Senior Staff

Peggy Conlon
President & Chief Executive Officer

Peggy Conlon joined The Advertising Council in June 1999. As President, Ms. Conlon serves as Chief Executive Officer of an organization that mobilizes yearly more than $2 billion of advertising time and space, the creative services of over 50 major advertising agencies, and related financial support from hundreds of corporations.

Since Ms. Conlon joined the Ad Council, the organization has doubled the work produced on behalf of its public service advertising campaigns as well as its operating support. During this time, the Ad Council has secured contracts with many premier government and non profit organizations such as the American Red Cross, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, The American Cancer Society, The Department of Homeland Security, The United States Army and many more.

During her tenure as President of the Ad Council, Ms. Conlon has championed the organization’s important mission among various government agencies and has partnered with both the Clinton and Bush Administrations to use the power of public service advertising in order to improve some of the nation’s most pressing issues. She has been invited to address the press and the Washington community on issues including Underage Drinking, Drug Abuse Prevention, Maternal Health, and a host of other critically important social issues.

Ms. Conlon organized the Campaign for Freedom, created on behalf of the entire U.S. advertising industry, to address the critical issues resulting from the events of September 11th and to help Americans respond to the crisis. She also led the organization’s production and distribution of the PSAs featuring former Presidents Bush and Clinton in support of the Tsunami Relief Effort.

Ms. Conlon serves on the Board of Trustees of the United Way of America and on the LPGA Commissioner's Advisory Council. Ms. Conlon has also been appointed by former President George Bush and First Lady Barbara Bush to lead the national media initiative for C-Change, formerly the National Dialogue on Cancer and currently serves on its Board of Directors.
 
Ms. Conlon comes to The Advertising Council from Cahners Business Information where she served as Vice President, Group Publisher of the Broadcasting & Cable Group. In this capacity, she directed the activities of eight publications including Broadcasting & Cable and TWICE (This Week In Consumer Electronics). Her experience has also included work at advertising agencies and as an advertising director for corporations.

Ms. Conlon earned her B.A. in communications from the California State University at Fullerton and her M.A. from the Annenberg School of Communications at the University of Southern California. She also served as a public affairs officer in the U.S. Naval Reserve for seven years. She was awarded the New York Women in Communications Matrix Award for Advertising in 2002, and she was named “2005 Advertising Woman of the Year” by Advertising Women of New York (AWNY).

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Jon Fish
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer


As Chief Financial Officer for the Advertising Council, Jon Fish manages and directs the financial operations of the organization. Mr. Fish also maintains top level relationships with the Ad Council’s legal counsel, banking institutions, public accounting firm, investment partnerships, insurance groups and  IT & facilities vendors. As a member of the Executive Leadership Team, Mr. Fish participates in developing and implementing organizational strategies, policies and procedures. His responsibilities also include Information Technology and Office Services. 

Prior to joining the Ad Council, Mr. Fish served as Vice President of Financial Operations at CKX, Inc. where he oversaw the design of internal controls, managing teams around the country and overseas and leading global Sarbanes Oxley implementation across many major brands. Past positions also include Martha Stuart Living Omnimedia, WorldSport Networks and HBO.  He also served eleven years on the Board of the United States Olympic Committee after competing in the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

Mr. Fish currently serves on the board of Row New York as well as being an adjunct professor in the School of Continuing and Professional Studies at New York University teaching Finance Management for Film and Television. He holds a B.S. in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and a Special Diploma in Social Studies from Oxford University.  He received his CPA while at Ernst & Young.

He lives in New York City with his wife and two children.

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Barbara Leshinsky
Executive Vice President, Development

As Executive Vice President for Development at The Advertising Council, Inc., Barbara Leshinsky oversees all of the organization’s fundraising activities to support the Ad Council’s operations, special programs and campaigns. 

With nearly twenty years of fundraising experience, Ms. Leshinsky has established her expertise in the implementation of capital and annual campaigns, board development, foundation relations and special event planning. 

