Technology is changing fast, and it’s driving massive shifts in the fields of journalism and communication. The SOJC's Journalism Advancement Council helps us stay relevant. It keeps us on the leading edge. It tells us what real-world skills our students need to cultivate. These experts in the field are instrumental in ensuring the SOJC lives up to its reputation for excellence.
Co-Chairs
Anne Marie Levis, MBA ’96
President, Funk/Levis & Associates
Anne-Marie Levis is the heart and soul of Funk/Levis & Associates, providing a standard of excellence for the agency’s work. Her passion for branding and marketing is surpassed only by her dedication to clients. She loves knowing that her team helps people and businesses succeed. Levis’ multiple degrees include a master’s of business administration degree from the University of Oregon, and in 2018 she earned her accreditation in public relations from the Public Relations Society of America—the practice’s highest level of certification.
Barbara Blangiardi ’79
SVP Strategies & Creative Partnerships, FOX Sports
Barbara Blangiardi has led teams in TV marketing that span sports and entertainment for more than 20 years, most recently as senior vice president, strategies and creative partnerships, at FOX Sports. She formerly ran her own consultancy, serving clients including the U.S. Olympic Committee, Comcast, and FOX Sports. She previously worked at NBC Universal and began her career at KING-TV Seattle. In 2009, Advertising Age named Blangiardi one of its “Women to Watch.” She is a member of the Warsaw Sports Business Center’s industry advisory board, a former member of the executive board of the UO Alumni Association, and a supporter of SOJC’s annual Sports Media Workshop.
Members
Scott Bedbury ’80
Founder and CEO of Brandstream, Inc.
Recognized as one of the world’s most respected brand builders, Scott Bedbury founded Brandstream consultancy in 1998 and has advised executives of Apple, Coca-Cola, Groupo Modelo, Facebook, Ferrero, Google, Kaiser Permanente, Microsoft, and NASA. Hired as Nike’s global advertising director in 1987, Bedbury led the brand to new heights—including the “Just Do It” campaign. He eventually joined Starbucks, where he helped reposition the company. He co-authored A Brand New World, which outlines his eight principles of brand building.
Reid Carr ’98
CEO, Red Door Interactive
Over the past 20-plus years, Reid Carr has built Red Door Interactive into a nationally renowned, full-service marketing agency headquartered in San Diego. Focused on threading brand stories through all areas of performance marketing, Red Door’s approach solves the challenges of its clients, which include Bosch, Titleist, Sun Bum, Shea Homes, and Stone Brewing. The agency is regularly awarded for tactical expertise, growth, and effective culture by numerous industry publications. Carr is board chair for the Voice of San Diego, a nonprofit news organization focusing on investigative reporting. He also serves on boards for One Club for Creativity of San Diego, World Design Capital 2024, and San Diego Sports Innovators boards.
Julie Dixon
Nonfiction Author; Co-founder/Advertising, Sports Incorporated (retired)
Julie Strasser Dixon was Nike’s first advertising manager and employee No. 28. She’s co-author of Swoosh: The Unauthorized Story of Nike and the Men Who Played There, with another book in the works. Dixon and husband Rocky founded the Rock'N J Ranch in Asotin, Washington. The Dixons are longtime supporters of UO and the environmental communications work done at the SOJC. Although Dixon holds degrees from UCLA and USC, she is first and foremost a Duck!
Tonya Dressel ’88
University of Oregon Foundation Board Member
Tonya Dressel is the former managing director and executive director of philanthropy at the Ballmer Group, overseeing its philanthropic and social-impact investing as well as its civic engagement. Dressel worked closely with Connie Ballmer ’84 to define the Ballmer family’s philanthropic principals, initial giving criteria, and granting processes. Prior to her eight years working with the Ballmers, Dressel spent 13 years at Microsoft in public relations and marketing overseeing dynamic teams and products, including Microsoft Windows.
Drake Hills ’18
Lecturer, San Diego State University
Drake Hills is a journalism lecturer at San Diego State University. Before returning to his hometown, Drake deployed his reporter talents in local newsrooms across the USA TODAY Network, covering American soccer, the NFL, MLB, and college men's basketball and high school sports, sending Drake to Chicago, Phoenix, Nashville, Ghana, England, Spain, and Mexico to tell stories that live at the intersection of sports and culture. One of his favorite stories he's written was how Major League Soccer's $25 million loan with a Black-owned bank syndicate in 2022 paid more than lip service—it drove change, starting with a loan from a Black bank to local housing redevelopers in Birmingham, Alabama, rehabilitating dilapidated units in predominantly-Black neighborhoods. An award-winning sports writer, the former Daily Emerald and KWVA 88.1 FM reporter remains connected to his collegiate roots, lecturing on sports, race and culture, and journalism at Vanderbilt University, Middle Tennessee State University and Oklahoma State University.
