The Ethisphere Institute’s Communications Advisory Board assists companies that have already achieved WME company recognition, as well as those who aspire to be a WME company, by identifying and sharing best practices in internal and external communications related to ethics.
The nine members of the communications advisory board, who are listed below, serve as a real-time think tank for the Ethisphere Institute. The board comprises recognized leaders in the corporate communications profession – with WME company communications executives as well as expert perspectives from academia, the leading professional association for communications executives and the world’s largest public relations firm.
For expanded bios on each Advisory Board member, please click on their names below.
Professor of Corporate Communication and Responsibility
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
President
Arthur W. Page Society
Global Chair, Corporate Practice
Edelman
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications
Waste Management, Inc.
Vice President of Communications
Ford Motor Company
Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Ethics Officer
Panama Canal Authority
Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
AECOM Technology Corp.
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Aflac, Inc.
Vice President, Communications and Public Affairs
General Electric Company
The complete bios of each advisory board member are as follows:
Paul A. Argenti
Professor of Corporate Communication and Responsibility
The Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
Professor Paul A. Argenti has taught management, corporate responsibility, and corporate communication starting in 1977 at the Harvard Business School, from 1979-81 at the Columbia Business School, and since 1981 as a faculty member at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Business.He has also taught as a visiting professor at the International University of Japan, the Helsinki School of Economics, Erasmus University in the Netherlands, London Business School, and Singapore Management University. He currently serves as Faculty Director for Tuck’s Leadership and Strategic Impact Program, its Brand and Reputation programs, and Tuck’s executive programs for Novartis, Hitachi, and Freddie Mac.
Professor Argenti’s textbook, Corporate Communication, Sixth Edition, was recently published through McGraw-Hill/Irwin. He is also completing work on the first edition of a seminal work entitled Corporate Responsibility for McGraw-Hill, which focuses on corporate values, shared value, corporate character, and the purpose of the corporation in modern society Argenti co-authored (with Courtney Barnes) Digital Strategies for Powerful Corporate Communication, published by McGraw-Hill in 2009. Some of his other books include: Strategic Corporate Communication, published in 2007 by McGraw-Hill, The Power of Corporate Communication (co-authored with UCLA’s Janis Forman), published by McGraw-Hill, and The Fast Forward MBA Pocket Reference (several editions), released through Wiley. Professor Argenti has written and edited numerous articles for academic publications and practitioner journals such as Harvard Business Review, California Management Review, and Sloan Management Review. Professor Argenti also blogs regularly for Harvard Business Review, the Washington Post, and US News & World Report. Professor Argenti also appears frequently on radio (NPR) and television (CNBC) commenting on topics related to communications, reputation, and corporate responsibility.
Professor Argenti is a Fulbright Scholar and a winner of the Pathfinder Award in 2007 from the Institute for Public Relations for the excellence of his research in a wide variety of fields related to general management, strategy, and communication over a long career. He serves on the Board of Trustees for the Arthur W. Page Society and the Institute for Public Relations. He also serves on advisory boards to CEOs globally for companies like Novartis and Mitsui. Finally, he has consulted and run training programs for hundreds of companies including General Electric, ING, Mitsui, Novartis, and Goldman Sachs. You can follow Professor Argenti on twitter at www.twitter.com/paulargenti.
Roger Bolton
President
Arthur W. Page Society
Roger is the president of the Arthur W. Page Society, the premier professional association for senior corporate communications executives. Members include the chief communications officers of the world’s major corporations, the CEOs of the most influential public relations agencies and leading academics from select business and communications schools.
Roger is also a trustee and a past chairman of the Page Society. He has co-chaired the Thought Leadership Committee, which is working to help global companies build trust in a rapidly changing global operating environment. He has been named one of the Top 100 Thought Leaders in Trustworthy Business Behavior by Trust Across America, a program of Next Decade, Inc.