Prior to joining the Ad Council, Ms. Leshinsky served as Associate Dean for Institutional Advancement at New York Law School.  Past positions also include Vice President for Development and Communications at the YMCA of Greater New York and Assistant Vice President for Development at Fordham University.  After a long career in college athletics, Ms. Leshinsky began her development career as a University Development Officer at Columbia University.

Ms. Leshinsky holds a B.S. in Health and Physical Education and an M.S. in Educational Administration from Queens College, City University of New York.

Ms. Leshinsky is an active member and the former President of Women in Development, and serves on the Advisory Board of the Women’s Sports Foundation. 

Ms. Leshinsky is a frequent speaker at conferences, seminars and classes for development professionals.

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Priscilla Natkins
Executive Vice President, Director of Client Services


Priscilla Natkins, Executive Vice President, Director of Client Services, joined The Advertising Council in January 1999 after seventeen years of account management at several New York advertising agencies, including DMB&B, JWT and Bates USA. Ms. Natkins worked on a broad range of packaged goods and financial services accounts during her long tenure in marketing within the advertising industry, including work on Procter & Gamble, Nestle, Citicorp, and T.Rowe Price.

At the Ad Council, Ms. Natkins oversees the development and evaluation of all of the public service advertising campaigns on the Ad Council docket. To this end, Ms. Natkins is chiefly responsible for the Ad Council’s relationships with nearly fifty non-profit and government client groups, as well as over forty volunteer advertising agencies. In addition to managing the strategic and creative development of the Ad Council campaigns, Ms. Natkins oversees the Research and Evaluation Department, as well as the Creative Services Department, which is responsible for all the printed collateral material developed at the Ad Council, and the physical and digital distribution of the PSA materials to media outlets across the country.

Ms. Natkins is the presiding Ad Council member of the Campaign Review Committee, a member of the Ad Council team responsible for assessing new issues to be considered as Ad Council campaigns, and is also an internal team leader on the Ad Council’s Advisory Committee for Social Issues.

Ms. Natkins holds an MBA from Columbia University, with a specialization in Marketing.

Ms. Natkins shares the Ad Council’s commitment to children’s issues, and has served on the Education Advisory Board for The Children's Aid Society and on the Board of the Children’s Center for Learning Head Start Program in New Rochelle, New York. Currently, she is serving as Vice Chairman of the Board of Let’s Get Ready, a non-profit organization dedicated to college access for underserved students.

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Paula Veale
Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications

As Executive Vice President, Corporate Communications for The Advertising Council, Paula Veale oversees all internal and external communications for the national non-profit public service leader.

In her current position, Ms. Veale is responsible for overseeing all aspects of public relations, social media, interactive services and government affairs for the Ad Council and its more than 50 public service advertising campaigns, as well as directing all special events, including the Ad Council's annual fundraising dinner which raised more than $2.3 million for the organization in 2008.

Ms. Veale joined the Ad Council in 1987 and has served in many positions within the organization during her long and successful tenure. In fact, Veale's valuable experience includes working alongside three of the organization's four presidents. Her expertise includes public affairs, strategic counseling, program development, press relations (including national press launches and White House events), organizational management, board relations, fundraising, crisis management and special events. Veale frequently serves as the organization's spokesperson.

Since becoming Executive Vice President in 2000, Ms. Veale has enhanced the organization's communications capabilities. In addition, she has greatly enhanced the success of the organization's PSA campaigns by integrating public and media relations as well as social media programs into the public service advertising campaigns.  Coverage of the organization and its individual campaigns has grown exponentially under her leadership, exposing the Ad Council's critical messages to millions of Americans.

Ms. Veale has served on numerous boards and committees including The Ad Club of New York's ANDY Committee, The American Cancer Society of New York's Communications and Marketing Advisory Committee, the Advisory Committee of The Strang Cancer Prevention Center's Child Health Initiative and the Harlem Educational Activities Fund (HEAF). Paula is a graduate of Sweet Briar College, Sweet Briar, Virginia.

