2024-2025 Board Members
Laura Oliveto
President
A communications professional for decades, Laura currently is at Catalyst Media Factory. Prior to this, she was the Detroit Community Ambassador at AIMClear, a digital marketing agency in Duluth, MN. With 30 years’ experience in digital marketing, she saw the industry’s infancy as well as its maturity, developing innovative, strategic solutions for a variety of global clients. Laura served as president from 2012-2015 and 2021-2023, programs chair from 2016-2023 and as board secretary from 2011-2012.
Contact: info@womcomdetroit.org
Renee Ahee
President-Elect
Renée Ahee is owner of In Other Words, where words, whether written or oral, video or print, motivate, inspire and change behavior. Renée has been in the world of public relations and marketing her entire career, both on the corporate side of PR, Marketing and Investor Relations, and running nonprofits.
Renée also is a Project Manager for Yellow Flag Productions, a full service media, event and television production company. creating award winning TV series, feature shows, documentaries, commercials, podcasts, live streaming and social media content for clients across the Midwest.
Contact: info@womcomdetroit.org
Deniella Ortiz-Lalain
Immediate Past President, Secretary & Treasurer
Deniella has held marketing, communications, and project lead positions for companies in the IT, healthcare, finance, utilities, manufacturing, and government sectors. Previous positions include director of communications, vice president of Activities for the American Women’s Group in Paris, account relationship manager, and marketing communications at OpTech, the Michigan Manufacturing Technology Center, Valeo and SSOE. She served as board secretary and treasurer from 2021-2023, president from 2015-2021, VP of Programs from 2012-2015 and Matrix Co-Chair from 2013-2015.
Contact: info@womcomdetroit.org
RoseAnn Nicolai
Director, Marketing – Campaigns & Programs
Contact: marketing@womcomdetroit.org
Lisa Becker Campbell
Director, Member Retention
Lisa is a Content Coordinator at Best Version Media, which connects businesses to residents with family-friendly community publications. She is also a Freelance Writer for Michigan Home and Lifestyle Magazine. She received a BA in journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Lisa joined AWC Detroit in 2017 and is excited about contributing to the future of the organization while connecting with longstanding and new members.
Contact: membership@womcomdetroit.org
Tarana “Ronnie” Hammond, MMC, MA
Director, Member Recruitment
A native of the “Motor City,” Ronnie is a doctoral student at Walden University, studying leadership. She is also a communications professor at Chicago State University and is dedicated to fostering a student-centered classroom environment based on mutual respect
and collaboration. Ronnie joined AWC Detroit in 2017 and served on the programs committee from 2017-2020. In 2021, Ronnie transitioned to the Student Ambassador role, supporting student initiatives.
Contact: membership@womcomdetroit.org
Currently, the Board Secretary, Director of Programs and Marketing – Social Media positions are open for 2025/26 and President – Elect position is open for 2026/27. Elect positions are open. Members in good standing with at least one year of committee experience in AWC or another organization are eligible for a board position. If interested, contact info@womcomdetroit.org
Members-at-Large
Sally Ann Brown
Editor/Freelance Writer
Sally is a freelance editor and writer, after a career in public relations and special events. As a sole practitioner, her company handled public relations for clients in the food industry, law, real estate, retail, automotive, and many nonprofit organizations, including health care. Her work at Henry Ford Health has included leading media relations for multiple departments and the opening of the West Bloomfield hospital. In addition, she directed the nationally recognized Art & Apples Festival for three years. Sally is a past president of AWC Detroit.
Christine Bricker D’Angela
Corporate and Government Communications
Active in AWC Detroit since 1980, Christine led the organization as president for two terms, held several board positions and received the 1995 “Headliner” Award. Her communications skills include communications strategy; media relations; government, community and public relations; internal communications; speeches; corporate learning; marketing and advertising. Her career includes corporate communications at GM, U.S. House press aide, county government relations, and instructor positions at the University of Arizona, University of Detroit, Baker College, and University of Phoenix.
Karen (Stewart) Spica, APR
Public Relations
Active with the AWC organization since college, Karen’s experience includes corporate communications, senior PR positions, and strategic planning. Her career includes work with Fortune 500 companies, and PR agencies, specializing in insurance, automotive, events, non-profit sectors and media interview training. Karen has served several terms as an AWC Detroit past president and is a Matrix Headliner.
Eileen Wunderlich
Corporate and Marketing Communications
Eileen is a longtime communications professional and an AWC Detroit past president and Matrix Headliner. She held numerous public relations and communications positions in the music, television, advertising, and automotive industries through the years, and retired from FCA (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles) in 2018. Eileen’s professional expertise includes all elements that corporate, executive and marketing communications entail, including strategic planning, writing and media relations.