John Lyday is an accredited public relations professional with 24 years of public sector and private sector communications experience.

Before his affiliation with Jackson Jackson & Wagner, John was a communications executive at Tribune Company, a Fortune 500 company and one of the nation's leading media companies. He served initially as Manager of Communications for Tribune Education responsible for formulating and executing strategic communications activities for the company's educational publishing division. Later, he served as Director of Group Communications with responsibility for internal and external communications for the company's broadcasting and publishing groups. He provided communications counsel and support to senior management and was spokesperson for broadcasting and publishing issues.

Prior to joining Tribune, John had 18 years of experience in educational communications. He was director of community relations for the second largest school district in Illinois. He was also public information specialist for one of Illinois' largest high school districts.

John holds a bachelor's degree from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. He represented a seven-state region as Mideast vice president of National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) and served two terms as president of the organization's Illinois chapter. He has chaired and served on numerous national NSPRA committees.

In addition to the specialties listed above John also has particular expertise in the following areas:

• Communication audits
• PR planning and staff training
• Media relations
• Crisis communication
• Employee communication
• Targeted communication

Noteworthy Professional Activities

• Member, PRSA & NSPRA
• Mideast Region Vice President, NSPRA
• Chapter President, Illinois Chapter, NSPRA

Public Service

• Vestry member and Pledge Secretary, St. Hugh of Lincoln Episcopal Church
• External Relations Committee, National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
• School Report Card Advisory Committee, Illinois State Board of Education
• President, Elgin "Keep America Beautiful" affiliate
• Marketing Committee Chair, Elgin Chamber of Commerce
• Director, Mt. Prospect Chamber of Commerce
• Director, Arlington Heights United Way

Workshops and speeches include:

• NSPRA
• Illinois Chapter, NSPRA
• Illinois Association of School Boards
• Illinois Association of School Administrators
• Illinois Association of School Business Officials
• State Superintendent's Conference, Illinois State Board of Education
• Chicago Public Schools
• Directors of Guidance and Pupil Personnel of Suburban Chicago