. Michelle continues to influence the future of the industry by supporting and mentoring the next generation of Creative, Marketing, and Communications professionals in her role as an Adjunct Professor at Loyola University Chicago and as a Mentor through the Lamb School of Communications. Michelle lives in the city of Chicago and can often be found cheering on her beloved Boilermakers and Chicago sports teams, including the Bears, White Sox, Blackhawks and Bulls.
Jim Yukich
INDEPENDENT ENTERTAINMENT PROFESSIONAL
LA QUINTA, CA
JIMYUKICH@AOL.COM
BA, 1978, COMMUNICATION, FILM PRODUCTION, PURDUE UNIVERSITY
Jim Yukich is a Director, Producer & Editor who began his career at Capitol-EMI Records in Hollywood. After leaving Capitol-EMI, he formed FYI, an independent Film/TV production company, where he directed and produced more than 500 videos and TV Specials. He has worked with stars as varied as The Beach Boys, David Bowie, Phil Collins and Genesis, Gloria Estefan, Michael Jackson, and Iron Maiden. He’s also directed many variety, comedy, and concert specials, and was the co-creator of the Billboard Music Awards. In between TV and Video projects, he directed 2 feature films. Most recently he directed over 1500 episodes of E! network’s hit show, Chelsea Lately, hosted by late-night’s most acerbic comedian, Chelsea Handler and the long running Entertainment Tonight. He currently finished Concert Specials for Def Leppard and Journey, and is directing David Spade’s Netflix After Party Show. He has been nominated for nine MTV Awards, has won three ACE awards and two Grammy awards.
Jim Yukich studied TV & Film at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana where he currently serves on the Brian Lamb School of Communication Advisory Board while continuing to grow his profile and connections.
Brian Lamb, Ex Officio Advisory Board Member
FOUNDER AND FORMER EXECUTIVE CHAIR, C-SPAN
WASHINGTON, D.C.
Brian Lamb is founder of the C-SPAN Networks and C-SPAN’s former executive chair. He’s been an integral part of C-SPAN since he helped the cable industry launch it on March 19, 1979, serving as the network’s CEO until March of 2012.
Today, C-SPAN employs approximately 250 people and delivers public affairs programming via three HD television channels nationally to cable and satellite customers; globally to Internet users via C-SPAN.org and 15 other internet sites; and to radio listeners through C-SPAN radio, a Washington, D.C FM station also available through a C-SPAN app and numerous digital audio services.
Brian has been a regular on-air presence at C-SPAN since the network’s earliest days. Over the years, he has interviewed Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama and many world leaders such as Margaret Thatcher and Mikhail Gorbachev. Over 15 years beginning in 1989, he interviewed 800 non-fiction authors for a weekly program called Booknotes. Five books of collected interviews have been published based on the Booknotes series. Brian also hosted Q & A, an hour-long interview program airing on Sunday evenings with people who are making things happen in the public sphere.
Brian Lamb is a Hoosier, born and raised in Lafayette, Indiana. Interested in broadcasting as a child, he built crystal radio sets to pick up local signals. During high school and college, he sought out jobs at Lafayette radio and television stations, spinning records, selling ads, and eventually hosting his own television program. After graduating from Purdue with a degree in speech, Brian joined the Navy. His tour included the USS Thuban, White House duty during the Johnson Administration and a stint in the Pentagon public affairs office during the Vietnam War.
In 1967, his Navy service complete, Brian went home to Lafayette. It wasn’t long before he returned to the nation’s capital where he worked as freelance reporter for UPI radio, a Senate press secretary and in the White House Office of Telecommunications Policy as national strategy was being developed for communications satellites.
In 1974, Brian returned to journalism, publishing a biweekly newsletter called The Media Report. He also covered telecommunications issues as Washington bureau chief for Cablevision magazine.
It was from this vantage point that C-SPAN began to take shape. Congress was about to televise its proceedings; the cable industry was looking for programming to deliver to its customers by satellite. Brian brought these two ideas together with C-SPAN, which launched with the first televised House of Representatives debate on March 19, 1979. In 1986, C-SPAN2 was launched to carry Senate debates live. Later C-SPAN nonfiction editorial products include BookTV, American History TV.
Brian’s work with C-SPAN has been recognized with the Presidential Medal of Honor and the National Humanities Medal. In 2011, Purdue University recognized its alumnus with the formation of the Brian Lamb School of Communication.
Brian and his wife Victoria are longtime residents of Arlington, Virginia. When he’s not reading newspapers or non-fiction books, Brian is often in hot pursuit of the latest country music release.