Dawn Reese

U.S. President Mediabrands Content Studio

A content advertising powerhouse, Dawn Reese has held senior leadership positions within the marketing industry for over two decades and is one of only a few women of color to do so. Since joining IPG Mediabrands, Reese has achieved enormous success. She’s been promoted from SVP to head of UM Studios’ award-winning U.S. content division and was recently tapped to run the entire U.S. market at Mediabrands’ new global content agency, Mediabrands Content Studio (MBCS), becoming the company’s first president.

Under Reese’s leadership, the content studio has soared creatively and financially, generating a 30% increase in profits. She shepherded the development and theatrical/SVOD release of the critically acclaimed holiday documentary, “Dear Santa.” The heartfelt branded 2020 feature film about the USPS’ venerated Operation Santa program, for which Reese served as a production executive, maintains an 89% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score and is now being made into a new docuseries which will air on major select ABC stations and Hulu this Christmas. The movie was also an awards darling – generating nearly 40 wins – making it one of the most awarded brand-funded films in 2021.

Reese also recently co-led the development and launch of UpstreamPOP, a new brand integration technology platform Mediabrands co-created with blue chip communications firm, R&CPMK, for the U.S. market.

The groundbreaking product utilizes Mediabrands’ audience intelligence data to tailor potential and real time integration opportunities for Mediabrands’ clients in non-ad supported entertainment formats.

While the breadth of her resume is undoubtedly impressive, Reese is equally inspiring for the many other ways she quietly gives back to the community. Whether serving as an executive board member for the Jack and Jill of America Foundation or regularly working in the classroom at her son’s school, Reese’s commitment to community and her family is without question.

Earlier this year, she also joined the Advisory Board of Brand Storytelling, a content marketing organization focused on building and inspiring the growth of brand funded content and entertainment across the country.

FINALISTS | CEO OFTHE YEAR: MIDSIZE COMPANY

President & Partner Z SUPPLY, LLC

Mandy Fry is a self-made brand builder, who pulled herself up by the bootstraps to become the head of the multimillion-dollar brand Z SUPPLY. Fry has overseen 45% growth since she joined the company and has since been named president and partner. She has overseen the launch and growth of the proprietary wholesale platform, shopB2Z, which now has a virtual showroom and user-friendly tech features that create a specialized shopping experience for over 3,100 retail partners. This year, she launched two new divisions – Z Supply Eyewear and Z Active – while continuing the success of the brand as a whole.

Managing Partner Hahn & Hahn LLP

Christianne Kerns is the first female managing partner of Hahn & Hahn, a majority woman- and minorityowned law firm. Kerns is responsible for managing day-to-day business operations; developing, implementing and driving organizational goals, procedures and policies; managing firm lawyers and the director of administration; collaborating with other partners; and maintaining positive client relationships. She and her team handle sophisticated financing transactions and restructure, manage complex commercial business relationships and contracts, and lead multifaceted real estate deals and projects.

CEO & Co-Founder HopSkipDrive

Joanna McFarland is the CEO and co-founder of HopSkipDrive, the leader in innovative, scalable school and youth transportation solutions. HopSkipDrive’s mission is to create opportunity for all through mobility. It helps schools and families get kids and older adults where they need to go safely and dependably. HopSkipDrive currently serves 20 markets in 11 states, working with over 350 school districts and county child welfare agencies. It has gotten over two million kids to over 13,000 schools, with HopSkipDrive CareDrivers having driven more than 20 million safe miles.

CEO & Co-Founder Equip

Kristina Saffran was diagnosed with anorexia at the age of 10. After four hospitalizations and multiple relapses, her family discovered Family-Based Treatment (FBT), the leading evidence-based treatment for eating disorders. In 2019, Saffran co-founded Equip, the only company that’s increasing access to eating disorder treatment through a virtual care model that builds upon FBT. Unlike traditional treatment centers that remove a patient from their family, Equip empowers families to help their loved ones through recovery at home – making treatment more sustainable and affordable.