Previously, he served as senior vice president of communications at Aetna, a $35 billion provider of health care benefits, with responsibility for all internal and external communications, advertising, brand management and corporate public involvement. He also chaired Aetna’s Council for Organizational Effectiveness – a group of senior executives responsible for helping the company achieve high performance through culture change – and served on the board of the Aetna Foundation.
Before Aetna, Roger was IBM’s director of corporate media relations and director of communications for the IBM server and software groups.
Prior to his business career, Roger served as assistant secretary of the Treasury for public affairs under President George H.W. Bush, assistant U.S. trade representative for public affairs in the Executive Office of the President under President Reagan, and special assistant to President Reagan in the White House, with responsibility for the president’s relations with business and labor. He is a recipient of the U.S. Treasury Distinguished Service Award.
Roger is a member of the board of the Josephson Institute of Ethics and of advisory boards of the Yale Center for Faith & Culture, the Arthur W. Page Center for Integrity in Public Communication at Penn State University, and the Baruch College MA in Corporate Communication Program. He is a deacon of the Congregational Church of New Canaan, Connecticut.
Ben Boyd
Global Chairman, Corporate Practice
Edelman
Ben Boyd, Global Chair of Edelman’s Corporate Practice, has worked in corporate communications for two decades. He works in the New York office and enjoys a range of experience in public relations, issues communications and brand positioning, as well as corporate communications and marketing.
With Edelman, Ben directs the global Corporate practice specializing in reputation management, corporate communications and issues management. He serves as the global client relationship strategist on Edelman’s work with GE, one of the firm’s largest accounts. Throughout his career he has managed a diverse portfolio of clients across a number of different industries. Client experience includes Bank of America, PWC, Business Roundtable, Pfizer, AT&T, Starbucks, DuPont, Bertelsmann AG, Kodak, GAP, and BMG Entertainment.
In addition to his work at Edelman, Ben previously served as assistant to the president, director of communications at the Service Employees International Union (SEIU). While there, he managed the national communications campaign around SEIU President Andy Stern’s vision for a newly relevant labor movement, resulting in a feature segment on 60 Minutes, a cover story in the New York Times Magazine as well as the creation of an online community that helped advance the reform agenda. In addition, he oversaw SEIU’s earned, paid, social and new media strategies nationally.
Previously, Ben served as the director of communications for the Americans for Health Care campaign, managing grassroots teams in 15 states throughout the 2004 election cycle. Ben also served as director of communications for SITA, one of the world’s largest providers of IT resources for the air transport industry. Prior to his work at SITA, Ben was vice president of Marketing and Communications for barnesandnoble.com, launching the site and taking the company through an initial public offering.
He has a bachelor’s degree in English from Wake Forest University. Ben resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.
Barry H. Caldwell
Senior Vice President of Public Affairs and Communications
Waste Management, Inc.
Barry H. Caldwell is responsible for leading Waste Management’s government affairs, communications, community relations and investor relations activities. He is a member of the Company’s senior leadership team and reports to Waste Management President and Chief Executive Officer, David P. Steiner. Waste Management, Inc. is North America’s leading provider of comprehensive waste management and environmental services. Based in Houston, Texas, it is a FORTUNE 200 company with revenues of approximately $13 billion and 43,000 employees.
Barry joined Waste Management from CIGNA Corporation, the Philadelphia-based health insurance provider, where he was Vice President, Government Relations. Before CIGNA, he was Vice President, Federal Affairs for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), the trade association representing the research based pharmaceutical companies.
Prior to PhRMA, Barry served as Chief of Staff to United States Senator Arlen Specter. Caldwell is a lawyer, beginning his career with Kutak Rock & Campbell and then with Cole Corette & Abrutyn, both in Washington, D.C., before moving to the US Senate.
Barry also serves on the boards of Keep America Beautiful, the nation’s leading community improvement organization; the Environmental Industries Association; the National Association of Manufacturers; and the Arthur W. Page Society.
Barry holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., and a Juris Doctor degree from Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.
