Employer brand is an area where every modern company needs to shine. This means that those companies need someone keeping the employer brand humming, someone who knows how to broker the happiest and most mutually beneficial outcomes between the companies they work for and the employees they depend on.
In that spirit, here are 21 stellar Employer Brand leaders from across the U.S. Midwest. They keep the employer brand flame burning night and day with their inspiring work. They write books and blogs and host or guest on podcasts to spread the word about their company, and the higher set of employee happiness standards now hitting the mainstream of U.S. workplaces.
Anne WittenborgEmployer Brand Manager
“I am a curious, creative, Emmy Award-winning storyteller and communications expert. Currently, I am building an employer brand for a global company in an effort to attract and retain top talent around the world. My cross-directional role touches everything from talent acquisition, marketing, human resources, leadership messaging and overall employee experience. My goal is to identify, produce and showcase stories that resonate with people, and bring value to people both internally and externally.”
“Wow, it’s hard to know where to start with Anne. She is one of the most polished, sophisticated, smart and accomplished people I know. If I had to be in the trenches with anyone, it would be Anne.”
– Lindsay Radford, LinkedIn
Liane BilickiSenior Director of Talent/Employer Brand
Prior to her role at Quicken Loans, Bilicki was Group Brand Director – Recruiter Brand for Deloitte and Senior Communications Manager for Detroit Diesel Corp. She holds a Master’s in PR and Organizational Communication from Wayne State University.
“Liane is one of the coolest leaders I’ve ever worked with. She’s a wonderful human being who truly cares about her team. Liane is brave, creative, practical, and someone who doesn’t take herself too seriously. ”
– Sam Baruah, LinkedIn
Deonne RamseyVice President of Human Resources
“Strengths include all stages of TA from recruitment marketing, team building, sourcing, technology implementations and integrations, hiring manager relationship building and training, overall candidate experience all the way to offer management and onboarding. Have a data driven approach with an understanding of the global labor market and an ongoing avidity in finding the most qualified candidates to exceed all TA stakeholder expectations.”
Sara PieperDirector, Global Employer Brand Marketing
“I’m proud to be a part of a company that has supported all of the market’s top 50 prescription drugs. But taking on today’s healthcare challenges requires new solutions and innovative ideas. That’s why we’re searching for pioneers looking to bring their unique perspective and shape new possibilities in drug development.”
“‘Sara exemplifies all qualities of a true marketing leader. She is passionate about providing value to her stakeholders and will push the envelope until the agreed upon objectives are achieved.”
– Jessica Tiede, LinkedIn
HubSpot employees rated their overall culture an A+.
Erin MaxinGlobal Employment Brand Leader
“Crafting visionary strategy and leading inclusive teams that win are WHAT I do. The candidates seeking an exceptional experience at EY? They’re my WHY. I get to play a small part in helping people find their dream jobs, and I am lucky enough do that alongside extraordinary people who challenge, support, inspire and enhance me.”
“When the poem I submitted to Mad magazine for publishing in 1983 was cheerfully rejected, someone there actually took the time to send it back with a handwritten note that read, “Keep trying, kid.” That bit of advice sent springs and wires popping from my third grade mind. Fast forward 12 or so years to a job early in my professional career, where an incredible mentor and role model did the same when she said her best advice for success is, “Don’t stop until the job is done.” ”
– Erin Maxin, LinkedIn
Melissa MusgraveHead of Employment
Strategic Talent Acquisition Leader and HR business partner specializing in employment marketing, recruitment, organizational development, resource management, and project management. Experience with global and domestic resource pressures and adept at creating and aligning human resources initiatives with overall business strategy.
“Businesses need talent that has the passion and desire to grow in their roles, take on leadership responsibilities; have the ability to perform individually and as part of a team.”
– Talent of the Future Needed Now Please!
Jessica MastersonEmployer Brand Manager
“A brand and digital marketing leader, with a former life in recruiting, I’m bringing it all together to elevate Discover’s employer brand.”
“Jessica is an excellent communicator. She is professional, intelligent, strategic, collaborative, has a strong work ethic, is a team player and has an amazing sense of wit and humor. Above all she really cares.”
Sherri Maxson Goodlove, LinkedIn
Elizabeth VassoloHead of Global Employment Brand
“Using data insights to communicate a brand’s value proposition through campaigns, content, and PR in both digital and traditional media spaces, I’ve built my career on telling and translating stories for the right medium. And I owe it all to my eclectic background. I’ve been on TV, interviewed celebrities, designed an executive briefing center, built a digital city, given social media workshops from government agencies to Fortune 500 companies, created and revived brand campaigns, and wrote for many publications in Chicago and beyond.”
“Let’s face it, if you can’t explain to potential customers why you’re different, don’t expect them to notice that you are.”
– 4 Rules About Marketing We Are Afraid To Tell You
Deanna DeanEmployment Brand Marketing Manager
“You may recognize me as the host of Cat’s Social Series and brand focused videos, or from my own social pages where I promote a healthy balance life-style, women in leadership, quality pool time and fashionable footwear. But my true self is evident by my passion for marketing with a big picture and data driven focus to create, develop and execute global and regional brand campaigns.”
“Thank you to all the doers (those on the front line, volunteers, and those doing their part by just staying home) around the world working hard to take care of us and keep us safe – we see you!”
– Deanna Dean, LinkedIn
Allison BrownGlobal Head of Employer Brand
As an Experience Strategist, Allison partners across functional teams to architect projects that leverage digital services and design thinking to help define, improve, and create authentic, impactful user experiences for users/customers/employees both online and offline.