Bill Imada
Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer, IW Group, Inc.
Three decades ago, Bill Imada co-founded IW Group, which focuses on growing multicultural and cross-generational markets. His areas of expertise include marketing, advertising, public relations, cross-cultural communications, crisis management, training and development, and community relations. He strongly believes in civic engagement and civil discourse, which inspired him to cofound four national organizations. He is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, and problem solver striving to make the world a better place for all. He is always curious about people and what motivates them.
Rick Jacobs
Executive News Director, KGW-TV (retired)
Rick Jacobs is a retired broadcast journalist who spent nearly 40 years in TV newsrooms. Jacobs earned a bachelor’s degree in radio and TV from San Francisco State University. He started his career as a reporter-anchor at KOBI-TV in Medford, Oregon, transitioning to newscast production at KDRV-TV in Medford and later KOIN-TV in Portland. Jacobs then went to upper newsroom management as news director for KEZI-TV in Eugene. Jacobs spent his last 20 years in the business at KGW-TV in Portland as assistant news director and his last seven years as news director.
Ryan Knutson ’09
Co-host and News Editor of The Journal podcast, The Wall Street Journal
Ryan Knutson has been the co-host of The Journal, The Wall Street Journal’s flagship daily podcast, since 2013. Before joining the podcast, he covered the wireless industry, including a string of scoops including Verizon's $130 billion buyout of Vodafone’s stake in their joint venture, Sprint and T-Mobile's never-ending courtship, and a hack of the 911 emergency system that spread virally on Twitter. He also spent a year on the business side of Dow Jones helping lead the company’s strategic relations with tech companies including Apple and Google. Before WSJ, he reported for ProPublica, PBS Frontline, and OPB, the NPR affiliate station in Portland, Oregon.
Nancy Loo ’86
West Coast Bureau Correspondent, NewsNation
An Emmy award-winning journalist, Nancy Loo ’86 joined NewsNation from WGN-TV, where she was a reporter and fill-in anchor. She boasts an extensive background of international reporting experience, having worked in Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York City, and Chicago. Loo’s career took her on news assignments to England, China, Japan, Taiwan, North and South Korea, Thailand, and the Philippines. Before moving to Chicago in 2001, Nancy was an anchor/reporter for WABC-TV in New York. Born in Hong Kong and raised in Northern California, Loo speaks Cantonese and has studied German, Japanese, and American Sign Language. She has served as co-president of the Asian American Journalists Association. She was inducted into the SOJC's Hall of Achievement in 2022.
Michele Matassa Flores ’85
Executive Editor, The Seattle Times
Michele Matassa Flores ’85 is executive editor of The Seattle Times, overseeing 170 journalists and guiding the newsroom’s journalistic vision and strategic planning. She began as a suburban reporter in 1988, going on to hold positions including business reporter and editor, co-metro editor, deputy investigations editor, and managing editor. She has also served as managing editor of the Puget Sound Business Journal. Flores joined the SOJC’s Journalism Advancement Council in 2020 and was inducted into its Hall of Achievement in 2021.
Gina Matthews ’90
Television Producer; Writer; Founder of Little Engine Productions
Among Gina Matthews’ producing credits are the hit romantic comedies What Women Want, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt; 13 Going On 30 starring Jennifer Garner and Mark Ruffalo; and Isn’t it Romantic starring Rebel Wilson and Liam Hemsworth. Matthews recently produced the romantic drama All My Life for Universal Pictures and won an Emmy Award for Showtime’s Summer’s End starring James Earl Jones. Her fantasy drama The Wishing Tree earned five Emmy nominations , and Matthews received a GLAAD award for the TV series Popular.
Jim Pensiero ’75
Deputy Managing Editor, The Wall Street Journal (retired)
F. James “Jim” Pensiero is a retired editor and news executive with 42 years of media-industry experience. He retired as deputy managing editor of The Wall Street Journal in 2015 after 31 years in a variety of editing and management roles. Pensiero recieved the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news reporting for his role in producing the publication’s September 12, 2001, edition. Following his retirement from the Journal, Pensiero worked as a consultant at Gannett Co. He’s also consulted for News Corp. and McKinsey & Co.