Raymond F. Day
Vice President of Communications
Ford Motor Company
Ray Day is vice president of Communications for Ford Motor Company. He leads all of the company’s global external and internal communications and public relations activities. His role includes building the company’s reputation globally and leading communications that reach Ford’s external and internal audiences, including customers, employees, dealers, suppliers, news media, communities, governments and policy makers.
Day, 44, was appointed to his position in November 2007. He reports to Alan Mulally, Ford president and CEO.
“Ford is one of the world’s most iconic and admired companies, and we have a very strong story to tell – particularly as we make progress on our plan for profitable growth around the world,” says Day. “As we tell the Ford story, we are building on the fact that people see us setting ourselves apart by the great products, stronger business and better world we are creating.”
Day joined Ford in 1989 and spent most of his career leading Ford’s global communications and public relations activities related to the company’s products, design, manufacturing, sales, marketing, brand development and corporate issues. Before being named a vice president, he served as executive director of Global Corporate Communications and executive director of Global Automotive Communications.
Day was based for four years in Europe, serving as head of Ford’s European Product Public Affairs and living in Germany and the U.K. He led development of the communications strategy and introduction of the Ford Focus in Europe in 1998 and in North America in 1999. The Focus became one of the few cars ever to be named Car of the Year by automotive writers in both Europe and North America.
Early in his Ford career, Day led the company’s print and television employee communications network, helping it become an internal communications benchmark throughout the industry. He was a newspaper reporter and editor in the Detroit area before joining Ford.
Day is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications. He currently serves on the boards of the Automotive Hall of Fame and Detroit Public Television. He also is a member of the organizing committee of The Seminar for public relations and a member of the Arthur W. Page Society.
Day and his wife, Debbie, and their two daughters live in Plymouth, Mich.
Ana María P. de Chiquilani
Vice President of Corporate Affairs and Ethics Officer
Panama Canal Authority
Mrs. Ana María Ponce de Chiquilani is the Vice President of Corporate Affairs of the Panama Canal Authority (ACP), legal and autonomous entity by public law that oversees the Panama Canal, the interoceanic waterway leader that serves world maritime commerce.
With 25 years of experience in Human Resources Management, Mrs. Chiquilani earned her Bachelor’s Degree in Mathematics at the Our Lady of the Lake University in San Antonio, Texas, in 1974, and her Master’s Degree in Education from Florida State University in 1975. She has participated in many management programs for Executives and for Human Resources at the following universities: North Carolina, Cornell, Michigan, Stanford; as well as the Central American Institute for Business Administration.
In 1998, she was appointed Manager of the Labor Relations Division. On December 31, 1999, she was appointed Director of the Department of Human Resources, responsible for managing the human resources of the ACP, with a labor force of over 9,000 workers. She has served as the Designated Agency Ethics Official, since October 2001.
Among her key achievements: the promotion of a new organizational culture and the redirection of the labor force towards a profile of leadership, flexibility, productivity, knowledge of the core business, and commitment to the organization and to the country; automation of the major Human Resources systems such as the External Applicants Management System and the Internal Applicants and Performance Management Systems; the development of the managerial and generic competences model; a performance management system based on metrics and programs on Talent Development, Multiple Skills, Managerial Development, and Total Wellness; participation in negotiations for the collective bargaining agreements in effect until 2014.
In March 2007, she was appointed Vice President of Corporate Affairs.
She is a member of the Association of the Ladies of Guadalupe and the Society of Human Resource Professionals of the United States.
Paul J. Gennaro
Senior Vice President and Chief Communications Officer
AECOM Technology Corp.
Paul J. Gennaro is Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, and the Chief Communications Officer (CCO) for AECOM (NYSE: ACM), an $8-billion global provider of professional technical and management support services. AECOM’s 45,000 employees – including architects, engineers, designers, planners, scientists and management and construction services professionals – serve clients in more than 140 countries around the world.
