Leadership

An agency is only as good as its people. In our business, that requires an inquiring mind that needs to know the minutia as well as the overriding vision, a creative spirit that is easily bored with gray, a journalist who is constantly challenged by the magic of the written word, a business tycoon committed to a bull-market and a record-breaking ROI, and a media hound who knows the names and faces of people in, out of, and around the news. We’d like you to meet the fearless leaders of JSH&A.

Select a profile to learn more.

Jonni Hegenderfer

Chief Executive Officer, Chief Vision Officer (CVO), President and Founder

As CVO, Jonni Hegenderfer stays up nights envisioning new paths for effective client communications – paths that have led to the agency’s LIF™style PR and social media online strategies. By day, she counsels clients on brand-building initiatives, issues management challenges and break-through strategic executions.

Active in the business and PR community, Jonni has been an enthusiastic supporter of the Girl Scouts, the Chicago International Film Festival, the Assistance League of Chicagoland West, the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Maywood Fine Arts Association. A long-standing entry in numerous editions of “Who’s Who,” she has been recognized as an Influential Woman in Business by the Chicago Chapter of the National Association of Women in Business. When not obsessing over JSH&A, Jonni escapes to distant corners of the world to photograph the faces and places she dreamt of as a child. At home, she answers to the demanding needs of Sophie and Bodhi, her poorly behaved puppies.
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Cheryl Georgas

Senior Vice President, Deputy General Manager

Since joining the agency in 2007, Georgas has managed The Hershey Company account, one of the agency’s largest clients. As Vice President, she is responsible for strategic program development and media and client relations. Her work includes the development and execution of a number of highly successful programs including the launch of Hershey’s Bliss® Chocolate, Ice Breakers® Ice Cubes® Chewing Gum Carmen Electra “big game” commercial launch, 30th anniversary of the Hershey’s Track & Field Games, “S’more Access to Brad Paisley” promotion and the 100th anniversary of Hershey®’s Kisses® Brand Chocolates. Her creativity has earned her multiple industry awards, including three PCC Golden Trumpets, a PCC Silver Trumpet Award and PRSA Bronze Anvil Award. Georgas graduated from Michigan State University in East Lansing, Mich., with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a specialization in public relations.
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Kristin McCormick

Vice President of New Business Development

After leading strategic communications programs for JSH&A clients for five years, Kristin McCormick has transitioned to her new role as Vice President of New Business Development for the agency. Working with existing and potential clients, Kristin develops comprehensive public relations and social community-focused programs to help brands effectively communicate with their target consumers. Previously, Kristin oversaw JSH&A programs for clients including McDonald’s Corporation, Dremel, Midas and the Master Lock Company. Her work has garnered numerous industry awards, including a 2007 Silver Trumpet for Midas’ “America’s Longest Commute” contest and a 2006 Silver Trumpet for Allied Van Lines’ “Creating Curb Appeal” initiative. Kristin is a graduate of Valparaiso University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in communications.
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Jim Kokoris

President and General Manager

As a member of the agency’s senior management, Jim Kokoris oversees all client programming and is responsible for the overall supervision and training of the agency’s staff. An integral part of the firm’s creative process, he is credited with creating some of JSH&A’s most notable programs, including the award winning “Great Whiskey Debates” for longtime client, Beam Global Spirits & Wine and “America’s Longest Commute” contest for Midas. All told, Jim has won more than 20 industry awards for his work. An experienced speechwriter, Jim has developed presentations for scores of executives, politicians and celebrities over the course of his career. A graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he majored in speech communications, Jim is the author of three novels including “The Rich Part of Life,” which has been optioned by 20th Century Fox and has been published in 20 languages. Jim is also a contributing editor to The Chicago Tribune Sunday Magazine and has been a frequent guest on National Public Radio. A native Chicagoan, he lives with his wife, Anne, and their three sons in La Grange, Ill.
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Deanna Killackey

Vice President

During her seven-year tenure with the company, Killackey has consistently delivered measurable results and strategic programs for many of the agency’s marquee clients, including Beam Global Spirits & Wine, Sears Holdings Corporation, Midas International and Life Fitness. Her ability to build brand awareness through integrated marketing communications has garnered industry awards for programs including the (ri)1 new product launch (new media), 100th Anniversary of Hershey’s® Kisses® Brand Chocolates, McDonald’s® Arch Card® national product launch and the Cacao Reserve by Hershey’s® premium chocolate launch. In addition to her account responsibilities, she oversees the agency’s growing Social LIF™ function, developing and managing social media tools for various clients. A graduate of the University of Iowa, she earned a Bachelor of Arts in liberal arts with majors in journalism and communication studies and a minor in Spanish.
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Jennifer Podkasik

Vice President

As a Vice President , Jennifer Podkasik works on strategic program development, media outreach and event planning for high-profile clients including The Hershey Company, ConAgra Foods and SKIL Power Tools. Many of the campaigns she has created and executed have garnered industry recognition, including the 2011 Golden Trumpet for the launch of The Hershey Company’s new Pieces Candies, the 2011 Golden Trumpet for the S’mores ‘Snacktivity’ Summertime Memories campaign, the 2010 Golden Trumpet for the Reese’s Loves You Back Event and the 2009 Silver Trumpet for her work on Hershey’s Cash 4 Gas consumer promotion. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology from the University of Iowa.
Select a staff member to learn more.