Shaping Change Comms: Smart Strategies to Break Through the Noise

Jim Ylisela is Co-founder and Senior Partner of Ragan Consulting Group. He is an award-winning veteran Chicago journalist and a former publisher of Ragan.com. He brings more than 30 years of experience in writing, editing, communications research and consulting. Ylisela has designed and organized newsrooms for many companies and organizations, including Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, where he served as a faculty member and co-director of Medill News Service from 1988 to 2001. He works with communicators to create brand journalism news sites, organize and train writers and editors and restore reporting (and creative storytelling) to internal and external communications.

Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago is a member of Ragan’s Communications Leadership Council. As vice president, corporate communications and brand management for Goodwill Industries of Southeastern Wisconsin and Metropolitan Chicago, Guerrero oversees all communication strategies for the organization and a robust brand transformation aligned to the enterprise strategic plan. She is also currently responsible for leading Goodwill’s diversity, equity and inclusion and community relations initiatives which are focused on creating a more inclusive workplace and meaningful engagement experiences at the local community level. Guerrero has served as a multi-channel brand and communications strategist for major B2B and B2C global brands including Fiserv, Johnson Controls and Northwestern Mutual. She brings a strong background and knowledge of building brand experiences that reflect and drive brand promise and connect people to company mission and culture.    

Ashlee V. Davidson is vice president of Communications for Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control. She is a highly-driven, corporate communications leader, utilizing her skills and experience to drive strategic business results, communicate key executive messaging, effectively foster employee engagement, and increase overall performance for the company’s profile. In this role, Davidson oversees all aspects of communications for the organization, while leading a team of approximately 100 communicators in support of programs and products that protect and keep the U.S. safe. She also serves as co-chair on Missiles and Fire Control’s Culture Optimization team and leads the Communications and Invitations Committee for the annual Women’s Impact Network Leadership Forum. Davidson began her career at Lockheed Martin in December 2019, first serving as the integrated communications director for Lockheed Martin, leading strategic communications efforts on behalf of six corporate functions, along with management of employee-oriented communications channels. Prior to joining Lockheed Martin, Ashlee led Internal and Executive Communications for L3Harris Corporation, where she was responsible for overseeing all aspects of employee communications and led major customer events and interactions. Davidson is a Dallas Regional Chamber (DRC) Board Member and a member of the Public Relations Society of America and the National Association of Black Journalists. She also serves her community through leadership positions within the Links Incorporated, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Jack and Jill of America, as well as the United Way. In 2023, Ashlee was named as a PR News Top Women in PR and was selected as the DRC’s Young Professional Leadership ATHENA recipient.

Steve Cody is the founder and CEO of Peppercomm, a fully-integrated strategic communications firm headquartered in NYC, with offices in San Francisco and London. He’s responsible for everything from implementing strategy and counseling clients to leading business development and bringing new products and services to market. He’s also the current chairman of the Institute for Public Relations, a longtime member of the Arthur W. Page Society, a member of the advisory councils of the College of Charleston and the University of Florida.