She currently resides in New York City with her husband, Dan McGiffin and son.   

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Heidi Arthur
Senior Vice President for Campaigns

In her current position as Senior Vice President for Campaigns, Ms. Arthur oversees the development of 25 public service communications programs, including the U.S. Army's High School Drop Out Prevention initiative, the Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Lifestyles/Obesity initiative, and SAMHSA's Underage Drinking and Mental Health campaigns.

Her work includes EFFIE award-winning campaigns for Big Brothers Big Sisters and America's Second Harvest. In her position, she works with the federal government agency or non-profit sponsor and volunteer advertising agency to guide the strategic and creative development of the communications program. She also oversees the day-to-day management of each campaign.

Ms. Arthur joined the Ad Council in 2000 after more than ten years in consumer advertising. She serves on the Advisory Board for the Strang Cancer Prevention and the Mel Stottlemyre Multiple Myleoma Foundation.

She is also a published author, having written a guidebook for New York City parents.

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James Baumann
Senior Vice President, National Accounts and Media Marketing


James Baumann is the Senior Vice President of National Accounts & Media Marketing for The Ad Council. In this position he leads the media department’s efforts to secure, track and reward donated media commitments and partnerships; manage tactical engagement to grow multi-media partnerships; direct efforts to customize PSA campaigns in support of specific Ad Council sponsor and media company initiatives; and oversee the strategic implementation of electronic marketing communications and outreach.

James' background includes over 16 years of advertising agency and marketing experience ranging from media planning and buying to the account management for Fortune 500 accounts with clients from a variety of industries including computer hardware, software, global communications, oil & gas, fast food, retail, packaged food, travel, home furnishings, corporate insurance, and even rocket science and space technology.  James’ past successes come from focusing on the client’s bottom line and delivering marketing solutions that produce results.

James is a graduate of Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, where he earned a degree in communications and advertising and currently serves on the Advisory Board for the School of Communication & the Arts.  His post-graduate work includes an Advanced Advertising Strategies Certification from the University of Maryland as well as various program certificates from the American Management Association.

James lives in Patterson New York with his wife Jessica and son Brennan.

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Kathy Crosby
Senior Vice President, Group Campaign Director

Kathy Crosby is a Senior Vice President, Group Campaign Director at The Advertising Council. In this position, she is responsible for the development of Ad Council campaigns in the Washington, D.C. office. Ms. Crosby oversees more than 20 national PSA campaigns including the Ad Council's award-winning Smokey Bear and "Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk" campaigns.

Ms. Crosby joined the Ad Council in 2002 from Arnold Worldwide where she served as Vice President, Director of Strategic Planning on the Truth Anti-Tobacco account. She has more than 15 years of advertising agency experience in both the account management and strategic planning departments. Her experience includes directing the US Airways and SAP software accounts, and conducting research and planning for McDonald's and Mobil Oil.

Ms. Crosby received a B.A. in Political Science from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

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Kate Emanuel
Senior Vice President, Non-Profit and Government Affairs

As Senior Vice President of Non-Profit and Government Affairs, Kate Emanuel oversees the Ad Council's relationships with the non-profit community, Congress and the Federal Government. Ms. Emanuel also oversees the Ad Council's Advisory Committee on Public Issues, which helps the Ad Council identify pressing social issues for its docket. In addition, she is responsible for several high-profile events in the Washington, DC community.

Prior to joining the Ad Council in January of 2003, Ms. Emanuel was Chief of Staff for Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and worked in Congress for more than six years.

She has a combined 10 years of experience working for non-profits, including serving as the Housing Service Coordinator at a non-profit affordable housing developer in California, a Researcher with an environmental non-profit in Johannesburg, South Africa and a Researcher for the National Wildlife Federation in Washington, DC.

She earned a joint Masters degree in Public Health and Urban Planning from the University of California, Berkeley.

