Leadership Assembly

Ray Day is Vice Chair of Stagwell. His role supports the integration, innovation and growth of Stagwell's more than 70 global agencies, with a particular focus on communications, public relations, corporate affairs, reputation and directly serving as senior communications counsel for major clients around the world.

Day is a recognized voice and leader in communications and public relations. He joined Stagwell in February 2020 with more than three decades of experience and insights as a chief communications officer leading global communications teams, brands and agencies. He is well-known for expertise in reputation building, content creation, data and analytics, crisis readiness and recovery, and communications team development.

Before joining Stagwell, Day was IBM’s Chief Communications Officer, leading the company’s global Communications and Corporate Citizenship teams in more than 170 countries. His role included communications for all external and internal stakeholders.

Before IBM, Day was Group Vice President of Communications and served 28 years with Ford. His accomplishments include transforming Ford’s communications model working with then CEO Alan Mulally. This led to the biggest improvement ever in the company’s corporate reputation and brand strength. He was cited as a key part the Ford transformation in the American Icon business book.

Day’s global experience includes being based for four years in Europe, serving as head of Ford’s European Public Affairs, living in both Germany and the UK.

Before joining Ford, Day was a reporter and editor in the Detroit area.

Day has long been recognized on PRWeek’s Power List and the Holmes Influence 100. He serves on the PRSA board of directors and is the 2025 chair; He also serves on the board of the PRSA Foundation; is a past chair of The Seminar, an annual global forum for senior communications leaders and executives; a member of the Page Society; and a trustee of the Institute for Public Relations.

He is a graduate of Wayne State University in Detroit, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and currently serves on the Wayne State Board of Visitors.

Andrew Cook is a communications strategist and consultant, based in New York. His experience spans a variety of industries for non-profit, corporate and social impact clients including food and beverage, travel/tourism, global health, philanthropy, financial services and health care, through time at Porter Novelli, Weber Shandwick and Edelman.

Andrew attended BYU, where he studied public relations and global business and holds a Masters in Public Interest Communications from the University of Florida.

He is a member of the Plank Center's Emerging Leaders Committee and served as the 2017-18 PRSSA National President.

Sarah G. Dougherty is a vice president at The Bliss Group, an integrated communications agency focused on healthcare, financial and professional services. At Bliss, Sarah drives key professional services accounts and helps lead the firm-wide learning and development program. She was previously a senior associate at New York Life Insurance Co. for several years, where she helped run the core insurance and retirement businesses' earned and owned media strategy. Sarah also co-founded the company’s national young professionals group. Before joining New York Life in 2018, Sarah served clients in corporate, financial and crisis areas at BURSON (then Burson-Marsteller; previously BCW Global.) She served as vice president of career services on the 2016-2017 national committee of the Public Relations Student Society of America and is currently part of The Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations Emerging Leaders Committee.

Sarah is a two-time graduate of The University of Alabama. In 2017 she earned a B.A. in communication, cum laude, with majors in public relations and Spanish and a global studies certificate from the College of Communication and Information Sciences (C&IS). She was named the Barban Scholar by C&IS and the 2017 Outstanding Senior by the National Alumni Association; these awards recognize students who have consistently demonstrated exceptional achievement and personal character and whose contributions to UA exemplify the spirit of tradition and high potential in their future career field. In spring 2022, Sarah earned an M.A. in advertising and public relations as part of the Marketing Communication Management Program through C&IS and UA Online. She has also been an adjunct instructor, teaching PR Writing online for C&IS undergraduates. Based in New York, Sarah enjoys testing out the best fries in the city (Monkey Bar or Café Colette), running through Central Park or hosting a book club.

Tamarra Thal is an award-winning professional who specializes in strategic storytelling. She is currently an editor and global internal communications professional at IBM, where she writes stories, strategies on employee engagement opportunities and helps disseminate important news to IBMers in a digestible way.

She holds a Bachelor of Science in Public Relations from the University of Florida.  Outside of IBM, she serves as an Emerging Leaders Committee member for The Plank Center and a Board member for the Public Relations Society NY Chapter where she equips rising PR stars with the tools, resources and confidence to thrive in the industry. 

She also serves as managing editor for The Grossman Group's The Emerging Leader newsletter, a resource of articles written by emerging leaders for emerging leaders.

Natalia A. Flores, APR, is an award-winning communications professional with 20+ years of experience helping brands authentically connect with diverse audiences. A first-generation Latina from Argentina, she specializes in multicultural communications, including internal and external communications, community relations, and DE&I strategies. 

