NIRI Chicago Elects 2025-2026 Officers and Directors

The Chicago chapter of NIRI, The Association for Investor Relations (NIRI Chicago), has elected 12 officers and directors to its board for the 2025-2026 term, effective July 1.

"This has been an uncertain time for investor relations officers and consultants as they navigate the implications of economic change, stock market volatility and breaking news," said Rob Cherry, incoming chapter president. "Our new board will work hard to ensure strong professional development and networking opportunities to help our members stay on top of trends and effectively represent their companies and clients to institutional investors and other stakeholders. As part of that mission, we look forward to welcoming NIRI members and guests to a reinvented, broader Midwest IR Symposium – formerly the Investor Relations Workshop – in downtown Chicago on Friday, Sept. 26."

Officers

President: Robert K. Cherry, vice president of investor relations, Methode Electronics, Inc. (NYSE:MEI). This is Cherry's fourth year on the NIRI Chicago board, where he most recently served as co-executive vice president and treasurer. He is a past Investor Relations (IR) Workshop committee member.

Executive Vice President: Brooks O. Rennie, vice president, head of investor relations, Byline Bancorp, Inc. (NYSE:BY). This is Rennie's fourth year on the NIRI Chicago board. He recently received an MBA from the Kellstadt Graduate School of Business, DePaul University; is a former director on the NIRI Twin Cities board; and was named a NIRI 40 Under 40 honoree in 2019.

Vice President, Programs: Julianna Paterra, CFA, senior manager of investor relations, Allstate Corp. (NYSE:ALL). This is Paterra's second year on the NIRI Chicago board. Previously, she was co-chair of the 2023 IR Workshop committee.

Vice President, Treasurer: Darla Rivera, director of investor relations, CF Industries (NYSE:CF). Rivera begins her second year on the board after taking an active role on the 2023, 2024 and 2025 IR Workshop committees.

Co-Vice President, Membership: Victor J. Jendras, director of business development, Sodali & Co. Jendras previously served as NIRI Chicago's chair, president, executive vice president and vice president of programs.

Co-Vice President, Membership: Jeff Myers, regional head of listings - Midwest, NYSE. This is Myers' second year on the NIRI Chicago board. He is a member of the 2025 Midwest IR Symposium committee and co-chaired the 2024 IR Workshop committee. The New York Stock Exchange is part of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc. (NYSE:ICE).

Co-Vice President, Communications: Maryellen T. Thielen, APR, ABC, president, Forest Glen Communications LLC. Thielen earlier was a NIRI Chicago chair, president and executive vice president. She now participates in the annual IR Symposium committee.

Co-Vice President, Communications: Michael Ferreter, director, Rivel, Inc. While this is Ferreter's first year on the NIRI Chicago board, he has been a longtime chapter volunteer, including as co-chair of the 2019 IR Workshop.

Vice President, Sponsorship: Adam Dahl, vice president of Midwest region business development, Corbin Advisors. This is Dahl's third year on the NIRI Chicago board. He was the chapter's advocacy ambassador from 2023 to 2025 and has participated in several IR Workshop committees.

Directors

Chair: Barbara Noverini, CFA, senior director of investor relations, Badger Meter (NYSE:BMI). Noverini has held other leadership roles on the board in previous years, including as its president, programs chair and advocacy ambassador. She received a chapter volunteer award from the national organization in 2021 and 2022.

Elizabeth Saha, senior investor relations lead, Littelfuse, Inc. (NASDAQ:LFUS). This is Saha's first year on the NIRI Chicago board. She has participated in multiple IR Workshop committees and as a moderator on an artificial intelligence session at the 2024 IR Workshop.

Michael A. Steele, CFA, IRC, vice president of investor relations, Zebra Technologies Corp. (NASDAQ:ZBRA). Steele currently serves on the NIRI board of directors and its 2024 Senior Roundtable steering committee. Earlier, he was NIRI Chicago's chair, president and executive vice president.

Advocacy Ambassador

Ryan Kiras, senior manager of investor relations at Lowe's Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW), now is NIRI Chicago's advocacy ambassador to help the national organization build grassroots support for its advocacy and legislative priorities. In addition, Kiras chairs the NIRI Chicago NextGen program, which is designed to meet the needs of up-and-coming investor relations practitioners who have been in IR for less than five years. Kiras was a member of the 2024 IR Workshop committee.

Departing Board Member

NIRI Chicago extends its gratitude to Heather A. Kos, CPA, CMA, IRC, senior vice president of investor relations, Builders FirstSource (NYSE:BLDR), who is stepping off the board after serving as the chapter's chairman, president, executive vice president and director since 2019.

The Chicago chapter of NIRI, The Association for Investor Relations (NIRI Chicago), provides professional development and networking opportunities to practitioners of investor relations, a strategic management responsibility that integrates finance, communication, marketing and securities law compliance. Through its collaborative community, NIRI advances engagement in the capital markets and drives best practices in corporate disclosures, governance and informed investing. For more information, visit www.nirichicago.org.

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Maryellen Thielen

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