RES PUBLICA GROUP - Key Persons
Courtney knows how to shape and deliver results with impact. She excels under deadline, in a crisis and when crafting strategy where public policy and communications overlap. She delivers brand awareness that enhances and protects client reputations. With writing at the core of her expertise, Courtney believes all content deserves a keen eye, whether it's an entire new website, an internal announcement, a succinct media statement or a campaign video script. Courtney is the account lead for Cook County Health and CountyCare, overseeing tactics, messaging and implementation for public awareness and multi-faceted marketing campaigns. In 2021, Courtney was intimately involved in the research, ideation and execution of the My Shot Cook County campaign, which played an essential role in the County's COVID-19 vaccination effort. Prior to joining Res Publica Group in 2018, Courtney served as Director of Media Relations for Loyola Medicine where she led all internal and external communications, including media relations and video production, for the three-hospital health system and the health sciences campus. For the Cook County Clerk's Office, she managed voter registration and election marketing campaigns targeting Cook County voters and poll workers, including executing paid advertising campaigns across print, digital and broadcast. Courtney was as an award-winning reporter for the Daily Southtown and holds Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Journalism from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Job Titles:
- Executive Assistant
- Office Manager
Elizabeth joined Res Publica Group in 2020 and has since become an essential part of our team. Working as Office Operations Manager and Executive Assistant, she takes control of the day-to-day operations of the company, ensuring that all administrative systems, office resources and employees are in place and working together to achieve and maintain the goals of Res Publica Group. Elizabeth works closely with our CEO and VPs to provide comprehensive support and help maintain open lines of communication, acting as a liaison within the company. She keeps a finger on the pulse of the culture, needs and expectations both within Res Publica Group and with our clients, ensuring healthy and long-lasting relationships both internally and externally. Prior to joining the team, Elizabeth was working as an Operations and Project Manager for a boutique creative agency specializing in luxury hospitality brands including Virgin Hotels Chicago, The Kimpton Gray and Marriott Autograph Collection Hotels. Elizabeth received a B.A. in Mass Communications and Digital Journalism from the University of South Florida. Go Bulls!
Emily brings a balance of creativity, structure and grit to her work at Res Publica Group. A South Alabama native, she leverages her unique background and experiences to bring ideas that go beyond the ordinary. Emily takes a very detailed, client-centered approach to her strategic communications activities, which include media relations and storytelling, crisis management, campaign development and coordination and internal communications. Before joining Res Publica, Emily held a variety of communications positions in the non-profit and healthcare sectors. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from The Florida State University, where she was an award-winning editor and reporter with the FSView & Florida Flambeau, and a Master of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism. Emily lives in Chicago's Lincoln Square neighborhood with her wife and their very spoiled dog.
Emma never shies away from tackling a challenge. From clinical trials to legislative affairs, her experiences have revealed a common thread between industries: the importance of quality communications. Emma uses her experience in community relations, public affairs and media relations to meet her clients' needs. She brings creativity and a fresh perspective to her storytelling, whether it be for a single social media plan, a special event or an approach to national media outreach. Prior to joining Res Publica Group, Emma worked on political campaigns, including a 2020 congressional campaign, and continued consulting on campaigns while finishing her master's degree from Boston University before joining a small communications agency in Chicago. Emma has a master's degree in Public Relations from Boston University and a bachelor's degree in Public Relations and International Affairs from Florida State University.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Senior Associate
Grace serves as an account associate at Res Publica, collaborating with client teams in strategic communications activities across industries including non-profit, health care, entertainment, legislative policy and more. Her range of work includes media relations, social media planning and content, legislative policy tracking, advocacy, crisis communications and production of collateral materials. She is passionate about community involvement and was a valuable member of our team advocating for a behavioral health and substance abuse treatment facility in DuPage County. Prior to joining the agency, Grace worked as a Creative Services Manager at WestCare Foundation and held marketing and advocacy internships at VillageMD and AMITA Health, respectively. She is proud alumna of the University of Notre Dame from which she holds a Bachelor of Business Administration, Management Consulting.
As one of the industry's foremost experts in strategic planning, media relations and crisis communications, Chip is a strategist who understands the intersection of politics and communications and delivers creative approaches to clients' most challenging issues. He is recognized as an industry leader who offers astute counsel to c-suite and executive leaders on complex strategic issues. Chip is quick to assess the scenarios and strategize on a path forward. Protecting reputations and building relationships are always his priority. Chip founded Res Publica Group in 2002 following leadership roles at both KemperLesnik Communications in Chicago and the national public affairs team at Hill & Knowlton. He served as a senior advisor to Illinois Governor Jim Edgar and began his career navigating hospitality and tourism industry issues for the prominent private owners of Hyatt Hotel Corporation. He serves on the Chicago Advisory Board of U.S. Bank following years as a member of the Metropolitan Pier & Exposition Authority and Chair of Navy Pier and its marketing committee.
