IABC Los Angeles Executive Board
IABCLA is run by an all-volunteer board of current members. We welcome your ideas and suggestions and encourage your participation. Please contact any board member if you have questions, comments or suggestions. IABCLA is governed by a board of volunteers according to IABC bylaws and the chapter’s own bylaws. Within the 2021 board year, we are seeking additional members to join our leadership team. To inquire, contact Jenny Matkovich, president@iabcla.com.
Jenny Matkovich, President
Jenny Matkovich is an experienced marketer and results-driven leader in the complex, ever-changing world of marketing management and currently the Marketing Director for MarketCast. Previously, she was the Director of Marketing for T2 Tech Group and product marketing portfolio manager for Cerner. She holds a master’s degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from the School of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Kansas and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Management from University of Iowa. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn and president@iabcla.com.
Eli Natinsky, Vice President
Eli Natinsky is a writer, content creator, and project coordinator who thrives helping businesses and organizations achieve their communications goals and objectives. He’s written and overseen the design and distribution of various print, online, and broadcast materials. His employers and clients have included both businesses and nonprofits. Eli holds a master’s degree in Digital Media Arts & Technology from Michigan State University. He also earned his bachelor’s degree from MSU, having studied journalism. Connect with him through LinkedIn.
Deborah Hudson, ABC – Vice President, Member Retention; Past President
Deborah is a writer and communications consultant, providing advice, research and coaching to business partners, as well as developing and facilitating writing skills workshops. As a corporate communications leader, she was Global Editor-in-Chief and Global Head of Employee Communications for Zurich Insurance. Previously she managed internal CEO communications and community relations strategy for Farmers Insurance. She is a graduate of Yale University. Find her on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Julie Wright, Vice President, Strategic Advisor
Julie Wright is President of (W)right On Communications, Inc., the award-winning, integrated strategic communications firm she founded in 1998. Wright and her team elevate the agency experience through fresh insights, savvy services and measurable results for clients. With offices in Los Angeles, San Diego and Vancouver, B.C.; Wright oversees programs combining earned, owned, shared and paid media strategies to reach client goals. The agency’s clients include private-sector innovators, public-sector service providers, and not-for-profits. She can be found on Twitter and LinkedIn.
Rachel Mann, Vice President, Communications and Strategy
Rachel Mann is a global communications executive with 20+ years of experience leading teams across a broad range of functions, including PR, marketing, investor relations, brand, employee communications, and social media. Her professional background spans diverse industries, including biotechnology, cybersecurity, aerospace & defense, finance, and technology. Most recently, Rachel served as the vice president of communications at Imperva where she was a member of the executive team responsible for transforming the business to achieve world-class profitable growth and building a strong brand in the marketplace. She can be found on LinkedIn.
Grant Skakun, Director, Newsletter
Grant Skakun is an instructor at Eucrest Writing where he helps organizations improve communication and achieve results by delivering business writing training seminars. He also writes and edits business documents, and he coaches professionals on improving their writing performance. Find him on LinkedIn.
Karen Trachtenberg, Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Karen Trachtenberg is a freelance writer and communicator in the entertainment and health industries where she helps bring personal stories of her clients to life. She also works in employee and internal communications departments and has helped companies strengthen internal branding campaigns and measure employee engagement. Originally from Phoenix (by way of Cape Town, South Africa), Karen moved to Los Angeles 18 years ago to pursue her dreams. She can be found on LinkedIn.
Vinisha Kothari, Director, Website and Operations
Vinisha Kothari recently graduated from USC Annenberg with a Master’s degree in Communication Management, and has been working as a Communications Specialist in the wine and spirits industry for the past few years. She combines her interest in analytics with creativity and top-notch writing skills to produce innovative communication campaigns, both internal and external. She revived the USC chapter of IABC last year, and served as president. Find her on LinkedIn.
Tery Amaya, Vice President, Networking Events
Tery Amaya is a marketing communications professional working in the non-profit sector dedicated to combating the homeless crisis. Previously, she managed large-scale federally funded educational materials and service contracts throughout the United States. She holds a master’s degree in Communications Management from the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and a bachelor’s degree in Communications from California State University Fullerton. Find her on Linkedin.
Farida Habeeb, Director, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Farida Habeeb is a communications and DEI expert with 15 years of experience developed in higher education. She is an Associate Professor of Writing at the University of Southern California and is seeking to transition to internal comms/DEI in the corporate sector. She received her B.A. in English from Wellesley College and her Ph.D. in English/Critical Race Studies from the University of California, Irvine. Farida lives in Long Beach, CA with her husband, daughter, and cat, Wildman. Find her on LinkedIn.
Jenn Floto, Vice President, Special Projects/Research
Jennifer Floto is a veteran public relations practitioner who has worked on both corporate and agency assignments. She spent 10 years at TRW before doing stints at two of the world’s leading agencies: Ketchum and Manning, Selvage & Lee. She has received numerous awards, including the Public Relations Society of America’s Silver Anvil and the International Association of Business Communicators’ Communicator of the Year. Floto was named Professor of the Year in 2006 and received the Mellon Mentoring Award in 2012. She teaches an array of undergraduate and graduate courses and serves as adviser to TriSight, USC’s in-house PR agency, and PRSSA. Connect with her on LinkedIn.