Phil Zepeda is an innovative, strategic, and collaborative communications leader, helping organizations bring transformational and lasting change inside their teams and propel external awareness and support for the societal issues that are important to families, neighborhoods, and communities.Today, Phil leads Campaign Communications and Strategy at the Northern Illinois University Foundation. Most recently, he led communications for Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the largest human service agencies in the Midwest. Prior to that role, Phil was the chief communications officer for the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, a charitable trust committed to developing educated, informed and engaged citizens. In that role, he also helped lead communications for Cantigny Park, the Foundation's public park in Wheaton, Illinois.At Feeding America, Phil built and managed all strategic communications. He collaborated with industry top minds on branding and name change migration (from America's Second Harvest), helped oversee the relief efforts during Hurricane Katrina, managed partnerships with FOX's "American Idol" and NBC's "Biggest Loser" programs, executive produced a 2009 Inaugural Ball for President Barack Obama with the RIAA, and founded the Feeding America Entertainment Council.At the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington DC, Phil was the presidential press secretary and national media spokesperson on more than 60 national disasters and tragedies, including the events of September 11, 2001.Until 1994, he coordinated media relations for Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago. He is a graduate of the Second City in Chicago, having performed improvisational sketch comedy on the legendary troop’s main stage.Phil has degrees from Northwestern University and Northern Illinois University.Specialties: Storytelling, media relations, public policy and advocacy communications, digital and social media strategy, entertainment industry relations, crisis/risk management, speechwriting, event planning, publication management, and internal communication.