Practical Experience

MaryLiz Ghanem is a seasoned leader in public relations with deep knowledge of the creative and tech industries. As a Senior Vice President and Director of DiGennaro Communications’ Creative, Media and Marketing practice, MaryLiz has worked with prominent clients such as Pinterest, Spotify, Oglivy, and McKinsey & Company. She is an internationally recognized expert in B2B communications having driven earned media strategy around clients’ marketing campaigns and research case studies. Additionally, she has worked with some of the world's highest profile brands and executives to not only increase their position as thought leaders but also make a lasting impact on their industries and professions. Prior to joining DGC, MaryLiz served in global communication positions with Sapient, Yahoo!, and the Young & Rubicam Group. MaryLiz holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and International Studies from St. John’s University.

Ernie Grigg has two decades of experience working for a variety of political campaigns, nonprofit organizations, and foundations. As Founder and Executive Director of the American Institute of Integrated Marketing, he oversees all operations of both AIIM Classes and Agency AIIM. Under his leadership, AIIM has quickly become a thought leader on training and education in the strategic communication professions. As a speechwriter and messaging strategist, Ernie has counseled senior leadership at the Democratic National Committee, ExxonMobil, and the Qatar Foundation. Additionally, he has served on the public relations faculty of the University of South Carolina and New York University. Ernie holds a Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from NYU and a Bachelor of Arts in Film, Television, and Theatre from the University of Notre Dame.

Torsten Gross is a freelance marketing strategist, race car driver and founder of Just Hands Foundation, a performance driving charity which gets disabled drivers onto a track. Prior to moving into the motorsports world, Torsten was the Head of Global Advertising and Media for Tata Consulting Services leading the global marketing shift for India's largest company. Torsten was the Managing Director in Deloitte’s Consulting practice and the ATHS (Auto Transportation Hospitality and Services) lead for Customer Strategy, Brand Strategy and Holistic Marketing. Prior to Deloitte, Torsten was the Head of Strategy at J Walter Thompson, responsible for strategy across multiple luxury, CPG and technology brands. From traditional and digital to media and innovation, spanning start-up to monolith agencies, Torsten has run the full strategic and creative marketing gamut holding positions at Partners and Partners, R/GA, Deutsch, BBDO and PHD Media. He holds a bachelor's degree from Hofstra University and a graduate degree from Miami Ad School.

Mehdi Idrissi has an extensive background in communications—from advertising and digital marketing to public relations. He has worked with premier communication agencies in global and regional hubs such as New York, Paris, Dubai, Riyadh, and Casablanca. His portfolio boasts collaborations with Fortune 100 companies in various industries, and he has a reputation for crafting strategies that seamlessly translate data and research findings into compelling brand narratives. Currently, he is the Director of Data + Analytics at Hill+Knowlton Strategies in Dubai, where he orchestrates the media intelligence efforts for the agency's clients. In previous roles, Mehdi helmed global analytics for prominent clients such as Novo Nordisk, J&J, JPMorgan Chase, Salesforce, Dell, and Oracle. He also played a significant role in spearheading the data analytics strategy for Bank of America. Mehdi holds a Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication from New York University. He also earned a specialized MBA in Communications from the Paris School of Business and a Master's degree in Management of Communication Companies from INSEEC School of Communications.

Tiana Kartadinata is the founder and managing director of Berkati Marketing Communications. With over 20 years of luxury hospitality experience in operations and marketing communications, her career development & work has spanned the globe from Vancouver to New York, from Hong Kong to Singapore and, most recently, from Tokyo to Saigon. Along the way she has served as a trusted communications strategist for such elite brands as Palace Hotel Group, The Reverie Saigon, GHM, Dorchester Collection and Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group. Tiana holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and a Master of Science in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from New York University. She also has a Diploma in Business Frontline Management from the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Public Relations & Corporate Communications from The London School of Public Relations.

Guy King is an experienced public relations professional having worked in both the public and private sectors. He has extensive experience in crisis management, media relations, thought leadership, executive visibility, and strategic communications. Guy has served as a Vice President for both Edelman and DKC PR, and he currently leads external communication for DRW, a capital markets trading firm. Guy started his career in government and advocacy, serving as a close advisor to two senior members of Congress as well as other influential figures. He later applied his expertise in managing fast-paced environments to high stakes clients such as Citibank, NBCUniversal, PepsiCo Foundation, AirBnB, and Microsoft. He received a Master’s in Journalism from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism and a Bachelor of Science in Mass Communication and Media Studies from Jackson State University.

Alayna Shamy has extensive experience across consumer, health care, and pharmaceuticals for large, global companies. Currently, she serves as Senior Manager, Global Finance Communications for Kenvue, the world's largest pure-play consumer health company by revenue. She is responsible for communications for the Finance organization and shaping the Chief Financial Officer’s executive communications plan, and she played a key role in taking the company public from the Initial Public Offering (IPO) to the final split-off from Johnson & Johnson. Previously, Alayna held both internal and external communication roles with Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health. She was a key member in launching the health equity campaign, Save Legs. Change Lives., which created urgency and action around peripheral artery disease-related amputation. She also developed public relations and influencer marketing strategies for Listerine® and BAND-AID® Brand Adhesive Bandages. Early in her career, she was involved in the planning and development of the Johnson & Johnson Powerhouse Museum. Alayna received her Bachelor of Arts from Loyola University in Maryland and her Master of Science in Public Relations and Corporate Communication with distinction from New York University.

Sean Yelle is a seasoned marketing professional known for his innovation and strategic prowess. As a Senior Category Marketing Director with Campari, he has guided brands such as Wild Turkey, Appleton Estate, SKYY Vodka, and Espolon from functionally-driven products to award-winning cultural icons. He brings an analytical approach to produce creative campaigns that have not only boosted sales but also enhanced brand loyalty. Previously, Sean worked at Diageo, serving in global roles for Smirnoff, Red Stripe, and the company’s Rum and Liqueur portfolio. In every instance, he contributed significantly to brand development and market expansion while prioritizing consumer engagement. Sean began his career in sales and point of sale marketing with Rubbermaid and Virgin Mobile. He is also a member of the Rutgers Leading Disruptive Innovation Advisory Board. Sean holds a Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Notre Dame.