Erica Pereira Kubr ’00
VP Digital Communications and Transformation, Decathlon
Erica Kubr is a senior leader with 20-plus years of experience in communications spanning technology, retail, sports, and consumer brands. She is known for designing and executing global communications programs that connect with internal and external audiences and drive successful results. Companies she’s worked for include Microsoft, Dropbox, Sun Microsystems, Intel, and Nike.
Neal Rosen ’74
Owner, Rosen Communications (retired)
Neal Rosen was a journalist associated with several newspapers, broadcast outlets, and an international wire service. He then spent 40 years in public relations and strategic communications with several leading regional and international public relations firms. Rosen founded his own firm focusing on financial communications. After more than two decades, the firm was acquired by Ruder-Finn, an international communications firm, where he served as senior vice president and head of its investor relations practice. For several years, he has worked as an independent consultant assisting public and pre-IPO companies.
Anna Sanford ’06
Vice President, Leadership Communications and Strategy, Visa Inc.
Anna Sanford is vice president of leadership communications and strategy at Visa. Prior to this role, she was the vice president at Visa for strategy, planning, operations, and chief of staff to the chief marketing officer, as well as government engagement and other roles. She also worked in public relations at Columbia Sportswear before moving to Charles Schwab and then Visa.
Betty Staniak ’80
Freelance Writer/Brand Strategist; Senior Writer/Producer, State Farm Creative (retired)
29 addresses. 14 cities. 9 states. 1 husband. Betty's life and career have spanned multiple states and companies, all with a common thread: creating great content rooted in strategy and structured for results, building character and creativity through geographic and career diversity, and never forgetting that good writing opens doors. Mostly retired now, a few of Betty's career stops along the way include: on-air talent and award-winning producer for CBS affiliate WCIA 3; public affairs management, strategic and executive communications, writer/producer/creative for State Farm; and brand marketing/product development for Starbucks – before they went venti. Add to these her college cheer coach/cheer bus driver phase (for which her Oregon Cheer days prepared her well) and that's just part of the adventure. Betty and her Duck husband are UO Portland superfans who divide time between Portland, Ore., Henderson, Nev., and Autzen Stadium.
John Strong ’07
Broadcaster, FOX Sports
John Strong ’07 is FOX Sports’ lead soccer play-by-play announcer and the voice of many of the biggest soccer properties in the world, including the FIFA World Cup, U.S. Men’s National team, and Major League Soccer. He joined the Fox Soccer Channel in 2012 after serving as the voice of the Portland Timbers on radio and TV and the lead play-by-play announcer for NBC Sports. An SOJC journalism alum, Strong was active at UO’s campus radio station KWVA, where he called UO women’s soccer, softball, and lacrosse. He was born and raised in Portland, where he still lives with his family.
Paul Suchman
Chief Marketing Officer, Audacy
Paul Suchman is the chief marketing officer of Audacy, a multi-platform audio content and entertainment company. Suchman built a career helping brands successfully navigate an evolving world by translating business strategy into marketing that performs, drives growth, and earns accolades for creativity. He has served as chief marketing officer for CBRE, the world’s largest commercial real estate firm. Suchman has also led the West Coast businesses for BBDO and Ogilvy and helped launch Agency.com. He began his professional journey as a brand strategist for Lippincott and an account executive at VMLY&R.
Jane Wildman ’83
Past President and Board of Directors Member (current), Combe, Inc.
Jane Wildman brings more than 30 years of experience in global business leadership, having led companies on strategy, brand building, innovation, channel expansion, and digital transformation while delivering transformational results. She served as president and board member of Combe Inc., a personal care business, leading it to record results. Wildman spent more than 25 years at Procter & Gamble, where she served as general manager of beauty care and as global vice president and global brand/marketing leader for baby care. Wildman has earned industry recognition from entities including the Effie Awards, Cannes Lion, Profiles in Diversity, and Catalyst. She currently serves on the advisory boards of the Association for National Advertisers’ Alliance for Inclusive and Multicultural Marketing, among others.
Tracy Wong ’81
Chairman and Creative Director, WONGDOODY
Tracy Wong is chair, executive creative director, and founding partner of WONGDOODY, an independent advertising agency with offices in Seattle and Los Angeles. The agency has created campaigns for clients such as Amazon, T-Mobile, ESPN, Papa Murphy’s Pizza, and Alaska Airlines. Winner of more than 350 national and international creative awards, Wong’s TV campaign for Chevys Restaurants was inducted into the Clio Hall of Fame. Wong has been named an Ernst & Young entrepreneur of the year, marketer of the year for the American Marketing Association/Northwest, and a silver-medal recipient by the American Advertising Federation. He is most recognized for his appearance on AMC’s The Pitch.