As Senior Marketing Director for Program Experience at the YMCA of Greater Charlotte, Natalia leads the marketing strategy for programs promoting youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. She is passionate about education, multicultural marketing, and mentoring students from diverse backgrounds. Flores has worked at global agencies, including Burson, FleishmanHillard, and Porter Novelli in Miami. She has represented a diverse portfolio of clients, including Sherwin-Williams, Blue Cross NC, Samsung, MasterCard Worldwide, SAP, Office Depot, VMware, the Latin GRAMMYs, Macy’s, and many others.

A dedicated PRSA member for over two decades, Natalia began her journey with PRSSA at Florida International University, where she served as Chapter President. She later became the youngest president of PRSA Miami, earned her APR, and helped launch the first international PRSSA chapter in Buenos Aires. Since relocating to Charlotte, she has remained an active leader in PRSA Charlotte.

Natalia recently led a marketing campaign to destigmatize teen mental health, which earned a GOLD Addy and a Mosaic Award at the 2024 American Advertising Awards for Public Service and Diversity. Launched in 2023, the Mental Health Has No Face Campaign provides mental health resources for teens, particularly youth, People of Color, and LGBTQ+ communities, who face higher mental health risks.

Natalia has earned numerous accolades for her industry contributions and community impact, including PRSA Charlotte’s Mosaic Award, Community Honoree from Sigma Rho Sorority, and recognition as a Charlotte Power 15 award winner by Walker’s Legacy. She was also named to the Charlotte Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, a PRWEEK Champion of PR, and a finalist for the Charlotte Chamber’s Young Professional Awards and PRWEEK’s Young PR Professional Award.

She graduated from Florida International University’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication, is accredited in public relations (APR), and holds a Diversity & Inclusion certificate from eCornell.

Cheron Porter is an award-winning communications and public relations executive with over 25 years of experience. Her expertise and insights are grounded in connecting with people and translating complex information into digestible details that clarify purpose. As the Executive Vice President of Corporate Communications for INLIVIAN, North Carolina’s largest housing authority.  In addition, as a C-suite advisor and spokesperson, Cheron counsels teams through issues management, internal communications and intense high-profile scrutiny by creating strategic pathways through a crisis.

Cheron holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from James Madison University, a Master of Arts degree from American University, a Graduate certificate from the University of Maryland College Park, as well as the Accreditation in Public Relations (APR) distinction. In addition to being an Accountability Coach, Cheron has been a mentor for over 20 years and currently serves as the Diversity and Inclusion Chair for PRSA Charlotte and a coach for Girls on the Run.

Jessica M. Graham, APR, Fellow PRSA, is the founder and CEO of Fionix Consulting, a strategic communications agency she established in 2017. Leveraging over 30 years of diverse and multifaceted experience in communications, Jessica delivers creative and strategic solutions in public relations, brand positioning, community engagement, social media, and reputation management for a wide range of organizations and industries. Her work moves ideas, people, and businesses forward, creating positive change.

Jessica's extensive career spans various industries, including retail, telecommunications, and education. Before founding Fionix Consulting, she served as vice president, chief communications and community officer for Belk, Inc., where she managed public relations, community outreach, corporate and store events, internal communications, and diversity and inclusion initiatives. Her previous roles include public information officer and assistant to the President for Community Relations & Marketing Services at Central Piedmont Community College, director of public affairs for Time Warner Cable Charlotte, and corporate relations manager for Harris Teeter, Inc.

Jessica is active in the community and has served on more than 20 boards, seven as chair. In addition, she has participated on more than 30 committees for various community organizations. She currently serves as chair of Dress for Success Charlotte’s Board of Directors; marketing chair of the Charlotte Trail of History Board of Directors; secretary and board member of the Union County Chamber of Commerce; and past chair and board member of the American Lung Association North Carolina’s Leadership Board. A graduate of Leadership North Carolina Class XXI and Leadership Charlotte Class XIX, she is an active member of Women Executives.

Jessica has been deeply involved in the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) since joining in 1999. She has held more than 20 leadership roles in the organization, including Charlotte Chapter chair, Chapter District Council chair, Southeast District chair, chair of the National Governance Committee, and treasurer and member of the National PRSA Board. She currently serves as Vice Chair of the College of Fellows.

Named a Top Woman in PR by PRNews, Jessica was honored with the PRSA Chair's Award for Exceptional Service to the Society in 2018. She has also been the recipient of three PRSA Silver Anvil Awards, multiple Gold, Silver and Bronze International Business, American Business, and Women in Business Stevie Awards, Leadership North Carolina’s Stanley Frank Award, Mecklenburg Times’ 50 Most Influential Women, and PRSA Charlotte Chapter’s Infinity Award.

She holds a B.A. in Journalism & Mass Communication from UNC Chapel Hill.