In this role, Mr. Gennaro leads all aspects of AECOM’s global corporate communications efforts, including: corporate brand and reputation management, public and media relations, internal communications, crisis and issues management, investor relations, marketing communications, philanthropy and community relations, and government relations. He is also a member of AECOM’s Operations Committee.
Mr. Gennaro joined AECOM in March of 2006 and has led corporate communications in support of dramatic growth that has included the doubling of the workforce, the tripling of revenue, and the execution of more than 40 acquisitions. He has also developed and executed communications strategies in support of the company’s award-winning initial public offering (IPO) and its global rebrand.
His AECOM communications team has earned numerous honors from organizations such as PRWeek magazine, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), the International Academy of Visual Arts and the Web Marketing Association, along with multiple International Business Awards, American Business Awards and Telly Awards, and a CINE Golden Eagle Award. Mr. Gennaro was honored with the 2010 International Business Award for Communications Executive of the Year, the 2013 PRWeek magazine award for PR Professional of the Year and the 2013 John W. Hill Award, PRSA New York’s most prestigious award.
Prior to joining AECOM, Mr. Gennaro managed all global corporate and marketing communications for Johns Manville, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. He has also held communications leadership roles for global brands such as Ingersoll-Rand, Dell, and American Express. He began his career as a print/broadcast journalist and public affairs officer for the U.S. Navy.
Mr. Gennaro is recognized as a thought leader on ethics and communications as well as corporate reputation. He serves as Chairman of the Communications Advisory Board for the Ethisphere Institute, which annually recognizes the World’s Most Ethical Companies. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for the Emory University Center for Ethics. Mr. Gennaro is a member of four prominent organizations for CCOs and senior global corporate communications and public relations executives: the Arthur W. Page Society, The Seminar, The Wisemen and The Conference Board Council on Corporate Communications Strategy.
A Fortune 500 company, AECOM provides a blend of global reach, local knowledge, innovation, and technical excellence in delivering solutions that create, enhance and sustain the world’s built, natural and social environments. For more information, visit www.aecom.com.
Laura Kane
Vice President, Corporate Communications
Aflac, Inc.
Laura Kane is the vice president of corporate communications for Aflac, the largest provider of supplemental insurance in the United States and the number one provider of life insurance in Japan. Kane joined Aflac in 2003, bringing experience that encompasses strategy development, media relations, reputation management, and integrated marketing.
Ms. Kane is responsible for providing strategic leadership and day-to-day management of integrated communications programs that advance the brand and enhance the corporate reputation.
During her tenure, Aflac’s corporate brand awareness grew from the 32% to more than 94% and the company has consistently been recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as a Most Admired Company and has been on Ethisphere’s list of “World’s Most Ethical Companies” since inception. She has led a variety of communications efforts for the company including Aflac’s historic say-on-pay vote, a rebranding initiative, and the search for a new voice for the Aflac Duck.
Ms. Kane and her teams have won several awards for marketing and PR campaigns including the Cannes PR Lion and Silver Anvil. In 2008, Kane was inducted into PR News PR Hall of Fame at the National Press Club. She graduated from Michigan State University with a Bachelor’s degree in communications.
Gary Sheffer
Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs
General Electric Company
Sheffer oversees external and internal communications and provides strategic communications advice to GE executives on a full range of corporate reputation issues. In his public affairs role, Sheffer works with external groups and individuals to foster understanding of GE policies and businesses.
Sheffer joined GE in 1999 after 17 years in journalism and government communications, including serving as a press aide to two New York governors. Before working in government, Sheffer was a reporter and editor at several newspapers winning several awards for his reporting.
Sheffer earned a bachelor’s of arts degree in English from Siena College in Loudonville, New York, and today serves on its associate board of trustees.
He is a member of the board for Columbia’s University’s master’s program in strategic communication and guest lectures on communications at leading universities. Sheffer also serves on the boards of several associations for communications professionals, including the Institute for Public Relations and the Arthur W. Page Society. He also serves on the board on the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program.
