Honoring Exceptional Women Who Have Excelled In and Outside of the Workplace Inspires Diversity and Pushes Boundaries, Paving the Way for the Next Generation

(Chicago, Ill.) November 12, 2014 – MAFA Chicago (MAFA), a resource center for professionals in the Chicago advertising, marketing and communications industries announced MAFA Masters: Celebrating Women in the Industry, an event honoring individuals who have excelled in the workplace by pushing boundaries, inspiring others, and most notably, women who continue to pave the way for all professionals.

MAFA, which has a committee and advisory board of nearly 20 individuals, and boasts a membership and network base of 1,400+ Chicago professionals, will honor twelve leaders at the annual MAFA Masters event. Representing six categories, MAFA will honor six Emerging Leaders and six Trailblazers who have produced and led memorable work in their careers.

Realizing that diversity is multifaceted, MAFA Masters was created to identify individuals who have unique professional careers, and those that have demonstrated a spirit of giving back. The roster of honorees includes notable women who have ignited change, spearheaded initiatives, mentored industry peers and shaped careers.

List of honorees:

Champion of Growth Award
Ronnie Dickerson Stewart, Vice President/Media Director, DigitasLBi (Emerging Leader)
Esther Franklin, Executive Vice President & Head of SMG Americas Experience Strategy, Starcom (Trailblazer)

Industry Entrepreneur Award
Nicole Yeary, Founder & President, Ms. Tech (Emerging Leader)

Pepper Miller, Founder & President of The Hunter-Miller Group (Trailblazer)

Diversity Advocate Award
Monse Moreno, Multicultural Sales Development Manager, Pandora (Emerging Leader)
Diversity Advocate Trailblazer To Be Announced Soon!

Business Results Award
Jocelyn Jara, Director, Consumer & Multicultural, Vice President, Golin (Emerging Leader)
Adriana Llames Kogelis, Division Vice President, Digital Media Marketing, Sears Holdings Corporation (Trailblazer)

Creative Catalyst Award
Shakira Seabrooks, Art Director, Arc Worldwide (Emerging Leader)
Maria Bernal, Creative Director, Lapiz (Trailblazer)

Innovation Award
Dilini Fernando, Digital Media & Marketing Manager, MillerCoors (Emerging Leader)
Christie Lach Hartbarger, Vice President – Strategic Accounts, YuMe (Trailblazer)

This year, MAFA Masters will be sponsored by DigitasLBi, YuMe, Pandora, Leo Burnett, and FCB, at the Chicago Marriott – Downtown, 540 N. Michigan Ave., 60611.

To purchase tickets for the event, register at www.2014mafamasters.splashthat.com.

Beginning with a cocktail reception, the 2nd Annual MAFA Masters Awards will take place on Friday, December 12, 2014 from 7-11 PM.

Join MAFA Chicago and industry professionals in saluting 12 extraordinary women.

For more information about MAFA, visit www.facebook.com/MAFAChicago.