“She is a tremendous talent. She is highly skilled at applying big ideas and innovative thinking to solve business problems, improve and simplify customer interactions and deliver business value and scalable solutions. She aligns strategic recommendations to the business and/or problem to be solved, with critical thought about the state of the business, the key objectives and customer interaction and behavior.”
– Karin Lieber Moan, LinkedIn
Kylie DenkEmployer Brand Team Lead
“Storytelling can shape a powerful narrative of a company and their people. I am passionate and dedicated to sharing this narrative to engage, recruit, and retain top talent at Relativity, while never losing sight of the importance to deliver on our promises.”
“As you work from home, try to maintain a normal work schedule and build in some brain breaks! ”
– Kylie Denk, LinkedIn
Laura BurgerGlobal Head of Employer Brand
“I have over 25 years of experience relative to driving employer brand and recruitment marketing strategy for a range of companies, from established to startup in various industries. My success is rooted in partnering with technology employers, who need to drive differentiated awareness and consideration among top, technical talent in a highly competitive landscape.”
“A big part of the reason I am at ThoughtWorks is the culture. I get to work with truly inspiring and talented technologists. They care deeply for the people they are working with and the many things we can influence even outside of our company. Here I have a voice which allows me to make my mark in tech.”
Laura Burger, LinkedIn
Rita VanderWaalEmployer Brand / Employee Engagement Program Manager
“I like to say I’m ‘Chief Storyteller’, building relationships with colleagues to share tell their stories which allow us to further compel quality candidate interest, and then leverage those details to define the employee experience and make us Veeamazing!”
“Rita is an subject matter expert in recruitment and digital strategy and strives hard to lead in bring innovation to her clients. Rita is a strong team player, dependable, reliable, extremely hard working and she will always put the client first, to deliver the highest standard of service.”
Karen M, LinkedIn
Shivani A.Employer Brand & Marketing Manager
Innovative and results oriented talent acquisition leader with 10+ years of experience in talent strategy, project management, employment branding, diversity, recruiting, event planning, process improvement and program management.
Kate SchramlSenior Manager, Communications & Public Relations
Brand marketing professional with a portfolio of award-winning public relations and campaign work, a copywriter with experience in traditional and digital platforms, and a communicator with heavy launch strategy experience, partnership management and a passion for corporate social responsibility planning.
“Working with Kate is a lesson in advanced PR and influencer marketing. Her abilities weave stories across the spectrum of new product launches, brand communications, advanced organizational strategies, and more. Those stories appear across multi-media campaigns as the bright spots that successfully pull the audience into the experience.”
– Evi Dewhurst, LinkedIn
Chrissy ThornhillSr. Manager, Global Employer Brand and Recruitment Marketing
Chrissy Thornhill is a social media and content strategist working on the global employer brand at Salesforce. She’s an employment branding professional with more than 12 years of experience specializing in recruiting, with additional focus on marketing, corporate communications, advertising, brand reputation and social media.
“Chrissy and I worked together closely during my time at Salesforce, and it was a highlight of my time there. Her extensive knowledge and expertise in the employer branding and social media space is impressive, and she’s one of the hardest working people I know.”
– Haley Wilkerson, LinkedIn
Salesforce employees rated their overall culture among the top 5% of similar-sized companies in the U.S.
Salesforce employees rated their overall culture an A+.
Kate Abbatacola ZmarlickiEmployer Brand Manager, Americas
Prior to her role at JLL, Zmarlicki serves as a Marketing Assistant at Mesirow Financial and as a Marketing/Promotions Intern for WGN-TV. She earned her BA in Public Relations and Advertising from DePaul University in 2014.
Sarah Steele, MBASenior Employer Brand Marketing Manager
“I was the kid who got to the library at 7AM on a Saturday, only to find out it didn’t open until 10. Spunky marketing aficionado with a passion for health, outdoor adventure, international travel, and personal development. I think big picture, am highly motivated by a challenge, and strive to exceed expectations.In the famous words of George Halas, “Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.”
“I have the utmost respect for the way Bosch has swiftly and responsibly guided our company through the COVID-19 pandemic, taking active measures to adapt to the rapidly changing situation and to keep our workforce safe and healthy. Not only does Bosch care about OUR people, Bosch cares about ALL people.”
Sarah Steele, LinkedIn
Whitney WilberGlobal Employer Brand Leader
“I love to connect people with meaningful career opportunities by combining my knowledge of brand attraction, creative storytelling, marketing strategy, and candidate experience.”
‘Self care is not selfish. I often hear so many friends, family members, and even coworkers talk about how much sleep they get (or lack thereof!). Many cultures don’t place enough of a priority on sleep, and it severely impacts long-term health. Big sleep = long life!”
Whitney Wilber, LinkedIn
Linda KonopSocial Media & Employer Brand
“I work with people from across the company to define and promote our employer brand internally and externally. This has given me the opportunity to ensure that HCSC’s culture is reflected accurately to recruit the best candidates and future employees for the company.”
“Emotional Intelligence has always been an important leadership skill and difficult times like the present provide opportunities to grow it.”
– Linda Konop, LinkedIn
Philip KelleyManager, Employer Brand
“Passionate brand communications professional with more than 10 years of experience. In my career I’ve helped CPG, nonprofit, higher education, and healthcare brands to connect with their respective audiences in meaningful ways through strategic brand management and marketing communications.”
UnitedHealth Group employees rated their overall culture among the top 30% of similar-sized companies in the U.S.
Tammy LamEmployer Brand Manager
Experienced transformation and marketing communications professional with over 15 years of global experience in the technologies industry. A strategic and creative thinker with a passion for creating great content that builds awareness, actions and achieves business objectives. Adept at working with leaders and teams to deliver a wide range of internal and external communications.