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Tony Foleno
Senior Vice President, Research


Tony Foleno is Senior Vice President for Research. In this role, he leads an array of qualitative and quantitative research studies. Tony takes an active role advising the strategic development of a number of Ad Council campaigns. Tony also oversees campaign evaluation research, designed to assess the effectiveness and impact of Ad Council initiatives.  In addition, he leads internal analyses and special projects to help improve best practices across Ad Council programs.

Prior to joining the Ad Council in 2002, Tony managed projects at Public Agenda, a nonpartisan public opinion research organization. He is a graduate of Swarthmore College and holds a M.A. in sociology from Columbia University. Tony is a member of the Advertising Research Foundation, the American Sociological Association and the American Association of Public Opinion Research.

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Danielle Linet
Senior Vice President, Creative Services and Distribution

Danielle Linet is the Senior Vice President, Creative Services and Distribution for The Advertising Council. In this position, Ms. Linet is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the Creative Services and Distribution department of the Ad Council and its more than 40 public service advertising campaigns. Ms. Linet manages the design and distribution of all PSA kits, including television, radio and print advertising, to more than 26,000 media outlets nationwide. Ms. Linet is also responsible for coordinating video production and staging for Ad Council special events, including its annual fundraising dinner and Seminar Series conference.

Ms. Linet's experience outside the Ad Council includes a stint as Broadcast Manager for Deutsch Advertising.

Ms. Linet is a member of New York Women in Communications (NYWICI) and the International Radio and Television Society Foundation.

Ms. Linet holds a B.A. from Pace University and has been honored with the university's prestigious "Excellence in Broadcast Journalism Award." She currently resides in Astoria, NY with her husband Mark.

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Jennifer Mamlet
Senior Vice President of Development


Jennifer Mamlet is the Senior Vice President of Development for The Advertising Council. In this position, Ms. Mamlet is responsible for overseeing the Ad Council’s annual fundraising program, which raises in excess of $5 million annually to support of the organization’s operations, special programs and campaigns.

Prior to joining the Ad Council, Ms. Mamlet worked at the New York Section of the American Camp Association as the Director of S.C.O.P.E. (Summer Camp Opportunities Provide an Edge), a non-profit program that raises funds to send inner-city kids to summer camp. Prior to that, Ms. Mamlet worked as a clinical Social Worker in New York City and began her career as a high school Spanish teacher at The Peddie School in Hightstown, NJ.

Ms. Mamlet currently serves on the Board of Directors for S.C.O.P.E., and is a member of Association for Fundraising Professionals (AFP), Advertising Women of New York (AWNY) and Women in Development (WID). Ms. Mamlet holds a B.A. in Sociology and Spanish from Bucknell University and an M.S. in Social Work from Columbia University.

She currently resides in New York City with her husband Alex.

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Barbara Shimaitis
Senior Vice President, Interactive Services

Ms. Shimaitis joined The Advertising Council in 2003 as Senior Vice President of the newly created Interactive Services department. In this position Ms. Shimaitis is responsible for creating and managing interactive services and strategic relationships for campaign sponsors. This includes expanding the breadth and depth of services offered to sponsors from website development, online promotion, to streaming media strategies and managing all online media opportunities. She also oversees all Internet development operations including Ad Council website development and site management.

As a very early adopter of computer technologies and a passionate believer in the potential of the web, Ms. Shimaitis is an expert at helping clients develop and fine-tune their Internet strategies.

Prior to joining the Ad Council, Ms. Shimaitis served as VP, Business Development Manager for Poppe Tyson (1991-1997). It was in 1995 at Poppe Tyson that she began to focus on enabling businesses to conduct business via the Internet. Ms. Shimaitis a played a key role in the development of poppe.com, one of the Internet's most successful development firms.

Ms. Shimaitis then joined CKS New York as a Vice President of Business Development, and later partnered with Fergus O'Daly to co-found the internet consulting firm, Fergus O'Daly Associates.

She currently resides with her husband, Tom, in New York City.

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