Women of Excellence

member photo

Laurie A. Stearn

Title: Senior VP, Agency Relations and Membership
Industry: Advertising
Type of Organization: Trade Association
Major Product/Service: Providing leadership, advocacy and training that empowers agencies to innovate, evolve and grow
Expertise: 30 years experience in the advertising and marketing; Assists Central Region 4A's member agencies in getting the most from their 4A's membership; Recruits new members and helps association leaders in providing thought leadership to the marketing communications industry; Speaks English, Mandarin Chinese and Spanish
Geographic Area of Distribution: National
University/Degree: B.S., Business Administration, Marketing and Management, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University; M.B.A., Indiana University, 1989
Born: August 11, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Hobbies/Sports: Travel, wine tasting, volunteering
Work History: Previously, Ms. Stearn served as Client Service Associate in the Leo Burnett Client Service Training Program in 1989. She was quickly promoted to a series of roles culminating as Vice President, Account Director. She left Leo Burnett in 1998. From 1998-2001 she was the Director of Internet Marketing, Marketing Strategy and Brand Management at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. She then became a Senior VP and Director of Intellectual Capital at Element 79 from 2002-2003, and a Senior Associate Director, Co-Director-Consumer Marketing Academy and Marketing Instructor at Indiana University Kelley School of Business from 2003-2005. Ms. Stearn served as a Senior VP, Management Director at Element 79 Partners from 2005-2006, and was a Principal/Consultant at Stearn Solutions from 2007-2009. She began working with the American Academy of Advertising Agencies in 2009 and was promoted to VP in 2014.
Honors & Awards: Taught; Top Consumer Marketing MBA Program as designated by the Wall Street Journal; Two Gold Effie Awards; Silver Effie Award
Career Accomplishments: Ms. Stearn is a Volunteer Docent at the Chicago Architecture Foundation since 2008, a volunteer docent on the CAF Architecture River Cruise which has been named one of the top 10 tours in the U.S. by Trip Advisor, and a volunteer for the Off The Street Club Holiday Luncheon since 2010.