ray valek – abc
Ray Valek has achieved distinction as a writer, media relations expert, strategist, creative director, and project manager. He has exceptional experience working with clients in the health & medicine, science & technology, and education industries. He is personally involved in each and every client engagement.
As the president of Valek and Company, Inc., Ray has successfully completed assignments for more than 60 organizations. Prior to starting the company, Ray was a vice president at Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide. Before that, he was on the marketing and public relations staff of the University of Chicago Medical Center. His work there was recognized with six Gold Quill Awards from the International Association of Business Communicators. He contributed to a Gold Halo Award from the Cause Marketing Forum for his work with Horace Mann Educators Corporation and DonorsChoose.org.
Ray takes great pride in being a working writer, spending a healthy percentage of his time crafting words for clients. Excellent writing underpins all Valek & Co. services, which include editorial and feature writing, media relations, Web content and social media development, executive communication including speechwriting and scriptwriting, medical and scientific writing, advertising and collateral, e-communication, brand development, case studies, communication planning, and more. Depending on the size and nature of a project, Ray works on his own or with team members with expertise in areas including Web development, social media, media buying, graphic design, photography, training, and marketing research to produce communication programs that achieve outstanding business results.
Ray is an accredited business communicator (ABC), a proud member of the Max Achium ice hockey club, a graduate of The Second City's Beginning Program for improvisational comedy, and a graduate of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
judy wohlt - writer
Judy Wohlt is an accomplished communications professional with in-depth experience in public relations, corporate communications and marketing. She began working with Valek & Co. on the Plumbing Manufacturers International account in 2016. She created her own business, Visible Ink Communications Ltd., in 2006 to pursue her passion for writing and creating engaging marketing, employee communications and public relations campaigns. She has worked with a broad range of clients in several industries, including plumbing manufacturing, corporate housing and serviced apartments, moving and relocation, international consumer foods, healthcare, corporate events, and payment processing.
Judy has developed and managed several award-winning internal and external communications campaigns for Fortune 500 companies and not-for-profit organizations, earning two Silver Trumpet Awards and one Golden Trumpet Award from the Publicity Club of Chicago. In addition, she is an award-winning writer with a journalism degree from Columbia College and a background in newspaper reporting.
Before creating Visible Ink Communications, Judy served as director of corporate communications for SIRVA, Inc., where she managed internal communications for 7,000 employees worldwide, helped develop and manage external communications, and acted as company spokesperson. In addition, she spent almost six years as manager of corporate communications for USG Corporation, the world’s largest wallboard manufacturer, acting as media relations manager and company spokesperson and overseeing internal communications for 14,000 global employees.
maureen baird – web design and development
As a Valek and Company team member, Maureen Baird developed the Illinois HIV Care Connect (www.hivcareconnect.com) and Illinois Women Against Cervical Cancer (www.livecancerfree.org) Web sites, as well as the Valek & Co. site. She specializes in focused and effective solutions for businesses and other organizations. Kudos about her work follow:
"Maureen designed the Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI) logo (her design was chosen after we went through 2 design firms and a round of designs from college students at Kendall College) and the PMI website. She also manages both the safeplumbing.org and plumbingefficiencyresearchcoalition.org sites. Maureen has a great work ethic, is easy to work with (no ego when suggestions are made and aims to please!) and is respectful of deadlines." - Barbara C. Higgens, CEO/Executive Director, Plumbing Manufacturers International (PMI)
"Maureen and I have been working together for over a year. She has always been helpful and responsive to my needs and the needs of my organization. I can always rely on her to help me meet tight deadlines, and she always produces outstanding work.” - Amanda Kluszczynski, Former Development Manager at Child Link
"Maureen is able to take a vague concept, define it, and create great graphics to bring it to life. When brainstorming ideas, she is receptive and insightful. She is graceful under pressure, and has never failed to meet a deadline - even a VERY last-minute, emergency request.” - Pat Kelly Molden, Executive Chef, Kelly’s Table Restaurant
genevieve valek – writing, voice, and video
A graduate of Illinois State University’s broadcast journalism program and an AmeriCorps public health alumnus, Genevieve Valek has contributed her writing, voice and video talents to Valek and Co. clients including HIMSS, Illinois HIV Care Connect, The Joint Commission, Plumbing Manufacturers International, and Vitalacy.
BECKY VALEK — SOCIAL MEDIA, GRAPHICS AND EDITORIAL ASSISTANCE
Becky Valek has been an artist in Chicago for the past five years since graduating college from Valparaiso University. After the pandemic temporarily shut down theatres in Chicago, Becky began contributing to Valek & Co. and played an important role in Illinois HIV Care Connect's "Speaking Up About HIV Stigma" and “HIV and Aging” campaigns. Becky designed social media graphics, published interviews with members of the HIV community on hivcareconnect.com, and provided editorial assistance on work for various Valek and Company clients including Plumbing Manufacturers International.
While sustaining a passion and career interest in theatre, Becky has developed another career path in the communications field.