Marketing and communications, publications.

• Position: Meet the staff

FEI has a public face, and it is the Marketing and Communications Department. Managing everything from publications to public relations, from member recruiting to Web content, this department has responsibility for defining the image FEI presents to the world ... as well as maintaining that image.

Director Chris Allen, who has been with FEI since 1997, is a veteran of public relations and marketing. Allen has secured prime media placement over the years for FEI on CNBC, in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, CFO magazine, and other leading publications. He runs the closely followed FEI/Duke University CFO Outlook Survey, which takes a quarterly read of leading CFOs for their levels of optimism (or pessimism) about the economy. Allen also conducts regular market research of both members and non-members, including all-member surveys.

In addition to PR, Allen has responsibility for all messaging that touches the FEI member--including conveying the value proposition. He also is responsible for new member recruiting, developing national direct marketing campaigns to solicit qualified prospects as new FEI members. "Convincing executives that they need to join FEI is a unique challenge," says Allen. "Essentially, it comes down to, 'What's In It For Me?' If we can successfully answer that question, we can land them as members."

As FEI moves closer to being a Webcentric organization, an increasing amount of information is transmitted electronically. Allen publishes FEI Express, the bi-monthly emerging issues e-newsletter that offers readers the latest legislative and regulatory updates. Managing the content of the FEI Web site is one of Allen's prime concerns, and he is committed to ensuring that only the most current news and information are featured. The Web site is also a source of non-dues revenue, since sponsorships of Express and other online advertising bring in valuable non-dues revenues to FEI.

Allen has a staff of two to help him manage all of this. Karen Lundquist, Senior Manager, Marketing and Communications, came to FEI in 2000 following 20 years in international marketing at AT&T and as an independent consultant. She manages all new member recruiting campaigns and copywrites nearly all messaging that leaves FEI--whether to the membership or the external public. Lundquist is also responsible for executive communications, helping shape speeches, editorials and leadership messages for CEO Colleen Sayther and the Chairman.

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