Welcome the 2000-2001 Research Foundation Board.

Chairman

John J. Gerstner, ABC, is manager of electronic communication for Deere & Company, Moline, Ill. In 1996, Gerstner was named to lead the launch of John Deere's web site and create an enterprise-wide strategy for Deere's intranet, JD Online, now a key communication and HR tool for 20,000 employees representing eight divisions in 10 countries.

Gerstner has received more than 50 communication awards during his career, including 13 IABC Gold Quills. In 1992, he received the IABC U.S. District 4 Director's Award. In 1994 he was named IABC/Iowa Communicator of the Year.

Gerstner has served on the IABC executive board and is a frequent speaker and workshop leader on the Internet, intranets, organizational writing, photography and editing. He also contributes articles to Communication World magazine, including a series of interviews on "The Civilization of Cyberspace," with John Perry Barlow, Nicholas Negroponte, Cliff Stoll, Esther Dyson and Manuel Castells.

Gerstner is currently on special assignment to produce a John Deere coffee table history book for the year 2000. He is also launching a new web site for intranet information sharing at www.intranetinsider.com.

Vice Chairman

Tamara Gillis, Ed.D., ABC, is assistant professor of communication and director of student publications at Elizabethtown College and owner of Wordsmiths, a communication consultancy. She also has held a number of positions in community relations and public relations for associations, educational institutions and hospitals.

She has participated in international education and communication projects in Namibia (Africa) and Russia. Current areas of interest are media literacy (how Russia is portrayed in the United States press), the role of public relations officers as change agents, and exploring the possibilities of public journalism in Russia, Ecuador and Swaziland.

An IABC member since 1986, Gillis has held a number of offices in IABC/Harrisburg and in U.S. District 3, including district director in 1998-99. She is a fellow of the Capital Area Writing Project and a member of the Popular Culture Association and the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

Gillis has a bachelor's degree in English and a master's degree in communication studies from Shippensburg University (Pa.). She earned her doctorate in administration and policy studies from the University of Pittsburgh.

Past Chairman

David Kistle, ABC, is senior vice president at Padilla Speer Beardsley (PSB) Public Relations, a full-service public relations and communication consulting firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minn., with offices in St. Paul and New York. He heads the firm's research and employee communication practices.

Before joining PSB in 1981, Kistle worked in the employee communication departments at 3M and Sprint.

Kistle has been an active member of IABC since 1978, serving in leadership positions for IABC/Minnesota and IABC U.S. District 4. He has served on the IABC executive board and as trustee of the IABC Research Foundation. He is an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota School of Journalism and is a frequent speaker to professional and student groups.

Kistle is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and has a master of science degree from the University of Illinois.

Trustees

Ayelet Baron

Warren Bickford

John Clemons, ABC, APR 

Meryl David, ABC

John Deveney, ABC, founded his own agency in 1996 after a decade in leadership positions in government, higher education and health care. As senior counsel with Deveney Communication, he uses media and community relations in integrated marketing strategies to solve problems and advance business.

Deveney is an experienced fundraising executive and consultant. He served on the National Society of Fundraising Executives (NSFRE) New Orleans board, as NSFRE national delegate, and as NSFRE philanthropy day co-chair. He served on the IABC executive board, the U.S. District 2 board, and the IABC multicultural committee, as president of IABC/New Orleans and as founder and chairman of the IABC/New Orleans, Presidents Council. He also was chairman of the 1998 IABC international conference hospitality task force. Deveney has served on the IABC Accreditation Board, as a Gold Quill division coordinator, and on the IABC Research Foundation Development Committee.

He has earned numerous awards internationally as a communicator and speaker and has completed the course work for a master's degree--a hybrid M.B.A./M.A. in integrated marketing.

Shelly Griewahn

Charles Pizzo

Paul M. Sanchez, APR

David R Seifert, ABC

Gloria Walker, ABC, is a strategic communication consultant, focusing on corporate and employee communication and public affairs. Before developing her own consultancy she worked as a public affairs, public relations and communication manager in private industry and as a public relations and communication counselor in England and in Texas.

Walker serves on the editorial board of the Journal of Communications Management and is a member of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR). She has written and spoken on a variety of topics, including issues management, communication management, leadership and public affairs.

An IABC member since 1988, Walker has held a number of positions in IABC/UK, including chapter president. She also chaired the IABC Research Foundation research committee, has helped judge Gold Quill award entries, and actively supports the IABC/UK's accreditation programme.

Walker has a bachelor's degree in journalism from West Virginia University and a master's in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin, and she is pursuing a doctorate in organizational psychology from the London School of Economics.