Horacio is a multi-media designer with an eye for clean, minimal and straight-to-the-point design, working across disciplines to create brand identities, websites, packaging, illustrations and everything in between. Horacio also has a background in web development which has allowed him to lead the development and planning of large-scale digital projects. Horacio holds a BFA in Graphic Design from the American Academy of Art in Chicago, where he focused on packaging design and won top honors in the national ICMAD competition. His drive and passion for typography and user interaction has led him to explore other mediums such as web design and digital animations.
Jack graduated from the College of Charleston in May 2022 with a major in Business Administration, which instilled a general background of business in him. He excels in digital analytics, as he acquired online certifications in the following categories: Google Ads Search Certification, Hootsuite Platform, Google Analytics IQ Certification, and SEMrush Competitive Analysis and Keyword Research. Jack is also experienced in the supply chain sector-he spent one summer at Premium Distributors of Virginia, where he engaged with numerous retailers and learned how to streamline the distribution process. Jack brings a fresh perspective to the strategic communications industry given his diverse background in business and knows how to cater to different clients in unique ways.
A strategic-minded and process-oriented creative, Jeremy is responsible for overseeing the creative output of the agency and guiding the team to produce work that moves the mark for RPG's clients. Jeremy took an unconventional path through the agency world; a business major in college, he fell in love with advertising during his senior year and is a self-taught copywriter, designer and art director. He has used those skills over his 20-year career to craft insight-driven marketing campaigns and brand identities for companies in a wide range of verticals, including the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Cook County Health, AT&T, Fiserv, Ghurka, Special Olympics, Jackson's Chips and the London Stock Exchange. Prior to joining Res Publica Group, Jeremy served as Creative Director at several Chicago-based agencies including Skoog, Fusion92 and Dean Media Group. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business from Calvin University in Grand Rapids, MI.
Julia is a senior-level strategist and trusted advisor to leadership teams and c-suite executives. She has a proven track record of building and managing teams while helping clients shape brand narratives and protect reputations. Julia has orchestrated communications and integration strategies around multiple corporate mergers and brand acquisitions. She understands how to advance community and issue-based campaigns, and often facilitates media strategies for both public and private sector clients. Prior to joining Res Publica Group, Julia was an account leader at KemperLesnik, overseeing projects to influence public opinion and decision making of consumers, government leaders and business partners. Previously, she was a practicing lobbyist with Alcalde & Fay in Washington, D.C. and served as Director of Advocacy & Communication for the Chicago Anti-Hunger Federation. Julia received a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from Marquette University. She is a Board member of the United Way of Metro Chicago while also lending her time and resources to supporting hospital-based pediatric education programs through Snow City Arts Foundation.
Kevin excels at developing effective communications strategies built off deep experience navigating political campaigns and the inner workings of Illinois public policy. Whether a public agency or a private sector corporation, his clients benefit from his public affairs know-how and coalition-building skills. He works closely with clients to manage complex issues, navigate crisis and enhance brand positioning. His career began with the Illinois House of Representatives, where he served as a regional coordinator for the Democratic Caucus, building and advancing legislative agendas for a diverse group of legislators. After that, he served as campaign manager for the Illinois Democratic Party, overseeing races throughout the state where he was responsible for message development, crisis management, grassroots organization and media relations. Kevin graduated from Wittenberg University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science. He lives in the Chicago suburbs with his wife and two daughters, and lends his time supporting local initiatives in his community.
Kristen McQueary is vice president at Res Publica Group. She joined the firm following a long career in journalism. She began as the night police reporter at the Peoria Journal Star and worked her way to Editorial Page Editor at the Chicago Tribune. In that role, she influenced politics in Illinois and Chicago, sharpened her expertise in public policy, and built relationships across the Midwest. She was the winner of multiple journalism awards, including the Tribune's Jones-Beck, Sarah Brown Boyden, Associated Press, Peter Lisagor and others. Kristen helps clients translate their work into impactful story telling. Her clients benefit from her knowledge of the media and political landscape in Illinois and her versatility in writing and strategy. She is a native of Rockford and graduated from Illinois State University where was inducted into her college newspaper Hall of Fame. She earned a master's degree in Public Affairs Reporting from the University of Illinois at Springfield.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Account Associate
Marnie is an account associate who leverages her strengths in media relations, social media content creation, reputation management, government relations and legislative policy to meet and exceed client expectations. A Chicagoland native, she embraces her roots and applies her experience working on fast-paced political campaigns to bring a unique point of view to her work. Prior to joining Res Publica, Marnie worked in Wisconsin politics, including 2022 U.S. Senate and state attorney general races. In these roles, she engaged the media in thoughtful responses to her candidates' opponent, drafted press releases and developed social media content for use on all major platforms. Marnie is a proud Marquette University alumna with a bachelor's degree in public relations and political science. As a student, Marnie spent a semester in Washington, D.C., where she worked for the Council of Opportunity in Education, helping to further the expansion of educational opportunities for first-generation, low-income and disabled college students. She also served as president of Marquette's chapter for Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA).
Mary Ann is one of the most recognized and respected voices in Chicago broadcasting. As a national Emmy-award winning anchor and reporter at ABC & CBS-owned stations, she was the first woman to anchor a top-rated 10 p.m. newscast and reported virtually every major regional news story for more than 25 years. Mary Ann has a deep understanding of broadcast media, messaging and how people respond to news and information. She provides Res Publica Group's clients with media training and helps them develop and polish their presentation and on-camera skills. Mary Ann also brings production expertise for video creation that enhances reputations, persuades an audience and protects brands. She is a frequent presenter on the art of media and presentation styles and strategies, and donates her time and energy to numerous charitable and civic organizations throughout Chicago.
Monica joined Res Publica Group through our internship program in January 2021 while completing a B.S. in Graphic Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She quickly proved a valuable team member and joined the agency full-time, aligning with the agency's creative services team to support the execution of numerous large-scale marketing campaigns. In her role as creative associate, Monica is responsible for design solutions across branding, advertising, digital, collaterals and campaigns for a variety of clients including Cook County Health, CountyCare, the United Center, Hard Rock, LS Power and others. She is often responsible for creative production projects which include the development of a variety of creative assets including digital and out-of-home advertising, collateral materials, social graphics and more for clients across diverse disciplines including health care, entertainment and public services.
Pablo joined Res Publica Group through our internship program in January 2022 after graduating from Loyola University Chicago with a Bachelor of Arts in Multimedia Journalism. Following his support in multiple client projects, he joined the agency full-time as an account associate. As an account associate, Pablo collaborates with client teams in strategic communications activities across industries including non-profit, health care, entertainment and more. His range of work includes media relations, crisis communications and production of collateral materials for a variety of clients including United Way of Metro Chicago, Hard Rock Rockford and The Vistria Group.
Rob is a strong multi-media designer and oversees the agency's web design and development efforts. He understands the full spectrum of the design process from creative strategy to concept and tactical execution. Rob has worked across industries to bring brands to life in the health care, hospitality, entertainment, education and transportation. Rob understands the importance of strong digital campaign measurement and regularly drives marketing strategy and measurement efforts through campaign landing pages, website analytics and other KPIs. He led the redesign of the Cook County Health and CountyCare websites and has been the driving force behind regular updates to the My Shot Cook County website as guidance and availability evolved and changed. Previous experience includes graphic designer and web developer for Alessco Inc. and aWh Sales. Rob holds a bachelor's degree in Graphic Design and Web Development from Columbia College Chicago.
Sanjana serves as a Marketing Manager at Res Publica Group. She assists in leading the Cook County Health and CountyCare accounts, overseeing team members' deliverables and serving as a daily client contact. She develops and supports execution for large-scale, out-of-home advertising and marketing campaigns, including strategy, tactics and metric reporting. Her broad work covers a wide variety of strategic communications activities including social media planning and content, copywriting, front end web development, media buying and collateral materials development. Prior to joining the agency, Sanjana worked as a Digital Marketing Manager for Gilda's Club Chicago. She has 10 years of experience in digital marketing, specifically in the health care field. Sanjana holds a Bachelor of Communication and Marketing degree from DePaul University.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Creative Director
Zach is responsible for design solutions in branding, advertising and digital from concept to completion. He has worked on advertising campaigns for a wide range of clients, including Cook County Health, CountyCare, Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Chicago Transit Authority (CTA), Breakthru Beverage, U.S. Renal Care and others. Since 2015, he has collaborated with the agency's account management team to execute creative assignments and develop creative concepts, copy and design solutions for clients. Zach was part of the rebranding team that led the transition from Cook County Health and Hospitals System to Cook County Health and his work is showcased throughout our agency campaigns, including the most recent CountyCare campaign We've Got You Covered. In addition to creative design and art direction, Zach also organizes and manages print production schedules and social media/web media schedules. Previous experience includes graphic designer, creative lead at Quinnox, an international digital cloud services company. Zach holds a BFA in Graphic Design from Bowling Green State University.